New implant after rads and...neck lift?

7of9

Well, I didn't have rads after first diagnosis (clear margins, clear nodes) but did have to do 25 after recurrence in axillary nodes. That was last year. My implant marched right up my chest in the months to follow, to the point I'd swear it was trying to crawl over my shoulder! Ok, seriously, my muscles and scar tissue got rock hard and pulled everything up. Even with the "perky" implants on both sides after BLM 5 years ago, this one is now so high it looks obvious (to me) even with a bra and a not snug shirt. I was relieved at my consultation today that they don't like to use drains anymore!

So if I haven't jinxed myself, after next months check up and scans (if clear my Onc said he won't scan again for 2 years) I am undergoing an exchange, scar tissue removal and...a neck lift at the end of summer! I have to pay out of pocket for it, but I swore if I have to undergo the knife again that I'd do it. I feel like my skin really looks a bit haggard after the stress of the last 5 years (loss of my dad, BC 2x, job loss etc...). There were at least 2 pictures from our last vacation this spring where my neck skin looked really really bad to the point I threw out the developed pictures. I'm only 45 and never thought I'd do plastic surgery, but BC sure threw that out the window anyhow. I had to have radiation halfway up my neck because the rad onc felt it would be good prevention since it was on the move from last time, and I'm down 10 - 12 lbs since before this ordeal started and my skin just hasn't bounced back.

Anyone else throw in some extra cosmetic surgery after this ordeal? I haven't told anyone but my cousin who is like my sister, even my husband (God bless him and his denial at my recurrence risk, which has spread to his chosen obliviousness to surgery) is ok with my "it's kinda part of neck / skin rehab" excuse. Sometimes I'm amazed at the paths this disease has taken me, or I have chosen to take (more like it) since it took me on.