How long does tissue expander pain last?
How long does tissue expander pain last?
You may experience minor discomfort for the following 12 to 24 hours after each tissue expansion. This discomfort usually subsides 2 to 3 days after each tissue expansion. The tissue expander may shift after the 1st or 2nd expansion.
Can you sleep on your side with breast tissue expanders?
After two weeks, you can continue sleeping on your back or begin sleeping on your side. Some women find that cradling a pillow makes side-sleeping more comfortable. Avoid sleeping on your stomach during the first four weeks.
What do you wear tissue expanders with?
After 14 days you may remove the Surgical Bra and wear a “sports” type bra that will provide support and maintain the placement of the tissue expander. Please do not wear an underwire bra. Please wear a “sports” bra for 24 hours a day for 21 days. You may remove the bra to shower.
Are there different size breast expanders?
Six distinct volume expanders were overfilled for each manufacturer, with indicated capacities of 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 mL for the Natrelle expanders and indicated capacities of 275, 350, 450, 550, 650, and 800 mL for the Mentor expanders.
What do breast expanders look like?
What to Expect From Tissue Expanders. 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.
How long can you leave tissue expanders 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.
How long do expanders hurt after mastectomy?
If an expander was placed, salt water (saline) or air was added to it to start stretching your skin. Right after the surgery, you will probably feel weak, and you may feel pain for 2 to 3 weeks. You may have a pulling or stretching feeling in your breast area.
Can you exercise with tissue expanders?
Implant reconstruction If you have a tissue expander in (a temporary inflatable implant that stretches the skin to make room for the final implant), you can usually start gentle shoulder stretching exercises about 2 weeks after surgery once your mastectomy scar has started to heal.
Can you run with breast expanders?
First off, mastectomies and reconstructions are major surgeries that require time off from physical activity. And side effects like fatigue, pain, loss of fitness, and limited range of motion can make running slow going when you do start back, usually about six to eight weeks later.
How long does a double mastectomy with expanders take?
This surgery will be done 4 to 6 weeks after the expansion is completed so that your skin can rest. This date may change if you need other treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The surgery to take out the tissue expander and insert the permanent implant takes about 1 hour for each side.
What can go wrong with tissue expanders?
The most common concern is that the silicone expander used in the procedure will break or leak while it is in the body. While expanders are rigorously tested and placed with care, leaks do occur.