How long should expanders be kept in for?

Hi, I had my expander put in in November 2010.  I went to the hospital yesterday to see if it was almost time for me to go and have it out now and replaced with the implant, as I have had the expander in now for approximately four months.  I was told that it will be about July when the expander will come out and the implant put in, that will be eight months which to me sounds like a long long time, especially as I have a lot of other knock on health issues.  Could someone please tell me if this is the normal amount of time.

Thank you.
Hazel

[japdip]

I'm not quite understanding why you went to the hospital to see about the replacement of the expanders. I would think that you should be seeing your Plastic Surgeon about this; in fact you should have been given specific instructions even before you had the first surgery as to the time line for any following procedures. I don't know if this is the "normal" time for replacement as each case might be different. I suggest that you contact your Surgeon's office for instructions.   Regards ....

[Hazellynn50]

Hi Japdip,
Sorry, I didnt explain myself well. It was the Plastic surgeons office I went to at the hospital.  I had been told awhile back that it would be around the end of March to April that I would have the process completed, so I went to check for my date and was told by the admin staff that it would be July, so it all needs to be clarified.  I will call the surgeon on Friday to sort it all out.  
Thank you.
Hazel

[Hazellynn50]

I called again to see when the exchange would be made and they added an extra two months on the date, so I am now looking at September. That means ten months for a reconstruction from start to finish for a 34b which goes beyond the recommend time limit on the expander product box.

I will go yet again to try and see the doctor as phone calls dont seem to work.  Anyone else ever had these problems, I would love to hear from you.

Hazel

[japdip]

I agree with the face to face discussion with your Physician. I'm not sure how these decisions could be made over the phone and it sounds like they aren't reviewing your particular case in doing so either. Good luck .... hopefully someone will have had a similar experience and will answer you. You might try posting on the Expert Forum (Reconstructive Surgery) .. Physicians answer there but another patient may read you post and answer; worth a try.   Take care ...

[bluebutterfly2222]

Unfortunately, the Reconstructive Surgery Expert Forum is no longer open for questions. (You can review the archives, however.)

If you keep getting the run-around from your surgeon's staff, as a last resort, you could tell them you want an appointment right away to discuss your concerns, or you will have to file a complaint with your doctor's licensing board.

Best wishes...

[SueYoung55]

They're putting you off for whatever reason especially if your fills are done. It isn't hurting your body in any way that they're still there but it's not letting you move forward with your life with a surgery looming over you month after month after month as they keep moving it out for THEIR reasons.

There is no standard length of time for this. If your fills are done then surgery NORMALLY would be scheduled between two and four weeks after final fill. And as the implants are much more comfortable by all accounts than the expanders, I'd be pushing for an end to this strange behavior on their part.

If they don't give you satisfaction you can always change surgeons. If they did that to me they'd hear my dissatisfaction loud & clear. If it doesn't bother you then don't worry about it.

Best wishes.

[SueYoung55]

Ahh, I see you're in Portugal. They might have their own ideas of standard of care. Can't help you with that other than to let you know how it's done in the USA.

[Hazellynn50]

Hi Sue, not been on for awhile, only just seen your post.  Yes its very very strange that they can keep me waiting for ten months, April was the agreed month and if I had known it was going to be longer I would not have started the process, it took me three years to decide to have it done as I wanted to move on for all our sakes, but now I have emotionally and physically taken a dozen steps backwards and wish I hadnt started this process, I feel disillusioned and when it is done, I shall leave the other breast in its untouched state even thought they wont match as I now have kidney problems etc thanks to all the meds and anasthetics etc, so I will be doing more harm than good if I continue with this route.

Hope you are ok
Hazel