I’ve just had my first consultation with my plastic surgeon, following mastectomy last August. Its still early days as I haven’t finished chemo yet, I just needed to know what my options were and what I needed to do to prepare for any reconstruction [i.e. losing weight!]. The consultation went quite well and apparently I have 4 options as follows:
No reconstruction
Back flap [latissimus dorsi]
Tummy flap
Implant
I understand the tummy flap op is the biggest, in terms of operation time, so I don’t think thats my preference. No reconstruction is not really an option either as I’m still in my 40’s [just]. The PS favours the back flap, I’m edging more towards the implant [less scars]. Just wondering if anyone else had gone through any of these 4 procedures and could share their experiences with me. How did you come to the decision you did? How long did you take to recover? Did you experience any problems? Anything that may help me consider the options. Thanks
Shazza
Hi Shazza,
I had a skin sparing mx with immediate recon and the procedure went well. I had a tissue expander in situ straight away which was inflated over a period of months. I then had a second op to remove the expander and replace with a permanent implant. I was pleased with how eveything progressed for me and hope you get good results too. Love Tracy xxx
Hi Shazza. I had a MX and immediate LD back flapwith implant on the 11th Jan. Whilst it is early days I amextremely pleased with the process so far and do not regret the choice I made. Like you when I met the consultant I was favouring implantsbecause I have two knee replacements this seemed like a quicker option. I was asked to consider the LD Back flap as for me being 51’ and size 36C he thought this would give me a realistic boob and be the best cosmetic option. The op is all done at the same time with no planned additional ops like with the implants exchanges. Whilst it is a big op I was in theatre 9 hours, I have not been in any pain only discomfort and I am nowtony using parecetomal as painkillers with the odd additional codeine here and there. If you decide on this option let me know and I can give you more detailed information. PM me anytime with specific questions. Good luck with your decsion and the rest of your chemo. Big hugs to you. Xxxxxx
Hi Shazza, it is a difficult decision to make and like you I was in a bit of a dilema about it all. What made my mind up for me was seeing the finished result - ie I met a lady who had had a diep (tummy flap) and it was such a fantastic job it almost made my mind up for me. I went to see my PS and I was still a bit reluctant of having very intrusive surgery given what I had been through already - my PS gave me the options and it was clear from what he said that he felt a DIEP was the best for me. He explained throughly the length of the op and recovery period but told me it gave a much better final appearance and was a long term solution. The plus’s were that there were no inplants (you use your own flesh) and that the new breast grows with you (or shrinks) as you put on weight or lose it! Anyway I had my diep last November 2012 (was on waiting list about 7 months) and I have just had my other good side uplifted to match it. I am still waiting my nipple and will get that in a few months. A DIEP is a long haul in that the op is huge approx 10 hours for me, recovery around 6 weeks and then other work needed to finish it all off - but I must say the finished result is fantastic and i am so pleased that I went with the DIEP after lots of anguish thinking about it. The Peer support line can put you in touch with ladies who have had different types of reconstruction to give you the chance to speak to a wide range of people and make the best decision for you. good luck xxx
Hi shazza,I had double MX with immediate recon,LD flap with expanders in Aug 2011.the op took 6 hrs and I was in hospital for 5 days,went home with 2 drains still in which were taken out a week later.There wasn’t a lot of pain,and 6 weeks later I was driving again,4 mths later I returned to work.4 months later the expanders were inflated,altogether they were inflated 3 times,this is quite pain full for a couple days but the expanders do feel uncomfortable all the time,like having cricket balls strapped to your chest,very hard and immovable!These were replaced with implants in Aug 2012 with much softer implants and in December I had nipples tattooed and am very happy with results.The LD flap gives more realistic results than just implants though I do get some tightening in my back when I do anything physical.Overall I am happy I took the LD flap option,good luck with whatever you decide,
Di.x
Hi Shazza,
I had an LD flap three years after my mx. It was the only option open to me so the only choice was whether to go ahead or not. I found that decision quite scary as this was elective surgery, not something I had to do like the mx. I was very scared of something going wrong. However nothing did go wrong and I am so pleased I did it. I was worried in advance about tightness around my chest after the op as I had read of this problem, I asked my PS and he said he did an extra procedure during the operation to separate something (this is three years ago now so I can’t remember what it was) which avoided this problem.
I had six weeks off work, and I was very tired during this time, really wiped out - I definitely needed the whole of the six weeks off. I think I started driving again after two or three weeks. It took four months for my energy levels to return to normal. I think this tiredness was all a side effect of the anaesthetic.
I have no regrets about having the LD flap - it was the right thing for me to do, and I am very pleased with the result. I think everyone has to go with their gut feeling of what is right for them.
Hello Shazza
I am 3 weeks post op after single MX, ANC and DIEP. I chose the DIEP recon as I did’nt want an aritificial implant and I was a good candidate for a tummy flap ie, no previous scars, non smoker, ample belly fat!
I am so far very happy with the whole experience, it was a long op (11 hrs) but I was blissfully unaware of that I spent one night in ICU where I was carefully monitored, then transfered to my own especially warm room where I stayed for 6 days. I had four drains, 2 in my tummy, 1 in my boob and 1 in my back. All drains where removed before I left hospital. Pain management was great and although getting in and out of bed was uncomfortable I was up and walking 24 hrs after the op. If I can answer any more specific questions for you please message me.
Take Care Suzy
Along with the shared experiences and support you have here, BCC have ‘One to one peer supporters’ who would be happy to talk to you either via telephone or by email about their reconstruction experiences, you are welcome to call us for more details and you will find more information here:
Hi Shazza. i had a mx with immediate LD reconstruction last February. Had to have small implant as well as not enough fat on my back. was in hospital for 3 days and then came home with 1 drain. Recovery not to bad- pain managed well with paracetomaol and tramadol. Year later and no regrets. Still get tightness in back if I overdo it at all or if I am tirede- otherwise no problems. just had nipple recon which is brill- waiting for tattoo.i am still amazed at how good breast looks!!. I.d be happy to answer any questions if you want to PM me.
take care. Frances.
Hi
I had skin sparing mx and immediate recon with Strattice mesh and implant. The surgery was much quicker than other options (less than 4 hours). Waking up, my chest did feel very tight, where the muscle was stretched over the implant. There was initially talk of me going home same day, but as I was last on the list and have a small child, I stayed in 1 night. I was home by lunchtime the next day - basically as soon as I could get out of bed and walk to the loo.
I came home with 1 drain. I did find geting up from lying down difficult at first, but my husband got quite good at pulling me up. I was only on ibuprofen and paracetemol (which seems like alot less than other hospitals give out). I was back to work after 3 weeks and driving before 6 weeks had passed.
I am happy with the recon. I haven’t had a new nipple, and probably won’t bother. It’s not as though I show my boobs to that many (non-medical) people. My weight and cup size has been very steady since my 20’s, so I am not concerned about the other one changing sides. If old-age makes the good side droopier, I might go for an uplift to keep them matching, but I suspect that won’t be for a good few years yet.
Sue
I spent one night in ICU where I was carefully monitored, then transfered to my own especially warm room where I stayed for 6 days. I had four drains, 2 in my tummy, 1 in my boob and 1 in my back. All drains where removed before I left hospital. Pain management was great and although getting in and out of bed was uncomfortable I was up and walking 24 hrs after the op. If I can answer any more specific questions for you please message me.