I’m writing this from my bed as I’m now 4 days post breast reduction to my good boob!!
I was a F cup before my diagnosis but had quite a large WLE followed by chemo & radiotherapy which has left my right boob much more uplifted and 2 cup sizes smaller than the left. I know compared with many women, I’ve got away lightly & it really wasn’t that bad - infact in many ways I feel guilty about having further surgery done - but my surgeon offered and I felt it was something I needed to do :/, it feels like closure if that makes sense??
So, last Thursday I had my left boob reduced. As you can imagine, it looks awful at the moment as its swollen and my nipple is sunken (I have been reassured that will settle in time!) I am getting my drain removed later today which I’m not looking forward to, and will need regular dressings as its oozing quite a lot, but I can already see that the size is much better :).
Has anyone else had this done?? What was your recovery time? I’m still stupidly tired & sleepy but that’s me & anaesthetics for you!
Now just need to be good, rest and not overdo it (who me??!!) and get myself healed.
Hi Mythos, thanks for posting this… I am currently on the waiting list for similar surgery… yes I understand both the ‘guilt’ bit and the ‘closure’ bit. I had mx and LD recon which left right side 2 sizes smaller than left, so am really interested to hear how yours settles down.
Sounds like a few days in hospital though ;-/ ?
Getting drains out is fine so long as the nurse knows what she’s doing!
Hope you are soon home and enjoying your new look!
Hi Mythos
I had mine done in April 2011, I had previously had mx and LD recon so needed it to even me up. I was in hospital for two nights, I didn’t have any drains but my breasts are now both pretty small so don’t know if that makes a difference. Physically it was a doddle and my recovery was pretty quick, it did have a strange effect on me mentally and I was a bit of an emotional wreck for the first week…really felt as though I had lost my other breast … but now very happy with my more evenly matched pair!!
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
X
I was actually only technically in hospital for 24 hrs although that worked out from 7am Thursday until 7pm Friday!!
It’s not too sore although the breast care nurse warned me to take regular Tramadol & not to let the pain build up which I have done & it seems to work. At the moment, I have to wear a bra 24/7 for the next week at least and it’s sitting just on top of the drain which is a bit sore, so hopefully that will improve after today. My breast care nurse is taking it out & she’s lovely so hope it will be ok!
My guilt stems partly from putting my family through more surgery etc, and partly because my work have been far less supportive & understanding this time :/. I think as its something I have chosen to do and not medically ‘necessary’, they just see it as more paid sick leave! As one staff member said to me when I told her I was going to be off for another 4-6 weeks “blimey, it’s just one big holiday for you isn’t it?”!!! Guilt trip or what?!
I’ll let you know how I get on, but if there’s anything you want to know, ask, are curious about…feel free to contact me, I’m more than happy to talk about it!
Hi QORT, sorry missed your post replying to another!
Mentally I feel ok about this, far better than last time as I know it’s been my choice! I’m still a bit unsure about the end result as my surgeon has already warned me that she’s placed my nipple higher on the left than the right - her theory being that the right will never droop but the left still will so she’s allowed for that in working out where it should go! I bow to her experience & fingers crossed she’s got it right?!!
I was an F cup to start with and have gone down to a DD, so fairly big boobs even now!! I can already see the size is much better and my new bras are fitting both boobs instead of just one!!
How long were you off work? I’ve been told no driving for at least 3 weeks or until I’m healed - what a pain!!
Hi again
Not working at present, had recently started my own business when I got my cancer diagnosis and couldn’t deal with both
I was driving before 3 weeks… that I know for sure… I think it was 2.
My nipple did look in a sorry state after the op and my main concern was losing my only nipple but I am pleased to say I am the owner of one perky functioning nipple! ( and one non functioning reconstructed nipple…to be tattooed this week )
X
I am in almost exactly the same situation as you were. When was your first OP? I am in Germany and had a WLE in February 2008. There were three small tumors, so about 600 grams was removed (I have the same cup size as you). I wanted the other side reduced but the recommended surgeon said I had to get my weight to normal before he would operate, I should be able to do it in 3 months - ridiculous, I would have had to lose masses. The next doctor I saw said I shouldn’t have the OP because I ‘wasn’t suffering’ (I go swimming despite the fact that my breasts look dreadful, but I am worried about the different weight). I have also been given a weighted prosthesis but I don’t wear it because I have lymphoedema in the operated breast, which also means its size may change.
