Radiated breast

[mimosa412]

Hello everyone. I had my left breast radiated and am in the process of reconstruction. I keep being told that due to the radiation it is very difficult to have a successful exchange. I am struggling with tissue damage and they put an expander back in because the exchange failed. The skin in my armpit was too thin and was leaking lymphatic fluid. Now I am in the process of getting fills again after a flap surgery to replace the underarm skin. Last time I went they removed 70cc of serous fluid to put in 90cc in the actual tempory implant. Not sure why I keep producing so much fluid. Can anyone share their experience with reconstruction and radiated breast? Fluid collection, etc. Thanks in advance, I feel like this process is eternal!

[Hidden]

I had lumpectomy and radiation in right breast in 2019. in 2023( age 71) I had recurrence. in 2023 I had mastectomy and flap surgery for this procedure. I was able to keep nipple. Radiation does make your breast a bit higher than it was originally. All surgeons in my town said I couldn't have flap surgery and keep nipple due to irradiated breast. All surgeons wanted to cut the top off my breast and go in that way to perform mastectomy and give me an implant. Problem with that is the implant with an irradiated breast causes capsular contracture. read about that. There was a nurse at my hospital who told me about The Center for Restorative Breast Surgery.7717 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, La 70130. they cut under my my breast( only scar) and used the skin(flap) from my stomach area and placed that in my breast. I woke up from surgery with a breast and nipple. The nurse who told me about it had a positive result as well. Look them up. They also have a facility in California and Dallas Texas area. Very professional and caring. They have their own hospital with tons of staff. Please look them up on line and contact them. My breast feels like a regular breast. my irradiated breast was no problem.

their phone is 504-899-2700

[Punkpunk]

Hi-I just had surgery 6 weeks ago taking expanders out (after being in for 2 years) and opted to not get implants. After the drains were removed, I had to have an additional fluid removed from each breast. 2 weeks later, just a very small amount from the radiated side. I have been wearing a tight compression bandage for 6 weeks and not allowed to use my arms for lifting, or swinging them etc. My surgeon told me that sometimes the skin has a hard time "sticking" and the compression (24/7) helps the tissue stick and heal. It takes much longer for the radiated side because the skin/tissue is so thin. It has been challenging to be on restricted movement and compression, but it is helping. Hope that you heal well soon.

[mimosa412 in reply to Punkpunk]

thank you for informing me.

[Hidden in reply to Punkpunk]

You can have flap surgery to fill in breast. I did not want expanders because I had had radiation and I would get capsular contracture. Call the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery on St. Charles Ave in New Orleans. that’s all they do, reconstruction. They take private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. I had mastectomy, kept my nipple, no problem with irradiated skin healing.They also do liposuction to fill i breast area. They have an office in California and Dallas area, too. Discounted hotel nearby. Go to their web page and look. They treat patients from all over the world. Their smal hospital is also on St Charles Ave, right next door to offices. Great staff and tons of care givers. Great food, etc.They work miracles.