Yes, you can get a unilateral mastectomy w/reconstruction

In case anyone is trying to decide whether to get a UNILATERAL rather than bilateral mastectomy, I wanted to share my experiences.

I had 2 tumors in my right breast. Left breast clear. Genetic tests showed no positive genes that were known at the time to cause bc. No lymph node involvement.

If I had had positive genes, I totally would have done bilateral. But I didn't.

I was initially leaning towards a double mastectomy. I chose to do unilateral instead, and I'm glad, 2 yrs later, that I did.

Here's why:

1. The recovery from a bilteral would have been worse. I had a very fast recovery. In fact, I felt pretty good just 1 week from my surgery. I also prepared for it as well as I could..eating very healthy and taking zinc to build up my immune system.

2. I didn't want to lose sensation. Honestly, I'm used to my right breast not feeling anything now..at first, it felt so odd. I honestly was glad I still had sensation in my left, just because it was so hard to get used to. Now I'm used to it, but I'm still glad I kept my left breast.

3. I was able to find a plastic surgeon who I thought would do a good job of making my right side match. I live in Philly, and we have great medical care and resources here, because there are so many universities doing cutting edge research. I had ACA insurance at the time, and I had a choice of 2 plastic surgeons who were affiliated with Einstein/Jefferson. I checked out photos of their previous work. I went with the one I felt most comfortable with. He knew I was a model for a living, and was very conscientious about not making me look like frankenstein! I was very lucky.

4. I had no idea what the aesthetic outcome was going to be. I knew if I got bilateral, it wasn't going to look like these women who get augmented breasts. In fact, my right breast with the implant looks very weird at certain angles. But it gets the job done in clothes, and even naked, it looks perfectly fine standing straight up. It's only when I bend, a dimple will show up. And the size is pretty good..it's a little bigger than my natural breast, but the original breast wasn't the same size, either.

5. I was wary of having two implants. I know they're pretty safe, but I am very into not altering my natural body if I can help it..I just didn't want 2 strange objects in me. 1 is enough.

Two years later, I do not regret my decision. I just had a clear mammogram, and will be vigilant about my diagnostics on my left breast.

The right one every once in a while does something weird, either looks-wise, or I get a little pain, or there will be a pucker..I am just glad I'm only dealing with that, with one breast rather than 2.