Hi Ladies
Going back to work on Monday After Op due back to hospital on 07/01/2011 to see PS what to due regarding next op or just leave left breast alone
Hi to all you amazing women out there.
This thread has been so informative for me. First time I have posted, and I really would appreciate advice/info/experience as am so unsure whether to “go for it” or just accept the way I am and deal with it.
Thing is you all seem so young! Jobs and school runs! Even though the PS was very positive with me and felt he could definitely help he understood that I needed the Christmas period to make a decision. I do it now , or I stay with what I have. I just am very nervous of going through “it” all again.
Had a quadrantectomy with LD in Dec 2004. Loads of chemo and radio and things going wrong in 2005. Breast never really increased in size with LD. Radio , I think, got rid of most of flap. Have always had to wear prothesis which I hate!!!
Decided to check if I could now do something, even though 5+ years down the line.
Insurance won’t entertain me. Paid for the first one - that’s it.
PS (on NHS) was absolutely lovely and positive. Said he would put an implant in the front of the breast and lipo fill with abdomen fat the top part - 3 sessions.
Am now more informed re lipo fill - thanks to all your posts.
Does any one know about doing it with implant?
Is it done at the same time?
Recovery?
Massively undecided. Am 67 but still care what I look like. In good health (have survived 2 primary cancers - what more can I say!)
But somehow , this time I’m scared. Maybe because this time I have a choice and before there was no real choice.
But I do so HATE wearing a prothesis!
Have rambled on. Thanks for reading this far!
Love Molly
Hi Molly/ladies,
Good luck getting the info you need, sorry i can’t help you as i’m looking for more info on Lipofilling. Keep asking questions until you are happy to make a decision! Good luck x
Can any of you help me?
I’m wondering if any of you were given pros and cons by your surgeons for Lipofilling? I can’t make my mind up and see my surgeon this week. I had a WLE earlier this year and am a bit worried about the lipo procedure and that i’ll maybe have to ask for even more time off, if i need more than one go at it. Anyone had bother with work?
I suppose i’m a bit worried as what i have read they say it’s still a relatively new procedure and fatty lumps can form which may be hard to check on a mammogram. I’d appreciate your comments on this. Thanks.
Hi fitgirl, I don’t think age matters, we all care about the cosmetic outcome of our surgeries, and lipofill can be a good procedure to correct previous surgeries. In my case the surgeon only harvested 50mls, this was re-absorbed and the recon looks just like it did before. We will have another go, my surgeon said there are varying methods. I have no implant in my LD recon, so can’t help re your implant question. I had a quick recovery and very little bruising. Good Luck. X
Fitgirl,
In my experience (ie: in my area) they don’t do mammograms on reconstructed breasts as it puts too much pressure on them - they use ultrasound, followed by MRI if concerned, so check with your team to see as it may not be a consideration.
Annie
Hi,
Thanks for your replies.
Tina, i saw my surgeon and she said she would only take about 50mls and if there is no inflammation then the procedure will take place another 4 or 5 times… a lot of ops! She said it had to be built up slowly.
Annie, i asked about ultrasound and surgeon said that for DCIS, it was better to have mammogram. I haven’t had any other re-constructive work done, so maybe one or two shots at the lipofilling will not be disturbed by next mammogram.
As ever, there is conflicting info from different surgeons but then i suppose we are all a bit different in our dx.
Also having my black headed tattoo removed:-)
Thank again girls x
Hi,
Thanks for your replies.
Tina, i saw my surgeon and she said she would only take about 50mls and if there is no inflammation then the procedure will take place another 4 or 5 times… a lot of ops! She said it had to be built up slowly.
Annie, i asked about ultrasound and surgeon said that for DCIS, it was better to have mammogram. I haven’t had any other re-constructive work done, so maybe one or two shots at the lipofilling will not be disturbed by next mammogram.
As ever, there is conflicting info from different surgeons but then i suppose we are all a bit different in our dx.
Also having my black headed tattoo removed:-)
Thank again girls x
I’m wondering about lipofill. I had wle and although dressed, my boobs look OK, actually the op one is 3 cups sizes smaller than my non op boob. Also, I have a huge crater where the tumour was, which is unfortunately right at the front of my chest and can therefore be seen in most necklines.
I don’t want an implant so am wondering if lipofill could be an answer.
Jo X
I too want to know more on this subject, so please keep posting 
x
Had another appointment with surgeon and agreed on a second fill, using a different technique. This time the fat will be extracted and prepared for filling over several hours which apparently is more successful. It will be harvested under a general and refilled under sedation. This should give a better result. I see on the NICE website they are in consultation on guidelines for this procedure. Good luck to those having this op soon! X
My Onc has said that he will refer me back to the breast surgeon to fill in my WLE crater. I had to ask though.
Hi Ladies,
It is now nearly 6 weeks post surgery for me and I have had a few problems this time around.
