BMX Newbie here - Implants or a flap (what kind?)

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warriorwannabe
warriorwannabe Member Posts: 66
edited February 2016 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi ladies!! I just got dx, so no surgery yet. Having the node surgery soon, and 1 week after, a BMX. I do want reconstruction but dont know what kind!! Please, can you give me any and all opinions and advice? Ive scoured these boards for info regarding which is better - implants or flap surgery? , and if so, what kind of flap surgery?

Im seeing 2 PSs soon and I like going armed with your info! My OBG said she has seen a bit of trouble with the flaps, but that is just her opinion. THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE for supporting me on this roller coaster journey.

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  • BigSister-2015
    BigSister-2015 Member Posts: 342
    edited February 2016

    Hi Warrior,

    So sorry you had to join this club, but you are in a great sisterhood. :)

    A book I wish I had read when I first started this journey is "The breast reconstruction guidebook : issues and answers from research to recovery" by Kathy Stelio. It really details your options for you.

    I started out with implants (tissue expanders) because my PS said I was too thin for a flap, but because of two infections I had to revisit my options. I went to see a PS who specializes in the DIEP flap and he said I was the perfect body type. I had my surgery on December 10, 2015 and now I have two, beautiful C cups. I couldn't be happier.

    When I told my first PS that I had decided on the DIEP flap, he shook his head and muttered about flap failure--such a downer. But the DIEP surgeon was much more optimistic. The flap failure rate is very low (<1%). And there are complications with implants as well--I ended up with 2 infections and sepsis, so I didn't win anything there.

    The key to success with a flap iis to find a doctor who does them all the time. You usually have to travel to a large medical center. I had to travel 1.5 hours to mine, some women travel much further. There are many excellent DIEP docs in TX, so I am sure you can find a good one.

    I read most of the posts on the 2014 DIEP thread (over 100 women!) and was amazed that NO ONE on that thread regretted their choice, even those who had complications. I figured there had to be something in that! Check out the list in the 2014 DIEP thread and find someone from TX that you can private message and find out who they saw. They would be glad to help--wonderful group of women!

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...

    I also was so glad to finally get the procedure that would be a once and done thing. OK, you have to go in and get a revision or two, but you have to do that with the implants as well. And implants don't last forever: you have to have them exchanged every 10-15 years or so. I figured I didn't want to be having surgery again when I was 65, 75, 85, etc, so I am so happy for the flap.

    There is also a thread for the 2016 DIEPs that you can join and ask questions. Several of the women have posted pictures of their results, so it can give you a feel for what you might see. (Just go back a few pages, or start from the beginning of the thread!)

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...

    HTH!

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  • warriorwannabe
    warriorwannabe Member Posts: 66
    edited February 2016

    Thank you so much Bigsister! Very very helpful to me :)

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