Guest guest Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 I had a lumpectomy on my left breast. Since the lump was on the top, that is where the tumor, tissue and some skin was removed. It doesn't look bad, just smaller than my right and I have a bit of a slope on top. Oh and while I still have my nipple and there is movement and sensation, it looks slightly dented in, where I imagine some tissue use to be. My surgeon was surprised to hear me speak of breast reconstruction on that side, but he told me that he would recommend a plastic surgeon at MD when I was ready. I wonder if I would be a canidate for a tissue expander? What does it entail? ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. http://games.yahoo.com/games/front Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2007 Report Share Posted February 26, 2007 Hi Anita, I'll try to keep this short; sometimes I get too wordy. In 2003 I had a lumpectomy, left bresst, removal of a piece of tissue a little larger than a golf ball. It did make me a bit lop-sided and I never did anything about it (later on you'll see why I say " thank god " ). Anyway, after the lumpectomy I was given the option to see a plastic surgeon to " even things up " so to speak. This usually involves a breast lift and reduction of the other, untouched breast to achieve symmetry. At the time of the lumpectomy I just didn't feel that my breasts were " off " enough to warrant having another surgery. With a bra on and clothed you really couldn't tell much of a difference, now naked-that was a different story. I recently had a bilateral mastectomy (Dec 06) (thus the " thank god " ) and tissue expanders were put in place at the same time the mastectomy was done. Now that I've had both breasts removed the expanders are in place so that at some point I will have enough tissue to accept a silicone implant on both sides. The expanders are temporary things, the implants replace them once the tissue is stretched far enough. I hope this make sense. Check out " The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook " by Kathy Steligo. You can get it throught Amazon on-line and most likely at and Nobles or Borders Books. It has a lot of great information in it on different types of reconstruction. Ask your surgeon what he suggests, maybe an implant on one side and a breast lift on the other? They can do it some many ways. You asked what it entails; I have to tell you that it is not a piece of cake. It's major surgery TWICE-once for the temporary expander and then again for the implant. For me it will be three times - again for the addition of a nipple at some point. Hope this helps and fee free to message me directly off-line if you want more info on expanders; I'm happy to tell you what I know:) > > I had a lumpectomy on my left breast. Since the lump > was on the top, that is where the tumor, tissue and > some skin was removed. It doesn't look bad, just > smaller than my right and I have a bit of a slope on > top. Oh and while I still have my nipple and there is > movement and sensation, it looks slightly dented in, > where I imagine some tissue use to be. My surgeon was > surprised to hear me speak of breast reconstruction on > that side, but he told me that he would recommend a > plastic surgeon at MD when I was ready. I > wonder if I would be a canidate for a tissue expander? > What does it entail? > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ ______________ > Bored stiff? Loosen up... > Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. > http://games.yahoo.com/games/front > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Hi Anita, just to let you know that tissue expanders aren't the only way to improve breast shape. You can get a partial breast prosthesis/implant (for under the skin, via surgery, I don't mean something to put in your bra) Look up Mc Ghan breast implants although they have been taken over by I think Allergan but Mc Ghan breast implants website will still come up. On their site you can download their catalogue and in there you will see all kinds of different shaped implants for all areas of the body. This will give you an indication of what could fill the loss of tissue in your own case. I only know this from when I originally had a quadrantectomy and wanted something to fill the empty space and I researched after the plastics and recon surgeon told me what to look for, except things changed cancerwise and I ended up having mastectomies and Mentor whole breast implants. My tumour was in the upper inner quarter of the breast and the hole it left after surgery was very noticeable, hence my request to the surgeon to fill the gap. And removable expanders aren't the only way of regaining shape, you could go for immediate fixed implant or partial implant if there is enough room and the remaining skin will allow it. Expanders as in 'Beckers' (named after the surgeon who had some input into developing this type of prosthesis but now tends to mean a tissue expander that does it's job of stretching skin only to be removed and replaced by a fixed shape breast implant) are really for those who have had mastectomies and need to increase the skin area to accept an implant. If you have had radiotherapy skin expansion can be difficult because the skin is damaged, is thinner, less pliable, there is always a possibility of the skin breaking down with/after surgery but I think a bit of research is best so you are aware of all your options. If you look up all the implant manufacturers' and download their catalogues this will give you so much information and help you make the right choice. The companies also provide a reconstruction booklet that you can also download. By the way I always go into the 'for health professionals only' pages, much better info there. Mentor have a good site too. I have mentor saline adjustable with a silicone front pocket for softness, whole breast implants. These are filled by way of a port at the side and have been adjusted so I am pretty well even but although technically these are tissue expanders because they can be filled and adjusted, they are permanent, I don't need them to be replaced by another type, this is great because just the one operation. Knowlege is power and yours for the taking, hope this is helpful to you, and all the best, Velvet (UK) Anita gedwed_2@...