Bad PS visit made me reconsider reconstruction

There are so many wonderful plastic surgeons - I hope you'll get a second opinion before deciding. My ps spent about 90 minutes with me going over all the different options - even playing a movie for me and giving me a free book about reconstruction. I will say that after my unilateral mastectomy and Diep on March 3rd my recovery is taking much longer than I expected........due to developing a staph infection. I ended up spending an extra 11 days in the hospital. I still have bandages on my "tummy-tuck" area - and can't stand up straight or walk for very long. I am finally finished with all the antibiotics and pain meds. So my advice is to take your time deciding and be 100% sure before proceeding - you'll need all the mental strength you can muster to help you recuperate.

Sable, please seek a 2nd opinion.

The day after I got my BC diagnosis (from a biopsy), my onco surgeon told me she wanted me to talk to a plastic surgeon so I could learn about all the options available to me.  The meeting with the plastic surgeon and his nurse took a whole hour.  I watched a short video, looked through a book of photos of completed surgeries, and learned about the variety of PS approaches that were done there.  (This PS was very good.  About all he did was work with breast cancer patients referred to him by the surgical oncologists in that hospital.)

The PS checked to see what tissue I had available for constructing a new breast (belly fat is a good thing in this case), he marked all my scars from previous surgeries (appendectomy etc.), and he had the nurse take pictures of me, all marked up, so he would have a record if I decided I wanted reconstruction.  He also spent a lot of time answering every question I could think of.  He did all this, despite the fact that the first words out of my mouth were, "I don't think I am going to want reconstruction, but Dr. X asked me to talk to you about my options anyway."

In the end, I decided to have a mastectomy without reconstruction.  I'll still have that option open to me later, though, if I change my mind.

Please, please, do not let yourself be pressured into making a decision in either direction; but find someone who will give you the time and attention (and respect) you need to make your choice.

otter 

If you do decide to go forward with reconstruction, I suggest you NOT use the doc who gave you 10 minutes. This is not the person you want to have to deal with for any postsurgical complications. By the way, I had a lengthy meeting with a plastic surgeon plus attended an hourlong movie about breast reconstruction plus received numerous written materials—and decided it was not for me. I still have such warm feelings about that surgeon, however, that I refer everyone to him (I've also seen his work in person, since a friend of mine used him).

Sable,

If you are near the Cincinnati area. I could give you the name of a great pS. I had my bi-lat mas in dec. 07. I still have my expanders in and they look great! I will be having exchange for silicone in May.

Thanks Sandy - I never saw that video - it brought tears to my eyes too!

Callygee, be as weary and wimpy as you want.  this is hard!

personally, I'm proud of my scars (I've got 4) from the surgeries.  my scars are part of my life story, just like my C-section scar is.  while I'd prefer to not have them at all , I needed to get them, and for me anyway, it's now a major part.  the scars act as a reminder to be more aware of my health and my body's changes. 

I also want my daughter to see me proud of my body, with all its imperfections.  the last thing I want her to see is me acting like my appearance is more important than my being here with her.  I can't expect her to be proud of her body and her physical appearance, no matter what it is, if I'm not proud of mine.  that's what makes me able to accept my scars.

hth...