At the moment I have so many problems with lymphoedema in trunk, sleeping problems etc. that I have gone off the idea. The surgeon also told me the OP would be much more difficult than the first because of getting the breast at the same height - but I don’t want a perfect result! I am envious of you fitting into bra etc. better.
QORT - was your good boob on left? I’m assuming that’s why they’ve said no driving as the seatbelt cuts across it?!
I’ve been told 4-6 weeks off work depending upon how well I heal esp underneath - fingers crossed it will be fiiiiine!!
Margaret - hello :). I was diagnosed 1.10.2010 & had my surgery 3 weeks later. I was lucky, my surgeon is an onco-plastic surgeon and from Day 1, said to me that she would ‘put me back together again’ after all the treatment was over! I’ve never been asked to lose weight - not easy on Tamoxifen at the best of times! I’ve not suffered with lymphoedema (touch wood) so have no idea whether that would have been an issue?
No my good boob is on the right…I think it’s more to do with being able to make an emergency stop.
My surgeon is also onco ps…and that was always the plan for me too
X
Thanks, mythos15. The lymphoedema is a problem because no one knows if the operated breast has reached its final size. At the moment I have too many other doctors’ appointments but I think I will get my gynaecologist to refer me to another clinic when I next see him. There’s no harm in discussing it.
hi ladies, last Thursday i had fat transfer to my reconstructed LD flap and ‘dog ear’ flap removed from under the flap. I should of had fat transfer and the good boob lifted to make them both match but Guess what, they didn’t book theatre time for both sides so now i have to wait a minimum of 6 months while the left one settles. I too am more conserned about the amount of time off i need following these ops. That was one of the reasons my PS agreed to do both for me at the same time. I had been waiting 16 months for this op so you can imagine my reaction as i went to sign the consent forms and realized they had only booked the left side.
I was out of surgery at 2,20pm and home by 6.00pm…
Hollmeg - what a complete pain! May the next 6m pass quickly for you! (I’d be livid!!)
Well I’m now 10 days post op. Doing well although having some (sometimes considerable) discomfort with nerve pain around my areola! It’s like little fireworks going off around the suture line and can really make me catch my breath at times!
I’m seeing my surgeon again on Tuesday for a wound check so don’t know if she will renew the dressings or leave it open after that? I guess it depends on what she finds.
Physically I’m fine, mentally I’m surprised at how tired I feel, esp if I try and do something like potter around the shops with hubby. Must admit, last night I had a nightmare that they found DCIS on the pathology & told me I needed a Mx :(, not terribly condusive with a good nights sleep!!
I feel like I’m doing nothing but moaning but I’m so unhappy about my surgery I don’t know what to do
I went back to hospital yesterday for dressings & a review with my surgeon. After waiting 2 1/2hrs I was finally seen by the breast care nurse who told me that the surgeon was not in clinic! She said she would do my dressings anyway, so she took off the dressings, took off the steristrips and took off my skin with them :'(, so painful I can’t tell you.
Then I asked her how long it would be before my breast dropped & the shape improved as at the moment it’s considerably higher than the right one and very ‘boxy’ looking. She told me that this was it :O!!! I became quite upset so she asked a different surgeon to come & see me. He was happy with the healing & said he would expect the shape to improve as the swelling & bruising improved but said they would never be even & that some ‘tweaking’ might be necessary! The nurse said my surgeon would want to see me & that she will organise a further appt but not sure when.
My surgeon can be quite dismissive and I’m really worried that she’s not going to take my concerns seriously. I know it’s early days but it looks AWFUL. At the moment, I’m so depressed, so fed up that I’ve put myself through this for what appears to be a worse result than I started with. I’m also in more pain now than I’ve been since the surgery, I think all the handling & palpation yesterday had really stirred things up.
I desperately need some reassurance that this is going to get better :'(.
