How long can tissue expanders be left in?
But keeping the fluid filled expander means that you don’t need to have a second operation. If you are having the expander left in, your surgeon inflates it until it is slightly larger than your natural size. They leave it for 2 to 3 months.
Are tissue expanders painful?
Because of the stretching involved, tissue expanders can be painful or uncomfortable. However, there are a variety of ways to deal with the discomfort as you begin the process of breast reconstruction.
How do you sleep comfortably with tissue expanders?
The Best Sleeping Positions if You Have Tissue Expanders During the first two weeks after your expander placement, you should sleep on your back. We recommend that women who want to sleep in bed place pillows under their head and knees to support their body.
Do tissue expanders feel hard?
You may also feel a firmness, this is often due to the scar (capsule) which forms around the tissue expander. Remember, the mound will increase each time the tissue expander is inflated. Further expansion of your tissue expander will take place in the breast clinic.
Do implants feel better than expanders?
After the permanent implant has been placed you will immediately feel more comfortable than when the expander was in place. The tightness will decrease quickly as the implant settles into the pocket.
Do expanders ever stop hurting?
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.
Why are tissue expanders so uncomfortable?
The tissue expansion process is done after mastectomies to increase the submuscular space in preparation for the placement of permanent breast implant. The process is often believed to be painful by patients who are often intimidated by the prospect of mechanically stretching out their skin and muscle.
Do implants feel better than tissue expanders?
Can you swim with expanders?
What should my activity level be? You cannot perform house hold chores or heavy lifting greater than 5 to 10 pounds for 6 weeks post-operatively. No hot tubs, swimming in lakes while the tissue expander is in place.
What do tissue expanders look like?
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.