It comes and goes - I found that if I exercised my chest muscles (even "accidentally" through extra housework), my chest felt tight. If I take care not to tax the chest muscles, there is far less occasional tightness.

Depending on the type of reconstruction done. My implants are in a pocket which was created in my chest muscle. Its been two years December 7th since having my exchange surgery and my chest continues to tighten and release.

I do the massage and take vitamin e.. I know I am impatient and just want to be finished with this experience!!!
Take care

Well I just had a revision because the first job just did not look right at all. The implant side was way over towards the armpit with a lot of excess skin. The real breast was still no where near the size of the implanted one. I am very happy with the revision now and my PS told me in the beginning that we may have to do one. I did wait almost a year to the day before we did the revision though. Now I could not be happier, they are not exactly the same and never will be but they are 80% better then before. The revision was still covered by my insurance also. I would imagine though that they may want you to wait a while longer after surgery before you make a decision. Do you massage the left side because that does help to keep them softened up and with overall "drooping"? Hope this helps a little bit, take care and blessed be.

I had my expanders removed and silicone implants in Feb 3013. I had BMX. This is my second diagnosis. I had radiation in 1990. In August 2013 I had the un radiated breast implant replaced because the breast was larger and lower than the other one. The implant had come out of the pocket. Now the implant for the radiated breast is incapsulated, phase 3 out of 4. I am in the process of consulting with plastic surgeons but so far. They are recommending the lat dorsi flap with implant for the radiated side. That side is much higher than the other. They say it is because there is not enough skin.
I am pretty sure I will have the flap surgery because of my very active lifestyle. Hope to have final answer i a couple weeks. I am hopeful for a good outcome although I never wanted all of these surgeries. I understand that this is not that uncommon for women that have been radiated.