Surgery decisions

Nottodaycancer2020

Ihave my double mastectomy scheduled for 12/1. I feel like I don't really have a set plan...which sucks for people that love a good plan. 🤣 I thought initially I would go the expander route with a second surgery. Last time I met with the plastic surgeon she mentioned doing reconstruction during the mastectomy. I brought this up to my breast surgeon and he said it is becoming more common and provides comparable results. I am worried about doing reconstruction right away with radiation Shortly after and what it will do to the new implant and overall recovery. Is there a benefit of putting expanders in first when you know radiation will be done?

hnsquared

Hello...I had a bilateral mastectomy on 9/21 and it was skin sparing, nipple sparing direct to implant. Like you I went into it thinking I would have expanders like most women I knew. My plastic said I was a good candidate for direct to implant due to the location of the tumor and my desire to be the same size or smaller. I am incredibly pleased with the outcome. They look very natural and very much like my breasts did before all this😃. I do my radiation simulation next week and should start radiation 11/16. So we shall see. My plastic does direct to implant a lot and says outcomes with radiation are so much better than they used to be. I have read a number of women on these boards that did direct to implant snd radiation successfully and I hope they respond.

I’m hoping for the best. I’m wishing all the best with your surgery. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Heather