The Flat Look Vs Prosthesis (with Pics)

I really appreciate the further comments, I am not the woman who had the rude encounter, but I am insecure enough still that that rudeness rocked my own self image.

 Just yesterday my husband called me into the living room to show me a cute bolaro jacket a newscaster was wearing, and he said it would look good on me. Well, I am still so insecure (9 weeks now flat) that I felt maybe he was "trying to tell me something"

I did ask him and he said no, he was fine with the way i am, even going out in public he is fine with me, but he just wanted to suggest a fasion possibility since he knows it worries me.

I sincerely thank everyone for their thoughts and photos on this...

Hi Crystal:  I think your husband might be onto something with the bolero.  It might actually work well.  Only way to know would be to try one on.  I don't remember seeing a bolero recently when out shopping but if I find one, I am going to try it.

Looks like you married well and I hope you will tell him I said so.

Barbara

Barbe,

I am sadistic like you. I cannot remember if you have BMX or uni. But I have uni. And am having rads right now w oozing yucky pissed off incision. I wear tanks only, cute ones, and go with a silicone self adhesive cover over remaining breast so nipple not so obvious and then braless with nonstick bandage over worst of ooziness. Sometimes I have a sweater on or a zip up hoodie. Often not.



I admit to enjoying in a sick way the facial expressions as people see, notice, register and "emote" about my one boobedness. Men and women. Kids? They don't notice a thing, god love them. Just innocent and smiling.



Am I awful?

You ladies make me laugh sometimes (in a good way) and we always need that!  I just wear tanks or camis under my tops at work. As Starak stated - if you wear something with detail that draws the eye up (to your face where people should be looking) it works.  So does wearing busy patterns, a little draping, or ruffle. And yes - the bolero idea. I'm only a couple of months post-op for a single mx, but I bought a couple of shrugs - short cardigans with short sleeves, and several tops.  I kind of went on a shopping binge there for a while, but now I feel I can just go to my closet and grab clothes and go, similar to the way things were before the surgery.  Which was the goal - to find a new normal. I don't feel I have to fuss in the morning to get ready for work, so many options work and I don't think I will ever bother with a falsy.  I don't mind if whether others wear them or not as long as they are dressing for themselves and are not feeling that they have to. It's really nice to get to a point where you can get dressed in the morning without thinking about what other people's reactions to your chest are going to be.

That really was nice of you to make the pictures and share with us!  I appreciate it. Sometimes it is hard to see yourself as others do.  And you do look great!

I had 40 lymph nodes out and a double masectomy.  I have had lots of pain where the lymph nodes were removed (3 1/2 years).  I have tried all the suggestions such as OT, PT, massage... without any success.  I cannot imagine having more surgery (not an option during the masectomy). 

I cannot wear anything tight.  I wear tops with gathers in the front with a drape cardigan over the blouse.  This also covers the compression sleeves pretty well.  I do end up getting pretty hot (radiation too) and often shed the cardigan.

Your pictures were a delight and inspirational!  Thanks so much!

Those photos are so amazingly helpful.

bumping this fantastic thread to help with a recent question

Thanks for the pics!!  You all look great with or without the prostheses!  You have certainly made me think that implants might not be the way to go with all the extra surgery and maintainence needed over time.  It's so interesting that it is not really noticeable that you are "flat."  Women's bodies have so many interesting curves and those are just part of the set.  Thank you!!!

I have been feeling pretty yucky lately and I think it is due to NOT being able to wear anything and feel comfortable.  If I wear my bra and proth. to work, by the time I get home I ache all over.  I was always the one to kick my shoes off first....now I cant wait to get in the car and unhook the bra.

I am considering having the lopsidedness removed.

When I was dx my adopted daughter sent me a text:

Roses are red

Violets are blue

I love you

One boob or two

the support from loved ones is all too special

Msippiqueen:  If you like this thread you may also like "Wardrobe pics for boobless days"

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/82/topic/737036

Just in case the link doesn't work, I will bump the thread.

Barbara

momx3 Thanks for your honesty!

Hi all, and yes thanks for your input, I am a single mastectomy and my choice was reconstruction for I was making wedding my plans to my wonderful husband when diagnosed, but he said it didn,t matter, so it was my personal choice, my body had other plans and rejected the expander and it caused infection and was taken out, so I have had the prothesis for so long that they are so common for me now and quite comfortable, and OH you look great without it,but better with them (to me). msphil  (idc, stage 2, 0/3 nodes, L mast, chemo and rads and 5 yrs on Tamoxifen).

I have not posted in a very long time. I had dbl mastectomy... My doc only wanted to do a lumpectomy, but I insisted a double. My husband said I needed to do what I felt good about. Take them both. No recon. Doc said, I would want it later. I think I have worn the prosthesis once in two years. No one has ever said something, and in fact, look shocked if I point it out. How much do people pay attention? Not too often.. Some nurse asked me if I had had a recent mammogram..... Uh noooooo, nothing to mammogram. Oh, and I told BS... I didn't want boobs, he would want them because he is in the boob business. I am fine without... Now finding a bathing suit for non-recon... That is hard. I have not been in a pool or water since the surgery.

Mels, couldn't you just wear tankini bottoms of some kind and a tank top?

momx3, a supportive spouse is really a good find and I am sure you will be ok. Just makes me a little cranky that docs can be so sloppy. 

Linda, 

Thanks for the pictures, and your comments about going with or without. You are so right; it doesn't make all that much difference. And it is silly of me to obsess about it. Like my girlfriend says, it's time to get over myself. (She's a good friend that can say that and get away with it).

I am also trying to exercise and diet the belly away, with little success...yet. Gotta keep a positive outlook! The exercise has definitely had its benefits. I'm now off both of the blood pressure meds that I'd been on for the last five years. In addition, my mood is better when I exercise, and I sleep so much better.

Thanks,

Lynliz