This expansion process is really quite interesting. There is so much involved in the process, however, it just seems to be business as usual for the medical staff. The plastic surgeon is just fabulous. He remembers the minor personal details from visit to visit even though he has done a gazillion things, seen many people, and perhaps even flown half way around the world between my visits. I have tremendous respect for him. Here is the process we follow during visits for filling the expanders.

After I lie back on the table, he uses a device akin to a small stud finder to locate the valves on the tissue expanders. The valves have a small piece of metal behind them so I think this is the tracking device he is locating. The valves are approximately in the 2:00 position (if my breasts were a clock). After he marks the spot with an "x," he inserts a needle and starts to add the saline solution. At first the fluid feels a little cool going in, but that is about all I feel. About halfway through I begin to feel a little full, for lack of a better description. As he continues, I begin to feel a little tightness. It really isn't all that bad. As the evening progresses, I feel a little more tender especially along the sides. This continues for about a day or so.

This round was another 120 cc. I definitely feel more tight and the growth I believe is obvious this time. The expanders are not expanding exactly in the place the final implants will be located. This is very normal; however, as the expansion continues it might look a little strange to me. I'm not so sure it will be noticeable to everyone else. All in all, so far so good (better than fine, I might add). At this point I would definitely recommend this type of two-stage reconstruction.