No reconstruction- Happy w/your decision?

Hi, Marlee1.  I was not a candidate for reconstruction due to an abdominal hysterectomy I'd had 5 months prior to my mastectomy. My doctor did a skin sparing left mastectomy in case I ever decided on implant.  I'm like you. I didn't want anymore surgery, my husband is very supportive and I do not regret not having any reconstruction or implant.  The only thing I wish I'd had, was a bilateral mastectomy, but at the time of my diagnosis, I didn't know enough about breast cancer to ask for it.  I know that each of us is different about this and there is no right or wrong decision. One of my sister's was diagnosed 1 year after me and she chose bilateral mammo, expanders and implants.

Take care,

Deb

Shippy, I wouldn't get rid of any clothes prior to your surgery. Don't get ahead of yourself - best to wait and try things after. You may be surprised at what works without and with forms. I'd even give it a good six weeks before pitching anything, as you may still have swelling for a while. You may find that things that don't look good at first are fine later.



In general, I discovered that dresses and blouses that have darts were the worst without forms. I'm sure those styles will work with a prosthetic though. I have lymphedema issues and probably will only wear a small form if that's possible. My old dresses would be a little too big in the bust, so that's why I consigned them. However, I tried everything on first, and I was glad I did since my favorite vintage dress actually still looks great. I didn't expect that at all.



Most of my new things have shirring, details near the neckline, ruffles, pattern, or are worn in layers. However, that doesn't mean if one looks at me closely that they can't tell I am flat. Some things make me look small busted, and with others I just throw caution to the wind and put my flat chest out there. I still look nice in what I am wearing, but I don't have breasts. Just as you did pre-mast and then with implants, you learn to find clothes that flatter your body type and highlight your best features.



I'm sure others will chime in on how to work with the camis and prosthetics

Barbe, I'm not sure what you are referring to when you mention the "flat shelf". I just had to check myself in the mirror. Perhaps because I have some loose skin and muscle, maybe I don't see this? Perhaps it's different for those who are deconstructing. The plastic surgeon who removed my implants said that my pectoral muscle had been "released" by the inframammary fold. While she permanently tacked my muscle down to my chest wall similarly to how it was before the recon, there is some extra or a little bit of slack muscle near my inframammary fold. There's more on the left side because I always had more skin there and the implant was larger on that side to correct what my original PS said was an imbalance in my chest. Anyway, my right side had muscle damage and it couldn't be tacked down in quite the same way as the left, so there is a little less slack on that side. If I didn't have some concavity in the middle from the stupid expanders, I might look like I had mini boobs! In either event, I have always had a slight pectoral excavatum that I hated, but now it actually works to my advantage because it gives the impression of some cleavage. What was once seen as a negative is now a positive! Funny, huh?

I dont have a fat shelf... or any ridge where my underwire used to sit.  it is flat and smooth.  I dont think everyone has this fat shelf.

Kezzie

I googled 'fat shelf and mastectomy' and got another thread on bco! and this link:

What is Lipofilling and How is It Used for Breast Reconstruction ...

You did really well then Kezzie! Lucky you. Mine is like another rib sitting atop my first rib. Not as bad as when I was first done. In fact, the day I went back to work, a young lady poked at it on my top and said 'what's this'? Then she answered herself by saying, 'oh, it must be bandages.' I didn't want to tell her it was my fat shelf!

I don't have a fat shelf either, but I had a C cup.   My ribs are more pronounced  so it looks like the chest is a tiny bit concave. 

I haven't read through this whole thread, so I am answering as if I just read the 1st page and last  (which I did)    I opted for a blateral mastectomy instead of just getting my left breast removed.  Personally, I didn't want one old boob and that is it.  It would have bothered me more with that than if I just got it removed for both my self image and for peace of mind.  I was told that it is more difficult to detect cancer in a breast that has reconstruction, and I did not want any foreign matter placed into my body.  I do not regret either the bilateral mastectomy or not getting reconstruction.  I do go through stages where I miss my breasts, but never enough to want to go through surgery again.  My bs aggreed with me on these, so I had no problem whatsoever.

What is deconstruction?

