Are you HAPPY with your implant reconstruction?

hotmom28
hotmom28 Member Posts: 6
edited June 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

I am 37 yrs, I found I had breast cancer last month, DCIS, 0 stage, with ER positive, My doctor recommend I can choose: (1) - lumpectomy with radiation and medicine following up. Or (2)- Mastectomy with implant ( because I have smaller breast, 32A)


I notice radiation can shrunk my breast, with radiation after lumpectomy that will make my breast even smaller. Therefor, I am consider to have mastectomy with implant reconstruction to size B, and do breast augmentation for other breast to size B as well.

But I am worry whether is it worth for me to give up my only tissue in exchange an implant ? And at the same time, I will lose all the sensation.

Any commons can help !!!

Appreciate!!!!

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Comments

  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited June 2018

    I would say that it depends on how much tissue they will need to take to do the lumpectomy. I would think that they would not recommend lumpectomy if the consmetic result was going to be really bad.

    On the other hand - yes, you will give up the rest of the breast tissue with a mastectomy. But you'll also gain freedom from repeat mammograms on that side.

    Mastectomy is a big surgery. I chose to do both sides for a lot of reasons and my history was much different than yours. Am I happy? As happy as I think I can be.

    My only suggestion would be to consider staying the same size if you do the mastectomy and only doing anything to the affected side. There are so many potential complications that it makes sense to limit how much you do at once. If you're really unhappy later then you could make changes at that point.


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  • Shoregirl
    Shoregirl Member Posts: 375
    edited June 2018

    One thing to consider, the plastic surgeon you choose should be comfortable with fat grafting or "lipo filling". With lumpectomy, which I did not have as I did not like the idea of radiation, the ps can fill the defect with fat in most cases. The beauty of that is, the grafted fat greatly improves the integrity and sometimes sensation as well of radiated skin. I chose mastectomy and implants though. I did have fat grafting as well later on to provide more of a cushion, soften the edges and create warmth. If you are interested, there are some surgeons that will create a breast with just fat, no flap needed. Since you are on the smaller side, that may be an option worth considering. Personally for me, the implants are heavy but I was larger at a 36DD. My hope is to replace with much smaller implants and fill with more fat to make up the difference, just for it to be more comfortable and natural feeling to me.

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  • VegGal
    VegGal Member Posts: 507
    edited June 2018

    I also did both sides (DCIS) and have not for one second regretted doing it. I have no radiation after-effects, no more mammos and no need to take an AI med. If you go with nipple sparing mastectomy, the scar can be hidden and a very good look achieved. I also find that I have quite a bit of sensation left in the cleavage/inner breast area. 

    The "good" thing about DCIS is that a decision usually doesn't have to be made urgently, so take your time and find the best surgeons for you. I also know that you are probably ready to be rid of the cancer ASAP. 

    Good luck with your decisions and treatment!

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  • XXXGGGYYY
    XXXGGGYYY Member Posts: 33
    edited June 2018

    Hello Hotmom - I was a 34A. I had triple negative, which was originally diagnosed as DCIS with a 4.5 cm tumor. During surgery, they found invasive cancer, so it became stage 1. I didn't want to give up any of my breasts, but the surgeon didn't think she could get a good cosmetic result with a lumpectomy only, given my smaller size. I also really didn't want to give up the one good breast I still had, so I only had an implant put in on the one side. The surgeon used the smallest implant possible, and I was able to have a skin and nipple sparing MX. I am generally happy with the result. It doesn't match perfectly, but it is pretty close, and I like that I still have one breast with sensation.

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  • hotmom28
    hotmom28 Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2018

    Thanks for your reply. Glad to know that I am not alone. I totally agree with you that there are potential complications with more surgery.

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  • hotmom28
    hotmom28 Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2018

    Hi XXXGGGYYY, sounds like we are in the same situation. I am able to have the nipple sparing mastectomy as well. What kind of implant material have you chose? My plastic Surgen recommend the "gummy bear", which has better sharp and firmed.

    Have you did the biopsy test before surgery? How come you were diagnosed as DCIS then changed to invasive? IS that because you were taking a longer time to make surgery decision?

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  • XXXGGGYYY
    XXXGGGYYY Member Posts: 33
    edited June 2018

    Hello Hotmom: I have a textured teardrop shaped implant. My plastic surgeon apparently tried both round and textured in me during surgery and found that the teardrop looked better in me. I had authorized her in advance to use either one.

