Skip to content

Are uncomfortable expanders normal?

Page last modified on: September 18, 2008
Question from Milissa: My expanders are too high and uncomfortable all the time, especially the two weeks after chemo. Is this normal?
Answers —Maurice Nahabedian, M.D.: It is not uncommon for the temporary tissue expander to be positioned higher on the chest wall than we would like. This is usually a consequence of the action of the muscle and the ensuing scar tissue that forms. When the temporary expander is removed and a permanent implant is inserted, the implant can then be placed in an ideal location.
Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: Sometimes the discomfort associated with a tissue expander comes from pressure put on the chest wall beneath it. This discomfort will also improve once the expander is replaced with the implant.

On Wednesday, November 19, 2003, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Breast Reconstruction. Maurice Nahabedian, M.D. and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about different techniques in breast reconstruction, the pros and cons of implants and body tissue transfers, when you might want to reconstruct, and many more issues related to rebuilding your breast/s after breast cancer surgery.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

A production of LiveWorld, Inc.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Email Updates

Stay informed about current research, online events, and more.

Please leave this field empty

Meet the Experts

Maurice Nahabedian, M.D. is director of the Center of Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery of the Breast and associate professor of plastic Surgery at Johns Hopkins.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

Back to top

Breastcancer.org 7 East Lancaster Avenue, 3rd Floor Ardmore, PA 19003

Learn more about our commitment to your privacy

© 2009 Breastcancer.org - All rights reserved.

Breastcancer.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information and community to those touched by this disease. Learn more about our commitment to providing complete, accurate, and private breast cancer information.