Question about silicone Reconstuction Surgery

goops · 02-02-2008, 07:42 AM

I had my reconstruction surgery almost 2 weeks ago. I took the bandages off on Thursday and frankly it looks like I was cut open and a sock was put in me. The reconstructed side is much flatter than my other breast and is just a little larger than before the surgery. Does it usually look this bad? Does it fix itself later?

I see the plastic Surgeon on Monday.

runtolive · 02-02-2008, 10:11 AM

relax.. you need to wait for the swelling to go down.. it will take a minimum of 6 months before you can decide how good a job your surgeon did.. even when u think all the swelling is gone its still gonna be awhile.. take pictures if u have a camera that u can upload the pics onto ur pc.. and compare the difference now, and every few months.. u should notice a radical diff between now and 6-12 months post recon...

harrie · 02-03-2008, 05:51 PM

Goop,
Sept 2007 I had silicone put into my reconstrution (DIEP) that I had done prior. It did not look all that great the first wk post surgery. It took a few wks for it to settle down and by one month it looked really good. It is now about 6 months and I LOVE the natural look of the silicone implants.
Maryanne (harrie)

goops · 02-03-2008, 07:14 PM

Thank you for the info - I was having the day from hell on Thursday and then when I saw my reconstruction it was real hard not to get depressed. They had to remove quite a bit of skin from underneath my arm and I do notice that I am pretty swollen there - I am hoping that when that swelling goes down it will make the implant look more like a breast. I see the surgeon tomorrow.

Audrey · 02-03-2008, 07:28 PM

Hi goops, I am considering upgrading from my rock-hard saline implants to silicone--can I ask you what the recovering was like--did you need drains after the surgery?

chrisy · 02-03-2008, 09:20 PM

Goops,
I had silicone implant and a reduction on the other side so they "matched" better in size. The implant side is flatter, but in clothes they look pretty much alike, for lack of a better word. You probably do have some swelling, so are not yet sporting your final "look", so do give it some time. Also, if you don't have a "nipple" it will look different but those do turn out pretty well.

Give it some time. It is not the same as a real breast and never will be, but you will get used to it.

I love my frankenbreast!

goops · 02-04-2008, 03:29 PM

Audrey -

Silicone reconstruction is just a simple day surgery. There is no drain to worry about - I just had to wear a bra 24 hours a day for a couple of weeks. A woman I talked to had the saline implants first and converted to the silicone - she is much happier with the silicone.

As for my surgery I found out why I look so flat - the surgeon told me that my muscle would not allow them to put in a larger implant. He agreed that the reconstructed side is way to small, he told me he could either reduce the other side or put in a larger implant in about 6 months. I am already small busted so I am going to re-due the implant in 6 months.