Omgosh! Can I hear some implant success stories...PLEASE??

LissaSue22 · April 2014

The only reconstruction option my PS gave me was no reconstruction, or the two stage with implants. I don't have enough fat for the other options. After reading pages and pages of bad implant recon experiences I am now scared to death. Aren't there people out there that are happy with their implants? And not just because they are making due with them because they are happy to have the cancer gone, but perhaps because it's just nice to have youthful perky breasts?

I have always been very small breasted and saggy. Nothing at all special about them, and never able to fill out a pretty nighty or such. I'm trying really hard to find something good about mastectomy, and all I can think is that "I hate this, I hate surgery of any kind, but yay! I'll have boobs and perhaps cleavage for the first time ever". But all I read is post after post on how awful it is. That the boobs are hard, cold, flat, uncomfortable, wrinkly, etc., etc., etc. Not to mention the various complications. I'm almost tempted to just not do ANYTHING and hope my DCIS magically goes away.

Please, for my peace of mind, and others who are on the brink of this major life change, can I (we) hear some happy stories? Perhaps how your life has been for the better since mastectomy and implants...and not just because your now cancer free...that's a given...but maybe some perks, something we can hope and look forward to?

Anonymous · April 2014

just stumbled on this. Yes, I am happy with my implants! After 1st UMX back in 1996, did not go thru recon. With the other MX, opted for recon, so glad I did it now and am pleased with the results. Then again, next week I'll be a year out since the exchange. I think a lot of the negative comments you're hearing is the process takes a while and isn't the easiest or most comfortable. Also, I think many have an unreasonable expectation that they'll be looking similar to pre-BC and that's a huge part of the problem. No, we will not be exactly like it was, and won't ever be. In a bra and clothes I look very normal and perky, sans clothes, just perky.

This is the way I see it: have you ever seen people who wear different kinds of prosthetic devices? For an example, think of the fabulous example of Amy Purdy on DWTS who had her legs amputated. Her prosthetic legs will never look as normal as what she was born with but they look like they do the job (her dancing is amazing, I can't do that with my normal legs!). Would she wish this never happened to her? I don't know for sure, but I'd say probably. But life hands us lemons, what do we do with that? Answer: do the best we can.

For me, having been without a breast for so long, I have so much of my self esteem back now. I feel so much more normal, like the old me. I can go into stores and for the most part, buy bras that fit, that aren't considered "medical equipment" like my prosthesis forms and bras, and I can buy normal clothes without having to consider the neckline (that it's not too low to reveal the form).

Something else to consider: the ladies who are happy with their implants, they're probably not on BCO venting and they're out living their happy lives so we don't often hear the good news. Hoping other will chimes in with positive comments.

This is a difficult decision, I know. This past year and a half process was hell at times, but now, that it's over, am I glad I did? Without a doubt: YES! And I have my whole life ahead of me with fabulous results.

PM me if you have other questions. Best of luck with your decision!

GointoCarolina · April 2014

One thing to consider,does your surgeon do other types of recon? A lot of surgeons who are not experienced in the flap surgeries,will tell you that you do not have enough hips or tummy or thigh....I think it is very very important to see more than one surgeon and especially to see one who is confident in doing all types of recon.That is the only way you will get the right assessment of which recon will work for you.If you have to travel to the right doctor..do it!Check out the Charleston Bound and NOLA topics,lots of happy women there.Good luck!

sarahjane7374 · April 2014

I'm happy with my implants. I'm about 6 months out from my exchange to mentor 650 cc high profile rounds and really liking them. I was small breasted before - A cup. I told my PS I wanted bigger but to still look natural and proportional. I think he got it right. I have pics on the forum if you want to look. Yeah sometimes they feel cold - but so do my feet. I am a little bothered by the ripples but I believe that can be fixed. My nipples are in need of some help - maybe tattoos in the future. But it's all minor stuff and overall I am really happy with them. Besides the temporary discomfort of the surgeries and some minor aches with the fills I had no problems. I was prophylactic so did not have the added challenges of chemo and rads. I know I am lucky in that respect.

I did not have any other options besides implants either. But to be honest I would have chosen implants anyway. The invasiveness and longer recovery times of the flaps scared me. I have 2 vertical (fading) scars and 1 IMF scar and I'm fine with them.

Good luck. Hope it all goes well!

