Choosing Implant or Prosthesis

@SoldierCrab
@primek

Can any of you offer advice please

You are ideal for a breast implant if you want reconstruction. If you join the  reconstruction group you can discuss the various different options. Being a B cup you could go possibly go directly to implant with a dermal sling. So one surgery. Changeover surgery (10 plus years) is very short. I had tissue expanders in first and 3/4 filled until after chemo. One fill then changeover after. I stayed  in hospital 48 hours for protective antibiotics. I only required panadol for pain management once returned to ward. The initial surgery is painful, but everyone copes differently. All surgery has infection risks whether straight mastectomy or reconstruction. 

I personally didn't want the hassle of a prosthesis (or 2 in my case) I like to swim. So yes...a bit of hassle with surgery but once healed up you are pretty right for many years. With a posthesis you may need new ones every couple of years.  You need special bras and special swimsuits etc and it can be expensive.
Many women do this and are perfectly happy. 

The breast reconstruction group also has photo stories to give you an idea of possible cosmetic outcome. I would have loved to have saved my nipples but it wasn't possible. 

@socoda went directly to implant with  great results. 

http://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/1-choosing-breast-reconstruction

Link to the group. 

Hi 
I have a prosthesis. I was never very keen on reconstruction and I had a persistent seroma that took 12 months and surgery to fix, which made me feel hesitant about further surgery. I am quite large breasted so going without anything would be very noticeable. I find a prosthesis easy. Unlike @primek, I am only an occasional, holiday swimmer and I just use a synthetic pad in my swimsuit. The prosthesis lasts about 2 years, and I get it fully rebated every 2 years.  A properly fitted prosthesis has the right weight and shape. Some women living in the north report that they find them hot- I live in Melbourne and have no difficulty even in hot weather (we do have that too!). I also don't have a problem with how I look - I have a large scar and it's a bit 'untidy' - my surgeon left enough to assist a reconstruction if I wanted one and that also gives me a bit of cleavage, which is good!  It's me, I am fine with the way it is, it doesn't concern my partner either and after I had stripped off in a shared shower in Iceland before getting in a hot tub, I don't think I'd think twice about doing that again! No-one batted an eyelid. It's a really personal thing - to reconstruct or not - and it's what's right for the individual that matters. Best wishes,

Hi @Lallaby, I had a skin and nipple sparing mastectomy and went straight to implant. I also had a sentinel node biopsy and my surgeon used the same incision to do that too!! I was in hospital for 6 days and left with two drains hanging out my side. First removed 5 days after leaving hospital and the second 8 weeks later!! Only reason it was in so long was because the fluid levels wouldn't drop - turns out it was the drain itself causing irritation. Would I do it again - you betcha!!!!! I am incredibly happy with my implant. It is a D cup - I had been a C cup prior but my surgeon sheepishly told me on the day of surgery that she'd mismeasured me and I was going up a size. No drama's there. I have posted photos in the choosing reconstruction site. If you have any questions that I can help you with please don't hesitate to ask. All the best with your decision. Xx Cath

Going further to what @afraser said - wouldn't it be a nice world if no-one batted an eyelid.  I still don't know if I'm going to go down the reconstruction path.  My body is being battered enough.

I think the shared hot bath culture in Iceland and Japan leads to a much more realistic understanding of the human body - saggy bits, fat bits, old bits, missing bits, seen it all before!! 

Totally agree @AFraser. We're all so private here. Throw in the air-brushing of almost every media image we see, it's no wonder people get self-esteem issues about their bodies.

I initially thought that I would do reconstruction but my pathway was mastectomy - chemo - radiotherapy - hormone therapy. By the time I got through all that I had been living with one breast for long enough to feel that I was ok with just a prosthesis.

 I was a 14D at the beginning of the whole process but ended up a 12C in the remaining breast by the time I lost 9kg after treatment finished. Something else to consider as implants do not change with body weight changes.

I know I always have the option to do reconstruction but almost 5 years after my mastectomy I am content with things just the way they are. I swim a lot in summer and find that the swimming prosthesis is just fine with a good mastectomy swimsuit. I actually also use the swimming prosthesis in a sports bra most of the time. It suits my lifestyle and is very comfortable. I don’t know whether I will bother getting another ‘proper’ prosthesis as I so rarely use the one I have now.

Lots of options, it’s just a matter of working out the best one for you.
xxx

Thank you all so much for your wonderful replies! Every time I think I have made a decision I find myself almost immediately wondering if it is the right one for me  :o