When they reduced my non affected boob, they decided to lipo suction it and use this fat to lipo fill my recon and more importantly my nipple. I woke up with horrendous pain which is still troublesome now and bruising from my cleavage to under my axilla, right across and up and down my boob - I have to say, very impressive it was to. I still have some remaining bruising but nothing really to speak of. I had 2 very hard and swollen areas which have given rise to the majority of the pain and since having a course of antibiotics, did get better, but now having finished the course, is getting more painful again. I think a call to the plastics nurse is in order if only to convince me that I do not need anymore antibiotics as the pain is a stinging burning type of pain - any ideas??
What I really want to know from you ladies who have had this procedure, is how long was it before you realised the lipo fill had “not taken”? My nipple is firmer, but to me still looks a little flat and I would like a bit more projection. I don’t see my ps until mid feb and I don’t know if he will reconsider a further lipo fill procedure. Any advice??? (Procedure was done 14th Dec)
Many thanks,
Maggie
Hi Marjay
I’m waiting for my operation so can’t speak from experience. Can i ask if you gave them permission to take fat from your good boob to put in the other? Also, re the pain, i would definitely get on the phone and contact the surgeon. Did they not want to see you after the op? My surgeon commented that one of their previous patients had lipofilling and it didn’t work, the tissue had become inflamed and if that happened then they would not try again. But as we know, procedures are not always done the same at every hospital.
Good luck and hope you feel better soon.
Tina - When are you having this new procedure done? Please let us know how you get on, good luck.
Hi Marjay, I saw my BCN for suture removal about a week after surgery and the surgeon a month after surgery, you should be seen if things are not right, that much discomfort does not sound normal. I knew as soon as the dressing came off that it hadnt worked as it looked just the same as before!
I will be having my next op in the spring. x
Hi Ladies,
Thanks for advice, very much appreciated.
Just to update you: Phoned my plastics nurse this morning and have had to visit my GP urgently for more antibiotics. She thinks that as the pain, swelling and heat has started to return to the lump, that I have an infected heamatoma. Result is that I am back on antibiotics and have an appointment back at the hospital for this coming weds. She thinks that they will try and aspirate/incise the haematoma as she thinks this has become a deep infection which the antibiotics are keeping at bay but not clearing, informed me to take some strong painkillers before appt as it will probably be quite painful. I am really looking forward to Weds - not!!! but at least they should sort it out. I will also be able to discuss my lipo fill result to the nipple as well and hopefully any further plans to enhance the projection or not as the case may be.
Will let you know how I fair following appt.
Regards,
Maggie
Ouch, sounds anything but a breeze. So are you driving yet? Up for getting together for a coffee and a swim chat?
Hi Ladies,
Just to update you: Went to appt on weds and PS was extrememly busy (no change there!!!) so was asked if happy to see someone else. Agreed and was shown into consulting room. Waited patiently to see this other dr when MY PS walks in and informs me that only HE would see me. Apparently he had seen my name and informed his colleagues that he was seeing me and they could go and see someone else!! maybe it was all that complaining I had done previously - lol.
Anyway, yes I had some hardening, thickening, and swelling so off for U/S and then attempt at aspiration, no luck so he informed me to stay on antibugs and go on another prolonged course if it flares up, but thinks it is slowly resolving. He is please with result but not with the nipple. Still quite small and flat and he will see me again in a few months when the breasts have settled and he will then re-think his and my options. He was mentioning cartilage transfer from ear lobe - anyone any experience of this?
At the moment, a little sore and still on antibugs but happy that it is nothing to worry about.
Thanks for support, interested to hear how you ladies are getting on.
Regards,
Maggie
Hi guys, I thought I would update you . Im so glad I started this post because its so useful sharing experiences and hearing how each other get on. I had my op about 5 months ago. All was fine until dec when I found a little lump , the doc said it was ok and prob scar tissue. Now ive found another little lump which is quite painful if I press it at all. In general the breast feels quite painful when pressure is put on it. So im going to see the nurse next wk and am having a follow up outpatients with my ps so I can discuss options. Its got me wondering and also from what others of you have said, is it worth risking it having the ops, of course its different for everyone, I do feel pleased that I dont have to wear prosthesis really now but still cant wear tight tshirts or anything… Im not at all happy with my breasts yet, but part of me is definitly thinking seriously about whether to continue or whether to learn to love and except myself how I am. Such a tricky one… Anyway thinking of the rest of you hoping for good outcomes. Will update after seeing nurse. Xx
Hi Sharing,
How are you now? I hope everything has settled down now and you are lump free. I was due to have Lipo procedure next month but cancelled it as i just don’t feel as if i’m 100% fit. I am going to wait till after my 1st mammogram since dx and that will also re-assure me that all is clear (fingers crossed) before i start this procedure. Has anyone done this when they have had a WLE and needed the dent filled in? Would like as much info as poss. Take care. x
I can empathise, sharing & fitgirl, dissappointed by the shape of my recon, too! The limited success of the current procedure has prompted my surgeon to halt further ops. He is looking into the CERS method as trialled in Swansea and then I might have one more try. After that it will be case of accepting the status quo. Hope all goes well with the check up, fitgirl and the lumps are begnin, sharing! X