RoseBuds · April 2014

Hi LissaSue22, Please dont let all the horror stories put you off. I did than and regretted it very much. I had my BMX back in 2011 and at that time I can here and like you read all the horror stories about reconstruction and the horrific time some woman have. So I decided to just be flat, well flat for me ended up being concaved with lots of extra saggy skin.

I spent two years telling myself that I would just have to learn to love the new me, but I hated how I looked and how I felt about myself. I would not let my DH see me let alone touch or be intimate with me and I stopped caring how I looked or how I treated those around me. How can you be nice to people when you hate yourself? I was sinking lower and lower and one day for no apparent reason I decided to make an appointment with a PS and talk about the awful mess that my chest had become.

I ended up seeing three different PS before I decided to have reconstruction done using TEs and implants. Now it was an very easy surgery for me having the TEs placed and getting the fills done every week was ok I never had any pain just a tight feeling towards the end of the fills. I have just had my permenant implants done and I like the way things look and I know things will continue to improve over time. If you get access to the picture forum you will be able to see my photo's from pre recon up to last week. I do not have what I had before breast cancer took my breasts but my new girls are wanted and are loved even at this early stage.

Please see as many PS as you need to. There are options out there for everyone and just because one says no does not mean they all will.

Kathy

LissaSue22 · April 2014

pandazanker...we are unfortunately (actually that should probably say "fortunately") covered by Kaiser so I am stuck with a Kaiser plastic surgeon. I can get unlimited options but if I want my $15.00 surgery and all expenses covered, then they will all have to be Kaiser doctors.

As for the PS I've seen, she actually specializes in the DIEP but I do not have enough abdominal tissue. And my back tissue is limited she said and thinks I should save that should I need it later. But to be honest, I don't want any of those surgeries. I dislike anesthesia greatly and I am still having dizzy spells from my lumpectomy 3 weeks ago. Being under anesthesia for a long period of time is not my ideal. As it is, the four hours for the mastectomy and immediate TE placement is pushing it.

bren3 · April 2014

HI!,

I am extremely happy with my results so don't post very often just like the other posted suggested. My only option was implants too. I think the expectations were practical and that's what I got. I stayed small for what looked good on my build and I look amazing in anything I want to wear. NEVER have to wear a bra if I don't want too. As for being naked....well they are perky! Yes they don't look like real breasts but I didn't expect them too after all I have been through. Would I have preferred to never had to go through this....of course. But I will take the perks I can get and be happy. If you ever want to private message me with specific questions please do.

Brenda

Blessings2011 · April 2014

Hi, LissaSue.... I had Kaiser, and I absolutely ADORED my entire medical team!

At my hospital, the two plastic surgeons who do reconstructive breast surgery only do saline implants. For me that was a good thing: much smaller incisions to deal with. (Saline implants are inserted while they are still deflated, and filled with saline once they are in position.)

My Original Girls were huge, fibrocystic, painful, and drooped to my waist. As a part of my BC treatment (I didn't need chemo or rads) I lost a lot of weight. My saline implants are high profile and filled to 700ccs. I LOVE the way they look! I am 63, and smaller, perkier boobs have given me a much more youthful profile.

The implants themselves are very soft, move freely like a natural breast, and are always warm (body temperature). I do notice some rippling on the bottom when I am in the bathtub, but who cares?

I can even go braless if I choose (I don't, these girls are big) and the best part? DH says they feel like the real thing.

I didn't have nipple recon, but I am on the list for 3D tatts when Vinnie comes to California.

Please remember that this is a support forum. Women who have issues come here looking for answers and encouragement. While it's true that doctors rarely tell you all the gruesome possibilities of surgical procedures (I think no one would ever have them if they did...), the reality is that there are huge numbers of women who go through the MX/Recon process with few, if no, problems.

It's always good to know that challenges are possible, but we plan for the worst and expect the best.

And like 2nd_time_around said, the ladies who are happy and satisfied are not posting here. They are out living their lives.

Please continue to educate yourself, but DO NOT let fear alone keep you from pursuing the look you want.

Wishing you the best...

Golden01 · April 2014

I'm a little over two years out from getting my permanent implants and am very happy with the results now. I wasn't as pleased at first but gave myself 6-9 months before passing judgement (truth was, I was missing my old breasts). Once some time passed, I got comfortable with my new ones.

marie11 · April 2014

Lissasue22 You have to remember many of the folks who come on to these boards are people who are in the middle of a crisis or who are having problems still. There are many of us who come for a short intense time and gather infomation, go through the process and then move on.

