Anyone decide not to do reconstruction after getting the expander in?

Thanks! What was the surgery and recovery like to get everything removed? Did you need drains again? What was your mobility like afterwards? Are you completely flat on that side now? Do you have any feeling /discomfort there? I appreciate hearing about your experience.

This is a very good question, may 8th, I have reconstruction surgery, this has been delayed for a year, I have one expander in and one out due to an infection I had 6 months ago.
I am going with a gel small (250) implant and fat graph from my stomach - there has been no expansion in the expander as my skin from radiation on my right side has changed.
So, I delayed this surgery for a year to have my body heal from my surgeries and finish with preventative chemo.
Expanders if inflated or not are very uncomfortable and I am ready to have removed from my body!
Keep you posted on the different feeling of expanders to full reconstruction. It has to be more comfortable.
Best wishes in your decision.

It will be a challenging surgery, but I am ready

I am two weeks post reconstruction. I had to wait over a year for my replacement surgery due to a scheduling problem. I must say that the closer I came to my surgery date, I wanted to just get the expander out! It caused so many problems and a lot of pain. I think I was just scared.
Two days following reconstruction, I noticed that I didn't hurt in the same way. Yes, I feel the pain of healing, but not the banding and pressure of the expander. I don't seem to have the fluid build up under my arm, like I did with the expander. I found that a lymphadema specialist help with scarring, fluid and cording the expander caused.
I know we all have our limits to how much pain, discomfort and problems we will endure. I wish you well in your decision

No drains and I am completely flat. My range of motion, strength, and comfort are much better than what I had with the expander and implant. I am very active and don't feel limited in my activities. There are some clothing styles that don't work well....bikini tops and anything too low cut...but It's not really an issue at age 67.

I had to wait 14 months after my double mastectomy to start my reconstruction journey. We were going to start it during my surgery but the docs thought I would need radiation based on the extensive lymph node involvement. Subsequent Stage 4 diagnosis cancelled radiation needs. During that 14 months I worked hard to regain muscle strength, arm movement & flexibility. My skin tightened and I used gel inserts placed into my bra pockets where you pull the padding out. I got very comfortable with the new me. But my husband pushed for the reconstruction surgery. Yes to drains again. The metal expanders are uncomfortable. Muscle relaxers & nerve blockers helped. Inflation was slow and easy, and I went for a flatter me. My cancer came back very quickly & aggressively, and we pulled the expanders out ahead of schedule due to the need to do MRI’s. We did put in implants but no nipple work, etc. Now almost 2 years later, I am glad that I am the “smaller” me. I still recall the the expanders were the toughest part - still believe because my skin had healed so well after the initial mastectomy. It is a personal choice for everyone & I have one friend whose body rejected the implant over time. One never knows. I am contemplating a nipple tattoo and I hate needles!