reconstruction - wanted tips and handy hints

Hi Sue, read your blog post and thought I would write a few words. I am almost sixty and had a right breast masteconomy last June. It was my second case of cancer in this breast so I was glad to see it go. I was uncomfortable with the prosthesis, and worried when swimming etc. so decided to spend the money and have the reconstruction as well as work done on my left breast so that the end result would be a matching pair. It's two weeks now, and I can definitely see that the end result will be worth all,this 'suffering' and discomfort. I hope,to be around for at least another 20 years so that I can get some value for money! Take car.

Hi Justine, I had a mast economy back in June 2011 (seems such a long time ago) and two weeks ago had a reconstruction and my left breast downsized and lifted. Hummed and hatred about this but thought why not, one stop operations so to speak. Definitely happy with the outcome. Once right breast is tweaked, which is probably two day surgeries all should be well. I am paranoid and told my surgeon I want a matching set, or as close as possible. My surgeon is a bit of a perfectionist and he clearly explains every detail so we understand. He set at the outset that further surgery would be needed. I was worried about the ongoing expense, as I was a private patient, but he assured us that all further tweaking would be covered by Medicare and HCF and that he would not charge us any gap fee. Hope you are improving each day. At least there is light at the end of the tunnel now!

Thanks for the tip on silicone tape. My tape is slowly unravelling except for the tape across my abdomen which insist lifting at one corner. I was going to ask my husband to pick up,some bio oil tomorrow, but I might ask the surgeon when I should use it. Just showed my girlfriend my new breast and boy was she impressed, even allowing for the swelling and bruising. Take car.

Hi, I'm glad your surgery went well. Have you been told to start using Bio Oil now? I'm interested, as I was always told to wait till all the scars settle down before using the oil. Keeping tape on your scars, like micropore works really well at reducing scars, as it will hold all the edges together and prevent pulling. I kept tape on mine for many months, and they are nice and thin, though still red. I will start with the bio oil after I have finished using the silicone tape that my plastic surgeon recommended. Love Chris xx

Glad your op went well!  I have just come out of hospital after a bit of tweaking!!  My stomach scar had "corners" (I call them corners but my surgeon called them dog ears!  I didn't like that so corners was what I called them :) ).  I didn't have to wear any stomach binder for either the original op or this tweaking one.  The surgeon recommended wearing bike pants but I only did that for a couple of days as I was getting too hot.  The scars all look good and I get the new dressings taken off tomorrow.

Best of luck with the rest of your recovery,

Louise

Hi, I had the operation toe weeks ago yesterday. Spent 9 days in hospital and am recovering at home. Only had right breast donee nd had my left breast lifted and reduced, so hopefully by the end I will have a matching pair. I am quite surprised as to how good I am feeling. I am standing almost upright and can feel only a little pulling on my stomach. Both breasts are still,swollen and very tender, bit even they look good. Going to get some bio oil today and start ribbing into the scars that have no dressings. The worse thing is having to wear a stomach binder for four weeks, it is so uncomfortable. Lifting anything heavier than a telephone directory is not allowed. Driving ok after three weeks if I feel up to it. I see the plastic surgeon next thursday so I will be interested in what he says. Originally he said that I may need one or two follow up procedures, day surgery (covered by insurance) for tweaking, as I want my breasts to be really symmetrical. Sleeping to really difficult and sometimes I wake up almost on my side, which results in sore breasts. The extra pillows fall,out of the bed. Hope all goes well for you.

thanks Louise & Just,  I am looking forward to, as its closure to all this for a while

counting down, 2 weeks to go!

Yes, definitely wear tops with buttons but the pants shouldn't be an issue.  I had a TRAM and my scar is right down on the bikini line where you would have a scar if you had a caesarean.

The biggest problems that I had were sleeping (as has already been mentioned) because I had to sleep on my back for some weeks and standing up straight, because of the pain from stretching your stomach upright!  Everything felt like it was pulling but you get used to that pretty quickly.

I was really pleased with the result of the TRAM - my breast is nice and soft and natural looking.  I had it done in 2003/4 and then, when I was diagnosed with BC again in 2010 I had a lat dorsi/implant reconstruction on the other side.  The implant feels hard and not like a part of my body and I would certainly recommend the TRAM over the lat dorsi any day!  Yes, it takes a bit longer to get over but the result is so much better.  I feel like I am sleeping on a rock if I lie on the side with my new implant but I don't even notice if I am lying on the other side.

Good luck with your choices and your upcoming op!

Louise :)

Yes definately need something with buttons!   Your new boob will be out multiple times for everyone to poke, prod and admire.  Soft & stretchy is best I found. I had PJ shorts and they were fine.  Don't recall waist bands being any issue at all.

Jxx

 

thanks for the info,  I put Tram /DIEP as until the surgery starts, the final decision of what is most suitable cannot fully be made by the surgeon.

Having radiotherapy takes implants out of the options avail.

I am also thinking of whats going to be best to wear in hosp (after the gown) as will need buttons, but probably short pjs with a waist band is not ideal??

also are the following actions easy or difficult or not allowed , like getting dressed, cooking, dishes?

I do have a pre-op appt on Wednesday, not sure if the hosp staff answer some of these questions...

let me know, B