Rockin' flatness like a bada$s

I'm being tested right now. Done had mammo and ultrasound with birads5. If this comes back cancer after MRI and biopsy I have already said that I will have them both cut off. With my high family history I just will get rid of them and no fake ones at al. My mom had them cut off and was proud to be flat we even had a bra burning ceremony for her

LOL!!!

LOL, that is a good one mags!!

I love that meme,,, only I laughed only half as hard as I only laughed one tit off!!

Have you seen the Facebook page Flat and Fabulous? You have to ask to join, but they'll let you. I know in winter lots of people use scarves to distract the eye.

I'm so there with you! I found some wonderful $2 cotton camis at Walmart, they fit snugly across the neckline, with spaghetti straps and they are sooooo soft! Lots of colors, I have a dozen of them it's what I wear most of the time. Bonus is easy port access. After carrying around 44DDDs for so many years (although I was a C until I hit 40) I'm so relieved to be shed of the mamms, I cannot even find words for it. I had been seriously contemplating reduction, but I hate surgery so much I put it off. Then I had no choice. Oh well, one less surgery!

My favorite things for work are snug camisoles (I have lymphedema, and they help), with a cotton camisole over them, and then a pullover boatneck sweater. I like the neckline and it is flattering to my flatness. (ha ha) I wear a bra with foobs when I need to (to fill out certain clothes), but I prefer the camisoles and another thin-ish layer.

Hi folks. I had the bilateral mastectomy one week ago today. Thank you everyone for your affirmations and help. I still have three drains - came out of surgery with three. I might be able to get some out tomorrow. I hope so, anyway.I am going to like the flatness even more when it doesn't have little ridges where the drains run under my skin! I have a photo I can upload, but this might be the wrong place for it, so I'll wait and see.

hugs to you all.

Hi everyone. I did not choose to be flat, but flatness seems to have chosen me. I had bilateral mastectomy January 29, 2013 (does anyone ever forget these dates?). My main concern, besides getting rid of the cancer, was getting reconstructed so I would look "normal".  I had 6 weeks of radiation following the mastectomy and then got the tissue expanders in June 2013. Although that surgery was rough and recovery was hard, I healed nicely and within a couple months was back to yoga, doing handstands and everything. In October 2013 I got my silicone implants.  I did not heal on the radiated side.  My PS tried to save the implant by resecting the necrotic tissue in an office procedure, but that didn't work. Just after Thanksgiving, I had both implants removed. Again, the incision on the radiated side did not close and heal. I had a large open wound. It took some specialized wound care and about 2 months for my incision to heal. My PS released me from his care a few months ago. We discussed future reconstruction options, which consist of the back flap followed by tissue expanders followed by implants.  I figured I would do it, I just didn't know when I would be up for another year's worth of surgeries and all that goes with that.  I have recently decided I don't think I will never be up for it. My problem is, I can't look at myself in the mirror and I feel ashamed, especially with people who don't know my situation. My chest is not completely flat. I have areas that are concave and I still have extra skin on my "good" side.  The radiated side...I haven't looked at it since the implants came out in December (I have an amazing husband who has taken care of everything on that side for me).  So I guess I am realizing that I need to get over myself and just embrace this. I have not ever considered prosthesis an option (before mastectomy actually I did, but once the breasts were gone I never gave prosthesis a second thought). If I'm going to skip reconstruction, I want to be flat and proud. I do think that I will need some kind of procedure to deal with all the extra skin so that I can actually be flat and, hopefully, smooth.  I welcome any thoughts or advice here. Thank you!

Hello keepitsimple and Jenny! Theoretically, I shouldn't be here, because I am a Uni, one Mx, and I don't go 1/2 flat, all that often, but I have had a revision surgery done, to remove a Dog Ear, excess flesh, that I was left with,  after my UMx. So I thought my experience may be of interest to you, since you asked about removing the excess.

For me, removing that flesh, was the best thing I ever did, I now have a totally flat area that used to look like a shelf, when I sat down and relaxed and the cut nerves inside it were always zinging and annoying me. The scar is thin and barely noticeable now. I have a concave area too, but it doesn't bother me at all, so I will live with that!  That can possibly be filled with your own fat should you decide that needs to be done down the track. It is early days for you, a lot of healing and changes go on for many, many months after these surgeries and procedures. There are a number of women around who, like you, have had the implants removed and are so happy with the results.

If you can handle looking at photos, not pretty, but a true story, there is the photo progression from Umx through to the final results of my revision on Erica, one of our members website breastfree.org. It was done under a local, in my Surgeon's office, but it is normally done in the OR with anesthetic. I just hate anesthetic so much, this was the best alternative for me, I had to convince my surgeon, as he'd never done it this way before. It was tender for a week or so, but not enough for meds.

I am so sorry you are having trouble looking at yourself, you're not alone, we are all different when it comes to this. I don't know if seeing pictures of other women, would make it any easier for you. I searched for pictures to familiarize myself before my surgery. I also had a Mother who was a Uni, so I had a fair idea of what to expect, even though hers was a radical Mx and axillary clearance done in the 90's.

Erica's site has lots of photos donated by women, for others to see and use as a reference, then there is the really powerful, "The Scar Project" that you can see on the internet. Some of those pics are very moving, and powerful and show the strength, that we as women have, after going through this life changing surgery.

If you don't feel that is for you, don't go there, coming to terms with all this, is a process that we all have to go through, post surgery.

If you do want or need any information on forms, bras and clothing, there is a great thread called All Things Bras and Prosthesis where a bunch of us share all our shopping discoveries, to make living with one breast, or none, less of a problem when dressing. There are so many innovative comfortable and attractive clothing and lingerie options around now and this group has searched to find them all, and at good prices too!

I do wish you all the very best, it does get better and easier and the girls here are so supportive and helpful, you're never alone! Just ask anything, there will always be one of us that can find an answer. Take it easy, and that husband of yours is a keeper!

Hi Jenny44

I am sorry you went through this. I get so upset when I hear stories like this. Drs need to inform women of the high  failure rate & risk of infection & rejection with TEs & implants on radiated skin. Actually I am surprised when I hear surgeons suggest this procedure. I thought by now they knew it was not an option to have implants on rad side, that a flap procedure would be the option? 

I had a double mastectomy in March. I am thin, was veyr small breasted before, so now my chest is concave & bony. I have a couple indented areas from scars & a couple poofs of tissue. Yeah it ain't pretty. But it is me. It was tough to look at. I finally took a full front pic about 4 months post op. It helped me. I finally let hubby see me just recently. He's been fine with it all along, had no issue. It was me, bald, no eyebrows, no lashes, no breasts....hard to accept at times.

I hope you do come to accept your new body, your new normal. It takes time. All the best to you!!!

you go, girl!!   Lovely dress!!

Hi  Ariom. I am in Adelaide. Just heading off to Madrid tonight for work. Lucky me eh?!

Hi, All. I visited this discussion a couple months ago when I was first thinking of a PBMX. I was really quite firm on not wanting reconstruction, but have flip-flopped a little since learning about the DIEP flap procedure and even have a consultation set up for next week. However, I'm feeling very much, once more, that it just wouldn't be "me." I feel like it would be due to outside pressure--including from my BS, who tells me I'm too young (46 and single).

So, between last night and now, I have read this entire discussion. I'm not the only person here in my 40s! I'm not the only person who feels a sense of relief at the thought of going flat and not pretending anything! I fully respect other people's decisions to do what they feel is right for them--and I have always felt that going flat is the right thing for me. I am so happy to have this group to turn to. Thank you all for sharing your stories.