No reconstruction after double mast
im looking to hear from women who have had a double and chose No reconstruction. iv had a double, temporary implant ( which are s pest) I was considering DIEP hence the implants...... but not sure ...
Forum Discussion
Hi @Marketta First of all, I'd say go with your gut feeling and what you originally wanted. The price you're being quoted is ridiculous. I went public (couldn't afford to do otherwise) and have had everything free - including all scans and tests of every kind imaginable. My photo story so far is on the "Breast Reconstruction" group under "Implants". But I'll be adding to it. All our stories are different and mine is one of ups and downs.
I'm a lot older than you, but there are still some relevant factors in my story.
Summary - I had a single-sided mastectomy and immediate expander with titanium mesh sling to keep space for an implant after I'd had chemo and radiation. It's been a nightmare: hard, often painful, digs into me when I bend over. Makes my lymphoedema ache worse. I had no confidence that the changeover to the actual implant would end up being any softer. I also became increasingly worried about having "foreign" material in me. It's been there for 16 months now (while I had chemo and radiation and then waited for that to heal). I had to think long and hard about it and finally went with my gut feeling and said I want it gone. Comfort matters more than anything else now. Having a shape there no longer matters. I've been waiting since March for surgery (busy surgeon delays), which will now occur on 8 August. He has assured me he'll do what I want and make it as tidy as possible.
I could say that in retrospect I wish I hadn't had it done, but if I hadn't, I would have always wondered. The reality is that my diagnosis caught me on the hop with a 20 year-old mindset: decades ago I made a documentary on breast reconstruction options and had always said, "If that ever happens to me, I'll do what some of these wonderful women did, have a flap reconstruction, and I'll be fine." Then got on with life, which included being a very sexually active older woman. So when I got my diagnosis. that original intention kicked in. However, the surgeon I was allocated (not a plastic surgeon) rejected the suggestion, saying my abdominal fat may have been compromised by a 1970s tubal ligation, didn't even inform me that autologous recon with a plastic surgeon would mean waiting for years in the public system, and pushed implants. Lots of angst about wrong communication! I finally - reluctantly - agreed. Over this last Christmas, when I decided to "explant", I asked for another surgeon (who has an excellent reputation) and got him, but have had to wait.
I'm absolutely certain about my decision.
I wish you well with whatever you decide. It's YOUR choice alone.
Fran xx
I'm a lot older than you, but there are still some relevant factors in my story.
Summary - I had a single-sided mastectomy and immediate expander with titanium mesh sling to keep space for an implant after I'd had chemo and radiation. It's been a nightmare: hard, often painful, digs into me when I bend over. Makes my lymphoedema ache worse. I had no confidence that the changeover to the actual implant would end up being any softer. I also became increasingly worried about having "foreign" material in me. It's been there for 16 months now (while I had chemo and radiation and then waited for that to heal). I had to think long and hard about it and finally went with my gut feeling and said I want it gone. Comfort matters more than anything else now. Having a shape there no longer matters. I've been waiting since March for surgery (busy surgeon delays), which will now occur on 8 August. He has assured me he'll do what I want and make it as tidy as possible.
I could say that in retrospect I wish I hadn't had it done, but if I hadn't, I would have always wondered. The reality is that my diagnosis caught me on the hop with a 20 year-old mindset: decades ago I made a documentary on breast reconstruction options and had always said, "If that ever happens to me, I'll do what some of these wonderful women did, have a flap reconstruction, and I'll be fine." Then got on with life, which included being a very sexually active older woman. So when I got my diagnosis. that original intention kicked in. However, the surgeon I was allocated (not a plastic surgeon) rejected the suggestion, saying my abdominal fat may have been compromised by a 1970s tubal ligation, didn't even inform me that autologous recon with a plastic surgeon would mean waiting for years in the public system, and pushed implants. Lots of angst about wrong communication! I finally - reluctantly - agreed. Over this last Christmas, when I decided to "explant", I asked for another surgeon (who has an excellent reputation) and got him, but have had to wait.
I'm absolutely certain about my decision.
I wish you well with whatever you decide. It's YOUR choice alone.
Fran xx