Hi Ange, buy some new PJs, as these will be easier to manage with the drains. The nurses should also be able to give you a shoulder bag or drawer string bag to carry your drains in. These hide them from view, and make lugging them around a lot easier. I also agree with Mon. Do your research, and then be happy with your decision. I have finished my recon now, having had an immediate recon and a delayed one. The better result is from the immediate recon, but I am still very happy with both my boobs. I had expanders and then silicone implants. My first mastectomy was in Dec 2010, and the second one and reconstruction of both was 9 months later in September 2011 after chemo was finished. My only suggestion would be, to go a bit bigger than you think you want. I felt so large with the expanders, that I stopped at 500mls. I was a size 14B before, and didn't want to be larger. However, once the silicone is in, and the swelling goes down, it all looks a bit smaller than I thought. I am back to wearing my old underwire 14B bras, but I don't fill the top as well as before. In clothes they look terrific, and no one would probably notice. I just think that another 50 to 100mls might have filled this better. The expanders do not look as good as the implants, and I wish I had understood this better beforehand. My original breast weight was only 390g, so when my new implants were 495g each, I thought they would be huge. In hindsight, I could have gone larger, without looking too big. Good luck with your upcoming surgery. Love Chris xx
Hi Ange, buy some new PJs, as these will be easier to manage with the drains. The nurses should also be able to give you a shoulder bag or drawer string bag to carry your drains in. These hide them from view, and make lugging them around a lot easier. I also agree with Mon. Do your research, and then be happy with your decision. I have finished my recon now, having had an immediate recon and a delayed one. The better result is from the immediate recon, but I am still very happy with both my boobs. I had expanders and then silicone implants. My first mastectomy was in Dec 2010, and the second one and reconstruction of both was 9 months later in September 2011 after chemo was finished. My only suggestion would be, to go a bit bigger than you think you want. I felt so large with the expanders, that I stopped at 500mls. I was a size 14B before, and didn't want to be larger. However, once the silicone is in, and the swelling goes down, it all looks a bit smaller than I thought. I am back to wearing my old underwire 14B bras, but I don't fill the top as well as before. In clothes they look terrific, and no one would probably notice. I just think that another 50 to 100mls might have filled this better. The expanders do not look as good as the implants, and I wish I had understood this better beforehand. My original breast weight was only 390g, so when my new implants were 495g each, I thought they would be huge. In hindsight, I could have gone larger, without looking too big. Good luck with your upcoming surgery. Love Chris xx
Hi Ange
Hope all goes well for your surgery. Please keep us posted. Would love to hear how you go.
Will keep my fingers crossed all goes well
Love Julie XX
Hi again,
I'm happy with the choices I made after researching the benefits of immediate reconstruction, and this being a viable option presented to me by both surgeons. I guess that's another tip - be happy with the choices/ decisions you've made. I hope this makes sense, and is helpful.
Take care too
x
Hi again,
I'm happy with the choices I made after researching the benefits of immediate reconstruction, and this being a viable option presented to me by both surgeons. I guess that's another tip - be happy with the choices/ decisions you've made. I hope this makes sense, and is helpful.
Take care too
x
Hi Ange,
Best wishes to you for your surgery. Mine was (almost) 3 weeks ago; a double mastectomy and immediate reconstruction.
Tips for you? I researched as much as I could - I read up on my plastic surgeon, viewing before/ after photos on his site. I also tried finding other women whose journey was similar to mine, and what options/ advice they were given. I asked every question I could think of and helped prepare my kids for what lay ahead. And then, although I didn't want to, I took that next step on this journey...
I wish you well,
x
Hi Ange,
Best wishes to you for your surgery. Mine was (almost) 3 weeks ago; a double mastectomy and immediate reconstruction.
Tips for you? I researched as much as I could - I read up on my plastic surgeon, viewing before/ after photos on his site. I also tried finding other women whose journey was similar to mine, and what options/ advice they were given. I asked every question I could think of and helped prepare my kids for what lay ahead. And then, although I didn't want to, I took that next step on this journey...
I wish you well,
x
