New Symmastia member

[danielle]

Hi ladies.
I am going for my symmastia repair surgery on Dec 14. I am using the same Doctor who created this problem. Or did he? I am confused on what to expect! Is the surgery more painful than the orginal surgery? What are the odds it will take, not take? He says he is going to do muscle repair, but still did not 'admit' that he overdisected my pectorials. I have trust issues, but I feel he can correct what he did wrong, or was it my fault? Any sharing of your past experience with this situation would be heaven scent.

[blondemom804]

I have symmastia as well in my breasts and I am like you with the trust issue. I never knew there was a problem until I saw a program on television and the person's breasts were like mine. I haven't talked to my doctor yet and afraid he's not going to admit it was his fault. I'm afraid he won't know how to repair it either. Good luck with your surgery and I wish you the best. If you want to talk you can email me at blondie_71_@hotmail.com

Yvonne

[goldy]

Danielle, Did your PS say he was doing internal permanent sutures? I understand this is the only way that symmastia can be repaired permenently. I have seen cases were PS's use external stitches and it leaves scarring and symmastia comes back. I would do some research if I were you on this complication, so that you completely understand what is going to happen, and what to expect. Also, how much is he charging you?

[goldy]

http://www.justbreastimplants.com/risks/symmastia.htm
Here, read this, at the bottom it talks about how to repair it.Hope that helps



Let us know what happens, please!

[Impalamama]

O gosh I am sorry to hear you have to go thru this! There are a couple of woman on this forum I know who have battled w/ symmastia... You can also look on Dr.DeWire website. There is a wealth amount of info about symmastia.

[sandy19644]

I am sorry to hear you have symastia..... I was scared when I first had my surgery but it turned out to be just excessive swelling that went down. There is tons of places to do research on the net. I would be hesitant to go to the same PS for the fix, there are surgeons who do specialize in the repair. good luck sweetie

[danielle]

Thanks for you all's comments. Does anyone know anyone who had the corrective surgery? If so, let me hear about the results, etc. I am a wreck!

[Jiggle]

Originally Posted by danielle

Thanks for you all's comments. Does anyone know anyone who had the corrective surgery? If so, let me hear about the results, etc. I am a wreck!

Just curious... are you paying for this repair? If you are, I'd suggest going to another PS. If you aren't, then that means that your PS cares and wants good results so stick with him. And ask him for details on what exactly he plans on doing to repair this problem.

Trust me.... this is NOT a result of anything you did.

I've heard that internal sutures to repair a problem aren't too difficult to recover from. So I hope everything goes well and you come out of it with perfect boobies!!!

Good luck, girl.

[danielle]

This is the best response I have received. Thank you!
No, I am not paying for the corrective surgery. He seems to care, but it is hard to trust him because he would not admit that it was "symmastia" however, on the diagnosis of the papers I had to sign, there it was in clear print of his handwriting, "symmastia" So, needless to say, I am concerned greatly. Was he not admitting to me in person the diagnosis of my condition to protect his ass, or ??
The great concern for me is recovery time. I am a physical fitness trainer, aerobic instructor, and dietitian. I can't not do working out for 6 months, as I have read is proper healing time. I can do the 8 weeks, but 6 months?? I would be out of business by then. This is my livelyhood on the line. I need to know if I will be able to teach my spinning, jogging, and floor aerobic classes after 8 weeks? I am willing not to "lift" weights for upper body for 6 months, but cardio too?? Do you have any answers for me? Thanks so much for sharing and replying to me. I am grateful for this communication.

[Ivy]

Originally Posted by danielle

Hi ladies.
I am going for my symmastia repair surgery on Dec 14. I am using the same Doctor who created this problem. Or did he? I am confused on what to expect! Is the surgery more painful than the orginal surgery? What are the odds it will take, not take? He says he is going to do muscle repair, but still did not 'admit' that he overdisected my pectorials. I have trust issues, but I feel he can correct what he did wrong, or was it my fault? Any sharing of your past experience with this situation would be heaven scent.

Hi Danielle,

I'm sorry to hear you have Symmastia. If it were me, I would search out a PS that has experience with this repair. It is not an easy repair for a surgeon to preform. This is surgical error, you did not cause Symmastia. Personally, I wouldn't go back to a PS that caused Symmastia even if it didn't cost anything.

We do have a few long time members that have had Symmastia and had successful repairs. I haven't seen them in a while, hopefully they will see your post and help you out if they log in.

I don't know where you are or if you have considered traveling to have your Symmastia repaired, Dr. DeWire is skilled in this repair. If nothing else you could see if your surgeon could contact him so they can talk about techniques in the repair of Symmastia.

[asujen]

Danielle,

I also have symmastia. I had surgery to repair the problem two months ago. I had to use the same doctor that caused it. I did not have the $10,000+ that it would have cost to have a different doctor do it. Long story short...I have symmastia again. Last week I found out he didn't use permanent sutures and as soon as they dissolved they went right back to touching. I have had a horrible time of it. You definitely should not expect to work out for at least 2 months if not a bit longer. I am still wearing my thongbra even though they went back...just because I don't want it to get worse. I can't afford to pay for the repairs for a long time so I am trying to prevent them from getting worse. I am do not have a severe case but the idea of ending up with a bread loaf scares the crap out of me.

