Recon experiences...

Mic80 · April 6

Evening, I have been diagnosed with stage 2 invasive carcinoma, I had a right breast mastectomy on Tuesday 2/4 with expanders, with the intention of further surgery to remove left and undergo diep recon...
However I am now very strongly thinking I will still have left breast removed once all treatment is finished but then remain flat instead of the diep op... I know only I can decide what I do but I was wondering if anyone has remained flat and whether they have regretted it or not and Just generally what their experiences with it have been! ..Feeling lost! Xx

Blossom1961 · April 6

Hi @Mic80 I am mono booked and I am okay with that. Once I hit the six month mark I am planning on a tattoo whilst the area is still a little numb. I have been thinking of ideas before I even had the mx. Good luck with your decision xxx

Afraser · April 6

I too am mono boobed and happy with it but @SoldierCrab may be able to tell you more about flat and fabulous.

Sister · April 6

Mono here, too but undecided about the future. No rush.

TamraM · April 6

Hi Mic80, I have so far chosen to remain flat following double mastectomy in Oct 2016. My choice was heavily influenced by the amount of time I would have to dedicate to surgery and recovery in order to have a recon. As recon was not an option at the time of DM, by the time I was physically able to get a recon I was quite used to being flat, and don't mind it. Of course I still miss my breasts - however that is a different issue to my choice to remain flat. I am mostly very comfortable with my choice - there are positives [especially living in a hot climate], however getting used to dressing with no breasts [my choice is to not use any prosthetic breast forms] can be a rollercoaster. I have found that the longer I remain flat - the more at ease I have become with my shape. I love fashion - so finding new styles to suit my shape is sometimes tricky. However it does get easier. A great thing to remember is that no choice needs to be forever. Best wishes, Tamra

Zoffiel · April 7

@TamraM I think there are a few of us who underestimated the impact of reconstructive surgery and overestimated the chances of a successful outcome. If I knew, in 2006, what I know now, I'd never have considered getting implants. I can only be thankful that I couldn't be convinced to undergo what was, at the time, the 'gold standard' tram flap procedure that three surgeons I interviewed wanted to do. I scar heavily and that wasn't properly considered by anyone, including myself.

By the time the penny dropped and I realised (after having the implants replaced for the third time) that my body wasn't going to accept the intruders I had so much scarring under my pec muscles that removing them altogether was not recommended as I would be left with pockets of scar which could not be trusted to heal. Flat would have been a much better idea. Oh well, hind sight is wonderful, but you don't know what you don't know. It's a big decision and there are many factors that need to be considered, including past surgical results. Mxx

primek · April 7

Only about 10% of women undergo reconstruction so most definetely many women have chosen the same.
Even if you do go flat and feel later you would like a reconstruction, it can still be done..

Here is a link to a US site. I know we have an australian one that @SoldierCrab will give you details of when she pops in.

https://www.flatandfabulous.org/

SoldierCrab · April 7

hi @Mic80 I am now flat and feeling great about it ... I had a double mx back in Oct 2012 and remained flat my choice due to many allergies and circumstances I am in then and now like @TamraM ; I enjoy the freedom of no foobs or any prosthetics....

Here is a group that I help admin on FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/groups/bcnoffaaduaustralia/

We even have a group about what to wear that helps with our new shapes. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1191542117599230/

Mic80 · April 7

Thank you everyone... god I love this forum xx
@SoldierCrab thanks heaps.... I have sent a request to join both pages xxx

JennyD78 · April 7

@SoldierCrab I've requested access to your FB groups too.
I had a bilateral mastectomy in May 18 with no recon. Scarring aside, I really like my new boobless figure. I wore a dress the other day that was a little pouchy because of no boobs to fill it out but found I just didn't care. My boobs were pretty enormous pre-surgery so while I was confident I was making the right decision at the time, I didn't know how I'd feel about it down the track. Almost a year on now and I don't regret it for a moment! I'm in the process of losing a lot of weight post gastric sleeve surgery but once I'm at a stable weight, I'll be tattooing my chest...something I'm really looking forward to

SoldierCrab · April 7

Just accepted you into Group JennyD and Mic80

Blossom1961 · April 7

@SoldierCrab Me too!

SoldierCrab · April 7

Accepted Blossom1961

Eli86 · April 14

Hi Mic8, I’ve had a slightly different experience. I had double mx with expanders put in last Aug. 6 weeks later I was ready to swap to implants but a really bad antibiotic resistant infection set in and the expanders were removed. I stayed boobless until just last week and loved not having to wear a bra, which I couldn’t with prosthetics anyway due to excess. However with 2 sports mad teens, I felt incredibly self conscious at events in front of other kids and their parents.
Plus every time I looked in the mirror I thought of my cancer. 9 days ago and 5kg later, I had DIEP, which in the lead up to I had been pretty ambivalent about, as having no boobs was pretty comfortable but my chest with the spare skin tucked in looked horrifying, so I really wasn’t expecting much could be done.
But right now I’m sitting here with cleavage again that is plump, warm and wobbles with circular scars that are essentially only slightly larger than my original nipples, and I could jump through the roof with happiness ( if it didn’t hurt so much!). I really had no idea I would feel this good because I had no idea such a good outcome could be achieved, but it’s like my cancer body has gone and mentally I can put this year behind me and get on with my life, because it’s not on hold because of cancer. For what it’s worth, the pain of DIEP is absolutely nothing compared to expanders. Good luck with your decision, but as others have said, there is always time to take your time with decisions.

Mic80 · April 14

@Eli86 thank you so much for sharing.... I am so torn as to what to do! I am just so afraid of the recovery and risk of complications with the diep but as you mentioned, I feel as far as long term mental health I think it would prob be quite beneficial.... sorry.. totally confused.

kmakm · April 14

I had a double mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction. I am very happy with it. My surgery took nine hours and I had low blood pressure problems afterwards which prevented me getting out of bed for several days. I turned out to be allergic to the tape, and then had lots of little wound infections for the first two months. It's almost a year since it was done and while it has been a big adjustment for me, I have zero regrets. It's lovely having my own warm flesh on my chest. K xox

Recon experiences...

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