Krissi_Cat we are so sorry that you have gone through all of this. Perhaps it is indeed time for another opinion.

We have been long-time partners with the Center for Restorative Surgery in New Orleans. https://www.breastcancer.org/about_us/supporters/c... People are very pleased with this team.

Have you discussed payment/health insurance if you come to the States?

You may want to listen to this podcast (a transcript is at the bottom of the page, if you prefer this) on "Revision Reconstruction: What You Need to Know"

(information from Frank DellaCroce, M.D., F.A.C.S.).

Hang in there with the chemo and cold caps!

I feel like i can really empathize with you. I had a non-traditional reconstruction after my BMX. It failed within days. I had a huge gaping hole on the right side and an enormous, leaking seroma on the left. It took 16 weeks for everything to heal and i look totally mutilated. And my PS was perfectly fine with that. She said she would just "pop some implants in there, no problem." Except that i had told her and anyone who would listen that I emphatically DO NOT want implants. Well, when I stopped by the office to pick up my records to take for a second opinion, she heard my voice and came barreling out of the back, yelling "I TOLD YOU I COULD FIX THAT." Whaaa...? I don't think so! I took my records and left.

I have heard so many good things about the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans that i sent them my records. They feel certain that they can fix all the damage. I hope so. I'll be flying from Atlanta to NOLA in August for my stage 1 DIEP surgery.

Krissi, i feel the same way. I really thought I could be okay with it. It took me over 6 months to admit to myself that i was desperately unhappy with my botched up breasts. And then about the time i was ready for surgery, my mother got seriously ill, so i shelved those plans to take care of her. Recently my DH asked me whether i ever think about reconstruction. I answered, "only every day." He was truly shocked. He thought that because i don't talk about it, i must be okay with the way things look. He told me to book the surgery ASAP. What a good man!

krissi Cat there are centres of excellence in the UK for private reconstruction surgery. Also you are entitled to a second opinion on the NHS. Contact the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. They have private and NHS Surgeons, a teaching hospital always has more and better options, it will be ridiculously expensive in the US

Krissi- the abdominal incision is very low...just above the pubic hair line (well maybe a little lower than that as I had laser hair removal done years above never they lasered some off the top). Anyway it’s very low in front and follows the natural curve to the hips. I’m 1.25 years out from stage 1, 8 months out from stage 2 and the scars are well faded already. I am able to wear skimpy bikini bottoms and tops no problem. Incision placement is one of the big things NOLA makes sure happens so you can just pick up where you left off and not have to worry about anything showing/needing to cover anything up.

the incision looks like a smiley face so it’s not just a straight line. Straight lines can be done but they will be significantly higher up and will show in a bikini as they’ll sit at about belly button level or just below it. The incision itself is slightly I’ll call it wobbly to allow it to heal and fade the best vs a defined line that is obviously unnatural. My scar across the front is not noticeable unless you know where to look and look close. The sides/hip incisions were reopened for scar revision in stage 2 and are almost to that point. Give it another couple months and I think they’ll be almost invisible too. The thing to remember is that with plastic surgery the goal is to not notice/see scars afterward so the incisions and how theyre sewn up will be different than a regular (non-plastic) surgeon’s work.

Hi Krissi

Yes I am well.....I stopped hormone therapy too as was feeling far too old and creaky on it but had done 5 years with a break in middle......

I don´t live in the UK and have just started the recon process after a huge battle here to get them to accept it is my right and to battle the ridiculously long and cruel waiting time.....once started I have been treated very well but its not over yet. I did see photos of women who had implants with fat transfer on one side only and to be honest it was really very similar, not identical but you would only notice if you knew beforehand..........for the first time I feel more normal and happier in myself even though I am still not symmetrical. I am surprised they are doing recon during chemo as that will affect your recovery......and increases the risk of complication

My friend had recon done at the Marsden and has been very pleased.....if I can be so bold I think you are under estimating the impact of a major surgery and a Transatlantic flight, you would need to stay in the USA for at least 8 weeks afterwards and I am sure you can find good surgeons in the private system in the UK which would save you a lot of cost, expense and financial risk as you would be self funding in the USA.....if anything went wrong you could be bankrupted...........

I really know how much this affects us women who are sensitive about it.......based on my experience I would get a few opinions and then decide but not rush in to anything. I interviewed various private surgeons and each one told me a different thing....due to my wider health status I decided not to proceed privately after failed fat transfer....but my advice would be take this time to recover from chemo and research which doctors seem most sympathetic and to "get" you......I felt like a freak for 6 years and at times would sob in shame (no idea why I should feel like that but I did) so please don´t think I am not being sympathetic........I just think its too easy to rush in to a solution when you are depressed and feeling repulsed about yourself (been there) - send you big hugs and if you want to send me private message feel free....xx