What happens after tissue expander surgery?
After each expansion, your reconstructed breast will become larger, but your breast won’t take its final form until the permanent implant is placed. You may feel some tightness and fullness in your breast and some discomfort in your shoulder or back after each expansion. This usually gets better within a few days.
How long is recovery from Exchange surgery?
You may experience temporary soreness, tightness, swelling and bruising as well as some discomfort in the incision area. Your breasts may be sensitive to stimulation for several weeks. Most of the discoloration and swelling will subside in 4-6 weeks. Scars will be reddened for 6 months.
How long will I be off work after a mastectomy with tissue expanders?
Regardless of the type of expander used, most patients can return to sedentary work around 3-4 weeks after surgery but heavy lifting and strenuous activity should still be avoided as instructed by your surgeon.
What is the average recovery time for a double mastectomy?
The recovery time from a double mastectomy can vary from person to person, but it typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. Some surgeries involve removing the breast tissue but saving the nipple, while others remove the whole breast. More radical mastectomies also remove chest muscle and, rarely, the lymph nodes.
How long can tissue expanders be left in?
Once you are happy with your breast size, the tissue expander will be left in place for a few weeks for maximal tissue expansion. The earliest your reconstruction surgery can be performed is three weeks after your final expansion visit.
Do expanders ever stop hurting?
All of these are normal and the discomfort will gradually reduce a week or two after surgery. You will be given pain relief tablets and can take them as required for the first one to two weeks. You may also feel some discomfort after each inflation of the tissue expander; this will generally only last 24 hours.
Can I sleep on my side after breast reconstruction?
Sleeping on your side or stomach immediately after breast reconstruction is not permitted. These positions put unnecessary pressure on your healing breast tissue and incisions. If you had implant-based reconstruction, side and back sleeping during recovery may result in malposition.