1 Week Post 2nd Surgery



I finally got the tissue expanders switched out to implants. I opted for the MENTOR MemoryGel XTR. Which is an extra firm silicone implant. I decided to go with silicone over saline because the saline would feel like the expanders, hard and uncomfortable. I also pick it to be extra firm because it’ll give me less ripples since I can’t do fat grafting. I’m 92lbs and it’s hard to find fat to transfer it up to my chest. And if they did find it, I’d want to keep it there plus since it’s fat, my body would probably metabolize it out anyways. There is minimal ripple effect but only on the sides when I bend over and it’s only noticeable to me. So I’m happy with my choice. It’s 100% way more comfortable than the expanders and I can comfortably lay on my side now. They feel real and I’m happy with the way they look. I was most worried about the rippling effect. Breast augmentation, you’re able to cover the implants. With breast reconstruction, it’s only your skin so it’ll hold whatever shape the implants take. So the rippling effect is unavoidable/expected. As for recovery, I actually don’t feel pain anymore. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. I already have a high tolerance and I think it got higher after my last surgery. I only felt pain for maybe 3 days, but only near the incision. I think it’s also since I lost all my nerves, I have no more feeling in my chest. I don’t feel pain/anything at all. So I had to be conscious not to over do it since I don’t know my limit. I do get tired but not as much as the first time. I can manage 15mins walks with 3 flights of stairs since my apartment doesn’t have elevators. Before it took me about 3-4 weeks to do that. I’m still sensitive around my nipples, but they’re less painful now the implants been switch out which is odd. Luckily I’m still mobile, I’m able to move my arms around normally. And like last time, I’m not allowed to be stretching or carry anything over 5lbs for 4 weeks. Oh and there’s no drains this time! The drains were the absolute worse! I was prescribed pain killers and antibiotics. They gave me a different pain med than before, the last one made me feel crazy. I stopped taking my pain meds early because I didn’t like the feeling. It felt suppressed and foggy, it wasn’t a “good” high. Like I’ll see my arms move and such but it wouldn’t feel like they’re my arms. And I’m happy I get to stop taking my antibiotics. I had to take them for a week but it made my hair fall out. My hair was shedding like crazy. It did the same the last time, I just didn’t notice it as much since I was really really out of it then. I’m also not nauseous this time around. They double dose me in anti nausea meds which worked. I was nauseous for 3-4 weeks the first time, but it was also a longer surgery. Last time was 5hrs and this time it was 2 - 2 1/2hrs. So it’s overall a better experience than the first. I mentally know what to expect and I’m doing good this time around


They sliced me back up on the same area; still have some medical glue on top of my incision 

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