IMPLANTS REMOVED: YAY!

Momine

Momaton, I hope your surgery was easy and that you will recover quickly. I was told to delay recon, and at first the thought was shocking, but then when I was there with no boobs, it really wasn't such a big deal. I am thankful that I had a chance to test drive being flat. It is never nice to lose body parts, but at least boobs are luxury items in a sense. I hope the transition will be as easy for you as it was for me

MT1

Being flat positive is not necassarily being anti-reconstruction, flat -is- reconstruction, although not breast shaped. We all need a voice and a space to share our experience, feelings and thoughts related to it. I am happy that you did what works best for you.

momaton

Well, I am home, YAY.

Surgery was long but the range of motion is much better than the BMX. Feeling very positive about the whole thing. My little lump was cancer again but the lymph nodes were clear. Sigh of relief. My pecs were in great shape. So I should heal quickly.

Hubby brought me a tiara and the nurses and my surgeon were all giving him kudos...so sweet. Thanks again.. I be back soon.love

Eve

Kaption

Eve,

I'm so happy to hear your excellent report on surgery.

And, yay for your sweet husband. How thoughtful!

Kaption

momaton,

Just checking to see how you are doing a few weeks after surgery? How is the recovery going?

momaton

I'm doing ok. Still have the drains in...ugh! I could have had them out yesterday (Friday) buuuuut we had a bit of a hurricane to deal with.

Lost power for 40 hours...not fun here in Florida without AC. Hubby and I spent the day at a music fest and sat inside a new craft beer brewery...we had a few lovely beers and a pizza while crowd watching. Super nice to come home to power.

Should get the drains out on Monday and then I am good to go. Feeling good, mentally and physically...

Love to all,

ve

Kaption

Thanks for the update! Hope the drain removal goes well.

I've been following the hurricane because we have spent several winters in Cocoa Beach. Tough to be without power!!

Yaniza

I have been focused on this issue for a while. I have awful saline implants that are completely under the muscle... not even dual plane. I just saw another more experienced very well respected plastic surgeon who does prepectoral (on top of the pectoral muscles ).

If the skin is strong and thick enough and one doesn't want to go without this is a very good option according to all the research I've been doing. I am predicting that in the future no implants will be under the muscle for reconstructive surgery.

Compromising strength for appearance has been something that has been required of women for far too long. I believe if reconstructive breast surgery is to survive with integrity of intent, surgeons will have to leave women's strength ie, muscles, intact and find a better way... beginning with... in front of the muscle.

Yaniza

momaton

Yaniza

Don't know about the under the pecs being bad ie strength. I had mine done in 1988 under my pectorals. Never had a problem. AND they looked and felt awesome for all these years. My surgeon went so far in saying the implants may have prevented the cancer from infiltrating my chest wall. I think, as you say, research is the key and then you make your own decision.

Just glad my implants are out now...and I can move on

peace

eve

Yaniza

Hi Eve, right now it is 2 in the morning and I am up with mild muscle spasms. My strength is and will be continue to be compromised. I scanned this thread but perhaps I should go back and read all of the posts. Isn't pain was one of the main reasons for implant removal?

momaton

So sorry you are in pain. Muscle spasms can be the worst!

When did you get your implants?

I had mine put in in 1989. An augmentation. I was very small and only went up to a B cup. I am wondering if size does matter with regards to pain?

I never was in pain for all these years, until very recently. The pain was due to the right side (cancer side) starting to become encapsulated.

What do the docs say about encapsulation when you have implants on top of the pecs. Will you need a pocket made out of alloderm to hold the implants in place?

Hang in there...do what is right for you

Eve

Yaniza

Hi Eve, thank you for the reply. I've only had these implants infor three and a half months. I chose immediate reconstruction after a cancer diagnosis and a bilateral mastectomy. Perhaps if my surgeon had put them partially under my pec muscle I wouldn't be in the state I'm in now but while I was unconscious he took advantage of my long low muscle insertions and made pockets completely behind my pectoral muscles. The animation deformity is spectacular visually and painful. That's when I went to see another more experienced surgeon in another city who wraps the implant in alloderm during his reconstructions and places them on top of the pectoral muscle leaving the pectoral muscle where it is supposed to be... on your chest wall. I'm still in the process of educating myself before I make a decision about what to do.

