Why Do Tissue Expanders Continue to Hurt for Weeks

After mastectomies, tissue expansion is performed to enlarge the submuscular space in preparation for the insertion of a permanent breast implant. Patients are typically afraid of the possibility of artificially stretching out their skin and muscles, thus they assume the procedure would be unpleasant. In fact, the opposite is true - expander implants are some of the most painful medical devices on the market.

Breast expanders work by injecting sterile saline into thin shells of plastic called "deflators." The saline gradually expands the deflator, which in turn pushes up against the remaining tissue beneath it. This process is repeated several times until the desired amount of expansion has been achieved. Once this has been done, the expanders are removed and an incision is made over the areola (the circle of dark skin around the nipple), the tissue is folded back, and the implant placed under the muscle layer where it remains permanently after healing has finished.

The pain associated with expander use comes from the multiple injections of saline that are required throughout the expansion process. This often leads to complications such as infection, hematoma (a collection of blood cells), and calcification (the formation of calcium deposits).

As far as discomfort during actual implant surgery, the type of anesthesia used will determine how much pain patients experience.

How long do breast expanders hurt?

If an expander was used, it was filled with salt water (saline) or air to extend your skin. You will most likely feel weak following the procedure, and you may have pain for 2 to 3 weeks. You could experience a tugging or stretching sensation in your breast region. This is normal, and it should go away on its own without treatment.

After surgery, your doctor will tell you when to resume normal activities. You should avoid any activity that causes pain during this recovery period. Otherwise, you might damage the tissue inside your chest wall, which could lead to problems later on.

The longer you wait to resume normal activities, the more risk you take of developing complications. So it's important to listen to your body and stop if you feel pain during exercise. A qualified health professional can help you decide how soon you can return to normal activities after your operation.

Breast expansion surgery is usually done as part of a larger procedure to correct other issues related to breast size or shape. For example, surgeons often combine this type of surgery with a lift or tummy tuck to improve overall appearance.

However, this type of surgery alone can also achieve aesthetic results by expanding the size of one or both breasts. Breast implants are used during the surgery to create a fuller looking breast.

Can dense breast tissue be removed?

Higher breast density increases the risk. When this occurs, known as a "positive margin," the surgeon removes (or "shaves") more tissue. A "shave" refers to the excess tissue that is eliminated. A lumpectomy is intended to remove all malignant tissue while preserving as much healthy breast tissue as feasible. Radiation therapy may be used in addition to reduce the risk of cancer coming back. Women with positive margins may require a complete mastectomy if additional tissue needs to be removed for disease control.

Women with extremely dense breasts may not be able to have their tumors removed with a lumpectomy alone. Their surgeons will need to perform a modified radical mastectomy, which involves removing the entire breast along with some of the surrounding tissue and skin. This is usually not necessary for women who have less dense breasts but still have areas where cancer might grow.

It's important to discuss potential risks with your doctor if you are considering having surgery to remove dense breast tissue. Your surgeon should also review any imaging studies such as mammograms or ultrasound scans performed so far to determine whether there is any chance they could miss small amounts of cancer.

Finally, it's important to understand that although removing cancerous tissue is the goal of treatment, there is always a chance of recurrence even after what appears to be a successful operation.

About Article Author

Beverly Giordano is a healthcare worker and has been in the industry for over 20 years. She's passionate about helping people live their best lives possible through healing and self-care practices. Beverly has a Master's Degree in Public Health and has worked as a health educator, manager and consultant.

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Source: https://staminacomfort.com/why-are-breast-expanders-so-uncomfortable

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