It’s a different situation but I can empathise with your upset and disappointment after all you put yourself through. I had a mx and DIEP about two months ago,. They said they’d make it a B/C to match my good side, but it’s still a DD and until now it’s looked horribly chunky. Ive felt pretty disgusted with ts appearance sometimes. However, I’ve taken periodic pictures and I can see it is getting a bit better and reducing albeit slowly. I have read that gentle massage helps the swelling to go down, so it might be worth getting advice about this. Hopefully there is some further healing and settling down to be done…
Have you thought about ringing the PS secretary direct or at least the BC centre to make an appointment, rather than leaving it till you are contacted.
They take before and after photos I assume and you could tell them how upset you are that your outcome is so much less positive than you were led to believe. It’s poss to ask for a copy of your pictures tho you would have to pay something for this.
In terms if keeping you 2.5 hrs then telling you the surgeon isn’t in, that’s totally unacceptable.I think you should write to the hospital to tell them direct rather than through PALs. Or you could leave a comment on your hospitals page of the NHS choices website.
If I don’t hear from them by this pm I’ll give the secretary a ring. I’m disappointed as apparently when they realised the surgeon wouldn’t be in clinic her secretary actually commented on the fact that I had an appt. The BCN told me that she was infact coming in to do an evening clinic yesterday so I asked why on earth they hadn’t rung me and asked me to come in later - “oh, we didn’t think of that”!! Perhaps a word with PALS might be in an idea.
At the moment, I have no choice but to wait & see I guess, but I’m really not happy & have a feeling I’m going to be palmed off with ‘early days’! As far as I’m aware, no photos were taken, certainly not when I was awake anyway! I did take one myself prior to surgery for my own benefit so could always use that as a rough comparison.
Thanks for listening, I’m just completely fed up & wishing I’d never had it done :(.
Hi, I too like nonsuch had a DIEP/TRAM in November 2011 - I had loads of problems with my stomach wound though so to be honest in the early days I was just focussing on this and trying to get it better (as an open wound is not a nice sight) i never really took much notice of my new breast! I think my expectation were low anyhow as I was not expecting it to be the same and I was told it would be higher than my old one. However as Nonsuch says as the weeks went by and I started to feel better so I started to massage my new breast and to be honest I am pleased with it. it is slightly higher and probably slightly rounder (as no nipple) but with an adjusted bra strap my boobs look more or less the same when dressed. When undressed there is a significant difference but I knew this was the going to be the case. I would speak to your own PS and ask the questions about shape and size and how they are going to be ‘evened’ up. My PS has been fantastic throughout and that helps so much - I am not sure if I would have coped if I had the offhandedness that you seem to have experienced. It is a massive Op, both physically and emotionally and takes a lot of getting over. I am having more sugery to uplift my good breast and he said I may need some lipsuction too (to tidy up my new breast) but wants it all to settle first.
I met up with a lady who had the procedure five years ago and her breasts were absolutely fantastic and you couldn’t even see the scars!
take care xxxx
PS I meant to add i have loads of photo’s taken by the PS most before surgery and since - in fact he took about 20 last week at this clinic (he is so pleased with the result!) that makes me feel better too knowing that he is pleased as after all he is the expert and he knows what ‘good’ looks like - All I see some days is a uneven breast with horrid scars. My PS told me to massage my scars three times a day with bio oil this wil help the scars and the shape too. xx
I now have an appt to see my surgeon next Tues, but today I went & saw my friend who is a BCN in a neighbouring health authority. It was not a good visit :(.
She told me that although my breast shape would improve, she does not think that the height difference will change and that probably too much breast tissue has been removed from underneath! Essentially I had the surgery done because I had uneven height breasts & I’ve been left with…uneven height breasts! Can someone please tell me therefore what the feck I have put myself through all this for?? She suggested that I might want to get a second opinion & talked about lipofill - at the moment, as you can imagine, I’m incredibly fed up, disheartened and tbh bl*ddy cross that I was not warned about this beforehand :'-(.
Saffronseed, I had no photos taken pre-op & naively assumed that my surgeon knew what she was doing!
x