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Real members of MyBCTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.
March 1
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A MyBCTeam Member

Living with a medical condition is a completely different animal than treating people who have a medical condition you've never lived with yourself. Hope your appointment went well today ❤️

March 2
A MyBCTeam Member

My implants felt pretty natural right away. I would give it a few month. I had no spasms so not sure about those. It has been a little over a year and I sometimes forget I have implants. Time heals ❤️

March 1 (edited)
A MyBCTeam Member

Thanks for the confirmation. Mine are under the muscle. I have my 3 week post op visit later today. I have been taking a muscle relaxer but just want to feel like me again. It’s so hard to know what is normal and what’s something of concern when it is your body. I have a healthcare background but when it is personal it’s hard to know🩷

March 2
A MyBCTeam Member

If your implants were placed under the muscle there's a good chance the muscle spasms are happening in part because your muscles are stretching to accomodate the implants. It's also normal to get muscle spasms in general after having a mastectomy. I had implants placed over the muscle, but I've had muscle spasms ever since the double mastectomy since my original surgeon butchered me and left a couple of muscles detached. I had everything fixed prior to getting breast cancer a second time, but the damage was already done by the first plastic surgeon. If you haven't already done so, please contact your doctor and let them know about the muscle spasms. Maybe they can give you a muscle relaxer. I've taken Flexeril aka Cyclobenzaprine for years now and it has made a big difference for me with the muscle spasms. I still have them, but they are more tolerable on the meds. Good luck ❤️

March 1
MyBCTeam

When do implants start feeling like part of your body, and when do muscle spasms go away after tissue expander exchange?

It's great that you're through the expander phase! The adjustment period varies for everyone, but here's what you can generally expect:

Timeline for Feeling Normal
- Most people feel significantly Show Full Answer

When do implants start feeling like part of your body, and when do muscle spasms go away after tissue expander exchange?

It's great that you're through the expander phase! The adjustment period varies for everyone, but here's what you can generally expect:

Timeline for Feeling Normal:
- Most people feel significantly better within the first few weeks after exchange
- You may need pain medication for about 72 hours, then over-the-counter options like Tylenol
- Around 2 weeks: Many return to light activities like walking on a treadmill
- Around 4 weeks: Arm mobility typically improves, and sleeping on your side becomes comfortable again

Muscle Spasms and Nerve Sensations:
Some people experience nerve-regeneration sensitivity and discomfort that can last several months. For some, this subsides after about 9 months, though occasional brief episodes may still occur.

A MyBCTeam member shared: "After 18 months, I can say it was not a fun process, but now it's a distant memory, and it was worth it."

At 3 weeks post-surgery, you're still in the early healing phase. Your body is adjusting to the implants, and the muscles are recovering from the procedure. If your muscle spasms are severe or worsening, contact your surgeon to ensure everything is healing properly.

March 1

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