Bep, I'm so sorry that you are facing this. Having a MX when it's not what you want is devastating. I was there, but I was much older than you at the time (49). At least for me, the whole experience turned out to much better and much easier than I expected, both physically and emotionally/mentally.

So, the bad news first. Regaining sensation is not something you can count on. All of the insides of the breast are removed, all the nerves are cut, so usually the best that can result is surface skin sensation and how much returns varies by individual. There are techniques with nipple-sparing mastectomies whereby the plastic surgeon uses microsurgery to reconnect the nerves to the nipple, and this might result in some regained sensation. This is definitely something you should ask the PS about, but even with this, the results are not guaranteed. Hopefully others who respond have more information about this.

Now, the good news. Reconstruction, and particularly DIEP, can result in a very realistic looking and feeling breast. Implant reconstruction less so, but even there, many of us have excellent results (I went with implant).

The decision on a single MX vs. a BMX is a difficult one and very personal. What might help you decide is the list of considerations that I put together in this thread:

Topic: Considerations: Lumpectomy w/Rads vs. UMX vs. BMX

I will bump the thread to the top of the list in the Surgery Forum for you.

I can't offer advice on the type of reconstruction because I only know about what I had done. One consideration however is that to my understanding, a DIEP can only be done once, so if you have a UMX and at some point later either decide to remove your other breast prophylactically or because of a new diagnosis of breast cancer, you will have to go with a different type of reconstruction. For me, once I made the decision that I wanted to have a single MX and not a bilateral, that knocked a DIEP out of the running. I also didn't have enough belly fat (back in those days) so I would have had to go with a IGAP surgery, which removed the fat from under your bum. That is a surgery that can be done twice (I'm pretty sure) but I didn't want to go with such a complex surgery.

Assuming that you will try to get immediate reconstruction, because the breast surgeon and plastic surgeon need to coordinate the operation - the breast surgeon comes in first and then the plastic surgeon takes over - you need to find a plastic surgeon who works with your breast surgeon. So definitely ask your surgeon for recommendations and/or a referral. In my case I actually changed breast surgeons so that I could get access to a particular plastic surgeon I wanted who only worked with breast surgeons from certain hospitals.

As for the hospital time for the MX, that depends on whether you are having immediate reconstruction and what type of reconstruction. In my case, having a MX with expander placement, I had an overnight stay. That's pretty common, but some hospitals release the patient the same day. With a DIEP or GAP surgery, the hospital stay will belong.

That's about all I can offer as answers to your questions. I'm sure others will be by soon to provide more information.

Bep - I just bumped a surgery tip thread & here's a link.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topics...

I had a BMX w/TEs and implants 6 months later. I've been happy with my implants for 10 years. If I were younger, I would probably have added a 3-D nipple tattoo, but somehow I never got around to that. I'm sorry you have all these decisions. I got through all of it w/o too much trouble, but you touched on the saddest part - there has never again been anything like the sensations from my nipples. If I'd known for sure that the sexual stimulation there would be gone forever would I have backed off and had just one breast removed?? Probably not because I wouldn't have been able to stand the constant worry. But again, my choices might have been different at your age. We'll be keeping you in our thoughts.

I had a double mastectomy at 27. i decided on a double because i thought that i definitely will get the other breast removed even though i only had a problem on the right. But getting surgery simultaneously i thought would end up with more symmetrical boobs. I ended up getting radiation and other problems so that did not end up being the case.

It is disappointing but I didnt get any sensation back in the right. I got mild sensation on the left but it doesnt particularly feel good. You learn new ways to enjoy your body though so it isn't the end.

An important thing to consider is what are the surgeon's techniques. I met with 3 drs and they really varied in their approach. 1 dr did under specs, another did over pecs and the last did not prefer implants. I did not do under pec because I did not want the muscle to be cut, also that dr made me feel uncomfortable (he suggested what would make me look "sexy") It helps a lot to meet with different drs, read reviews, set priorities on what you want for your body. It is probably important to ask how will this affect your long term body image, sensation, having children, your life. Btw I will be getting diep flap.

At my hospital, I stayed for 5 days due to some complications. Better safe than sorry. During covid, I would not stay longer than a couple days if possible. People are not allowed to visit, you will be worried about getting sick, it feels stressful being in a hospital, you need a lot of help to move around in my case. The tubes were so itchy, especially if you're not allowed to shower. But it will most likely be a shorter time and less tubes if you only have 1 side done.