How do you sleep comfortably with tissue expanders?
During the first two weeks after your expander placement, you should sleep on your back. We recommend that women who want to sleep in bed place pillows under their head and knees to support their body. However, many women find that it is more comfortable to sleep in a recliner chair for a while.
How long do breast tissue expanders stay in?
The tissue expanders will remain in place for a minimum of 8 weeks after completing the last tissue expansion.
What do tissue expanders look like?
A tissue expander looks a lot like a breast implant, although it has a thicker outer shell than breast implants. There is a port on the front of the expander.
Does filling breast expanders hurt?
Tissue expanders are temporary, expandable, balloon-like devices used after mastectomy to stretch breast skin and chest wall muscles so that the breast implants can be adequately accommodated. Because of the stretching involved, tissue expanders can be painful.
How many cc’s are in a tissue expander?
TISSUE EXPANSION Typically, approximately 50 cc’s of saline are added to an expander (about 10 teaspoons). Patients don’t often feel significant discomfort during this process, however, if experiencing pain or discomfort, it can easily be managed with Tylenol or similar over-the-counter medication.
What can go wrong with tissue expanders?
A small percentage of patients develop an infection around the expander. While this may occur at any time, it’s most often seen within a few weeks after the expander is inserted. In some cases, the expander may need to be removed for several months until the infection clears.
Are implants bigger than the expanders?
Tissue expanders have a harder shell and are filled with saline, which makes them feel firmer and heavier compared to permanent implants. In addition, the permanent implant will be slightly smaller than the final tissue expander volume.
What is breast reconstruction surgery with a tissue expander?
After your mastectomy (surgery to remove your breast), you will have a breast reconstruction surgery using a tissue expander. A tissue expander is an empty breast implant that your surgeon will fill with normal saline over 6 to 8 weeks until it reaches the breast size that you and your surgeon decided on.
What is breast reconstruction surgery?
Breast reconstruction is surgery to rebuild one or both breasts with implants. Breast reconstruction may be done at the same time as a mastectomy or in a separate surgery. You may need to have a tissue expander, or balloon like sac, placed in each breast before an implant is placed. Expanders are slowly filled with saline over 2 to 3 months.
How long does it take to get breast implants after tissue expander?
About 4 to 8 weeks after the tissue expansion is finished, you will have a second surgery to remove the tissue expander and insert the permanent breast implant. If you will be having chemotherapy or radiation therapy, your doctor will tell you when your permanent implant will be placed.
How are breast expanders filled after mastectomy?
When placed at the same time as the mastectomy, they are usually partially filled at the time of surgery. Further expansion is performed by the surgeon during several office visits once the patient has healed from surgery. The saline is injected into the expander fill-port through the skin using a syringe.