I am happy with the implants. I wanted the simplest and easiest fix to my problem. B/L mastectomy seems extreme for LCIS, but having young children and not wanting to deal with radiation and the risk or recurrence which could turn out to be a cancer that would require chemo would have been much more difficult. I initially was only going to have one removed but after discussing the difficulty and the scar tissue involved in getting a matched set that way B/L seemed the way to go. I am pretty thin so also unable to do any of the flap surgeries and happy that I didn't given the recoveries. I did have a lot of trouble with the expanders - pain. I think they were pressing on my rib cage. Once they came out the pain mostly went away and I got back to my regular activites. Every once in a while my chest feels tight. I just roll around the implants and then it feels better. I have to be somewhat careful of my right arm. I can have some aching into my forarm if I start swimming too much. Other than that I don't have many limitations other than my chest muscles are not as strong as they used to be. No pushups for me. That said I am extremely physically active. I run (marathons) bike, swim, kyaak, backpack, do hours of yard work.

Cosmetically I am happy with the results. In a shirt or swim suit it looks natural. Silicon seems to have a more natural feel than saline. I did not have nipples done cause I don't care that much what I look like naked. I don't think it would matter to my partner. It does make me self consious changing at the gym but over 2 years later I don't think anyone has noticed.

Lillypoppy · April 2014

Lissasue

I had BMX and direct to implant one step. I am a c/d cup and am very happy with my result. I had nipple sparing as my cancer was away from the nipple. I think my breasts look better than before. Of course it's different - feels cooler to touch and sometimes heavy feeling but I am only 6 months post surgery. Of course everybody is different and reacts differently but I personally feel this was the right surgery for me and I truly am happy with my decision. I researched it thoroughly as I didn't personally want the flap major surgeries. The one step to implant is difficult and not all surgeons do it regularly so my only advice is to do your research whatever surgery you decide.

Kindest regards

Lilly

LissaSue22 · April 2014

Thank you all sooo much! Just reading your posts brought tears of hope to my eyes. 🙏

I truly just want to put this all behind me. I have NEVER ever considered breast augmentation because I just don't want the hassle of it all. I don't care that much I guess. I have sisters, and nieces, and best friends who have all had implants just to look better, but implants were never on my radar. Ever. Now that they have to be (stupid cancer!), I just want the best outcome I can have with the least amount of down time or inconvenience. And the perk of a decent pair of breasts that are at least larger than an A cup would be a bright spot in this whole ugly mess.

Lillypoppy · April 2014

wishing you all the best with your decision making LissaSue. I remember not too long ago the turmoil of making the decisions and researching all options. With DCIS you have time on your side so my one piece of advice is please don't feel in a hurry to commit to a procedure and/surgeon. I added 3 (long) weeks on to my wait time to have the surgeon who was skilled in this procedure knowing that I had to live with my choice and his skill forever.

Hang in there..... It gets easier x

Lilly

Anonymous · April 2014

I was PM'ing someone who just had exchange done a couple days ago: if it helps, you didn't grow your native breasts overnight, no matter how big or small, it took a while. So this process (and I've been told, it's not an overnight fix anything like augmentation), will take a while. As Golden01 said, it was 6-9 months. I'd say give it a year before you pass judgement.

Make the decision that will ultimately be the best for you and your well being.

Obxflygirl1 · April 2014

I am very happy with the new girls. They are the right size and I had the cv flap surgery for nipples and tattoos by Vinnie last September. If I had to have cancer and all that goes along with it..then I feel like I got a really good result with my silicon implants. They do feel cold some but I don't feel it....only if I purposely touch them.

I do miss the sensation and feelings in my breast but I can live with that downside as long as the cancer is gone. No, they aren't exactly like my natural beasts but I can go without a bra and I look very normal.

It's a process.....physically and emotionally. It will take time but you can get good results. Good luck!

NJmomof3 · April 2014

Hello to all!

I just wanted to thank everyone who posted these success stories. I'm still in those dark days of tissue expanders, painful fills and self doubt as to what final implants to select.

It truly helps to hear all of your wonderful voices and I am encouraged by your success and happiness. Hopefully soon I will be able to post my own success story....

