Do I want an implant in healthy breast?

CMary

Hi All. Two weeks ago had a mastectomy on my right side only, with tissue expander for staged reconstruction with permanent silicone implant. My PS advised that during the switch out surgery, I'd need a lift on my left side to improve symmetry with my reconstructed side, which made sense. Now she is advising me to add a small implant on that side. When asked the advantages of this, she first mentioned that I could increase size but I'm not really interest in that. (I'm about a C cup and have no desire to be bigger.) Then she mentioned she could achieve a better "match" this way, and especially as the breasts age. I'm not sure I want to add something foreign to my healthy breast if I don't need to. On the other hand, I don't know what the result will look like with just a lift on one side, or whether mismatched breasts will bother me. Has anyone had experience with this or have any thoughts? Thanks!

TrmTab

CMary...I am a year ahead of you on the same road, but still on the journey...hopefully someone who has completed this will come forward, but thought I would share my thoughts.

I am a single MX, left side. Had exchange to Inspria TCX-800 implant on Sept 8th after having tissue expander for 15 months. I haven't had any surgery on my native R breast and not sure I really want to. Currently the barbie implant and my poor 56 year old breast are not even cousins, let alone sisters, when I am naked....but as the swelling is coming down from surgery, I am approaching (not there yet) looking normal enough in a bra/in clothes.

My PS/BS have always said the goal is to look even in clothes, they can never make us perfect naked...

Immediately after surgery I was so swollen on L side I had to pad my native R side...which was depressing as I thought I would be forced to do something with the R or have a re-do surgery on the L to get more even. After initial panic, I am thinking I will wait at least 6 months to decide what if anything to do next.

When diagnosed, I was a 40D and was told I would need a lift and reduction to match the implant...I said, let's see what you can do with L, and I definitely don't want to be any bigger. Immediately after exchange I was a DDD on implant side and only a D in native side, ugh!

I think it is easier for the PS to match if they have more tools to work with -- lift, possible implant, more options. That said, I don't want an implant in my R and have told them that, so if the lift would make me a C rather than a D, fine...but then the L implant needs to be smaller.

Additionally, I like to exercise and am happy to still have one side with a squishy breast that allows me to lay flat on that side and worry that even without an implant the lifted and reduced breast will be much firmer than now and two very firm breasts is definitely not what I am looking for.

Now I am rambling, but wanted you to know you are not alone.

TT

ruthbru

I didn't have a mastectomy but had a lumpectomy that left me pretty lopsided, so I hope it's okay if I chime in. I would never have an operation on my healthy breast for the reason of symmetry. As with any surgery, there is the chance of it not turning out as one planned, or of things going seriously wrong; which could then mean additional surgery, pain, hassle, time, etc. etc.. I figure that as long as I look good in a bra, then I don't care.....I have other things I want to spend my time on.

TrmTab

Ruth

Well said, despite my previous rambling, that is exactly how I feel...I'm having a hard time getting that through to the PS who I believe thinks of my body as his work in progress! TT

Falconer

Hi, I, too, opted for nothing on the good right breast. I had a DIEP flap on the left and my PS kept lifting up on the right a little, asking, do you want a little lift? His assistant, female, behind him shaking her head, no, perhaps unconsciously. But I was adamant as the UMX and recon were enough. I had no desire to cut places that don't need it!

CMary

Thanks so much to all of you. It really helps me to hear your thoughts and experiences. I'm still working out my feelings about this and much of what you've said resonates with me. There are so many unknowns, right? Because let's face it. We've never been in this position before, and had it not been for the breast cancer (which was a shock to me, as it likely was to you), I never would have considered having an implant in the first place. But things are different now and I've had to get my head around the new normal. I hope others reply who have gone ahead with the implant in the healthy breast so I can hear how they feel about their decision, too. It's very helpful to get different perspectives.

swg

Honestly, I'm waiting the results of a biopsy to see if I have TWO tumors in my right breast, instead of one (oh joy!!!). I'm a model. It's really important I look good naked. So now I'm pondering, what if I have to have the right breast mastectomy, instead of a lumpectomy? I simply can't have my breasts look that uneven. It's making me think about a double mastectomy even though my left breast is healthy (when I got an MRI, something showed up in my left breast but the dr who biopsied the 2nd spot on the right said it didn't look on the US like anything to worry about.)

Now your post is making me wonder if there is a way to make the 2 breasts even, without adding an implant in the healthy one, and maybe I should just do a bilateral if the 2nd area turns out to be cancer.

It's hard, all these decisions we have to make, isn't it? the implications are so serious.

CMary

Yes, it is so hard. It's very personal but also there are so many unknowns. I wish there were easy answers. Best of luck with your decision making!