weird pulling in chest

[cerulean1000]

I had a left subcutaneous mastectomy about 3 weeks ago and everything seems to be healing well, but I started having this weird pulling sensation in my chest that radiates below the surgical site.  At first, I thought it was just from the trauma and scar tissue forming, but now I can feel a small, thin band that runs from the surgical site, diagonally across my rib cage towards my abdomen; it sort of feels like a small tube.  It's more pronounced when I stretch my arm over my head and it hurts to touch it.  I was not aware of a drain being put in so I'm not sure what else it could be.  Is it possible for an adhesion to form under the skin like that?  Any suggestions?  Thanks.

Chris

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

This sounds very much like Mondor's Syndrome.  It is like a vertical or diagonal band under the skin -- and is associated (fortunately, only rarely) with breast/chest surgery.  I have seen it with women on whom I did breast augmentation as well.

Relax -- this is self-limiting -- it is not harmful -- it needs no therapy or treatment and will disappear on its own -- but it may take 1-2 months.

Dr Jacobs