Newly diagnosed.. sorry if all this has been covered

Hi Luna - It depends a bit on your unique variables, but more and more women are refusing reconstruction surgeries. I discussed it with my surgeon when I was first diagnosed. When I said, I want to be "flat as a ten year old boy" he said, "Shouldn't be a problem."

Then they found metastases and my surgery was scrapped. I live with my original tumor, and sometimes I think wistfully of being completely free of breasts. I think I would find it freeing, but you never know unless you have been there.

Can't answer your question about techniques to ensure the smoothest, flattest look, but I'm sure there will be others chiming in. Anyway, sorry you have to be here, asking these questions, but if you have to be here, here is a good place to be. Lots of caring and very smart people on this board!

I originally thought I wanted to go flat, but my BS insisted that I see a PS to discuss it. In the end, we decided on a one-step sort-of-reconstruction.  It turned out horribly and I am very disfigured and lumpy.  I am also overweight and the Buddha look is bothering me much more than I thought it would.   I recently started augmenting my bra and I'm stunned at how much more confidence I have when I have my booblets on.I had no idea that I was so vain. At this point, I am strongly considering reconstruction.

I'm not tell you this to dissuade you from going flat. I'm just saying, be prepared to have a lot of emotions about this.  It's not a simple decision and I think consulting with a PS before surgery is still a good idea.

Luna,

UMX about 4.5 years ago.  Very happy with my decisison, tho living as a uniboober can present complications during the summer here in New England.  Very seldom do I wear a bra.  Reconstruction - I had inflammatory breast cancer and they actively discourage immeadiate reconstruction.  Surgery down the road -NO NO NO   my body has been through enough.  I have a regular Buddha belly, some day I care and most days I do not.  If you are on facebook - check out the Flat and Fabulous page - much support and many others living without reconstruction and with a Buddha belly

Best

Nel

I did have a plastic surgeon work with me so she could move fatty non-breast tissue around to give me a flat appearance without the possibility of my chest being concave; however, my bmx was preventative and I didn't already have cancer (which is why I had them removed, to prevent that from being a high possibility!) so they may have been able to do a little more with the existing fat in my chest area than they might be able to do with someone who has had an actual diagnosis. I also got to keep my nipples; they were put back on as free grafts.

About 9 weeks out, without a shirt on, I look like I have what I describe as 'tiny pecs', and I look flat under a shirt. The 'tiny pecs' are just residual swelling, which I was told could last 6-8 months total.

My main concern was not being concave if at all possible, and my general surgeon told me up front that he didn't feel he had the skills necessary to guarantee that outcome as, general surgery aside, his main practice for the past 7 years has been bariatric & gallbladder surgery and not breast reconstruction; he was more than confident in doing the mastectomy itself but not at all confident that he could do an aesthetic 'clean up' very well (and I'm grateful he was honest and up front with me about that!), so he suggested we loop in a plastic surgeon so I could make sure I got an aesthetic outcome I'd be happy with.

I do have a couple of public pics at 8 1/2 weeks post op of my chest posted with a review of the plastic surgeon I used here if you want to take a look: https://www.realself.com/review/eau-claire-wi-brea...

I tend to scar pretty well, so even without scar treatments, I'm anticipating they'll fade to white within about 12-14 months as my other surgical scars have done the same.

Edit to add: I also plan on posting updated pics to that review as the healing process continues.

Also worth adding, prior to my bmx, I was a 34DD.

Luna, make sure your surgeon understands (if this is the case) that you don't want recon, now or ever. I've made it very clear with my BS that I want to be flat and my plan is to hopefully get a chest tattoo. She supports this and is not pushing me to get recon. At our last appt, when we were talking about the BMX, she said, "You promised me a tattoo!" She told me she has other patients who have no recon and tattoos, and is not pushing me to see a PS.

Hi Luna52,

There are options that do not include surgery, stretching skin, an alien object under your chest muscle, lots of pain and the chance the insert could burst. Knitted Knockers helped me as I had the R breast removed. I look natural in tops, dresses, workout clothes etc. and don't have to deal with the extra surgeries and issues that come up with reconstruction.

My PS told me at the consultation there is minimal pain, then showed me a video of the procedure. I was horrified and politely left the office never to return. I've heard and witnessed some pretty bad situations with recon but it is a personal decision. My husband was happy I did not have it.

I had a lot of pressure from my surgeon about having reconstruction. "I've never had anyone your age not want reconstruction." Well - I blazed a trail and I was glad. My mom had reconstruction and issue after issue - still to this day 10 years later. I did not want that at all.