breast expander post radiation

[run26x2]

I recently  had  a bilateral mastectomy. I had radiation of both breast prior to the mastectomys. I am looking into breast reconstruction. I am very active and do not want to have surgery that would use muscle. How succesful is breast expander post radiation?

[Archibald S Miller III, MD,FACS]

Radiation is always effective, but it almost always results in problems with breats reconstruction.

                 arch s miller ms md facs

[Barb1967]

Is radiation effective  if you have an expander put in after a mastectomy
and then do the radiation?

[Archibald S Miller III, MD,FACS]

I would like to tell you that reconstruction after radiation is a simple issue, but it is not. The problem with radiation is that it seriously affects surrounding tissues and uscle. So, a simple tissue expander reconstruction has a high chance of failure. Your best opportunity will lie with tissue transfer. I hope this helps you.
          arch s miller ms md facs