Thank you so much! This is helpful!

I had a double mastectomy 8/2022 with plastic surgeon and breast surgeon working together and tissue expanders placed during the mastectomy. Tissue expanders are generally placed under the muscle and are gradually filled to stretch the muscle and skin to accommodate the implants. I came home from the hospital flat, but started my fills to the expanders at 3 weeks post surgery. My fills went well - tightness feeling only. My appointments were after school, took only a few minutes to do, then back home. I took some ibuprofen as a precaution. Went back to work the next day after each one. In general, expanders are uncomfortable. I would not call it painful. I believe I had fills 3 times. There is a port in the expanders and the doctor found it with something like a stud finder (LOL), then he injected saline into the expander to make it bigger.

As far as recovery, I was a teacher and I went back to work 2 weeks post surgery but it was the teacher workdays at the beginning of the year. I had a week to adjust to working, then the kids returned and I did fine.

I was a DD before the surgery. After all fills were complete, I am a full B (small C maybe). That is what my Dr. recommended as optimal for me. After fills were complete, I had 31 rounds of radiation NovDec 2022 over my whole chest. Expanders replaced with implants May 2023. That surgery was so easy that I had to remind myself to limit some activities until healing was complete.

I have not had any major issues with my implants . 62 years old. In a typical day, I rarely think about my implants being there. I don't have any pain or discomfort. I am satisfied with my results and my clothes actually fit better than with my DD’s. My shoulders definitely feel better.

Some people wait and do the expanders/implants after all radiation and chemo is finished. Some go straight to implants and do not do the expanders. It is a lot to think about and consider. Don't be hesitant to ask questions of your doctors on what scenario is best for you if you do decide to go with implants.