    Re biopsies: Yes, I had 3 stereotactic biopsies of that breast prior to surgery. The only thing they found was the one area of DCIS, 4.5 cm. It was during surgery itself, after they removed that tumor and sent it to pathology during surgery (pathology came back in real time during surgery) where it was discovered to have broken through and was invasive. In the final pathology report, after surgery, they also found another pocket of DCIS in another area of the breast, which no one had picked up on prior to surgery. Removing the breast was the right thing to do for me

    My surgery was about 6 weeks after the initial diagnosis, so I don’t really think that delay is what led to the invasive part, but one really never knows. I had a very aggressive form - grade 3 and triple negative. But, now it is GONE, and I am grateful.

    Good luck to you!

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  • NanTastic
    NanTastic Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2018

    my situation is also different from yours, I am 63 and I tested positive for BRCA1 so in January I had prophylactic Bilateral NSM with AeroForm TE. The left side did great and my implant was done 3 weeks ago. It is still healing and has some puckering but I was SO relieved to have that hard TE removed. I call lefty BEAUTY. My right breast did not go as planned. I call righty THE BEAST I had to have the TE removed in April because the ADM tissue “melted" and created a natural opening in my skin and drained on its own...a lot. Since then it developed a seroma in the pocket and PS had to go in and do debridement and close it up. So as others posted, I too would suggest doing these surgeries at different times in case things don’t go exactly as planned. I wasn’t expecting to have already had 3 surgeries in 2018 and still have at least 3 to go. I wish you the very best in your journey!

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  • hotmom28
    hotmom28 Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2018

    Glad you told me about the fat grafting. I asked my plastic surgeon, she can do fat grating if the implant result came out not good.

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  • hotmom28
    hotmom28 Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2018

    I heard that the breast with implant is "cooler." Since you have one breast with implant and one with own tissue. Does the "cooler" feeling bother you?

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  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited June 2018

    I didn’t like it initially. Two months later, I think it looks great (well the shape is good, my skin needs to heal from radiation).

    I had heard the implant would feel cooler but I have not noticed the difference. I am numb tho

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  • mountainmama406
    mountainmama406 Member Posts: 99
    edited June 2018

    I had my bmx/right to implant surgery in feb. Mine are silicone teardrop shaped. Very happy with how just those looked. Did notice the cool sensation but it’s gone away, was really only with a cold drink that I had that feeling the first few weeks. I did fat grafting 3 months after (5-6 weeks ago) and they look even better with the upper areas filled in a little more/cushioning over the edges of the implant. I don’t feel any loss. Physically there is, nipples are gone, but the way I move around still feels very much like before and don’t feel fake. Would do it all over again.

    For me, I decided to take the right off with the left. I wanted symmetry, along with just putting this behind me and family. It’s weird to feel lucky about breast cancer but doing everything I could now is such a peace of mind.

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  • SLL101984
    SLL101984 Member Posts: 222
    edited June 2018

    I am 33 and just had a BMX on may 21. I chose this route because I was smaller, like you, and the location and size of my tumor would have left me not looking good with a lumpectomy. It was however in a more favorable location to do a nipple sparing mastectomy, so that’s what I did on both sides. I also chose both sides so hopefully (fingers crossed!) I don’t have to ever worry about this again, and also so I would feel the most even.

    As far as the no feeling goes, I still feel like I have quite a bit of it. I can tell when my shirt is touching the center between my breasts (well my expanders right now!), and as I’m laying down right now can tell my shirt is touching my left nipple. I’m only 5.5 weeks out and will probably get some sensation back over the next year or so. But in actuality it’s not half as bad as I was expecting!

    Also when I was making my decision I tried to make one for a long time down the road. I knew this surgery and recovery and another surgery coming up we’re not going to be easy. But in the bigger picture it’s very temporary. The frequent monitoring after a lumpectomy would have stressed me out to no end! I know I will still be monitored even though I went with mastectomy but it will be much less. Good luck in you decision!

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  • hotmom28
    hotmom28 Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2018

    My surgeon told me it’s possible get back some sensation back in the future. I thought she just wants me feel better, the possibility may very very low. So, I m glad to know someone having some sensation back in real life. Thank you

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  • Mucki1991
    Mucki1991 Member Posts: 294
    edited June 2018

    hotmom there are lots of different types of surgeries. My implants are cold and I wish I would have done the hybrid surgery where it's implants and then a fat flap in between the implant and the skin so it would be warm and feel like a boob. I'm okay with what I have now my PS did a great job but I'm trying to get this redone with the hybrid procedure.

    Best Wishes for you.

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  • wallan
    wallan Member Posts: 1,275
    edited June 2018

    I had my final exchange at end of January. At first I was unhappy. They looked smaller than I wanted. But now, they are looking great. I can't wait to get nipples now. They look bigger than I thought and are nicely shaped and symmetrical.

    They really do settle. My surgeon did an awesome job.

    wallan

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