Forum Discussion
help -lopsided reconstruction result & pain
Hi ladies,
I was wondering if anyone can help me with what to expect now that I've had my reconstruction, which is not at all as expected & nothing like the surgeon said it would be. My breasts r a lot lower than the tissue expanders were, they are a lot smaller than my original breasts & expanders, and they are lopsided! Just another kick in the guts really which seems to be my 'cancer journey'. Naturally waking to something different what I was expecting was upsetting, it's now been 2 weeks, I'm still sore & struggling with some activities, my emotions are alk over the place, sadness, crying, anger, frustration & disappointment.
I have been told my breasts will 'settle' I'm tipping they won't grow 3 cup sizes or end up higher up my chest where they were before
I was wondering if anyone can help me with what to expect now that I've had my reconstruction, which is not at all as expected & nothing like the surgeon said it would be. My breasts r a lot lower than the tissue expanders were, they are a lot smaller than my original breasts & expanders, and they are lopsided! Just another kick in the guts really which seems to be my 'cancer journey'. Naturally waking to something different what I was expecting was upsetting, it's now been 2 weeks, I'm still sore & struggling with some activities, my emotions are alk over the place, sadness, crying, anger, frustration & disappointment.
I have been told my breasts will 'settle' I'm tipping they won't grow 3 cup sizes or end up higher up my chest where they were before
23 Replies
- Zoiffel, that's no good.
I did take a photo before & after so intend to email surgeon's office tomorrow, as I raised my concerns a week ago & haven't heard back. Just wish i'd taken a photo before the double mastectomy - Zoffiel said:Lop sided is not good. If you are not happy, get someone like your breast care nurse to take a photo and then email it to your surgeon. You should have his email address, if you dont, ask for it. lts true you could have some swelling on one side which may be a passing issue, but there is nothing like a digital photo to make it clear you are keeping records.
Sorry this has happened, I've got shitty implant recons, but they were through the public system so I eventually ran out of steam trying to get them fixed. If I'd paid for them, I'd have sent a pic to every journalist in the country. - Thanks eastmum. I think the biggest problem is the surgeon not doing what he indicated before surgery. Others have suggested a 2nd opinion. The thought of more surgery after 4 so far is not appealing. I have applied to join the reconstruction group
- Hi kmakm, I'm sorry to hear that you are also disappointed with your outcome. I hope your outcome improves with time.
I think cos mine are implants there is less chance for a change. Also the implants are really cold. No one told me that! So i'm expecting to be even smaller if there is any swelling - I'm not at that stage yet @beccabecca - as @kezmusc suggested, the members of the recon group will be able to give you some great advice and you can post photos there too if you want to, as it's a members only space.
My only 2 cents worth would really be to get another opinion. It might be a bit $$ to go to someone else at this stage but at the end of the day, your physical and emotional wellbeing has to be your top priorty and it sounds like that's suffering big time.
You might find that another plastic surgeon will confirm that it's all OK and just needs to settle - on the other hand, another doctor might agree with you and be able to give you the result that you want.
It's definitely worth a consultation.
Sending you lots of hugs and hoping that you find a solution soon. xxx - Lop sided is not good. If you are not happy, get someone like your breast care nurse to take a photo and then email it to your surgeon. You should have his email address, if you dont, ask for it. lts true you could have some swelling on one side which may be a passing issue, but there is nothing like a digital photo to make it clear you are keeping records.
Sorry this has happened, I've got shitty implant recons, but they were through the public system so I eventually ran out of steam trying to get them fixed. If I'd paid for them, I'd have sent a pic to every journalist in the country. - Sorry, I had implants, as that was my only option due to my body build.
- Hi @beccabecca - what kind of reconstruction did you have? Did you have a transfer from expanders to implants? or did you have an autologous reconstruction - like DIEP or TRAM flap?
- Hi Becca. I totally sympathise. I had a double DIEP reconstruction six weeks ago and I am struggling with a bit of disappointment myself. My foobs are a lumpy, misshapen mess and one is a different size from the other. I'm holding out hope that time will make them better. My plastic surgeon says he won't do revision surgery for 6 - 8 months. He is unconcerned but has said to me twice I'll "never look good naked". You'd never know in clothes though, and my foobs are warm and made of me.
I'm trying to get my head round it, to turn my thinking round. It's not a boob job, we'll never be thrilled with it. I have to be patient and hope for the best.
You can always seek a second opinion. Have you discussed it with your breastcare nurse?
I'm in the Choosing Breast Reconstruction group and it's been invaluable. There's huge breadth of experience there and much wisdom. Hang in there. K xox - Thanks for that. Gee, I'm hoping there's no swelling cos they r already several cup sizes smaller than I was! Surgeon said confidently that I would be slightly bigger than the expanders size as my skin wasn't tight. There was never mention of dropping both boobs. I would eventually get used to being smaller, but being lopsided is a bigger worry
