Stage 1: The first stage involves placement of tissue expanders. This can either be done at the time of the mastectomy (for immediate reconstruction patients) or after the mastectomy has healed (for delayed reconstruction patients). Expanders are essentially temporary implants that act as spacers. Breast reconstruction with implants or tissue expanders, in our practice, is generally reserved for patients who do not have adequate tissue for a flap reconstruction, or do not wish to use their own tissue for reconstruction.
Stage 2: The expanders are filled as much as possible at the time of the initial surgery. Further expansion is performed in the office as required once the incisions have healed. This expansion process can require several weeks, depending on the amount of expansion required by the patient to reach the optimal breast size.
Stage 3: Once the tissue expanders are adequately filled they are exchanged for permanent breast implants. Two types of breast implants are available to patients: Saline and Silicone. It is advised that you speak with your plastic surgeon as to which implant would be best for you. Patients who undergo breast reconstruction with implants should be aware that their implants may need to be replaced at a future date.June 4th, 2008 is my surgery date for this final step. I chose silicone implants because of my diagnoses of ductal carcinoma. With the silicone implants you get the benefit of a yearly MRI. This will also show if the cancer has come back anywhere. With the saline ones the Insurance won't pay for the yearly MRI, they will pay with the silicone ones. Dr. Melissa Goddess told me the silicone ones look much more natural and feel softer to. So I got that going for me. I am so excited I can't wait to be done with all of this and to get back to my life.
Here is a photo of a woman who has had reconstruction surgery after bilateral mastectomies. She chose silicone. I think they look pretty damn good. I wish I could show you my sister Lee's but I promised her I wouldn't.
9 comments:
wow..what you have to go through...your my hero...
but you'll have some bodatious tata's...
you'll be the bionic woman and bruce'll be the 6 million dollar man.
looks ouchie to me..
I have no idea what I would do with big boobies.. they always look to me like they would get in the way...
I can put my sisters bra on my head..
just sayin..............
Boobies, yay.
What you gotta go through to get them, not so much yay.
But Yay for you all the way around.
Amazing. I've never seen the whole process explained so clearly.
You make it seem so easy - listening to you one would have little or no idea of the pain and suffering you've been through. WOW, you will look fabulous! xo
Pardon me. I'm staring. I know the eyes are up there...that's one mellow bear on that log.
Oh my gosh I can not imagine, you are one tough woman. You have gone and are going through more pain then I think I will experience in a life time.
Oh boy Bruce will be in heaven. Though he may not like all the other guys staring. I know the eyes are up there just like Allen said.
It's a hell of a lot of pain and suffering that you are going through. I know it's better than the alternative but it sure does make God if he or she exists a real shit.
You won't be the only one with swell.
Sorry I fell in the gutter for a minute. :)
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