Cosmetic Surgery-Without Implants-Ins?

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Hi... I had bi-lat Masts. without reconstruction almost 4 years ago. And have chosen to never have reconstruction (tried it - but the pain was too severe for my very petite frame). Ever since my Masts., I have had a "glob" of fat/tissue under each armpit on the side of my torso. I like to wear a figure fitting shirt/sports bras to the health club to hold my prosths in place while running on the treadmill, etc. But the tightness of the shirt/sports bra (sleeveless) makes them look even worse (it kind of pushes the extra fat/tissue up and over the side of the shirt). And they're noticeable in a bathing suit too. Since this happened as a result of the Masts. (and node removal), do you think Insurance would pay to have them removed or liposuctioned? I don't think I've EVER seen a post or thread about something like this. I've read about "fat shelves" but mine are on the side - not in front.

Have any of you had cosmetic/reconstructive surgery, post Mast., that didn't involve a breast/s? I've kept my weight down, exercis like a maniac, have accepted the fact that I will never have breasts again and really want to be happy with my entire figure, and bikini season is just around the corner... 

Thanks for any info you can share.

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  • Cinnabear50
    Cinnabear50 Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2009

    Hi Laura,

    I had a mastectomy on my left-side in 1/08 and opted not to have reconstruction surgery.  I had fat "glob" at the end of my incision very close to my armpit and it was actually uncomfortable when my arm was down at my side.  My surgeon referred me to a plastic surgeon who did a mini-liposuction procedure in his office.  Insurance did pay for it as it was considered scar revision.  It was the weirdest thing to undergo but it worked!  It wouldn't hurt to at least go for a consult with a plastic surgeon to get their opinion.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2009

    Cinnabear - Thanks for the info... I will certainly schedule a consult... Be well.

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  • Raye99
    Raye99 Member Posts: 1,350
    edited March 2009

    Interesting. I can relate. My mast side with node removal has a little of the fat area; but my prophy side, where nodes were not taken has quite a bit more of the fat that pushes up over the side of my bra.  Also, I do pushups to tone my arms and these exercises are building my pecs a bit and making the bulge worse. LOL.  

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  • amsky
    amsky Member Posts: 35
    edited March 2009

    Cinnabear, was the procedure painful?

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  • Cinnabear50
    Cinnabear50 Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2009

    No, not painful but uncomfortable.  He used a local anesthetic to numb the area although that area is already somewhat numb due to the mastectomy.  I used some Advil that evening and the next day but after that, it was fine.

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  • Sher
    Sher Member Posts: 540
    edited March 2009

    I had bilateral masts in July 08 and have been left with excess fat/tissue on ends of both incisions (especially outer edges) and oddly there is more on my proph side too.  Not only do I feel it's rather ugly and shows through when I go without prosthesis, the wads are uncomfortable.   I have just met with a plastic surgeon and have been approved for "excision of redundant deformities and tissue and layered closure". Hmmmmmm layered closure?   He explained it would be a long incision starting at a bit beyond the wad under my arms - sutures on inside, glue on outside.  That long incision seems a little scary and maybe excessive to me, so I am meeting with another plastic surgeon for a second opinion.   Also, I'm really nervous about the side where I've had radiation and of course, any increased LE risk because of the procedure.

    Cinnabear, if mini-liposuction was done, isn't there still excess skin or does that shrink up somehow?  

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  • Cinnabear50
    Cinnabear50 Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2009
    I didn't have any excess skin.  The PS made a small incision right on top of the mastectomy incision so I didn't have a "new" one to deal with and once the swelling and bruising from the liposuction procedure went away (which was minimal), my skin was smooth and flat again.  Sher, maybe the difference is that I didn't have any excess tissue to begin with as mine was more of a fatty "lump".  A second opinion sounds like a good idea to me.  Keep us posted as to what that doc has to say.
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  • starzhere
    starzhere Member Posts: 162
    edited March 2009

    I can certainly relate to what you're saying.  I have a lot of extra skin where the lymph nodes were removed.  It only shows when I wear my bra, since the band pushes it up. 

    In the TLC catalog there are pads that you can attach to the inside band of your bra that fills in the space created by the missing tissue from the lymph node removal.  You could actually make some yourself with rectangular piece of batting that you cover with cloth.  It would go inside the band of your bra directly under your arm pit.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2009

    Thanks for the info!

    I think, in my case, there's some excess skin because I/they thought I would eventually have reconstruction.

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