reduction at time of Mx?

tdawg

Hello all,

my hopes for a DIEP were dashed today - apparently not enough tissue in the abdomen to successfully close the incision. i have been really against implants since the beginning, told everyone they were 'off the table' but now that i'm facing only flat or silicon, i'm less sure...??? I am so stuck and feeling really helpless.

thought i had come up with a reasonable solution in the event the tissue recon was out --- do the Mx on one side and reduce the other in effort to lessen the contrast. (i'm 36/38D) Then i could decide if living flat was ok, or potentially chose to recon the flat side, if it bothered me. i know living with one side 36D and the other flat is an absolute no for me. and i don't want an implant that could be that big (can they make them that big?) however, surgeon says that if that reduced side ever needs an Mx, a recon will be quite difficult, since he has to remove the reduction scars, as well as the nipple/areola. this would mean taking a lot of skin, leaving the area difficult for stretching with a TE. because that side had lumpectomy/rads 8 years ago, Mx is the only option if i develop BC on that side again. this might not be an issue - have to talk to the PS again and who knows what she might say, but effectively the breast surgeon is saying i'm burning a bridge by reducing the other side now.

has anyone done this (Mx + reduction)? anyone been in a similar position, with similar thoughts/concerns about implants?