Hello Ladies
I wonder if anyone who has had a recon can give me some guidance?
I had a pedicle tram flap in October, 5 years post dx. Last week I had the other (good) side reduced and lifted. I know it’s only a week but my breasts are staggeringly different sizes - at least a cup size if not more. The recon breast is much smaller.
I don’t want to appear ungrateful, but is this it? I have spent so many years padding out the flat side that I was over the moon with my recon breast and was hoping just to be able to put a bra on again.
I know it’s early days, but has anyone else experience this and if so, was the surgeon able to do any corrective surgery?
Thanks everyone, it has been a real blow after all the excitement of actually having two breasts at last!
Hello Flyright,
My heart goes out to you - you have dreamed of this and now it is disappointing. I have not yet had symmetry surgery but have been told quite clearly that a perfect match is not going to happen, though they can get them close. I think it is still very early days for you, and there is probably still some swelling on your reduced side. I think that it can take quite a few weeks for breasts to settle down after surgery, but why not mention you concerns to your PS or dressing clinic nurse? They should be able to reassure you.
Hope you soon feel more confident and able to enjoy your new-look bust.
Thank you Rev Cat, that is very kind. I am very bruised all over, but I have a feeling that even if that reduces, the recon breast will still need padding, which I had really wanted to avoid if I could because putting the padding in always reminds me I have had breast cancer. I wasn’t expecting perfection or walking around bra-less but this is a bit disappointing.
When I was first considering surgery, my consultant invited two ladies to show me their recons and they looked perfect. Both ladies (unlike me) were small from the start. Now I wish he had shown me something a bit more realistic for my situation because looking on the web, larger ladies like me seem to have less successfully symmetrical breasts.
Am also tired of people who have not had a mastectomy telling me that their natural breasts aren’t perfect either! Grrrr!
Thank you, I have sounded off and feel better now.
Flyright - stop worrying, I had a lift & reduction 3 months ago - for the first few weeks my op side was much bigger than my recon, now its starting to look a bit smaller if anything. You would not believe the difference when the swelling goes down. Be patient ( i know I’m not but …) I’m sure after the swelling goes down everything will be ok. Chin up. Burnie xXx
Flyright here (lost my password and am now Vanilla!)
Oh, you lovely ladies, thank you Burnie you have made me feel much better. 
At the dressing clinic today the nurse called in one of the surgeons when I asked her about the size issue, and he strode in, took one look at my mismatched boobs, and said ‘Well, you didn’t look like that when you left theatre!’
It was quite funny and set my mind at rest: I do sort of realise now that it has been ‘growing’ (not literally!) and they reckon it is the bruising (which is spectacular) and possibly a mild infection, so I am on antibiotics now and expecting it to go down in the next fortnight or so.
Thanks again ladies This site is always so helpful.
Hi
Was very interested in your post. I had Tram Flap surgery 18 months ago and was very pleased with the results. I have now been offered slight reduction and uplift on the other side. The difference in size isnt very much maybe about a cup size but real breast is much droopier. Any one just left other side alone and not bothered with an op. DOnt know what to do, will have a long think when I am on holiday. I am sure your swelling will all go down and you will be pleased with your results.
Take Care
Carolyn
I
HI Cat
i think you are in Glasgow, same as me, is it possble to perhaps email you directly? Yoy seem so knowledgable on so many posts and I can’t seem to understand my reconstruction options.
Update that might be useful: It turned out that I had a massive haematoma (blood clot) in the breast, which would explain why it was three times the size of my recon breast and still black in colour a month post-surgery. I have been in and had a GA to drain it and it is smaller now, though still bigger than the recon breast.
THe surgeon said I was lucky it had not abcessed inside and formed a fistula: I was a bit peeved because I have been going in every week to the dressing clinic and no one seemed to be listening to my complaints that it should not have been the size it was and still so painful after 4 weeks. But hopefully I am on the other side of that.
Thank you ladies, your replies have kept me going