Breast reconstruction - how to prevent capsuleture (scar tissue)?
I just had the final surgery for breast reconstruction on May 26,2009. At that time they also had to do repair work on the left breast due to scar tissue capselture from the surgery that was done in Dec 9,2008. Now my question is what can I do to prevent this from happening again? Cancer was only in the right breast, but it seems like it is the Left Breast that keep giving me problems with scar tissue build up. Help, I don't want any more surgery.
Stepaheda
I have the same exact problem. From what I have been told, massaging the breast is supposed to help prevent CC cause it's stimulating the blood flow. however if you already have firm spots forming, massaging will not help - as I have been rubbing mine like crazy since April and the hard spots have not changed. My PS said it should smooth out, but it has not so when I see him next week I am going to ask him to re-do that breast. Not just cause it is hard, but because it is lower than the other and since i had radiation on my R side, I cannot get that implant to shift down as the skin is tight and damaged from the treatment.
So all I can say is keep rubbing them and if it's not working then bring it to your PS attention.
Good luck!
Angi
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stepaheda
Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 08:34 PM
Try to find someone that has a MASTERS in physical therapy from Mayo. This has been a godsend for me not only for scar tissue but also to improve lymph flow to lessen lymphedema symptoms.
ra
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stepaheda
Friday, June 26, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Thank you so much for the infromation, and will start looking ASAP! Will let you know if I can find one.
Stepaheda
Dear Stepaheda - I am having the same problem too with the breast that did not have cancer in it - even with just the stretcher in there, it is much harder and painful compared to the left breast because of the residual scar tissue. I also developed cellulitis on this side, and though the infection is cleared, it has left a nasty red inflamed rash still underneath it. My bi-lateral surgery was December 4, 2008 and I'm scheduled for the implants in September; the plastic surgeon said at that time he will clean/clear out as much scar tissue as he can. I wanted to share with you that supposedly the textured implants (vs. smooth) are suppose to help with discouraging additional scar tissue from forming. If you know of anything that would help the inflamed outside skin or other successful treatments beyond the massage, it would be greatly appreciated if you shared.
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stepaheda
Friday, June 26, 2009 at 09:36 PM
Hi this is stepaheda,
I am so sorry to hear that anyone is having this same problem, but I understand that it is more comment than I thought. Yes in Dec,2008 when my dr. replace the expanders with the perm-implants he did remove as much of the scar tissue as he could. So I'm sure your dr will do the same. I found out from my dr today that my problem is more of my body trying to adjust to the treatment of replaceing damaged tissue with grafting/and tissue fat from my body due to the fact that at the time of the mastectomy too much muscel/and tissue fat was removed. So it left me with an expanding hold in my left breast. So this is how the problem started, and I just found this out today, due to the fact that I called them to find out why there was still so much swelling in my left breas. Boy, I tell you if you don't ask questions, over and over again, they will never tell you the whole truth nothing but the truth. Always ask many questions. So funny, because they acted like OH, didn't you know this, how would I know this if no one told me.
Any way so much for that, well as far as the inflamed outside of the side, I am a lic. esthatician, and one of the things that me and my massage thearpies have found to be very helpful is aloe vera gel and lavender oil (french lavender oil pure). This is very helpful in calming the skin down. Do not use them at the same time, but use 1 one day, then the other the next day. You want to calm the skin down but at the same time you need to feed the skin to encourage healthy skin cell growth. I hope this will help you, and I know we are going to look back on this an Laugh!
Take care, and many blessing.
stepaheda
My PS told me that most reconstruction develops encapsulation and that there is really nothing I can do about it. I have massaged, etc and it hasn't helped. I am two years out from diagnosis and reconstruction and I am thinking about having them removed and just wearing a prosthesis so I don't have this "inner coil spring mattress" feeling. Good luck to you! This is what I know about the subject- take it as you will.
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stepaheda
Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 06:35 PM
Hi Ninamat,
Thank you for your input. Yes I was told also on the morning of my last surgery by the nurses that many women have this scar tissue problem, and due to this many of them just have the implants removed all together. But as an Esthhetian/ and working for many years with person who had bad scar tissue damage from other health problems. I know that it will take some time and also that it may never completely go away, but that with massage and streching/and exercise it can get better. So as for me I am going to try to give my self 2 to 3 years to see what happens. I also know that any time you have any kind of p/s it takes a complete years for it to heal completely. And for me I had 11 difference in less than a year and half. So with that in mind I have to be patience with my body and give it all the TLC I can, because this will take time. Believe me I understand and agree with you that it can be very uncomfortable at times, for me it is my left breast that give me the most problems. But I know right before the last surgery in May, I was starting to feel so much better in both breast and they were starting to look very good to me, and it had been 5 & half mos since the last surgery. So if I keep that in mind I know that with in 6mos I should start looking and feeling better, both breast will have adjusted and dropped to the position where they are suppose to be.
Well I hope that this has helped a little, but I know many day's you just want it to be over.
Best wishes and you hang in there you have made it this far and there is nothing but brighter sky's over the hill.
Just remember only 1step at a time,
stepaheda
Hi Angi,
It is so good to hear that I am not alone. Because after a while you began to think that you are crazy, or something is wrong with you. Because I've talked to other person who have had reconstruction surgery and all they can tell me is," Oh, I had no problems at all everything healed in about 3 wks and then I was back at wk". And here you are thinking then what is wrong with me and my little breast. The dr. has already removed the scar tissue more than one, and here I go again. But my massage thearpies say the same things that you have shared with me to massage, massage, massage, but very gentel. She told me if you rub too hard that you cause too much blood to rush to the area which causes it to become hard. OMG!!! Can someone delever us from this HELL. But Angi, I have to tell you my new breast do you good. And if I can just make it to the next 4 months, then they will be tattooed and I'll me done. Hoping to never have to face this again. Please keep me up to date as to your healing progess OK.
Thank you again for your input.
Stepaheda
