I am having expanders removed due to infection.

Sorry to hear it. I had an explant following an infection and the recovery time was fairly quick. A few weeks of taking it easy, keeping the incision dry, etc., no heavy lifting, Tylenol for a couple of days. (I have a staph infection now with an expander — hoping it works out). The drain is always the biggest challenge but I’ve worked out clothes to hide it. Infections are not uncommon. Take it easier than you think you should and heal up! Best wishes to you.

I should add — you need recovery time for anesthesia too! I usually plan for a few days of very low/almost no activity and then slowly increase. My thing is getting up and out for a short walk. Prepare for the worst and then be pleasantly surprised, I hope! ♥️

Sorry to hear about that. I went through that just on one side. The recovery was quick, and I felt much better after having it removed. I was on my feet within a couple of days and started chemo a few weeks after that. It was not like mastectomy recovery.

I had reconstructive surgery after chemo to remove the other expander and place implants. No complications

The same thing happened to me. I was five weeks out of a bilateral mastectomy. I saw that my right side was red on Thursday. I was in the operating room on Monday getting the expanders out. I went home with a wound vac. The drains and wound vac were only in a week . My doctor wanted me to be on recovery for 6 weeks after that. I took it slow. I still walked and was mentally getting myself ready to go back to work.

@valariej, how are you doing now?

I am fine. I was out from work another 6 weeks after the expanders and scar tissue were taken out. I am now in therapy to take care of scar tissue. I know I am getting better everyday because I am doing the stretches. The surgery was different because I had to hop on the pain meds as soon as we got home from the hospital. Thank God they worked. I am going to have the Diep Flap reconstruction. I have so many question now because how is my skin going to get stretched like the expanders would do. I got an infection the first time, so are they going to try to put them in again?

I’m so sorry. I lost one 8 weeks after surgery due to infection. I had to wait a few months, and ended up waiting a year (my choice). When an expander was placed I developed an infection and landed in the hospital for a week. They figured out it was staph and treated me for that ($$$). I had my implant placed 4 weeks ago, almost a year later (my choice to go slow and let everything heal). I won’t relax until I’m passed 8 weeks. 😳🤞 None of the follow-up surgeries were anything like the initial mastectomy, thank goodness, but they all require extra rest and mental space — this is all potentially traumatic. The nurses encouraged me to eat lots of protein to help healing.

Good luck to anyone going through this. I think it is more common than people think, unfortunately.

@valariej Hey! I had diep flap surgery almost 7 weeks ago. I’m glad to say there are no expanders involved! That’s one reason many people go with it. The diep flap surgery is a lot but I’m glad I did it. I’m still healing but am back to work and happy with the results. I still have abdominal swelling and swelling in my left breast but I have breasts again and they look pretty good! The right one looks great and they assure me lefty will too once all the swelling is gone. My stomach is flat like when I was 20! Even with the swelling, my flat stomach looks really good! Blessings to you as you prepare for your diep flap surgery!!

Wow! They didn't have to stretch your skin at all? Thank you for responding your text is very encouraging. You are back to work after 7 weeks? Are you superwoman! God is so Good. I am so happy and thankful to God for you!