Dlsa

Hi all,

I had a BMX in January 2015 and tissue expanders. The exchange surgery took place 3/15 and now my PS and I are in agreement that I have encapsulation (on the affected side). I have explanation surgery scheduled for Nov 11 and I would love some advice. My PS says this will be a 2 hour surgery and I will be flat with my nipples grafted back on. Was the surgery more like the mastectomy or the exchange? What was recovery like?

Thanks!

momaton

Hi Dlsa,

My experience with recovery is that is was the same as BMX. Have to say the pain was a bit more and lasted longer. Nothing major. As we are all different you could have a different outcome. I think my pain was worse because I had 4 drains in for 3 weeks. and another sentinel node biopsy. I'm 6/7 weeks out and just yesterday I felt pain free, still a bit uncomfortable but I did wash my Jeep...yes! I always do too much..lol

I love being flat, just so much more comfortable.

First time around I kept my nipples, be very careful of them and protect them, they can be very delicate. I don't mind not having them at all, but for me that is where the cancer kept coming back, so off with them.

It's kinda weird looking in the mirror but I just say "oh well" and get moving.

Hope things go well

for you.

peace,

Eve

MaryG59

MTI

Love your statement and you are so like!

MaryG59

MTI

Love your statement and you are so like!

Dlsa

Thank you, Momaton! I am looking forward to having these things out, but not the recovery process. : (

Any advice before going in to the surgery?

Heidibird

Hi everyone. I am glad to have found this forum (although sad that this disease affects so many of us). I am going in for my surgery on the LB in a couple of weeks. I am 61 and am opting not to have reconstruction done. The MO seemed to want me to have a lumpectomy again. I had one and a re-excision because of cells on the margin, even though the MRI showed "all clear." I am afraid there might be other ones hiding since the areas found in both lumpectomies were in different spots. I was pleasantly surprised when the surgeon asked about reconstruction and I gave my answer. Her response was "Good, you will heal faster." That made me feel a lot better as my friends are surprised I don't want reconstruction. (hubby says do what I want as it's my body) My body has been assaulted enough in the past 6 months and I just want this behind me again as much as it can be. Thank you for allowing me to read your posts and giving me more confidence in my decision.

~Heidi

glennie19

Heidi,, sorry that you have joined our club,, but welcome here.

glennie

momaton

Hi Heidi,

I am going on 61. This was my third surgery. Like you I just want to be DONE.

I was one of the luckly ones, where chemo wouldn't work/opposed to the side effects. I had a low recurrence score..ha ha go figure. IT came back twice. Doc wanted me to do rads but I said no. As it stands the cancer came back in the same place near the nipple...so off with her and as much skin as possible. My hubby, and they are so important in the discussion, said I love you not your boobs..soooo there ya go.

My surgeon said the skin is really good and I could have reconstruction. My response was I wanted to wait a year. Not gonna happen. Still have pain...and am really tired but that shall pass. Now to get moving a bit more each day.

Thanks for being here ladies,

love you all

E

Dandy

I am facing a similar situation. Diagnosed in 1988, left breast removed, no reconstruction. In 1989 had other breast removed prophylactically with bilateral reconstruction using saline implants. They lasted 26 years before right one deflated. Had silicone implants put in March 2015 and capsulorraphy procedure to hold them in place better in January of this year. They have never been even and the right one is quite noticeably sagging, so I went to my PS who said he could fix it and might have to use mesh to hold it in place better but won't know until he opens me up. He is also quite concerned about the capsular contracture of the other implant and says it needs to be removed and have a new one put in. I am now put in the sudden and unexpected position of having my implants replaced or removed and need to decide by the end of the year when I go in for my pre-op appointment. Surgery is necessary either way and is scheduled for January 9, 2017. What I need is advice/comments/opinions on living breast free. I did that for a year between the two mastectomies and wore an external prosthesis in a mastectomy bra. Hated it! It was heavier than my normal breast and made me sweaty. I lived 26 years without a bra since I had no nipple reconstruction. If I go flat for good I'm going to need advice on bras, prostheses, bathing suits, etc. What has changed/improved over time? It's going to be difficult to wear a bra again after being bra free for so long, but I'll get used to it as long as they're comfy. Do the companies that sell these items allow you to bill your insurance company, or do you have to pay up front and submit your bill to insurance? I know I have a lot of questions, but this is a big decision and I want to be well informed before my surgery. Thanks for l

BarredOwl

Hi Dandy:

One of the best resources about non-reconstruction is a site created by one of BC.org's members:

www.breastfree.org

See the menu at right. There is a lot of information about bras, prostheses, and links to on-line sources. Some experimentation may be needed, and you may choose more than one approach for different activities.

