Breast reduction surgery to even out my look?

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MexicoHeather
MexicoHeather Member Posts: 365
edited May 2018 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Hi everyone. It's been over a year now since I had the unilateral mastectomy. As I looked in the mirror this morning, I thought I would really like it if the left breast were smaller.

I believe I would have to have a breast reduction and they would relocate the nipple, but I think that that would actually be very flattering look for me. I am 51 years old. They said that I wasn't a great candidate for reconstruction at the time of the surgery.

Has anyone done this?I am very small -- probably a 34B at the moment. Also I have some annoying cysts and calcifications in that breast. I was left with a breast that is kinda hurting, but I love that little nipple. Any comments? Has anyone done this? Does this fall within my USA rights to be balanced?

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  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited May 2018

    I’m sorry that nobody seems to know the answer to your question. I was hoping someone would. I had UMX too, and have ambivalent feelings about that uniboob. It can be a pain... would really rather just be flat... but not willing to go through more surgery either.




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  • amygil81
    amygil81 Member Posts: 165
    edited May 2018

    Heather, Jennie, thank you for starting this discussion. The sexual sensation from my nipple is what I miss most from having my left breast removed. I'd personally be reluctant to move my remaining nipple, for fear of losing that sensation too. I'd strongly suggest that you discuss that possibility with your surgeon, and make sure that you're comfortable with whatever the answer is.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited May 2018

    MexicoHeather - I believe that you are entitled to an insurance covered reduction under the current federal law if it is providing symmetry to your previous mastectomy side. The benefit of a reduction is that removing some amount of breast tissue also reduces contralateral risk to some degree, and could eliminate the tissue in which calcifications and cysts exist. The member above brings up a very good point regarding sensation - if that is important to you acknowledging that a reduction may impact that is a legitimate concern. If you use the search bar at the left and type in "breast reduction" I think you may find others who have had a reduction for UMX, but also to provide symmetry after lumpectomy if the defect for the cancer breast is quite large. Good luck!

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