Hi ladies back in 2005 i had to have a mastectomy and chose to have an LD reconstruction the implant was then damaged with all the radiotherapy i had so my surgeon had to change the implant in 2006 i then chose to have an implant in the other breast to even them out and also wanted to be slightly bigger i was very happy with both the reconstruction side and the other but since then the side where i didn’t have a mastectomy and recon has dropped a lot and they look so uneven its very noticeable when i wear a bikini and i hate it. I’m only 31 and don’t feel at all happy with my breast i know i should just be grateful that i have them but i just want to feel confident. I spoke to my surgeon who agreed that the implant should be change and he would also do a lift at the same time however he said i would be left with 3 large scars and the scarring would be worse than on the mastectomy/recon side. My parents and partner don’t want me to have more surgery as i have secondaries and am undergoing continues treatment and am often in a lot of pain but i really feel for my own confidence i need to have it done. I asked my surgeon if he could make the reconstruction side bigger to match the other side one is a 36DD and one about a 36CC he said her could but then another surgeon who works with him said she has never seen such a good job done of a mastectomy and reconstruction and she feels i should have that side made any bigger as i could ruin what i have. She also said the skin feels very thin around the breast and she is worried that going up a size could really damage the skin even more. What she thinks i should do is just have the implant changed in the other side to a smaller implant and have a lift done so it does not droop. This would mean going down to about a 36c/cc i agree with her that the skin is very thin and i can feel the implant so i understand her concern about going any bigger may damage the skin. I just am so unhappy with my breast with a bra on they look fine but without one they look bad with one drooping so much and so much bigger than the other. I just wanted some advice has anyone not been happy with theirs and had their implants changed? also has anyone had a lift done and been left with 3 large scars?? where the scars very bad?? i have been told i will need a scar going the whole way around the nipple one running from nipple down to base of breast and one the whole way around the base of the breast. I just wonder how so many glamor women IE Katie Price have their breast made soooooooo big if the skin stretches and goes thin how come they can go as big as they like but i cant. Again I know I should just be grateful that after a mastectomy I could have a reconstruction done and know with a bra i look fine but im just not happy with them 
sorry for long moan i have been asking family and friends what to do but non of them r going through what we r going through so thought i would ask others to see what they think and to see if any of u have had it done love Clairemm xx
Hi Claire
I think the decision is totally yours! I had a reduction and uplift on my good side and yes, there is a scar right the way around the nipple, one down the centre and one at the bottom but i had mine done 18 months ago and the scarring is hardly noticeable. The other risk to take into account is that you may lose feeling/sensation in your nipple. It didnt happen to me but its worth taking it into account.
good luck in your decision, i wish you well.
deed
x
Hi Clare
I haven’t had that much breast surgery but I have a friend who had a reduction and her scars are, as you said, all round the nipple, from the nipple downwards to the fold under the breast, and all along the fold. But the surgery was beautifully done in her case, and her scars have faded so you can only just see a thin silver line from her nipple down. You can’t see the scar in the fold because of where it is, and the scar round the nipple is pretty much invisible unless you get up really close (which of course I don’t usually do… but she’s a swimming friend so we have seen each other’s bits in the changing room.)
You might want to consider how well or badly you scar. If you are lucky and generally scar well, then the “three large scars” you have been told about could be perfectly acceptable to you. If, on the other hand, you tend to scar badly and get keloid scars, you might not want to.
Good luck with making your decision. By all means take other people’s views into consideration but when it comes down to it it’s YOUR body, and how YOU feel about it is more important than anyone else’s feelings. You are the person who knows best whether you’d be able to cope with further discomfort, and if you feel it’s worth it, then go for it.
Hi clairemm
If you think it might help to talk through your options with someone please don’t hesitate to give the BCC helpline a call. Here you can share your concerns with a trained member of staff who will offer you a listening ear as well as support and information. The number to call is 0808 800 6000 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9 to 5pm and Saturday 9 to 2pm.
Best wishes Sam, BCC Facilitator