Has anyone taken 'Before' and 'After' pics?

Im a bit late to this discussion. I dont come on here as much these days.

I went and had a look what photos i took. 

I took one photo immediately before surgery (with a yellow bruise from a biopsy or the nuclear dye one), one immediately after surgery (the day after). I have taken photos every now and again since.

What my chest looked like after surgery is actually quite different to how it healed. I had a nice straight pocket of skin after surgery and now that its healed its a bit twisted up. Im having surgery friday to remove the skin in a 1 hr day surgery and i plan to take a photo after that. Aesthetic flat closure. 

Its a continum of healing inside and out. 

There are websites which show aethetic flat closure results for both double and single mastectomies. With results following first mastectomy (where skin is left) versus after the revision. I think there is a view that surgeons withhold aesthetic flat closure but this is not my experience. 

Personally i think i look fine with the skin but i do think its confronting to others. Ive found it hard to wear a prosthetic snd bra comfortably. Ive therefore become comfortable flat in most situstions (not all). 

I did go to the private group and look at reconstructions. It took me a while to build up the nerve to be honest. Women are amazing who go down this path for sure but not for me. 

So i guess yes id be okay sharing if it would help others. Certainly others have helped me with their shares.

Thank you so much for that, @ScorpionQueen - I would imagine that you will receive a few invites  xx

All the best for your photo shoot!!  Can't wait to see the pics!  ;)

Gorgeous day here today - supposed to be wet & windy!   WRONG!

arpie said:

Good on you @ScorpionQueen - helping others (and yourself) in the manner that you have, is admirable. xx

Would members be able to PM you for the facebook link?  I think that would be a terrific start for those who do want to see ..

Have fun with your Warriors and Gods photo shoot!  Sounds awesome!  I love the pic of the lady in my first post! I thought it was terrific.

Thank you for your sage words and advice xx.

Yes, I see them as battle scars and you've 'won'! - I am just luckier to not have as many as (or as obvious) others do 

@arpie I feel like a rag doll that been stitched back together! I can’t wait to do the shoot though! 

Thanks for your kind words! Here is the link to my blog
https://www.facebook.com/anordinarywomansextraordinaryexperience/

As for the private group...anyone who is interested in seeing my experience through pictures please click on the invitation link below....warning my photos are confronting and very raw and real. 
https://fb.me/g/kXFF3szcq/gIxStNdf

Wishing you all a glorious day! Xx

I look a bit like a great white took a chomp, decided that I tasted somewhat yucky, and then spat me out again. Scar goes from one armpit, straight across to the other. Dents and bumps where it goes down to the ribs, and mounds where muscle has bunched up in a knot. I'm used to it now...I preferred my previously rather plump 18DD frontage, and I've lost a convenient spot to keep my cable needle when knitting.

Good on you @ScorpionQueen - helping others (and yourself) in the manner that you have, is admirable. xx

Would members be able to PM you for the facebook link?  I think that would be a terrific start for those who do want to see ..

Have fun with your Warriors and Gods photo shoot!  Sounds awesome!  I love the pic of the lady in my first post! I thought it was terrific.

Thank you for your sage words and advice xx.

Yes, I see them as battle scars and you've 'won'! - I am just luckier to not have as many as (or as obvious) others do 

I had a bilateral mastectomy with expanders.....8 months after implant transfer I contracted strep b infection and was in hospital for three weeks and on antibiotics for nearly 6 months...I am now ‘flat’...we’ll actually concave as I have lymphodema in my chest and arms and my mastectomy scars have no tissue left under them and sit directly over my rib bones. It took me a long time to accept this new look, and I can now look without disgust, 

 I have a private group on Facebook....I realised I had a number of friends who wanted to ‘see’ but were too afraid in person...I posted my whole experience in photos...up until present day...the good, the bad and the ugly...ALL responses were positive as it was also a learning curve for those who aren’t effected. A lot of people have praised me for ‘showing’ them what it is really like. A lot thought, ‘oh they just take your boobs off and then put new ones in, easy!’ Ummmm, No! My blog showed that things can and do go wrong. It,s not all ‘pink’ and pretty.

I took before and after photos for my own mental health.  I had a single mastectomy but I didn't look up photos of mastectomy before or after surgery.  I was a  little scared to.  

Agree totally, @AllyJay - The pics on their own could scare the crap out of newbies (or even those having further or reconstructive surgery a year or more after their original surgery.)  Having the confidence to chat with someone who's brave enough to show their battle scars .... I think would empower them to help make their decisions.  And the ongoing support from those who've been thru it, here, and willing to share their knowledge & experience, is invaluable.

Indeed there are plenty of places to find pictures of 'flat' persons, just as there are pages and pages of photos of reconstruction on the internet. Just google mastectomy reconstruction and click on images, and there is plenty to peruse. I do feel however, that the photo, without discussion with the person behind the photo, in a support group setting, is just that...a photo. Otherwise the argument could be made about reconstruction sub groups...they can just look up photos, sans context, dialogue and support within a group such as ours.

Very fair point about the 'flatties', @AllyJay - I think it would be advantageous for members to be able to see how a 'flattie' looks (and heals).... and how important it is to get a good surgeon, so that the best result can be 'expected', no matter the surgery choice.    I had always said myself, that if I had to, I would have a double & remain flat.  I was lucky & didn't have to.

Yes, some regional women, sadly, are convinced to have their surgery done locally by a 'general surgeon' - when the visual results might NOT be the best as the surgeon may not have been trained in breast conserving surgery - and at worst, would preclude future reconstruction even if they wanted it ..... but I wasn't prepared to have a General Surgeon do MY surgery - so I chose to go to Sydney & have (who I consider) to be one of the best, do mine!  I am very happy with my own result.

It upsets me to see posts where members (post op) are so very unhappy with their results & can't bear to look at their own bodies, or let their partner see them ...  when, if they'd had a REALLY informed decision about their surgery, they may have choses a different route with a better result.  :(