For example, I am currently using three different kinds of bras (pocketed mastectomy bras from American Breast Care (ABC); and ordinary bras with pockets from Coobie and from Zee Bra)) and three types of prostheses (very light microbead forms from TLC Direct (http://www.tlcdirect.org) for everyday; nice silicone forms (ABC); and swim forms (Amoena)).

Most insurance companies provide some coverage for the cost of several pocketed mastectomy bras (e.g., annually), and one prosthesis (if unilateral) or one pair of prostheses (if bilateral) (e.g., every two years). Check with your insurance compancy regarding the terms of your coverage (e.g., in full or or in part (e.g., 80%); how many per year), any applicable deductible and/or co-pay, and whether the boutique or vendor is "in-network" to learn whether you will have out-of-pocket expenditures.

I saved my insurance coverage for pocketed mastectomy bras and good silicone forms. A silicone form can be ~$250-300 (or more) for a single one.

With a current prescription (e.g., from your surgeon) for bilateral prostheses and mastectomy bras, a hospital-based or other reputable boutique can handle obtaining insurance reimbursement on your behalf. I did not have to pay up front. On the other hand, if you use on-line vendors, you pay up front, and they send you the paperwork to apply to your insurance company for reimbursement.

A professional fitting can be very helpful at first. Call ahead to make an appointment and confirm that the boutique will handle insurance reimbursement requests on your behalf, and whether you may need to pay any amount up front or not. Wear a form fitting tee to evaluate the look (profile and proportion), comfort, and fit.

Good luck.

BarredOwl

Heidibird

Thanks for the welcome. It looks like there is so much to learn about bras and forms too. I sure hope they have someone at the hospital who will also help initially with that information, although I have picked up tons here. Eight days to go, and still scared to have the surgery but more scared to have those cancer cells hiding out.

glennie19

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/82/topics/781208?page=61#idx_1804

Another thread on bras.

MaryG59

Heidibird,

It will all work out. You have plenty of time to learn what you need to do. You will be in my thoughts and prayers on you upcoming surgery. You are going to be fine.

My surgery for BMX and sentinel node biopsy was Oct 19 with no reconstruction. With BMX, I can get any size breast forms that are UNWEIGHTED. I will be going smaller as I always had big breast. Looking forward to NOT having my back killing me and not having bra straps cutting into my shoulders. Anytime someone opts for the UNILATERAL mastectomy, you have to get weighed breast forms or you will feel lopsided trying to match the weight of the remaining breast. The above post provides great info and I already am a customer of TLC which is owned by the American Cancer Society and I get info from breastfree site.

Please keep us posted. The surgery really is not that bad. Relax and breathe, take it one day at a time. Hugs

MaryG59

Hi Barredowl,

Thanks for your informative response, especially for newcomers. I was previously aware of breastfree.org and TLC associated with the American Cancer Society. I am so glad I had ordered 2 of the post-surgical mastectomy camisole with pockets for your drainage bulbs, sleeveless, lightweight, etc.

Heidibird

Thank you, Mary. I appreciate all the prayers I can get along with the good information. I am not a big chested woman but do understand about the lopsideness happening if I don't wear something weighted. I'll see how this surgery goes and "may" eventually opt for the BMX.

Thanks again!

Heidibird

Thank you!

abuela32

Hi I have had my implant removed for loads of reasons. The surgeon seems to have not heard me and has left me with a tiny breast made up of my mi¡uscle and skin. I had only my skin left after mastectomy. I assumed I would be flatter after having it removed. Did you have a flat chest or was it like a mini breast. my nurse seems to think the surgeon has left the pocket incase I change my mind

IllinoisNancy

Hi Ladies,

I've been on these boards for ten years and now I feel like a newbie again. Had ILC in 2006 with lumpectomy and rads, ILC in 2010 with chemo and double mastectomy and implants with Lat flap. Now in Oct 2016 I once again have ILC on both sides in skin and flap that was taken from my back. So now I'm preparing for a surgery on December 21st to remove implants, flap and as much skin as possible again. My breast surgeon has a PS on standby incase I need skin graphing from a remote location. After I heal from this surgery I will face 4-6 more weeks of radiation. I already had 34 treatments in 2007. My radiated skin didn't do well after last surgery so I'm really dreading the one coming up. Have any of you been through something like this? I told the doctor flat chest was fine with me, I just want to keep living.

Thanks,

Nancy