Implants, or not???

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

Ok, I will introduce myself.  My name is Dianne and I'm 56 years old. I had bilat mastectomies in Sept. 2008.  I got prosthetics fitted last year, and while they hide the fact that I am boobless, I find they are hot to wear in the summer and a pain in the neck, generally. 

I am considering implants and wonder what women think of them who have them?  Is the procedure/surgery painful? How long does it take for the whole thing from beginning to end?  I have scars that are fibroid...in some areas the scars have disappeared and in other areas on my chest you can see the scar line very well.  What do they do with that?  How do they hide it or does it show after implants?  I have been told that my surgeon did a 'beautiful' job with the mastectomies but I have nothing to compare it with.

I don't know if I'm in the right thread.  If not, I apologize!  There are so many topics here I didn't know where to start. Thanks for your advice, in advance!

Dianne - tuckertwo

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  • sueinfl
    sueinfl Member Posts: 258
    edited June 2010

    Diane, before you decide on implants or not, please visit www.breastcenter.com. These doctors specialize in autologous tissue transfers including DIEF, SGAP and HIP. I believe most of their patients are from other states. I am two months out from the first stage of HIP surgery and am so pleased. I am swimming laps already with almost no discomfort except for the stretching of muscles that haven't been used for months.

    In any case, spend plenty of time getting references from other patients no matter who you choose. Make sure they are the best. You deserve it! You can contact Timtam on this website and be given a link to a picture forum so you can see the journeys of many us with both DIEPs and implants.

    I wish you the best results no matter what.

    Sue

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited June 2010

    Hi Dianne,

    You're definitely in the right forum and your question is definitely one a lot of us ask. A lot of women complain that their breast forms are too hot and I think this is a big reason some women opt for delayed reconstruction. I've worked really hard to find breast forms that don't cause me to perspire (there are silicone forms available that have fabric backing and are ultra-lightweight, so they look very natural but minimize perspiration). Finding good options has enabled me to stick with my original decision not to have reconstruction. Also, like you, I had a very good surgical outcome from my mastectomy (no pain or discomfort, smooth, flat chest, no extra skin and thin symmetrical scars). Some might not consider my flat chest beautiful, but my DH and I are fine with it. I worry about what I'd be in for if I attempted reconstruction.

    Sue mentioned tissue flap reconstruction. The New Orleans doctors who performed hers are supposed to be the best. If I were to explore that option, I would go there. But I just can't bring myself to have surgery on other parts of my body to create new breasts. Also, the thought of many hours under anesthesia scares me. I know people do it all the time. But not me.

    I'm a little older than you (61), slim, with a good figure (I was a 34 large B before bc). I really care about looking good. But I feel I can accomplish that with breast forms. When I'm home, I sometimes go without forms, the ultimate comfortable solution. But I do like the look of breasts when I go anywhere. For exercise, I use foam forms in Still You camisoles, an extremely comfortable solution. They look surprisingly natural, and I tend to wear tight fitting tees.

    I had radiation on one side, so implants would be a very iffy proposition for me. Some women do it, but often the symmetry isn't great, since the radiated side tends to be firmer and higher. I care about symmetry, which I can always achieve with breast forms. If you haven't had radiation, implants might work fine for you. Another reason I'm not big on implants for myself is that the pectoral muscle has to be cut to slip the expander (and later, permanent implant) under -- call me squeamish, but the thought of that just doesn't appeal to me. Thousands of women have this type of reconstruction, though, so if you're really unhappy with breast forms, it might be worth a try.

    Barbara

    BreastFree.org

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  • BoobsinaBox
    BoobsinaBox Member Posts: 550
    edited June 2010

    Dianne, 

    Do go to Barbara (Erica)'s http://breastfree.org first and look at the options for forms.  There a LOTS of other good options besides heavy silicone ones, as Barbara began mentioning.  I just bought a tiny pair (size 2) of microbead foobs from tlcdirect, and I am liking them very much.  I didn't like the projection of the other foobs I tried, and these give me just enough projection to look about like I did in high school, which is all I wanted.  They are comfortable, not hot, and though I've been going form-free again for a year, I really like these.  

    Dawn 

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  • dianagirl
    dianagirl Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2010

    hello there I would to tell you just an implant even thou you scars but i think its the best way to have implant go then have an surgery because my auntie had already than and implants and you have a thesame case.

    reduce breast size

    how to reduce breast size

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited June 2010

    Not sure that "dianagirl's" post just above mine is at all relevant to this thread or this forum, since the link it provides is for a site promoting breast-reduction surgery.  Many of us have already undergone breast-reduction surgery in its most extreme form:  breast-removal surgery.

    I haven't reported the post because there is other stuff on the website that might be of interest, even though (IMHO) it has absolutely nothing to do with tuckertwo's original question.

    otter

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  • GG27
    GG27 Member Posts: 2,128
    edited June 2010

    I was not going to have reconstruction.  I bought expensive prosthesis & three bras & wore them for several months, everyday. 

    For myself, I knew I wouldn't be able to do this everyday for the rest of my life.  I thought I could go without & happy with myself but I wasn't.  I was scared to have surgery, I was still unsure the day of the surgery.  The surgery went very well, he did a great job, it wasn't as painful as the mastectomy & SNB & my fills are painfree.  Even though I still have TE's, I love not having to put on a bra everyday, there is a freedom to that.  Clothes look nice again, I feel so much better about myself.

    But... only you can decide what is right for you.  I have a huge respect for women who are happy to go without or use prosthesis.  It just wasn't right for me.  Funnily enough my husband said he knew I would eventually have reconstruction, he never said anything to me, just stood by me like a rock.

    Good luck, Dee

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  • joyt
    joyt Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2010

    Would you mind telling what type of reconsruction you had? thanks

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  • GG27
    GG27 Member Posts: 2,128
    edited June 2010

    joyt,

    I had delayed bi lateral lattisismus dorsi with TE's.  There are quite a few threads on this type of surgery right now, some good, some bad.  I don't have any of the issues that some women are having.  I've had a good result & very little pain.  I don't have the iron bra feeling any more, I did have it for a few weeks after surgery, but now I feel normal, other than the TE's feel hard in my chest, I will be happy to get them exchanged for implants.

    Good luck!

    Cheers, Dee

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