Challenging my perceptions of body image!
I'm new to this group and was keen to hear about other people's experience with how they chose whether to have a reconstruction or not with a mastectomy. And how they felt afterwards. I've just turne...
Forum Discussion
Welcome @Toosta. The ladies have given you some good resources above. As @arpie said, the additional surgery time and recovery for reconstruction may be an issue to consider. If you go flat and are not happy do you have sufficient excess tummy which can be used for a DIEP reconstruction ?
To put it in a lighter way - your girls are not your best mates and you have decided that they are on the chopping block. They are really not what defines you. Is your partner a great fan of the toys ? Is this part of the reason for thinking of reconstruction or is it more about how you will look (in clothes) to others ? If the latter then a couple of prosthetics can fill a bra.
No-one can really know how one will feel following the surgery. Whilst I am not keen on my lop-sided view in the mirror I just remember that Miss Rightie tried to kill me and I won the battle. I was given a mastectomy with no options and I have seriously considered reconstruction but the costs, being away from home and the recovery time have prevented me doing so.
Write your thoughts down or discuss it with others close to you as that may settle your mind somewhat.
All the best. See you in the two groups shown above. 💖
To put it in a lighter way - your girls are not your best mates and you have decided that they are on the chopping block. They are really not what defines you. Is your partner a great fan of the toys ? Is this part of the reason for thinking of reconstruction or is it more about how you will look (in clothes) to others ? If the latter then a couple of prosthetics can fill a bra.
No-one can really know how one will feel following the surgery. Whilst I am not keen on my lop-sided view in the mirror I just remember that Miss Rightie tried to kill me and I won the battle. I was given a mastectomy with no options and I have seriously considered reconstruction but the costs, being away from home and the recovery time have prevented me doing so.
Write your thoughts down or discuss it with others close to you as that may settle your mind somewhat.
All the best. See you in the two groups shown above. 💖