Just the Facts: It has been 9 weeks since my tissue expander-to-implant exchange surgery.  I had a follow-up appointment with my plastic surgeon last week and we concluded a revision surgery is in order. The surgery has been scheduled for December 27.

Details: I have breast implants now, having had the expander-to-implant exchange surgery a couple of months ago. They feel so much better than the tissue expanders.  For a few weeks, I was happy with the way they looked. My plastic surgeon spent significant time repairing/altering the “pocket” for the implant on the left at the last surgery, and I had extensive internal sutures to hold the left into its new place.  Had the sutures “held” I think things would be just fine right now.

However, that’s not what happened.  My left “breast” shifted from its proper position, and in my opinion, it’s dramatic.  (My friends say they can’t tell.)  I tried for a while to ignore it, or tell my brain to see it as OK.  I practiced the massage techniques my plastic surgeon gave me in hopes that they would help improve the situation.  But over time, it has worsened. With things like they are, I feel pretty freakish.  And avoiding that feeling is the whole reason I had reconstructive surgery in the first place.  Some may say, “oh be happy with what you have, at least it’s something,” like that voice in my head kept saying. I continue to have that debate with myself.

I was quite apprehensive about seeing my plastic surgeon last week.  However, he acknowledged the problem (and a few other problems) right away, and began describing how he could fix the situation with other techniques.  I guess I figured that the exchange surgery would be the end of major surgeries to my chest area for a while.  But it seems that 40% of  women who have breast reconstruction need at least one revision surgery.

There is a question in my mind regarding whether or not I caused the sutures to fail.  I am super active and I haven’t given up any of my exercises, although I strictly adhered to the guidelines the doctor gave me after the last surgery.  I asked him again about this and he said – sometimes the sutures just don’t hold.  Yet, I still wonder if I added to the problem in some way, and in light of that, I may be taking a much longer hiatus from strenuous activity after the next surgery.  I’m researching it more and thinking it through.  If I’m going to go through this again, I want it to come out right.

We have also decided that at some point down the road, I will have the optional, last phase of reconstruction, to make the reconstruction complete.   It should happen in 2011, hopefully.  All revision work must be completed first.

Me: Grateful in many ways: for good health, good insurance and I still believe, an excellent plastic surgeon.   I’m also very relieved and hopeful.  Although some people might choose to avoid another surgery and be content with this outcome, I entered into reconstructive surgery for a reason – to maintain a somewhat normal appearance despite having dramatic breast cancer surgery.  There seems to be a way to fix my situation.  From my perspective, this revision surgery is not optional, but mandatory.

Prayer requests: Thanks and praise for my health being good enough that I even care what my breasts look like.  Thanks that I have insurance to pay for this and all the rest of the stuff I’ve had done.  For skillful hands and wisdom for my plastic surgeon.

What’s coming up: A visit to the oncologist on December 1.  I expect this to be a quick “Hi, how ya doing?” and that’s the end of it because I feel great.  The revision surgery will be on December 27.