Boob job on other breast?
Boob job on other breast? girls, has anyone out there had a boob job for the other breast when having reconstruction following a mastectomy? Silly question probably, but do they do this at the time of the reconstruction or before or after the main op ? thinking about giving myself a present at the end of all the treatment.
karen .xx
Hi Karen,
I think it can be done at the same time or after. I have heard of women having reduction of the other breast at the same time. I had mastectomy and LD reconstruction 7 weeks ago and my surgeon has suggested an implant on the other side to even out the sizes maybe later on this year - am undecided at the moment if I want to go in for more surgery but it would be nice to have even sized breasts again even if they are larger than my own. I have read on this site of women who end up with breasts that are “better” than their natural ones due to the surgery - there has to be something positive to this illness?! Good luck.
Chloe
Hi Karen,
I had a mastectomy last April, followed by chemo and rads. I’m having a DIEP recon with reduction of other breast on monday. I only want to end up with small breasts and don’t want implants. My plastic surgeon doesn’t usually do other side at same time mainly due to length of op but when I said I wanted it done together he didn’t raise any objection. He’s having a colleague do the reduction of my remaining breast whilst he does the recon to keep the duration of op down.
I’m having this done privately through my husbands company health insurance and when I rang them to ok everything and said I was having both procedures done at the same time they seemed to think this was quite normal.
Hope this helps.
Claire x
Hi Karen I had a mastectomy with immediate LD recon with implant, together with a reduction on the other side, 7 weeks ago now. I was quite large (38F) and there was no way they could match a recon to that, and I was OK with this. Initially I was concerned as my reduced boob seemed too small and my recon huge, but now they are fairly close in size and I am a 38D.
I think it would depend on what you wanted - a lift, reduction or implant? Your surgeon might want to see what size your recon settles into before making changes on the other side - but there is no harm in asking.
I’m 50 this year and never thought I would have such pert boobs!
Anita 
Boob job after recon Hi Vezza
I had Lat Dorsi in Jan, and because I am quite big and didn’t want implant other than muscle, am having a reduction and lift on other side.
I did discuss having both done at the same time with the surgeon, initially he agreed, then at the last minute said that he doesn’t like doing it this way. He says that when you are lying flat on op table it is difficult to match sides, and recon is likely to have swelling.
So far am happy with the recon, although it is still a bit puffy - not sure how long it takes for swelling to go down completely! Hoping to have the other op in June or Sept - choice is up to me depending on holiday. I am lucky enough to have private insurance thro’ work, although surgeon would have done it all on NHS, but less choice on dates and hospital.
Good luck
Nellie.
recon hiya karen,
i had my masectomy october 2005 and i am having my reconstruction 11th july.
when i saw my plastic surgeon in feb she said she will give my remaining boob extra cup size at same time as my DIEP if i wanted it.
i think i will go for it as i’ve always been small breasted, nothing silly like double f’s just one size up.
My family think i’m mad and my mother in law said i should leave my remaining boob alone but i am thinking if they do it and find anything wrong with it they will get rid while they are in there.
kim x
I had an augmentation Hi Karen
I had my mastectomy at the end of January. During that surgery I had a becker implant (expander) put into that breast, and a silicone implant in my “good” breast to take me from a B cup to a C cup. My becker implant is gradually being expanded to the same size as my augmented breast, (in fact it has to be overexpanded), then I will have a further surgery to remove the becker implant and replace it with silicone into that side too. My surgeon and I preferred this order of doing things, because it means my augmented breast will have settled down and he will be more easily able to make sure he gives me a good match of size and shape. It does take time though, but I’ve got to live with the result forever so I’m willing to wait a few months. I am pleased I had an augmentation - like you, I saw this as the silver lining of the cloud!
Natalie
One-sided boob job! Hi Karen
I had mastectomy/reconstruction in September 06. At the time surgeon suggested we left the other side as he said he could get a good match. Recon turned out to be a bit bigger (and perkier!!) so I went in a couple of weeks ago for an augmentation on the other side plus a nipple recon. Now I’m the other way round and the augmented one is slightly bigger than the recon!!.. but they have told me that it is very swollen and it will take a few weeks to go down.
I think my surgeon was of the opinion to wait as he wanted to see the recon once the swelling had gone down and then we could decide what to do next, but I do know of people who’ve had it done at the same time as the recon and have had excellent results.
Good luck.
Vicky xx