Great initiative!

Hi Minkabelle and Helen

I had mastectomy and tram flap reconstruction in January 2001.  I am so pleased I had the reconstruction at the time of the mastectomy.  I will not pretend that it was an easy process.  I experienced a number of complications but my plastic surgeon was amazing he never gave up.  I underwent numerous scar revision surgieries over the next few years the final surgery was to build a nipple.  The day this was done I was so excited as it was literally like the icing on the cake.  Who would have thought one could be so excited about a nipple.  As the years have passed the reconstructed breast has settled into or onto my body and looks natural. And my tummy is still flat.   As for the mobility of my arm I have always done Pilates as a way of establishing and maintaining mobility but always experienced some tightness in the axilla area.  I had come to accept this as my lot.  However more recently at a consultation with a mucular skeletal doctor for neck problems I learnt that tightness of the underlying pectoral muscle was the cause and that this could be released with treatment.  I now have improved  neck  rotation and increased mobility of both my neck and arm.  I am more than happy to discuss the reconstruction process further if you wish.  Take care

Lorraine