This is a great thread!  I had a bilateral mastectomy on May24th.  I had IDC in the right and lots of abnormal tissue in the left so I did a prophylactic on that side.  I decided not to do any reconstruction and I do not regret my decision.  BreastFree.org really helped me decide to go form free too.  I was extremely small (like nearly an A) and to be truthful, my breasts, despite their small size, have caused me a lot of pain over the years due to lots of swelling during menstrual cycles.  So I decided that this was my chance to be pain free and I am really pleased.  Another interesting thing is that hubby seems fascinated by my flatter chest and seems to really enjoy looking at it - go figure!  I think it's because he likes the athletic look.

yikes another thing to worry about!!!! also does anyone know how to fix the built in shelf on a cami so that you can put a foob in it? i.e how do you sew it thanks!

Linda, I did both sides because I didn't want to wear a foob. I didn't want to ever wear a bra again! I was too large to go flat/not flat and would have needed a prosthetic, which I didn't want. They found ADH in my right breast (in fact, they thought it was my right breast that had the cancer in the first place!) so that validated my decision. I didn't get recon because I didn't want the surgery length/risk/anasthetic/etc.

The fat shelf is obviously not on everyone! I was a 38D when I was 13 and had my breasts removed at 50 so that's a lot of years of heavy breasts and underwire pressure. Smaller physiques and breasts just don't have the build-up.

I am very, very surprised at those with recon who didn't get lipo. It's part of the whole process to clean up the dog-ears under the arms and other areas. How do you know you didn't get lipo? Women mention they get it at exchange time as well.

Kezzie, I may be explaining this wrong or something. It's not an obvious shelf like a bookshelf. What it is is a ridge right where your underwire bra sits. It is a build-up from the irritant of the underwire bra. Years ago I had a reduction and the surgeon mentioned not to ever wear an underwire bra for that reason. Also, underwires cut blood circulation. I asked her how the heck a low support bra would give me any support!!

I mentioned age only to say that I had underwire rubbing against that area for 37 years!

My ribs protrude enough that I can fit my fist underneath them!! Now, with the built-up area it is even more pronounced. That's all it is.

I am glad I found this thread and breastfree site. I am making my decision this week after a breast MRI tomorrow. I had told the surgeon last week at our first meeting I knew for sure I didn't want reconstruction so do not leave any extra skin. As far as the "good" breast I was pretty sure I wanted it off but had to check with the insurance co to see if they will pay. They called this morning to Ok it. My surgery is at the end of July after I finish chemo.

   I couldn't see any sense in having 1 saggy boob. If I am flat I can choose to be flat or I can wear prosthetics for special occasions. Kind of like how I do my wig.

  Did some shopping over the weekend and found some darling Liz Claiborne stuff with shirring and the whole peasant look I think will work good also. Also found a perfect jersey little black dress. It was actually displayed on a flat chested mannequin. They has several of those displayed thruout the womens clothes.

I do not have large breasts now so I wore a too small sports bra that flattened me totally so I could better gauge the look. Figure by the time i need some new clothes they will have the winter coats out.

  Thanks for sharing your stories. Kind of confirms my own thinking process.

The only way I can get rid of the ridge is with lipo, though it's not a 'soft' fat, in fact they can't even guarantee it can be removed! Cost $3,000 - it's considered cosmetic. Yet I could have whole new breasts built for thousands of dollars at no cost to me! Doi!

It has gotten slightly flatter over the past couple of years, so obviously some of the fat has come off. It's more apparent on my right side which had a simple mastectomy rather on the left side that had a modified mastectomy!! Go figure!

Faith, you will get a better look with a PS, that's for sure! I had a general surgeon. He had to go back in a do an incision revision on the left (cancer) side as there was too much tissue left still. When I saw him post-op that, he couldn't belive it! There was almost as much 'tissue' there still. He said he swore he took out a big chunk. What we didn't realize at the time, was it as LE!!!!! Now that I treat my LE with MLND, my look is much smoother. Thank God I didn't go for yet another surgery!!

I've heard of so many women who get lipo as stage 2 of their reconstruction, to clean up dog ears and flatten under the arms. They say the lipo was the hardest part to recover from! You've been very lucky to date, I hope everything goes as well for your deconstruction, you will feel so much better without having to wear a bra. I cannot imagine having to put a bra over the mild LE I have.

Barb, I'm sorry you got LE.  I don't know what MLND is but I'm glad it helps.

I'm hoping to wear a prosthetic bra for work and hoping it won't be too hot. I will probably take it off at home and on weekends. So far I haven't had LE.  I hope this surgery won't create a problem like that.

Tina, my PS said I will have to be super careful to not using my peck muscles as they will need to heal back together after deconstruction.  At least four weeks of minimal movement on top.  Was it like that for you?  Hope you are continuing to recover and heal.