No reconstruction after double mast

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

All the best @Marketta. 

@Zoffiel sorry to hear your troubles. How bad are they! That for your advice. It’s nice to hear people who can relate. No one understands and I feel so alone sometimes. 
I really appreciate the responses. 
Good luck ladies with your journeys and thanks again x

@Marketta I suspect having no reconstruction is better for your health as having an implant, especially a textured one, can put you at a higher risk of cancer. For mental health a reconstruction is 100% worth it. Get a second opinion on price if you go ahead. I wish I’d had more second or third opinions. Often, the surgeons all have great ideas,  but different recommendations. Some doctors profit at our expense and that’s dodgy. $16000 is outrageous. 

Reconstruction can vary from no gap to quite expensive. I had no out of pocket expenses for a left LD reconstruction in the private system. It was very painful and took a while to recover from, but was worth it. I can understand why people choose to have no reconstruction. There is probably ongoing surgery for me in the future with a small implant as well. All the best with your decision. There’s no rush, sometimes it’s good to sit with the idea a while and see what feels best. 

As someone who did not remove the pesky implants when it became obvious my body hated them, I'd say go with your gut on this one.  Like you, I baulked at the idea of moving slabs of fat from one place to another. I  truly wish I'd just accepted  a flat chest as the implants have caused years of grief and irreversible damage. Mxx

@Flaneuse, you might be able to assist @Marketta with this issue.

@SoldierCrab you can probably share your experience..

To be honest I had decided for no reconstruction but my surgeon insisted I have temp implants to keep my option open for DIEP. I had worked myself to be ok with nothing and now I have implants with spared skin and nipple ( I like the look of them but they are problematic and I have lymphodema) and now I can’t help but wish I had of done as I wanted originally and just not had any reconstruction at all because now I have to go into surgery to have what I didn’t really want anyway removed.
i do worry about reoccurrence and it’s just so frustrating 
thank you everyone for your reply’s x

Hi @Marketta, one of the ladies in my support group is very sporty/active and when she got bc for the second time, decided to have double mastectomy with immediate implants. However,the breast that had had previous radiation kept breaking down and the implant had to be redone in surgery.This happened 7 times in the one year and in the end she told her surgeon to just remove both of them.She is very happy being flat and back to all her activities. For me,I’m lopsided with one boob and it’s annoying but can’t bring myself to have more surgery.

I'm 56 and I do try to be as active as possible (when Letrozole lets me) - kayaking, SUPing, walking.  And I like to be able to do things with my teenagers rather than just watch from the sidelines holding the bags.  So movement and strength is important to me.  I would love for someone to wave a magic wand and for a new breast to appear (not the old one - that was evil) but the idea of going through major surgery and recovery, plus the potential for muscle weakness, stops me cold at the moment.  I'm keeping my options open but kind of glad that the surgeon said that the skin is way too tight still.