Decision between flat and Goldilocks? Help

I know you said you don't want reconstruction, but I just want to make sure you are aware that there is a third option which does not involve multiple surgeries. I am 51 and just had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate, direct-to-implant reconstruction (no tissue expanders). The surgery took about five hours total. I woke up from surgery with implants on both sides, which are almost exactly the same size as what I had before the mastectomy. (I was a large C/small D before -- they removed about 530 ccs of breast tissue from each side and my implants are each 550 ccs). The implants were placed on top of the pectoral muscles (pre-pectorally), not underneath, which makes the recovery much easier. I was in the hospital for two nights. My first night home I took a valium to help me sleep but since then I have only been taking Tylenol and antibiotics -- no other pain meds have been necessary. I have full range of motion in my arms. I wanted to avoid the whole tissue expander process and this was the perfect solution for me, not necessarily for everyone. Not all surgeons will do it though. Just another option to think about.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Like Lisa, I too had a BMX with direct implants (no expanders) pre pectoral. I was a C cup prior to the surgery, and am now still a C. However, they look more uniform now. I love them. Recovery not bad at all.

I had bilateral mastectomies in 2006 and did not want reconstruction. I was gloriously flat for two years and then my thoughts on reconstruction started to change. I was also 56 at the time of the mastectomies.

I had reconstruction with implants in 2009 and am very glad I did.

Take your time and don't rush in your decision about reconstruction. Go flat for a while and if you then decide you want reconstruction, you can have it done.

Lisey, you look beautiful! I am waiting for my surgeon to call with my surgery date. I am having a unilateral mastectomy. My dr won’t do both breasts if one breast is healthy. I wanted dbl masectomy simply to keep myself symmetrical whether I chose reconstruction or not. My surgeon wants to start the reconstruction during the masectomy. I was all for saving surgeries and having one less. But your post has me thinking perhaps I should just slow down and make these decisions later. The main thing is to treat the cancer.

Saved by gr... -- I had to have my nipple removed on the left breast because the DCIS was right behind it, and as part of the prophylactic mastectomy of my right breast I chose to have my right nipple removed as well, for symmetry. They saved as much skin as they could on both breasts. Going in they warned me that (1) I might end up a bit smaller than I was originally, depending on how much skin they had to remove (which was fine with me), and (2) there was a chance they would not be able to go direct to implant and that I might need to have tissue expanders placed instead, and that it would depend on the blood flow to the skin, which they would not be able to measure until mid-surgery after they removed the breast tissue (I did not want tissue expanders). Fortunately for me, the blood flow to the skin was fine, and they did not have to remove that much skin, so I was able to go direct to implants with no expanders. So I woke up from my mastectomy without nipples (as expected), but with silicone breast implants placed pre-pectorally that are about the same size as my breasts were before. I was able to raise my arms above my head immediately after waking up and was in very little pain (of course they had given me painkillers during and after surgery). My pre-surgery clothes still fit me (although they look a little better than they used to because my new breasts sit a little higher than the old ones did), and it's nice to know I don't have to go out and buy a whole bunch of new clothes.

They can do this surgery with a variety of different incisions. My surgeon decided to use vertical incisions so she could narrow and lift the breasts. Some people have horizontal incisions, or if they are able to save the nipples, some people even have the incisions in the folds underneath the breasts.

I do not plan to have nipple reconstruction. I don't want more surgeries. To me, life is too short. I knew I needed to have the one surgery (the mastectomy) and decided to get as much as I could from that one without doing any additional surgeries. For now I have ordered silicone nipples through Pink Perfect, and eventually I will have 3-D nipple tattoos by Vinny Myers (they want you to wait about five months post surgery for those). I am not saying that my choice is for everyone! I have great respect for everyone who chooses to go flat. My grandmother did so as well and was very happy with her choice. We all have to make the best choice we can make for ourselves. It's just good to have options.

Good luck with your decision.

Saved By Grace, If you want to see a ton of different body types rocking being flat, I'd suggest joining 'Flat and Fabulous' (the private group) on facebook.  Women post photos and you can see the options and clothing choices and all sorts of Flat ideas.  It's a great site for those who are deciding.  There's also a lot of ladies who have implants and are trying to explant due to 'implant illness' and other adverse issues from reconstruction.  You can ask any questions you want and get a lot of responses.  It's a very active page.

Sassa, I completely changed my wardrobe when I went flat...  I think nowadays, there are so many clothing options - especially for those of us who don't wish to wear bras or fakies.  With the new boho style shirts - light, airy with cold shoulders and tiny strappy things.. I could NEVER have worn those with my old bazooka bras.  Now that I'm braless, I'm wearing the cutest tops ever - I look younger and less matronly with the newer style.  Swimtanks as well are great on flat bodies.  Times have changed on styles and I'm happy they have.   I do agree with you that women should wait until they are healed to make a decision.  I certainly didn't when I jumped in with recon and it was a huge mistake.  The only concern is the surgeon 'may' leave all this extra skin if they think you are still deciding and that can lead to numerous issues as well.  

I personally think Flat pros need to be discussed in doc offices when women are first diagnosed.  I'm happy to see the media starting to highlight going flat, but the medical industry needs to catch up.  

SuiteLisa - that decision of removing one or both breasts should be YOURS, and not your doctor's decision. My surgeon asked and I told him I did not want to have to worry about the other "heathy" breast. He never questioned my decision and said he would do what I wanted. It should absolutely be up to you, not your surgeon or anyone else. It's YOUR body and YOUR decision.

I went totally flat and absolutely love it. I had to buy all new clothes (awww, what a shame!) but now am good with what's in my closet. Nobody ever even notices that I don't have tatas. And there's nothing better than being cancer-free with the extra added bonus of no confining bra

Oh my goodness Lisey....you are so beautiful! With or without the breasts! I honestly feel the same way!! No regrets with my decision to go flat.

I'd be rocking the flat too, if I looked like y'all. I'm a heavy gal. Without breasts I look like Uncle Festus' homely brother. All tummy, concave chest. Not a look anybody's rocking...

LOL, trust me Lisey. I love Pooh bear and all, but this tummy is not a good look.

Flat and fabulous for 4 years now. Never wear prostheses. Do not bother to disguise it any more. Love clothes shopping. Enjoying the gym - no sports bras needed! No extra surgeries. 48 at time of surgeries. I have a great tattoo instead.

Lisey, that's a really interesting article. Thanks for posting it.