Immediate Reconstruction - yes or no?

redwolf8812

New to all this and still have a ways to go before treatments are done.  About halfway through TH, then will do AC, followed by surgery, then radiation.  Anyone opt out of immediate reconstruction when you know you'll be doing radiation?  It just seems like so much more to go through....

Thoughts, opinions, advice?

 Prayers for all.

 - Penny

nora_az

I am going to have a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (they will do a tummy tuck for the fat) From what they say it's going to be a long surgery and the recovery will be tough but I like the idea that I am going to be put out with my own breasts and wake up with new breasts...I never have to look down to see me with no breasts.

mtndawn

I did immed recon with TEs, and I will have rads next.  It was the right decision for me, but there may be complications.  My PS used alloderm, which carries less risk of capsular contracture during rads.  This way I don't have to go back for another major surgery.  They generally don't do implants after rads unless you do a lat flap, too.  I am not a candidate for other flap surgeries.  I also liked not ever having to be without breasts.  I know, my breasts don't define me, but I'm afraid I would let a LACK of breasts define me.  It is an individual decision, and lots of people wait to do recon after the dust settles.  Good luck with whatever you decide.

Estepp

Well, I did chemo.... then surgery... I filled my TE 100% BEFORE rads... I had 8 weeks. I KNEW the rads window was 8 weeks... so... I was filled to 420cc's BEFORE rads.... did the rads... then had exchange..... no flap surgery.

This is your best bet if you do not want the flap surgery... this is the way to try it.

It seems to be a individual choice... only you can make it.....

CoolBreeze

I don't know why they call it immediate reconstruction, because if you are talking about having a TE in, it isn't.

I didn't know if I'd need rads or not but I had the expander placed. (TE is the only reconstructive choice available to me due to my thinness).  Had my fills.    I think the idea is to do the expansion and then if you need rads, you have it,  Then you have to wait a year before you get your exhange.  That's to make sure the skin heals..

I was upset at the thought of having the expander in for an entire year and was so happy to find out that I didn't need rads so I could get it out of me.  Life plays funny jokes, because the expander is still in and it's been almost a year.  In fact, I won't have the exchange surgery until 13 months after my mastectomy.

deenah

I just did bilateral mx with immediate reconstruction 4 weeks ago.  I am so happy I made that decision.  I saw 2 plastic surgeons and 3 radiation doctors before I made my decision, and all agreed that if you want to avoid a flap surgery, this is the way to go.  I have implants in, but I will require more surgery/ies.  Just nothing major.  My PS compared it to a bookmark.  We were just saving the skin since I have to do rads. There is an over 50 percent fail rate with trying to stretch post rads skin.  And that is if you go with a small A cup.  She used Allomax (same as Alloderm) next to my pec mucsles so the implants wouldn't slide too far outward, and she left some extra skin on my right side (that won't be radiated), in case we need it if my right side tightens up too much after rads. Before the surgery, she told me she would be cutting my muscle and then attaching the Allomax to the muscle and then the rib.  When I woke up, she told me she didn't have to cut the muscle.  I was so happy, and I am sure that is why I am recovering so quickly.  I saw my radiation onc after the surgery, and she was impressed with how the skin looks, and really thinks I will have success.  I may require some tweaking, and I may switch to a higher profile implant, but nothing as major as a flap surgery.  I am not a candidate for most of the flap surgeries, so this was the best choice for me.  If the implant totally fails and I lose all of the skin (which is worst case scenario), I do have the option of a TUG surgery, but would have to have it done 2 hours from home.  I am hoping and praying that that doesn't happen!

Good luck with your decision.