Elective preventative mastectomy advice?

@tonyam , the 'healthy breast' thing is very cruel. We know that our bodies can turn nasty and there is more to this discussion than the physical impacts of the operation.

Hi @InkPetal,
I’m so sorry to hear about your baby loss- I know what that’s like. I had a mastectomy 12yrs ago and since then, my remaining breast has grown 3 cup sizes. It’s annoying and worrying but my surgeon is reluctant to remove the’healthy’ breast.I have private health insurance and I just assumed she’d do it and it wouldn’t be a different cost.So is a prophylactic mastectomy not covered by Medicare or private insurance? This doesn’t seem right. Perhaps you need a psychological assessment to say that your boobs are sending you nuts and then you qualify? I only know the breast surgeons in my area(north west Sydney) and they are very good but work privately- Dr Molland and Dr French. Hopefully others will jump on here with more info. I hope you get the help you want. xx

I am so sorry to hear of your heartbreaking loss @InkPetal and ongoing angst re your boobs. 

Prophylactic mastectomies are becoming more & more accepted these days - eg Angelina Jolie, who didn't have BC.   I hope you can find a surgeon who not only will do as you ask, but does a tidy job, so as not to cause more angst.

Re 'who to do the surgery'  ..... It may sound 'weird', but I am thinking 'outside the square' here .... maybe even check out some of the 'female to male' gender reassignment  surgeons, who perform double mastectomies on their patients ... as they would be very aware of needing 'smooth chest' results.   Maybe a telehealth phone call as the first option?
https://www.google.com/search?q=gender+reassignment+female+to+male+breasts+sydney&sxsrf=APq-WBt0jq69OkViMnxWFqPZvzunT7PK9A%3A1644614298689&ei=mtIGYoS7KYG-3LUPv9WEqA0&ved=0ahUKEwiE8MLYyfj1AhUBH7cAHb8qAdUQ4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=gender+reassignment+female+to+male+breasts+sydney&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBQghEKABOgoIABBHELADEMkDOgcIABBHELADOggIIRAWEB0QHjoHCCEQChCgAUoECEEYAEoECEYYAFDZBVjcQ2CQRmgMcAB4AIABmQKIAaYakgEGMC4xNC40mAEAoAEByAEIwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz

Wishing you all the best on your quest xx

Hi @InkPetal
so sorry to hear about your loss , that would have been unbearable and on top of the BC diagnosis is really unfair.
I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction as a private patient in Sydney and was very happy ( although I did have quite steep out of pocket expenses even though in a private health fund).
I suggest you join the breast reconstruction private group on here as it does include some photo stories on going flat.

Hi @InkPetal

Lovely to see you online and sad to read your turmoil and the sadness of the unsuccessful pregnancy.  Heart goes out to you ❤
Hopefully someone from Sydney can offer some guidance with your breasts.  Maybe join the Choosing Breast reconstruction private group.  I'll tag @mum2jj as she may know from the Recon group. 
I will tag someone that I'm sure would like to say Hello also @SoldierCrab
Take care
Sending you a virtual hug 

Ah, @InkPetal I'm so sorry to hear about the baby. There are no words for that.

The boobs, however, are a different matter. If you hate them, can't trust them and are tempted to chew them off yourself in the middle of the night, it's time to talk about fucking them off. Things have changed for the better in the last five years when it comes to being pressured into retaining toxic fat sacks. Even relatively youthful ones.

If you are slim, the chances of getting a smooth finish are better. I'm sorry to to say that we sisters of the fleshy bodies do tend to get some weird hand baggy to things under our arms and other weird shit.

I'd still rather have the weirdo stuff than the sinister tits.

As always. MXX

I had a double mastectomy last week (one breast was actually good) and I am really happy about it! I am so glad I did it, so I am fully supporting your choice!! It is freeing and I do not miss my boobs a bit!

I do not have a surgeon suggestions in sydney, but breast surgeons ( that really only operates on breasts) are usually very good with leaving the nicest scars and they either do reconstruction or work with someone that do them, so they can probably ‘fill in’ where the chest goes hollow if you want to I guess. As I found out, your chest is not actually going to be flat, you still have inwards breast shaped chest (I hope I am not describing too much!) 
They should also be able to show you photos of their work..

I googled mastectomy scar before my surgery and it was a mistake.. none of the photos out there are how it actually is!  My scars are quite neat and I am sure will heal nicely..

Good luck! 💫