IMPLANTS REMOVED: YAY!

Being flat positive is not necassarily being anti-reconstruction, flat -is- reconstruction, although not breast shaped. We all need a voice and a space to share our experience, feelings and thoughts related to it. I am happy that you did what works best for you.

Eve,

I'm so happy to hear your excellent report on surgery.

And, yay for your sweet husband. How thoughtful!

I'm doing ok. Still have the drains in...ugh! I could have had them out yesterday (Friday) buuuuut we had a bit of a hurricane to deal with.

Lost power for 40 hours...not fun here in Florida without AC. Hubby and I spent the day at a music fest and sat inside a new craft beer brewery...we had a few lovely beers and a pizza while crowd watching. Super nice to come home to power.

Should get the drains out on Monday and then I am good to go. Feeling good, mentally and physically...

Love to all,

ve

I have been focused on this issue for a while. I have awful saline implants that are completely under the muscle... not even dual plane. I just saw another more experienced very well respected plastic surgeon who does prepectoral (on top of the pectoral muscles ).

If the skin is strong and thick enough and one doesn't want to go without this is a very good option according to all the research I've been doing. I am predicting that in the future no implants will be under the muscle for reconstructive surgery.

Compromising strength for appearance has been something that has been required of women for far too long. I believe if reconstructive breast surgery is to survive with integrity of intent, surgeons will have to leave women's strength ie, muscles, intact and find a better way... beginning with... in front of the muscle.

Yaniza

Hi Eve, right now it is 2 in the morning and I am up with mild muscle spasms. My strength is and will be continue to be compromised. I scanned this thread but perhaps I should go back and read all of the posts. Isn't pain was one of the main reasons for implant removal?

Hi Eve, thank you for the reply. I've only had these implants infor three and a half months. I chose immediate reconstruction after a cancer diagnosis and a bilateral mastectomy. Perhaps if my surgeon had put them partially under my pec muscle I wouldn't be in the state I'm in now but while I was unconscious he took advantage of my long low muscle insertions and made pockets completely behind my pectoral muscles. The animation deformity is spectacular visually and painful. That's when I went to see another more experienced surgeon in another city who wraps the implant in alloderm during his reconstructions and places them on top of the pectoral muscle leaving the pectoral muscle where it is supposed to be... on your chest wall. I'm still in the process of educating myself before I make a decision about what to do.

Hi Dlsa,

My experience with recovery is that is was the same as BMX. Have to say the pain was a bit more and lasted longer. Nothing major. As we are all different you could have a different outcome. I think my pain was worse because I had 4 drains in for 3 weeks. and another sentinel node biopsy. I'm 6/7 weeks out and just yesterday I felt pain free, still a bit uncomfortable but I did wash my Jeep...yes! I always do too much..lol

I love being flat, just so much more comfortable.

First time around I kept my nipples, be very careful of them and protect them, they can be very delicate. I don't mind not having them at all, but for me that is where the cancer kept coming back, so off with them.

It's kinda weird looking in the mirror but I just say "oh well" and get moving.

Hope things go well

for you.

peace,

Eve

MTI

Love your statement and you are so like!

Hi everyone. I am glad to have found this forum (although sad that this disease affects so many of us). I am going in for my surgery on the LB in a couple of weeks. I am 61 and am opting not to have reconstruction done. The MO seemed to want me to have a lumpectomy again. I had one and a re-excision because of cells on the margin, even though the MRI showed "all clear." I am afraid there might be other ones hiding since the areas found in both lumpectomies were in different spots. I was pleasantly surprised when the surgeon asked about reconstruction and I gave my answer. Her response was "Good, you will heal faster." That made me feel a lot better as my friends are surprised I don't want reconstruction. (hubby says do what I want as it's my body) My body has been assaulted enough in the past 6 months and I just want this behind me again as much as it can be. Thank you for allowing me to read your posts and giving me more confidence in my decision.

~Heidi

Hi Heidi,

I am going on 61. This was my third surgery. Like you I just want to be DONE.

I was one of the luckly ones, where chemo wouldn't work/opposed to the side effects. I had a low recurrence score..ha ha go figure. IT came back twice. Doc wanted me to do rads but I said no. As it stands the cancer came back in the same place near the nipple...so off with her and as much skin as possible. My hubby, and they are so important in the discussion, said I love you not your boobs..soooo there ya go.

My surgeon said the skin is really good and I could have reconstruction. My response was I wanted to wait a year. Not gonna happen. Still have pain...and am really tired but that shall pass. Now to get moving a bit more each day.

Thanks for being here ladies,

love you all

E

Hi Dandy:

One of the best resources about non-reconstruction is a site created by one of BC.org's members:

www.breastfree.org

See the menu at right. There is a lot of information about bras, prostheses, and links to on-line sources. Some experimentation may be needed, and you may choose more than one approach for different activities.

For example, I am currently using three different kinds of bras (pocketed mastectomy bras from American Breast Care (ABC); and ordinary bras with pockets from Coobie and from Zee Bra)) and three types of prostheses (very light microbead forms from TLC Direct (http://www.tlcdirect.org) for everyday; nice silicone forms (ABC); and swim forms (Amoena)).

Most insurance companies provide some coverage for the cost of several pocketed mastectomy bras (e.g., annually), and one prosthesis (if unilateral) or one pair of prostheses (if bilateral) (e.g., every two years). Check with your insurance compancy regarding the terms of your coverage (e.g., in full or or in part (e.g., 80%); how many per year), any applicable deductible and/or co-pay, and whether the boutique or vendor is "in-network" to learn whether you will have out-of-pocket expenditures.

I saved my insurance coverage for pocketed mastectomy bras and good silicone forms. A silicone form can be ~$250-300 (or more) for a single one.

With a current prescription (e.g., from your surgeon) for bilateral prostheses and mastectomy bras, a hospital-based or other reputable boutique can handle obtaining insurance reimbursement on your behalf. I did not have to pay up front. On the other hand, if you use on-line vendors, you pay up front, and they send you the paperwork to apply to your insurance company for reimbursement.

A professional fitting can be very helpful at first. Call ahead to make an appointment and confirm that the boutique will handle insurance reimbursement requests on your behalf, and whether you may need to pay any amount up front or not. Wear a form fitting tee to evaluate the look (profile and proportion), comfort, and fit.

Good luck.

BarredOwl

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/82/topics/781208?page=61#idx_1804

Hi Barredowl,

Thanks for your informative response, especially for newcomers. I was previously aware of breastfree.org and TLC associated with the American Cancer Society. I am so glad I had ordered 2 of the post-surgical mastectomy camisole with pockets for your drainage bulbs, sleeveless, lightweight, etc.

Thank you!

Hi Ladies,

I've been on these boards for ten years and now I feel like a newbie again. Had ILC in 2006 with lumpectomy and rads, ILC in 2010 with chemo and double mastectomy and implants with Lat flap. Now in Oct 2016 I once again have ILC on both sides in skin and flap that was taken from my back. So now I'm preparing for a surgery on December 21st to remove implants, flap and as much skin as possible again. My breast surgeon has a PS on standby incase I need skin graphing from a remote location. After I heal from this surgery I will face 4-6 more weeks of radiation. I already had 34 treatments in 2007. My radiated skin didn't do well after last surgery so I'm really dreading the one coming up. Have any of you been through something like this? I told the doctor flat chest was fine with me, I just want to keep living.

Thanks,

Nancy