Hello all, I’ve posted a few times on here and have yet more questions!!
To summarise: 26yrs old, left DCIS with invasive area, diagnosed in June, had chemo, on herceptin and tamoxifen, auxillary clearance and mastectomy with implant and pec muscle over the top 5th Dec (I’m a 34B) due to have radiotherapy end of January.
Right, saw plastic surgeon today and he said he wanted me to put on weight so that he could use my tummy fat for my second stage surgery, once my current implant has gone rock hard after radiotherapy.
Now this is all a bit new as had previously said I was to have LD recon as not enough fat on thighs or tummy.
So a few questions:
I’m a size 10 and eat like a horse so think I may struggle to put on weight, has anyone had to do this and how long did it take? Do I really want to add fat to my current look of and bald/tufty?
And big one, which is better LD or tumy in terms of recovery, scaring, final product!etc etc
Any experience or advice would be great, annoyed that I’ve thought of all these questions now I’ve left the appointment and I’m home!
C
I am a similar size to you well I was before Christmas) and I have had bi-lat LD recon. I was told I could not have the tummy method due to lack of fat. I have heard that the final result from the tummy method can be better because micro surgery is used, but I am more than happy with my final look. I took 12 weeks off work after both ops and I dont really notice the scarring now. I would imagine to put on enough fat on your tummy would mean increasing your size significantly.
i too am small, eat like a horse and size 8/10. i was told i couldnt have tummy one as no spare fat there and also told that as i havent had kids yet its best not to mess with my abdominals. Subsequently i found out that my surgeon specialises in ld’s and actually doesnt do the tummy one so not sure if that was part of why he pushed me for ld. I have heard the same the other way that if a surgeon specialises in the tummy one they automatically push you in that direction. I would really look into the two choices as its soooo easy to blindly go along with everything your surgeon says. Is he guiding you to one type of surgery cos its easier for him or the best asthetic choice for you?
I am quite slim, but had a small pot so was able to have a tram diep to replace my LD flap, which I lost due to a recurrence. Originally I was told that that because of my build the LD flap was my only option and I was thrilled with the results and gutted to lose it!
I went to Frenchay for my DIEP, which is a leading plastic surgery hospital and they were adamant that I did NOT put on weight because of the health implications and the long anaesthetic. Indeed I was asked to do 100 sit ups a day to strengthen my abs, make the skin more supple (I’ve never had kids) and increase my blood vessel flow! I believe that they can always make a boob out of even a small tummy, and put an implant behind it…However, I would have thought you should be having the LD flap?
HI, I’m in the same boat! I am due to have a reconstruction in the next couple of months but don’t know which to opt for. My surgeon was concerned that I am maybe too skinny for a DIEP, but said he should be able to match my other breast (A cup) although there is a chance it could turn out smaller - which would be just my luck. I am tempted to go for the LD flap, but am worried that I will loose a lot of feeling in my left arm again (it still isn’t completely back to normal after my mastectomy in Jan 08). It is such a big decision to make, weighing up all the pro’s and con’s, I am even worrying about walking the dog when I come out of hospital. I do know that I definatley want it done though as I want to be able to wear strappy tops in the summer and not worry everytime I bend down.
One last thing, am I being over sensitive getting miffed when people keep saying ‘you can have a bit of my fat if you like’? it’s really getting on my nerves now!!
hi, i had my first ld in june 2007, then due to an iffey mammo had the other side done the same in october of last year. i am really happy with the results, especially as they are now quite a bit bigger than the originals. at the end of the day though you have to go with what feels best for yourself, have you been shown lots of photo’s of each separate op?
Alisonxxx
Hi, I haven’t been shown any photo’s yet, but have been doing some research on the internet and have seen some fantastic reconstructions. I shall have to call the hospital (Broomfield in Chelmsford) and find out when the next BRA meeting.
I was hoping to go up a few sizes - maybe to a B/C cup - and think that the LD flap is the better option for this. I expect I will have to see my PS again before the actual operation and I will go armed with another list of questions!
Hi Tracey, the ld flap has worked really well for me, and they put a silicone implant in as well, so hopefully on Friday i shall have 250mm of saline put in both sides, reckon that should take me to a D cup, as the saying goes, lots of pain, but loads to gain!!!
love
Alisonxxx
I have just received my admission date for my op - March 17th - I am going to the Broomfield in Chelmsford, Mr. Dzwulski is the surgeon. I think I will go for the LD flap as I think the recovery will be quicker and I’m terrified of my dog, Denzil, leaping onto my lap if I have the DIEP.
