Tissue Expansion for Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Undergoing a mastectomy is just one of the many breast surgeries for patients who have breast cancer. After all of the breast tissues and cells have been removed, we will typically need to perform a tissue expansion surgery to help create room in the chest cavity for your implants.

What is Tissue Expansion?

When we remove your natural breasts, tissue, and cells from your body during a mastectomy, it leaves little skin left on the breasts or room for an implant. During what is called a tissue expansion surgery, we will typically place a small balloon-like device underneath the skin, and then we gradual fill it over a several weeks or month process. Every time that we fill the balloon, the skin and tissues start to stretch to create room for the actual implants.

What Does It Feel Like?

One of the biggest things that patients want to know before they undergo this portion of breast reconstruction is whether or not the expansion process is painful. Typically, patients will feel some pressure and a stretching sensation as their skin stretches in between each session. Sometimes patients may even feel like their skin is a bit tender, but overall, it shouldn’t be painful. If you are experiencing tenderness, then consider taking some ibuprofen to help ease the discomfort and pain that you are feeling.

What Is Recovery Like?

Typically, after the tissue expansion surgery, we will have patients stay at the hospital overnight b that tends to vary from patient to patient. Once you go home, you may feel a little bit of soreness and tenderness, which is exceptionally reasonable.

Understanding every step of the breast reconstruction process can help patients feel more reassured and involved. If you want to learn more, contact our Chester office today and call us at 908-879-2222.

Posted in Tissue Expansion on August 15th, 2019

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