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05-29-2011, 11:45 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 430
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Implant problems
A couple of weeks ago, my right implant, saline, which was placed in 2006 is sagging down and moving toward the right side. This causes a concave indentation in the center that when I wear my normal bra which has minimal padding and definitely no underwire also caves in and this is how I first noticed the problem because my sweater top caved in
First of all, I need to add that I have a high reputation plastic surgeon. I have a left implant too after my elective mastectomy; and the implant put in by the same surgeon.
And lastly, in my "nomal" life pre bc, I had two rasins on a breadboard so I decided I wanted to keep the same, since honestly I was scared to go bigger and really I would not know what to do with them. With that said, I still look I have some breasts now.
My right breast has 150cc and left breat has 165 cc. The reason was the cavity side between the two breasts.
My implant is not deflated or deflating and it has the normal rippling you get with saline implants and I massage them every day so they wil not harden.
I don't do exercise like weight lifting, or any other extreme exercise that would cause this problem. I do zumba every once in a while but I use a good support bra crossing in the back- don't feel any pounding at all.
Now the plastic surgeon has given me the following choices:
1. Go in and suture the muscle on the right side to give it more support. Remove it, inflate it and put it back in. Get a drain
2. Same as above but use ADM cells, which are dead structure cells wich places support and get a drain
3. Put a whole new implantand still keep the sutures and the risk is that this new implan will leak sooner simply because it's defective. It is said that if an implant lasts more than five years, it's less likely to leak ( like mine now). Also a drain
4. Do nothing. This leaves me with to deal with the fact that the concave still there
5. Take it out an use an insert. One of our sisters wrote about the coobie bra which has an insert. Actually, I was planning to make my own cotton shaped inserts and attach it to all my bras. This does does not solve bathing suits etc
Since this is elective I have time to choose. I definitely would not not choose the ADM solution, just on the insignificant risk that there may be any cancer cells on the graft.
In addition, my elderly mother is going through laser treatments for glaucoma that are not expected to succeed which means that surgery will follow in later summer. While she's recovering, I will be moving to her house. She's 81. And I have not told her about this because I think it would break her down and I need her "up" for the procedures
In addtion, I'm looking for a job, although unlikely I will (thanks to our wonderful economy) when do I do this?
So there's never a good time for more bad times
If I choose to get a new implant, I would have to go through the drain again. And I don't know the risks of this leaking
If I choose to just add more saline and the suture, what's the risk of leaking? I understand that is just adding to the valve
I have been wearing the light impact bras at night now and I wear another soft ligth impact bra during the day which although makes me look like 12 years old, still better than the bra sinking in.
I also don't know how bad it will get with that breast as it continues to sag and slide. Almost like natural breast, isn't it?
I have no clue if this has happened to anyone of you. If you have experienced this, I would appreciate your advice
Please put your two cents on this. God, this misery is never over till all is really over. I know that compared to what I and you have gone through, and others are going through now, this is pure vanity and crap but I still want to hear from you and think of it this way, others in the future may be in the same position
Thank you everyone of you
xoxo
maria
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05-30-2011, 04:22 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: "Love never fails."
Posts: 5,809
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Re: Implant problems
Maria,
I'm sorry to hear the problems you've been having with the implant.
Can not offer any advice as I've been flat-chested my whole life and all of my 'padded' bras still fit after the bilateral mastectomy.
I hope others will chime in to help you make the decision you desire.
[Can you find a bra with removable pads and just remove the pad on one side?]
__________________
Jackie07
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2
NICU 4.4 LB
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M
Diastasis recti
Tamoxifen B. scan
Irrtbl bowel 1'09
Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
hptc hemangioma
Vertigo
GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement (600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa
Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe
Last edited by Jackie07; 05-30-2011 at 03:47 PM..
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05-30-2011, 12:24 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Re: Implant problems
You might also need alloderm (a thin meshlike material for when the muscle fails to hold the implant in place)
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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06-23-2011, 01:12 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: "Love never fails."
Posts: 5,809
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Re: Implant problems
__________________
Jackie07
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2
NICU 4.4 LB
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M
Diastasis recti
Tamoxifen B. scan
Irrtbl bowel 1'09
Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
hptc hemangioma
Vertigo
GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement (600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa
Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe
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06-23-2011, 10:10 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 430
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Re: Implant problems
You've given me a lightbulb ideas. I am going to call Mentor and see what they say on the durability of the implant. I have saline not silicone, because I was scared of what could have happened with silicone.
I will call the plastic surgeon and aks him to explain the alladerm. Never heard of this. He did talk about suturing and skin graft to support the brease. Of course this involves surgery and drains. I don't know about you but after all my surgeries, I just got so tired of these.
Since, I'm flat!!!, I will see if I can find a smaller bra that sticks the other breast a bit bulging but would be ok to the other sliding side!
I have also noticed that the side under the armpit is a bit more flabby than the other "good" side. I have only gained 5 lbs, which is not big but I am tiny, only 5 ft tall. So I am going to try to hard to loose that weight.
I'm also going to try to find a support bra that does not have underwire, and is not a sport bra but that the support goes to the side to see if I can redirect it to the center.
I'm going to talk to the yoga teacher and maybe they can help me with excercises to strenghten naturally that side.
I know, I sound like a real chicken here but I want to try other ways before going down the knife route
Please continue to comment on this is something else comes to your hear. I need community brain power!
You're so great! Thank you
maria
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06-23-2011, 06:28 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Hershey, PA. Live The Sweet Life!
Posts: 2,005
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Re: Implant problems
Maria,
It sounds like the capsule for your implant has weakened. I wonder if a mess-like substance (alloderm, I think) will provide support and provide a new capsule for the implant to rest in? Silicon implants are far more comfortable than saline. If you must exchange the implant why not consider silicone this go 'round?
__________________
Smile On!
Laurel
Dx'd w/multifocal DCIS/IDS 3/08
7mm invasive component
Partial mast. 5/08
Stage 1b, ER 80%, PR 90%, HER-2 6.9 on FISH
0/5 nodes
4 AC, 4 TH finished 9/08
Herceptin every 3 weeks. Finished 7/09
Tamoxifen 10/08. Switched to Femara 8/09
Bilat SPM w/reconstruction 10/08
Clinical Trial w/Clondronate 12/08
Stopped Clondronate--too hard on my gizzard!
Switched back to Tamoxifen due to tendon pain from Femara
15 Years NED
I think I just might hang around awhile....
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