reconstruction by using tummy fat

I think your surgeon is suggesting a traditional tram flap, which uses abdominal muscles to help form the new breasts.  Sounds like you'll have reconstruction on both sides.  Investigate diep surgery, which uses tummy fat but takes no muscle, leaving you in much better shape to regain your abdominal strength.  Whether diep or a muscle-sparing free tram, you have options that will not sacrifice your ability to get out of a chair without using your arms.  Look for 'diep' in these discussion boards and you'll get tons of perspectives.  Good luck in your research.  I'm very happy you are questioning 'is it worth it' because that will lead you down a great path of learning your alternatives so you can make a good decision; one that works best for you!

This sounds a lot like lot a tram-flap surgery.  I just had a DIEP and she only took fat from tummy & relocated to my chest.  No tunneling involved.

I couldn't use my arms to get up for a couple weeks because you don't want to damage the delecate vessels that have been reattached. But it wasn't that bad. Standing really wasn't an issue once I was disconnected from monitor. Getting slid to the end of the bed was tricky but once my feet was under me I could stand. I slept in my recliner for 2 weeks.

While it may take 6 months to fully recover from the surgery it doesn't mean you can do things or work.  That can vary from person to person.  Some go back to work after 4 weeks.  I've had a bit of complication and it will be a couple more weeks before I can return to work. But I feel great.

You need to be sure to find a doctor who does a lot of these surgeries.  It is a mirco surgery & is very tedious & takes a lot of time.  Not all PS are qualified to do these surgeries.

Good luck.  NJ 

rrtoolan, I just took a minute and looked at your other post.  I see that the PS you're usingappears to be quite renown, although it wasn't immediately clear to me if he does a lot of breast reconstruction.  But his credentials certainly look up there with the best in the country! 

So I guess the question to ask is, does he do DIEP surgery, and are you a candidate for that?  If he doesn't, you may still want to get a second opinion before proceeding with a Tram flap, if that's what he's described to you.  Perhaps there are reasons why you're not a candidate for a DIEP, but, as you can tell, those of us who have had DIEP reconstruction believe it's a superior procedure for some of the reasons noted above.  But I just wanted to stop back and tell you that I researched your PS after I saw his name in your other post, and he certainly appears to be highly qualified.       Deanna 

I agree with the others to look into a DIEP flap. It uses fat not muscle and the getting out of a chair issue would not be a prevalent.

With a DIEP flap, since it is fat, you have to go back for liposuction shaping after the fat is done shrinking. The other flap sometimes also needs final shaping. The DIEP gets rid of that after 40 year old fat pouch.

The DIEP takes a lot longer to do, (about 8 hours), and requires you to have good vessels. They take an artery and vien with the fat graft and put it back toghether up top. So, this requires you to have a good vascular system or the DIEP would fail. The longer general anesthesia also requires good general health. The tram flap also takes long, but not near as long as the DIEP flap.

I had TCH before surgery which made me too unhealthy for the total 10 hour procedure. I was only approved for 1 hour of general anesthesia.