Actress Crystal Lowe is recovering from a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts) and has begun the breast reconstruction process, recently completing her final tissue‑expander fill.
She described the expanders as feeling “like weird rock balls,” noting she’ll need to wait 6–12 months before they can be exchanged for permanent implants in a second surgery.
Doctors explain to SurvivorNet that breast reconstruction can involve expanders, implants, or flap procedures using a patient’s own tissue, with each option carrying different benefits, risks, and recovery timelines.
Dr. Andrea Pusic, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, explains that expanders are “like a breast implant that goes in deflated with a little valve, which we can then gradually fill over time.”
Experts emphasize that reconstruction decisions are highly personal and should be made through shared decision‑making between patient and physician, considering goals, cancer features, and long‑term outcomes.
Actress Crystal Lowe, 45, best known for “Children of the Corn,” is continuing her recovery after undergoing a double mastectomy procedure, which removes both breasts. She shared that she’s now moving into the breast reconstruction phase, which can be a long and uncomfortable part of the breast cancer journey.
“Ok… last fill of my expanders. I was walking around with one big and one small, but we are now fully up and running!!” she wrote on Instagram.
Tissue expanders are temporary devices placed after a mastectomy to stretch the skin in preparation for permanent implants. They’re gradually filled with saline through a small external port every couple of weeks. This process can be uncomfortable for some women.
Dr. Andrea Pusic, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, explains that expanders are placed either during the mastectomy or later during delayed reconstruction.
WATCH: Breaking Down Breast Reconstruction Options
“It’s like a breast implant that goes in deflated with a little valve, which we can then gradually fill over time,” she says. Expansions typically begin about two weeks after surgery.
Lowe said the process has left her chest feeling strange.
“I just had my last boob‑fill, so my left one will match the right one… Even like weird rock balls in my chest,” she joked, adding that she won’t receive her permanent implants for another six months to a year.
“That’s when I’d have a second surgery to make them look normal. They’re super weird right now, but that’s okay.”
Breast reconstruction can be done with implants or with a patient’s own tissue (a flap procedure). Flap surgeries often create a more natural look and feel, but aren’t suitable for everyone. Implant reconstruction is more straightforward with a quicker recovery, though implants don’t change with the body over time and may eventually need replacement.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 12: Crystal Lowe attends the world premiere of Warner Bros’ “Final Destination Bloodlines” at TCL Chinese Theatre on May 12, 2025, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Patients choosing implants must also decide between saline and silicone. Saline implants are filled with sterile saltwater and make leaks easy to detect. Silicone implants tend to look and feel more natural but require periodic MRI monitoring.
Timing also matters when it comes to breast reconstruction. Immediate reconstruction — done during the mastectomy — can offer better cosmetic results but involves a longer initial surgery and recovery.
“Delayed reconstruction has fewer complications than immediate reconstruction,” Dr. Terry Myckatyn, a plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction, tells SurvivorNet.
Another emerging focus in reconstruction is restoring breast sensation. Surgeons are increasingly working to preserve sensory nerves during mastectomy and reconnect them during reconstruction — a technique called breast reinnervation.
Early results are promising and may help women regain meaningful sensation.
WATCH: Restoring Sensation After a Mastectomy
When discussing surgical options, oncologist Dr. Ann Partridge notes that decisions depend on tumor size, features, and personal history. Some women may be candidates for breast‑conserving surgery (lumpectomy), while others require mastectomy. After surgery, additional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy may be recommended.
Ultimately, reconstruction is a deeply personal decision.
“It’s a shared decision‑making process between the patient and the physician,” says plastic surgeon Dr. Myckatyn. “The patient needs to advocate for herself and make her goals clear.”
For Lowe, the process is ongoing, but she’s moving forward, one step at a time, and to the delight of many other women battling breast cancer, offering a source of strength and optimism.
After breast cancer surgery, patients often struggle with the changes to their bodies that others can see, whether those changes are temporary or permanent, like hair loss and weight gain. However, survivors also struggle with changes that may not be as obvious — such as infertility — and these can create body image issues and make survivors feel vulnerable.
One way to prepare yourself for possible body changes during cancer treatment is to understand that changes are possible but also, frequently, temporary. This can also help build up your self-confidence. Your support group, filled with loved ones, can help you during this stage of your journey as well.
Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin shares with SurvivorNet some additional tips cancer warriors can explore to help manage the emotional toll body changes can have during treatment.
Dr. Strongin encourages survivors to take ownership of the part (or parts) of their body impacted mainly by cancer treatment. She says that although they may represent “fear and pain,” they also represent “strength and courage.”
“Research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with, which causes us to have a negative self-view and lower self-esteem. Therefore, I would like you first to spend time gazing at the parts of your body you love, give them time, honor them, and then thank them,” Dr. Strongin said.
Dr. Strongin then suggests focusing on the part or parts of your body affected by the cancer or its treatment. She recommends creating a regular practice of accepting your body image because it helps you accept your cancer journey emotionally and physically.
“As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body. It may not happen immediately, but with time, you can begin honoring and thanking your new body,” Dr. Strongin added.
Breast Cancer Symptoms & Self-Exams
Women are encouraged to do regular self-exams to become familiar with how their breasts feel normally, so when something unusual, like a lump, does form, it can be easily detected. A self-exam includes pressing your fingertips along your breast in a circular motion.
For some women, that means going to their doctor and walking through what a self-breast exam looks like, so they know what normal breast tissue feels like, so if they do feel something abnormal, whether it’s a lump or discharge from the nipple, they know what to ask and what to look for.
Below are common symptoms to look out for:
New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
Any change in the size or shape of the breast
Swelling of all or part of the breast
Skin dimpling or peeling
Breast or nipple pain
Nipple turning inward
Redness or scaliness of the breast or nipple skin
Nipple discharge (not associated with breastfeeding
When to Screen for Breast Cancer
The medical community has a broad consensus that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should now start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
The American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year for women 55 and older. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
WATCH: When you’re getting a mammogram, ask about dense breasts.
Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.
Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
Helping You With Questions For Your Doctor
To further help you on your cancer journey, explore SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool, “My Health Questions.” Not only can this powerful resource help you come up with helpful questions to ask your care team for an upcoming appointment, but it also offers so much more.
This powerful resource, embedded across the SurvivorNet website, was built to bridge that gap by offering on-demand explanations of treatment options, clinical trials, side effects, insurance concerns, and more.
Users can ask questions conversationally, either by typing or using their voice, and receive answers tailored to their individual profiles. If patients don’t know where to start, we provide prompt questions to get them started.