I am going in for my pre-op on the 24th Feb, so will see my PS then, hopefully he will have photos I can look at. My initial consultation with him was at King Georges hospital and he didn’t have his ‘portfolo’ with him.
Your surgeon should tell you this but putting weight on in the tummy area will NOT work. Tummy fat has a memory. Move the tummy to the chest and then lose weight and you will lose weight on the chest too. Having said that, a tummy will produce a more realistic “boob” whereas LD flap is simpler but doesn’t give such good results. In my case it was a failure and has to be re-done by another surgeon. Get a 2nd opinion if you are in doubt; it will cost you nothing and may give you peace of mind. If it does cost you say £100-£150 then it will be money well spent.
Hi, I had an immediate LD recon same time as mastectomy. Which I opted for to avoid waiting til after radiotherapy. But the result was quite disappointing. One boob is a DD the reconstructed one a small B. So my surgeon has suggested lipo-transfer to move fat from tummy to boob (takes 2 goes to go up a cup size). This still wont be enough to achieve a balanced finish, so also to have a reduction on the bigger one when the 2nd lipo-transfer is done. I dont plan to lose weight after these procedures, but how can you stop that sometimes?? I’ll be gutted if, after waiting 18mths to get this far, I lose the fat they move and the reconstructed boob shrinks again. I’m trying to avoid an implant as I dont want to be messing about with further ops in the future.
Has anyone else had lipo-transfer of any kind?
Only other thing I can say bout LD recon is that they take almost all of your Lat Dorsi back muscle away, which covers quite a large area and the numbness and stiffness lasts a long time. Make sure you do the physio exercises to regain mobility. Losing all that muscle does affect the alignment of your spine/shoulder and strength of abdominals, but I’ve been back to excercising at the gym and use weights to try to build up this specific area. Never gonna be good at press-ups every again tho!!
i am so sorry to hear that you are left with one side bigger than the other Jan x well, i couldn’t have mine pumped up as hoped as the side that was done first was pumped up then taken down shortly after it was done, now the port on that side has embedded itself between the implant and the muscle!!! i was really quite peeved about this, so i’ll just have to stick with my size c.
Tracey i will be away when you have your op, and look forward to hearing how you are after you get back on your feet again, will be thinking about you xxxx
lots of love
Alisonxxx
Thanks Alison, I’m still in a quandry as to what kind of recon to have. I have found all info on this thread very helpful though. I see my PS on Tuesday so will obviously discuss the options again with him.
I hope you have a lovely holiday and I will be on here again as soon as possible after the op.
I had my pre-med on Tuesday and that went well, I still haven’t made my mind up as to which kind of recon to have - I’d better hurry up! I was hoping to see Mr. Dulwelski on Tuesday to discuss it further, but he wasn’t in clinic.
I keep thinking that the LD would be better as I may get implants in both then, but I don’t know if I can cope with driving down to Chelmsford every few weeks to get them filled up!! I know that’s not the right attitude to have under the circumstances, but I nearly blew a casket driving there on Tuesday!
hi Tracey, have you decided anything yet? i am fine, just had some time away, then away again a week on friday, back for 4 days then away till the 27th, then the 28th i am going in for a arthoroscopy of the shoulder, then being ambitious that this will not hurt too much, we are away again for 6 days from the 2nd of April! we have a camper van so we get away as much as we can, its so good to have things to look forward to i think.
looking forward to hearing what your having
lots of love
Alisonxxx
I think I may have to have the LD flap as I heard to today that I am only being paid in full for 7 weeks by my employers (then it will be half pay) I have heard the recovery is quicker with this kind of recon.
I am a bit angry to say the least, especially when my boss said that it was to stop people abusing the system - he then quickly added ‘Which you’re not’ - what a flaming cheek!!! They were really good to me when I had my mastectomy and were willing to pay me for up to 4 months.
Half of me is tempted to have even longer off just to leave them in the lurch, but I guess in the present climate, that would definately be cutting my nose off to spite my face!
I shall try to calm down by tomorrow as it’s Friday!!!
Hi Tracey, luckily for us we are now protected by the law and we can’t be sacked for having cancer or treatment for it, so take all the time you need my love
Alisonxxxxxxxxx
I discussed the matter with a colleague of mine today, who is the training manager and involved with HR, she told me not to worry as she will talk to the HR director next week and seems hopeful that they will pay me, so I feel a lot better about it now.