plastic surgeons

I had a plastic surgeon clean up the scar tissue around the pocket when I had my last replacement. Insurance did cover it, got the statement yesterday. The last time I had a plastic surgeon (first implant in 93) the dr told me in advance they probably would not pay so I was ready to pay it myself because he was definitely there for cosmetic reasons and not a medical necessity, but the insurance paid that time also without asking questions. This time she was there at the EP's request after I suggested it.

I was half expecting them to decline it but they paid the usual portion. Something to think about for those of you who've had more than a few replacements and the scar tissue is building up, or for the younger women who are getting their first one. I've never once had a female nurse or tech over the years who didn't marvel at how well placed my pm is, plastic surgeons can be miracle workers. EP's are great but they're just trying to get the job done, they're not usually so worried about how it looks and feels.

9 Comments

Question

by JustKristin - 2010-04-07 03:04:13

Is your PM in the upper part of your chest, or implanted under your breast?

under

by Tracey_E - 2010-04-07 03:04:41

It's under the breast, put in from the side and buried under the breast tissue and muscle.

I wish

by wenditt - 2010-04-07 04:04:18

I wish placing it somewhere else was even an option. It is painful where it is and being thin on top it sticks out so far that bras tend to hurt it as well.

Do you think they would be entertain the idea of moving it...or do you think I would have to wait until the battery died?

good luck, Wendy

by Tracey_E - 2010-04-07 04:04:23

Fingers crossed you get good news tomorrow!! Let us know how it goes. 7 mos is a long time to still be icing it!

Hmmmm

by wenditt - 2010-04-07 04:04:35

I go tomorrow for a second opinion on "the whole thing" and to see if all my issues have been addressed and no other tests are necessary. I will DEF ask them.

It's 7 months later and there are days when I still have to ice it. I'm so bony up there that I can literally feel the wires coming out.....gross!

Thanks for the input-and cheers to getting some greatly needed good news for me tomorrow! :-)

depends

by Tracey_E - 2010-04-07 04:04:43

You can definitely have it repositioned when the battery dies. It's up to you and your dr if he's willing to do it before then, it depends how bad it feels. They usually like to give it 6 mos to a year to see if it gets better before doing another surgery. Instead of completely moving it, you could do what Angelie did and have it repositioned deeper and under muscle but through the same incision as the first placement.

curious

by cfritza - 2010-04-07 05:04:41

Does puttting it under the breast with the breast tissue make it harder for them to read a Mamogram? I am very thin up top and my Dr. put it under my pectoral muscle which did help but just wondering how that works with mamo's?

Good luck, Wendy

by Chrissie2116 - 2010-04-07 05:04:52

and Do not hesitate to ask all your questions (I know you will ) ... we are all supporting you. Keep us posted please :-)
take care,
Chrissie

mammos

by Tracey_E - 2010-04-07 08:04:57

It shows up as a big glow on the mammo. :o) It doesn't affect reading it at all. The scar tissue shows up but it's easily distinguishable from what they're screening for.

I had some pain over the last year so I got an ultrasound as well as a regular mammo just to make sure nothing else was going on. I was pretty sure it was just scar tissue but I knew my battery was about to go so we wanted to make sure that's all it was before the surgery. That's why we brought in the plastic surgeon, to clean up the scar tissue and make it comfortable again.

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Member Quotes

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.