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I had bilateral mastectomy, tissue sparing, with expanders all at the same time and this is what I dealt with.   The scars, although approximately 5" long, were not that bad looking and they were glued together.     The plastic surgeon started the expansion in the operating room and put in approximately 400ccs to start in 650cc expanders.   The bra they sent me out of the operating room with was uncomfortable, and a little tight, but I didn't have any bandages.  He took the bra off the day after the surgery and I didn't wear anything after that except these wonderful camisoles that I found out about here on this site.   The drains were the worst part.  I always pulled them on something and they were always in the way and I had to "milk" them often.  Ask you doctor or the nurse about that as it's an important thing to do.     I went in for my first expansion 2 weeks after my surgery, but since my drains were not ready to come out, he did not expand.   I went in for my second appointment for expansion 3 weeks after surgery and they did expand for a few weeks consecutively, until I started my chemo 5 weeks after surgery.  During my chemo, they expanded me right before the chemo and then gave me a week off.  So every 2 weeks, instead of weekly.  I believe my last expansion will be a week before my last chemo.     The expansion process was painless when they insert the needle and I experienced no pain after.  My breasts were DD's to begin with so there was a lot of tissue to spare.  LOL     I won't be considering the final reconstruction until after my chem is over sometime in the beginning of 2009.   Everyone is different and everyone's experiences are unique.  This is a great place to get educated and correct information.     Good Luck Danielle