Scars are UGLY

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Notlookingforbeauty
Notlookingforbeauty Member Posts: 1
edited May 2021 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I had a bilateral mastectomy in December of 2018. I'm healed and cancer free for the moment, but in the beginning of 2018 I also had colon cancer and required a massive surgery where a chunk of my colon, one adrenal gland, my gall bladder, my spleen, a chunk of my pancreas and a chunk of my liver were removed. I started chemo in July but discovered JUST before chemo that I also had (not related) breast cancer. Initially I just wanted it all to go away and wasn't concerned with reconstruction because of my age. I just assumed that after my surgery I would have horizontal scars, maybe not perfect ones, but acceptable. What I have is beyond horrific and I know no one sees it because I keep it hidden but I can barely stand to see myself. My surgeon said we could go in after I healed and "clean it up" but my insurance won't cover it. Not medically necessary. Do surgeons ever do this work for free? Are there clinics that have programs for people like me?

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited May 2021

    Hmm, I've seen a lot of women on here discussing reconstruction that insurance covered, reduction of a healthy breast to match one with a lumpectomy, and other surgeries that were medically-adjacent plastic surgery. Can a patient advocate help intercede with your insurance? Or have the doctors stress that it's necessary?

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  • Rah2464
    Rah2464 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited May 2021

    I agree with Alice. Just because your reconstruction "option" didn't include a breast I cannot imagine that current insurance requirements wouldn't cover an additional surgery to correct the scarring issue. I am so so sorry you are left feeling things were not completed correctly. None of our corrective surgeries are "medically necessary" but they sure as heck are emotionally necessary. If your surgeons office doesn't have an advocate to assist you, what about your MO, or a local breast cancer group? Have you tried (and you may not have the energy I get it) to contact your insurance company directly?

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  • Bright55
    Bright55 Member Posts: 176
    edited May 2021

    hi notlookin for beauty

    I do know that some patients develop heavy keloid scarring and it is upsetting to realise this after surgery and this presents as thick ropy raised scar tissue and takes many years to diminish

    A sister has this keliod problem but for me no problem as abdominal and mastectomy scars are very fine and after a few years not jarring to look at

    Hopefully consults with specialst will help reduce your problem

    All the best

    Bright in hope


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