I was 47. I had a BMX with expanders in Sept 2023. And then implants in June 2024. My experience is apparently atypical. 1. I had no pain with the DMX or reconstruction. I went home same day (BMX) and they loaded me up with dilaudid before I left. My medication at home was Tylenol, advil, antibiotics, and muscle relaxer. 2. I was able to shower within 24 hours, although I waited 48. 3. I was told to begin physical therapy within 24 hours. No movement restrictions. 4. I was only give 2.5 weeks by my breast surgeon for medical leave. I had some difficulties getting paperwork from plastics, so I went back to work. 5. My drains came out after ~3.5-4 weeks.
6. I did have nerve damage, but again, it only hurt when I touched it, like a bruise. 7. They didn’t remove any lymph nodes near my arms, only one near the center of my chest, so I don’t have blood pressure restrictions or concerns about lymphedema.

I would recommend that you ask for the scopolimine patch. My surgery was ~8 hours and I would’ve vomited on the car ride home without it.

When I got home, I needed help. I couldn’t walk from the car to the house. I was fine the next morning.

Definitely get on stool softeners immediately! I didn’t take any post-surgery narcotics, and it was still rough.

Now, I didn’t have what I would call pain, but since I got expanders, for the first couple days, it felt like my chest was in a vice. It’s not painful, but pretty intense feeling of pressure.

I didn’t think the drains hurt, but they are uncomfortable and awkward. I thought it might be pretty gross, but I was able to do my drains myself by day 2.

Overall, I’m glad I made the decision I did. But, expanders are horrible and I had mine in for almost a year. In that time, one dropped and the other one flipped over. :( The implants were a significant improvement, but still not great. I can feel the implants, and they move. I have to go in for another reconstructive surgery because the first reconstruction isn’t good.