I’m having a MX because of invasive lobular cancer in one breast. I don’t fancy a straight implant but my BCN says a stomach flap isn’t suitable for me because I’m apparently not fat enough! In fact I’m pretty pear-shaped, with small top and big bum :womanindifferent: and I’m wondering how they can make this decision without seeing me with my clothes off or even standing up?! When I take my jeans off, my baby belly is pretty evident. For those undergoing reconstruction who are reasonable slim, when the sort of reconstruction that was suitable for you was discussed, was your body assessed any differently? (I’m scheduled for an LD flap now.)
Hi - MIne was LD flap with the back muscle transferred to near the armpit side and a small implant at the cleavage side. I am a size 10/12 - 12 on top - size 10 in Jeans and not overweight. They said this gives a more natural apppearance than full implant. I did get this Mx at 30 mins notice though and I also lost all the skin from my breast as well due to cancer cells on the skin surface. This has made it a much bigger op than normal. It is early days but it is looking like a good match for the normal breast, although I don’t have a nipple - but apparently I can have one for Christmas! If you need any more details please get in touch, I had the op 2.5 weeks ago so still recovering. My hospital didn’t offer the tummy op. Hope this is of some help
Take care
K M
Meant to say they looked at me in a full length mirror standing up - topless and pinched my back and tummy a bit! Do think they should have looked at you properly though. K M
Hi there,
I am just at the end of this journey having had areola tattooing about 8 weeks ago. I have a BMI of 25-26, so just a bit overweight and was told by my PS I did not have enough tummy fat for that option (she did have a good investigate of my flab first!). I had an immediate LD flap recon in Feb. 2011 and the result was a ‘good C cup’ probably actually a D, with out an implant as I had plenty of muscle for her to work with. Since then, after a long wait for a slot to come free, I have had my healthy breast reduced and uplifted (from DD/E) to match, have had a nipple recon using skin and fat (my real one is too small to share) and areola tattooing. The end result is definitely worth it.
If you are having radiotherapy it will affect your skin and make it tougher/less flexible, so a word to the wise - moisturise from the day your dressings are off and continue to do so daily forever. I get lots of positive remarks about my skin, my PS even saying ou would hardly know it had been irradiated!
best wishes for your surgery and hope you are as pleased as I have been.
Hi again, my back size is 32 or 34 (thought I was 36 before treatment as had not been measured properly for years! My PS said she could get a ‘good C’ and now I’d say it’s a D).
I knew from day 1 I was having the whole shooting match - very large, grade 3 IDC, nodes involved. Had 25 zaps of rads (50 Gy) after recon had settled/healed and arm movement restored (about 8-9 weeks as at the time long waiting list at my hospital which covers half of Scotland, ideally should have been 6 weeks).
How can anyone tell what size you are or how much muscle or fat you have without you taking your top off? X-ray eyes in your hospital presumably - that’ll save them a pretty penny 
Hi Aroha,
Apart from the fact that the skin became more tough, my recon was the same after rads as before. Some people find that rads make them shrink (and implants sometimes shrink (capsualr contraction)) but mine was fine. As I think I said before, I have moisturised religiously (!) every day and my PS says youwould harldy know it had been nuked. She would not even consider the symmetry procedure (which was eventually done 2 years later cos of very long waiting list) until at least 3 months after the end of rads so that it had ‘settled down’. Hope that helps a little bit.
I’m due to have a bilateral mastectomy and recon on 6th November, but after discussing all the options thoroughly with my surgeon, he has recommended the expanders for me, using matrix from a pig to act as a support for my muscle and implant. He didn’t want to do any if the flap recons due to my age, and the size of my breast (I’m 20 with 34 GG breast at present) apparently that makes me high risk. Plus he said due to my active lifestyle, implants are more suitable as they heal so fast and very rarely have any problems. I know that probably doesn’t help, but I’m sure your surgeon has reasons for not wanting to do certain types of recon. Also, as far as I’m aware, different surgeons have different specialities. I’d recommend getting a second opinion, just to make sure, or even just challenging your doctors; I’ve been such a challenge for my poor oncologist but it means I get the best result for me. It’s us that have to live with this in the long run. Good luck x