I was able to work out with my thongbra on and at least two sports bras after a month and a half but I couldn't do anything that required arm swinging or movement that would stretch the muscle.

if you have any questions let me know. I'm sorry you are dealing with this. e-mail me at asu_jen@Msn.com if you ever need anything

[Jiggle]

Oh wow.. .I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that! Are you sure that going to another PS would cost $10K?? That doesn't sound right at all. I'd guess it'd be cheaper than a breast augmentation because there's no cost for the implants.

I hope you find a good PS who will correct this once and for all. Good luck, girl!

[Ivy]

Originally Posted by joyful

Oh wow.. .I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that! Are you sure that going to another PS would cost $10K?? That doesn't sound right at all. I'd guess it'd be cheaper than a breast augmentation because there's no cost for the implants.

I hope you find a good PS who will correct this once and for all. Good luck, girl!

Yes, it really does cost that much. Symmastia repair is very complicated. It's important to go to a surgeon that is skilled in the repair.

[asujen]

Yes, unfortunately it does cost at least $10,000. I will end up spending over $20,000 for my breast augmentation by next year. The cost includes silicone implants which are about $2,000 and some PS include an additional charge for them just because of the paper work and tracking involved. The PS will also usually charge about $6,000 for his own fees because it is complicated and usually requires additional touch-ups. And then come the fees for the hospital and the anesthiologist.
If anyone knows of a good malpractice attorney I could talk to...preferably in Arizona I would greatly appreciate it! e-mail me at asu_jen@msn.com

Thanks!

[danielle]

Ok, my PS says he is using AlloDerm (google it, its interesting) to correct my symmastia. He is supposably attaching this tissue to the interior wall of each pectorial muscle, then suturing my muscle to this alloderm tissue. He says it will creat a barrier between implants and act as a stronger attatchment for the muscle versus the rolled up scar tissue (done in other procedures) I don't know! I am doing research on this AlloDerm and it seems to be a good idea, but I am not PS! Yes, this is the same PS that caused the symmastia, but he says he did not cut the muscle! He has repaired symmastia before, he says, and this works. Has anyone ever heard of this procedure? My surgery is on Thurs Dec 14, and I really would appreciate any replies before then. Thanks girls!

[Jiggle]

Does he have 100% success with this procedure? How many times has he performed it.

Also, is he board certified??? If he's not, I definitely wouldn't go with him.

I'd suggest asking a ton of questions before you move forward with him. Good luck with everything.

[goldy]

If he did not cut your muscles then how did you get it? did he say? I wouldn't go ahead with it until EVERY one of your questions have been answered. Ditto Joy's post

[Admin]

Originally Posted by asujen

Yes, unfortunately it does cost at least $10,000. I will end up spending over $20,000 for my breast augmentation by next year. The cost includes silicone implants which are about $2,000 and some PS include an additional charge for them just because of the paper work and tracking involved. The PS will also usually charge about $6,000 for his own fees because it is complicated and usually requires additional touch-ups. And then come the fees for the hospital and the anesthiologist.
If anyone knows of a good malpractice attorney I could talk to...preferably in Arizona I would greatly appreciate it! e-mail me at asu_jen@msn.com

Thanks!

There is no need for touch-ups after symmastia repair. My ps (DeWire) is an excellent ps, and is an expert at repairing symmastia. No touch-ups needed. I know 3 people that had to have him correct their symmastia, and I know several others (thru the forum) that have had their repairs w/him also.

It IS expensive to get this surgery done. One of my friends paid DeWire $8000 for her repair, and it's held up beautifully. I'm not sure what his fees are now, as the $8000 fee was 4 years ago, but I'm sure it's in the $10k range.

[Admin]

Originally Posted by danielle

Ok, my PS says he is using AlloDerm (google it, its interesting) to correct my symmastia. He is supposably attaching this tissue to the interior wall of each pectorial muscle, then suturing my muscle to this alloderm tissue. He says it will creat a barrier between implants and act as a stronger attatchment for the muscle versus the rolled up scar tissue (done in other procedures) I don't know! I am doing research on this AlloDerm and it seems to be a good idea, but I am not PS! Yes, this is the same PS that caused the symmastia, but he says he did not cut the muscle! He has repaired symmastia before, he says, and this works. Has anyone ever heard of this procedure? My surgery is on Thurs Dec 14, and I really would appreciate any replies before then. Thanks girls!

How are you doing? How did the repair go?

I've never heard of using Alloderm in symmastia repair. Surgeons usually roll up the scar tissue and use that for the sutures to adhere to. Who's your ps?

[danielle]

It has been 6 days post op. I went with my orginal PS. He said he did not cut the muscle. I have reason to believe he didn't, but maybe want to believe it was my fault, so that I can trust him again. The results: He entered my left breast, sutured the capsule at the cleavage, added a layer of alloderm, then another layer of sutures. No pain, really. He did not go into the right breast because, "it was not crossing the midline, as the left was" Therefore, symmastia of one side? Anyway, my newly sutured side is actually smaller now than my untouched right side. Therefore, I look unsymmetrical...He promised that the swelling would go down, the implant would drop and fluff, and take on the shape of the untouched right side. There is cleavage now. It is swollen in the cleavage area, but not lifted as before. The left operative side looks like a "natural" breast, and my right side looks like a nice round implant. Yes, he added the same amount of saline back into the left implant after removing it to do the repair. All I can do is wait " 3 to 5 weeks" for the left side to settle, etc. If it doesn't work like he promised, he said "Ill make you look perfect whatever it takes" However, I will be asking for a full refund plus the difference for Dr. Dewire to do the repairs. At least, that is the game plan. What do you guys think of why my operative left breast is smaller?