Does the area ever fill back in, even via reconstruction? It looks like they took a tennis ball sized amount of tissue out of there, I look so deformed! I know the breast area will look ugly for a while as things heal around the tissue expanders and as they get filled. Unfortunately I can't have exchange surgery for at least 9 months after radiation, so this will be a long road. However, we never really discussed this part because the node they thought looked suspicious was clean on biopsy and I… read more
I had implant reconstruction and it did not fill in where the nodes were removed. I would ask your PS if there is anything he can do. I am seeing a PT and believe it or not it has helped a lot just to loosen the tightness.
I too had a noticeable hollowness in the armpit from lymph node removal. After my second reconstruction exchange I mentioned this hollowness to my PS. In order to remedy he transferred fat into the area and now it look normal. Good luck:)
At least they are UNDER your arm... (does that help at all? ;-) The strangest thing is going on w/ me now... maybe you read a previous post of mine but... on Friday I noticed 3 enlarged lymph nodes under my right arm pit & 2 in my left arm pit ;-(( I called Oncologist on Saturday to get reassurance - she has recommended me to my Primary doctor... so on Monday AM I'll be there, at his office - during the mastectomy they removed 9 lymph nodes from the R and 7 from the L... Hmmm, I wonder what these enlarged lymph nodes are about... I'll start to worry WHEN they tell me to start worrying ;-))
My lymph node dissection was from my underarm. I can feel the difference comparing it to the other side.
I'm going through the same thing... BIG DEEP BREATH!!! You WILL be able to wear a bathing suit and tank tops again!! It's a LONG ROAD but try to keep that positive attitude and you'll do fine, really you will! With the expanders getting more fluid each week, I looked like a total freak! I know what you mean - my solution was to wear scarves every day. Towards the end of the expansion process, it started to get real painful; couldn't sleep, couldn't get comfortable - having the breast inserts in place relieved a lot of pain! Nine months is a long time to have to wait, but try to be patient and stay calm. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!