Implant reconstruction

Hi Gab66, I had a nipple sparing bilateral mastectomy in February with tissue expanders. Due to multiple reasons a flap or back muscle reconstruction was not an option for me. I had a reconstruction in October. Whilst it's been a long painful journey, my reconstruction has been a huge success. Understanding your reconstruction options is challenging. Ask your surgeon questions. Ask for photos and diagrams of your options. Take notes. I found taking my partner and daughters along to my appointments meant I could have good discussions that helped me get my head around things. And, if you don't have one already, find the breast care nurse who provides support for your surgeon/hospital/area. Happy to respond to questions to. 

Hi Gab66, I didn't have radiation but did have a skin and nipple saving mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using a silicone implant. My implant is under my pec muscle and is held in place using a mesh insert to act as a sling. My surgeon didn't know whether I was going to need radiation but advised me that if I did need it the team  would be able to perform the therapy anyway. She advised that there were issues that could arise but that was the plan going into surgery and turned out I didn't need radiation so didn't have to face that hurdle. More than happy to answer any questions you may have if I can help. Xx Cath

Hi Tracy-lee thanks for sharing yes it is a long road hope you are all clear wishing you a very merry Xmas all the best for 2017

Hi Gab66. I had lat dorsi performed at the end of may. back healed up very nice and happy with breast also. im yet to have expander removed and replaced with implant. hoping that will improve breast a bit more. Is a long haul which i had been regretting but as the days and months pass its getting better.just a much longer and harder road than my masectomy 2 and half years prior. i was back doing 12hr days for 5 weeks solid 6 weeks after that. but reco knocked me for 3 months. best wishes with it all. hope this may help in some way :-)

Thanks heaps Jess yep not doing to good at finding anything I'd luv all the help I can get

Hi Gab66 - Just wanted to jump in to welcome you to the network and to let you know that if you need any help working your way around the network or if you are not sure how to use/find something, just let me know and ill be able to help out :-)

Hi everyone thanks for the info I'm still trying to work my way around this site having a little trouble working it lol.   I'm still interested in hearing from ladies that have had radiation & implants under the muscle thanks

Thanks heaps ladies I'll diffently get on there & ask lots of questions

Hi Gab66, hopefully you've been able to join the Choosing Breast Reconstruction group and had a chance to check out the Reclaim Your Curves website.

As @primek said, the type of surgery you are being offered is a Lat Dorsi Flap reconstruction (http//www.reclaimyourcurves.org.au/latissimus-dorsi-flap.html) which uses the large lat dorsi muscle from your back to make a new breast. It is usually paired with an implant to make enough volume for a reasonably sized breast and my guess is that because you have had radiation the surgeon you have seen is offering this type of flap reconstruction as an implant-only reconstruction can sometimes be compromised by radiation (although not necessarily always).

You should also be aware that a lat dorsi recon is not the only tissue flap reconstruction available but some surgeons do not perform the other procedures such as the TRAM or DIEP reconstructions as they require specific micro-surgical skills and equipment. Lots of women in our recon groups have found it useful to talk to a few plastic surgeons to fully understand the options that are available to them. Talking to other women about the different options and what reconstruction might best suit you is helpful, so feel free to post any questions you might have in the Recon group as there are a number of women who have had both Lat Dorsi and implant-only reconstructions (including after radiation) that you might be able to connect with.

Best wishes, getting your head around all of this can be overwhelming but we are here to try and help. Jane xx

What you are being offered  is a flap reconstruction. What you are after is a tissue expander reconstruction. Sometimes that can be difficult after radiotherapy but not impossible, depending  on the size of breast desired. Yes ...join the group as above and I'm  sure there are ladies who have done this. Ask your surgeon why the simpler op is not beibg offered. There may be a good reason for that.