Thank you all again for your encouragement!

Ukkate · April 2014

I'm perfectly happy with my implant. Let me tell you - I LOVED my breasts. I was a 34 DD and with a good bra on - they always looked pretty awesome. So it was rough to lose one of them and the months of the tissue expander and the scars etc - I just felt pretty deformed.

Anyway - I had my exchange last September and a lift to my remaining right breast and I had some fat grafting done in February and the nipple, and next Monday, I'll get my tattoo and I'm done! I was thinking today how much flatter my stomach looks now that my breasts are so perky all the time! So I'm REALLY glad I went this route and have no regrets....

mdg · April 2014

I am happy with my silicone implants. I wanted a DIEP but I also did not have enough body fat. I got two opinions from two different PS's and both would not do any reconstruction involving muscle because I am a fitness instructor and workout a lot. The were concerned it would impact my ability to workout like I am use to. My only option was TE's and then implants. My PS did a great job. I was an A+ or small B before surgery. Now I am a D. They don't look like D's though as implants don't project as much as a natural breast does. I look completely normal in my clothes - including my tight fitting fitness clothes. You would never know they were fake. I also had areola grafts and nipples done and then tattoo's. They look very real. I am grateful to have had such amazing surgeons. I would not change my reconstruction at all. Very happy with the results.

Solen · April 2014

Yep, I am happy with my implants. they apparently will never sag! They will remain small and perky, so my response is to watch my diet ( good post cancer anyway) do pilates and walk a lot. The result ? I saw a friend I hadn't seen in months, way before BMX and she couldn't stop raving about how awesome and healthy I look. The smaller tighter boobs got me moving to make the rest of my body to match. Happy to say I look and feel better than I did before surgury.

And one breast had radiation 13 years ago, one PS told me I must do lat flap as just implants would fail. Happy to say that I found another surgeon, and I am very pleased with my straight to small implant surgury.

And now that I am smaller and fitter, men are flirting with me again. Not that I care other than the fact that before all this I seemed to have become invisible. I cut my hair and am happier than I have been in a long time.

I wish that you too will have a silver lining out of the cloud that is breast cancer.

Sodie1017 · April 2014

I'm glad I found this forum. I was looking for success stories too. Well, actually, I was looking for answers to, "Are they supposed to feel this way?" and "When will I feel normal again?"

I had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery three weeks ago today. I had the dream team for surgery - a compassionate, caring breast surgeon who gave me home-made cards to encourage me and a highly competent PS, plus an anesthesiologist who listened to my stories of previous surgeries and got me through the surgery and recovery without me throwing up.

I had nipple sparing surgery (BS has 100% success rate). The PS told me that most of his patients have expanders. However, I was one of his few that he was able to go straight to implants. He was very happy with the surgery and with how my breasts look. He was upfront from the beginning of the misery involved. I'm still in the misery stage, but it looks like from reading these posts, I have many more weeks of being semi-miserable. Is this correct?

My PS told me that in 6 months, he could begin the process of injecting fat into the breasts to fill in the flat spots. Some women want their breasts to look perfect. I don't think I'll be one of those women.

Lissa, I didn't mean to steal your thread. I don't know what the final outcome will be with my new breasts, but I am grateful for the cancer to be gone and to have had a good team of doctors. Like the others have said, we hear more war stories than we do happy stories because war stories are more fun to tell and get more attention.

May I give you some advice in your recovery process? With the advice of my BS, my husband and I discussed what I needed during the recovery process. He is the pastor of a large church and I didn't want all the busy bodies to know my business. We did not tell the church at large about me until after the surgery. This kept me from having to hear war stories during the weeks prior to my surgery. Avoid people with war stories and silly advice!

We didn't want meals brought in the first week. My daughter wanted to cook for me and she made the meals healthy. Stay low-sodium! Eat light! I wanted no visitors. The few that I allowed exhausted me and these were my best friends! I wanted no flowers because my house is small and I didn't want it to look like a funeral parlor. I received 9 plants/flowers, but think of how many I would have received otherwise.

I received some flak for these decisions because people want to help, but they want to help in their own way. Make a decision now about what is best for YOU! Hire a house cleaner! Ask for help with laundry! My mom was here during the second week and did the laundry and dishes.

Best wishes as you find the right surgeon and the right procedure for you.

Sodie1017 · April 2014