Bilateral Breast Reduction

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wiseseeker
wiseseeker Member Posts: 16
edited May 2016 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hello. i would like to start a discussion focusing on the topic of immediate breast reduction at time of mastectomy. No matter your diagnosis, I would like to hear from women who either chose to get both breasts reduced to achieve symmetry or did it for medical reasons. How happy are you with smaller breasts? If you had a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction in one breast only, did you get the reduction (and/or lift, etc.) in the other breast during the same surgical procedure? What are the pros and cons of waiting (excluding radiation and its consequences)? For instance, I've heard that you should wait until your mastectomy reconstruction settles in and the swelling goes down before getting the other breast done, to make sure they match. My story is this: I am considering "Golidlocks" mastectomy where they fold remaining skin into itself -- HOWEVER, I am so "small" to start with (34-C) that the surgeon has said I would be a barely A-cup as a result, with just a small mound, which of course mandates a lift and reduction in the 'good' breast. Would that procedure result in loss of feeling and sensitivity in that breast? Do you think, because I want to avoid an implant and am not a candidate for flag surgery, I am opting for unnecessary additional painful surgery by choosing reduction in a good breast ? I am 59 years old and only 5' 1" tall, of normal build -- not skinny, I have generous hips -- but an A-cup would not look abnormal on me; in fact, I would welcome not having to wear a bra and being able to wear cami's etc. and not being 'saggy' for once in my life. However, it's just that I wonder if the change would shock me so much that I'd be unhappy. Please share, ladies! THANKS!

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  • momoschki
    momoschki Member Posts: 682
    edited April 2016

    Wiseseeker, my situation differs from yours, but I did have a bilateral reduction 5 years ago following a dx of ADH and a lumpectomy. I did it for whatever protective effects it might have against future BC (this is controversial). My reasoning was that there wasn't much of a downside, except for the temporary discomfort from the surgery. My ps, who has pioneered a lot of oncological techniques, was on board. I would do it over again in a heartbeat-- only I would do the lumpectomy and reduction simultaneously, to avoid a second surgery.

    The recovery was not as bad as I expected and I was pretty much back to my usual activities after the 3 week mark. No loss of sensation and a terrific cosmetic result. I went from a 34D to a 34B. Now that 5 years have passed, the scars are barely visible. I may be nearly 59 years old, but my breasts look like a teenager's.

    PM me if you have further specific about the reduction

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  • wiseseeker
    wiseseeker Member Posts: 16
    edited April 2016

    Thanks for your reply, momoschki. So, you would do the reconstruction on both breasts in one surgery? Sounds like you chose a great PS. Did you have the skin-sparing procedure? Your sharing is invaluable. great to hear from someone who has sensation AND great cosmetic result! Funny how you don't find much info on reductions for people with C-cups. What's wrong with being an A-cup these days? I can understand the concerns of younger folks, of course -- but we oldsters don't mind hauling around smaller bosoms, maybe because it makes us feel like the young, budding girls we once were...

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  • momoschki
    momoschki Member Posts: 682
    edited April 2016

    I think I need to clarify: I did not have a mastectomy. I first had the lumpectomy and then, 3 months later, had the bilateral reduction. If I had known earlier that this would be an option, yes, I would have had both done in one surgery, with the ps working in tandem with the bs.

    For me, going smaller has been nothing but good. I am much more proportionate now and can wear things that were never possible when I was bigger. Better for exercise, and makes me look thinner. Last time I was this size I was in 8th grade

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  • wiseseeker
    wiseseeker Member Posts: 16
    edited April 2016

    Oh, I got it. Do you mind if I ask you one more question? How many centimeters or millimeters or otherwise how large of a lumpectomy did you have? I am facing the possibility of a large lumpectomy vs. mastectomy and it's nice to be able to compare notes on size. Thanks again!

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  • momoschki
    momoschki Member Posts: 682
    edited April 2016

    Hmm, I'm not really sure about the volume that was removed by the lumpectomy since it turned out that the area in question was very tiny (2 mm or less) and was completely removed by the needle biopsy. After the lumpectomy I did have a noticeable dent. The PS was able to totally remove the scar, however and now the dent the is gone as well. I do know that a good PS is usually able to rearrange tissue to obtain a good cosmetic result. It's a good question to ask your PS.

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  • TennisPink
    TennisPink Member Posts: 22
    edited April 2016

    wiseseeker-

    I was diagnosed back in March and my surgery is coming up on May 4th. When I was originally talking to my BS -- I cried and said "just take them both"! I hate them anyways...I have always found them to be big and heavy. I am a D cup, but very active (running and competitive tennis). So since they said a BMX was not medically necessary that perhaps a lumpectomy with bilateral breast reduction would be a nice solution.

    My IDC tumor is 2.3cm, but they found a small DCIS just below it, so the lumpectomy area is substantial and I was going to need plastic surgery anyways. So as long as that's happening, might as well get a B cup on both sides....!!

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  • wiseseeker
    wiseseeker Member Posts: 16
    edited April 2016

    ANYONE HAPPY WITH GOING FROM A C-CUP TO AN A-CUP?

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  • Outlndr
    Outlndr Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2016

    Hi. I can't see the original post here but I chose bilateral breast reduction. I had ILC in right breast. was previously a 38G/H and went to a 38C cup. I did this in one surgery. I was told that after rads I would not be able to have a breast reduction.

    It solved two problems at once although it was a long surgery. My surgeon said she was was able to get wider clear margins and I got to end the physical problems of very large breasts.

    Although I am currently going through radiation therapy and I'm about three months out from major surgery, I'm happy I did it. I still have pain from the surgery scars and it looks like I won't have the sensation completely back in my chest for two years I'm still happy I did it.

    There will be no boost in RADS because the tissue is distributed differently. RADS has been worse than the surgery.

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  • Outlndr
    Outlndr Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2016

    I forgot to mention that I wanted to go down to an A or a B cup but the plastic surgeon recommended against it. He said it was better to go with cup size that was proportional to my torso. He recommended a C or a D cup. I asked him to go smaller and so I ended up with a C cup.

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