> wrote: I had a lumpectomy on my left breast. Since the lump was on the top, that is where the tumor, tissue and some skin was removed. It doesn't look bad, just smaller than my right and I have a bit of a slope on top. Oh and while I still have my nipple and there is movement and sensation, it looks slightly dented in, where I imagine some tissue use to be. My surgeon was surprised to hear me speak of breast reconstruction on that side, but he told me that he would recommend a plastic surgeon at MD when I was ready. I wonder if I would be a canidate for a tissue expander? What does it entail? __________________________________________________________ Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. http://games.yahoo.com/games/front --------------------------------- Now you can scan emails quickly with a reading pane. Get the new Yahoo! Mail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 they are great for the most part. mom had expanders until she got her implant. only thing is apparently you have to get the expander and implants done within a certain timeframe or it will cause issues. they had to keep putting moms off due to a blocked artery in her neck that had to be done first, and it caused her to have expander redone because it had shifted up. the port is cool though because its magnetic so they can easily find it velvet girling osteonecrosisjaw@...> wrote: Hi Anita, just to let you know that tissue expanders aren't the only way to improve breast shape. You can get a partial breast prosthesis/implant (for under the skin, via surgery, I don't mean something to put in your bra) Look up Mc Ghan breast implants although they have been taken over by I think Allergan but Mc Ghan breast implants website will still come up. On their site you can download their catalogue and in there you will see all kinds of different shaped implants for all areas of the body. This will give you an indication of what could fill the loss of tissue in your own case. I only know this from when I originally had a quadrantectomy and wanted something to fill the empty space and I researched after the plastics and recon surgeon told me what to look for, except things changed cancerwise and I ended up having mastectomies and Mentor whole breast implants. My tumour was in the upper inner quarter of the breast and the hole it left after surgery was very noticeable, hence my request to the surgeon to fill the gap. And removable expanders aren't the only way of regaining shape, you could go for immediate fixed implant or partial implant if there is enough room and the remaining skin will allow it. Expanders as in 'Beckers' (named after the surgeon who had some input into developing this type of prosthesis but now tends to mean a tissue expander that does it's job of stretching skin only to be removed and replaced by a fixed shape breast implant) are really for those who have had mastectomies and need to increase the skin area to accept an implant. If you have had radiotherapy skin expansion can be difficult because the skin is damaged, is thinner, less pliable, there is always a possibility of the skin breaking down with/after surgery but I think a bit of research is best so you are aware of all your options. If you look up all the implant manufacturers' and download their catalogues this will give you so much information and help you make the right choice. The companies also provide a reconstruction booklet that you can also download. By the way I always go into the 'for health professionals only' pages, much better info there. Mentor have a good site too. I have mentor saline adjustable with a silicone front pocket for softness, whole breast implants. These are filled by way of a port at the side and have been adjusted so I am pretty well even but although technically these are tissue expanders because they can be filled and adjusted, they are permanent, I don't need them to be replaced by another type, this is great because just the one operation. Knowlege is power and yours for the taking, hope this is helpful to you, and all the best, Velvet (UK) Anita gedwed_2@...> wrote: I had a lumpectomy on my left breast. Since the lump was on the top, that is where the tumor, tissue and some skin was removed. It doesn't look bad, just smaller than my right and I have a bit of a slope on top. Oh and while I still have my nipple and there is movement and sensation, it looks slightly dented in, where I imagine some tissue use to be. My surgeon was surprised to hear me speak of breast reconstruction on that side, but he told me that he would recommend a plastic surgeon at MD when I was ready. I wonder if I would be a canidate for a tissue expander? What does it entail? __________________________________________________________ Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. http://games.yahoo.com/games/front --------------------------------- Now you can scan emails quickly with a reading pane. Get the new Yahoo! Mail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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