My surgery was only an hour and a half. Out patient.

Will do! Thats kinda what I thought so I was just interested to know how it went for others in the same situation. I'll let you all know how it goes I'm scheduled for expanders on January 26th.

My bilateral mastectomy was in April. I did have expanders placed at the same time. I was out for five weeks after mastectomy...and filled until July, had exchange surgery in August and was out for about a week after that surgery. You are correct in thinking that the exchange is not nearly as bad as the mastectomy. Let me know if you have any other specific questions

I'm not sure why you wouldbe told 6 weeks. I lost my original set of expanders due to an infection. After finshing chemo, I had surgery in mid-October to get new expanders. Yup, no tubes! I had surgery on a Friday and returned to work that Tuesday with no restrictions. I pulled my son in a wagon for trick-or -treating too.

Well I can definately say expander surgery was more painful than the switch out! I bounced back quickly though, I was out for a week 1/2 with each surgery but the switch out was a breeze because the skin and muscle were already stretched out. It was painful the last 3-4 fills I had though and I couldn't wait to get my implants as the extenders were like big hard rocks!! The implants are nice and squishy. Glad its over all that is left is the 3D tatooing.