I am 61 and have had WLE and am midway through radiotherapy. Am I being ridiculous to be thinking of further surgery for cosmetic reasons? If I was to have anything I think a reduction on opposite side would be the most appropriate. Curently I have one melon sized and one orange! Will surgeons consider someone my age suitable?
JoJo
Hi, There is no problem. I am 60 and had a mx and immediate LD recon. last Nov. I too was worried that I was being silly, but could not face being lopsided, but no one commented, the surgeon was only too happy to go ahead and everyone was very supportive. My surgeon said he had done a recon on a 78year old!. Discuss it with them, they just want you to be happy with your body and not suffer mentally because of something you had no control over. Go for it! Good luck.
Hello JoJo, - answer to your question is “certainly not, you are not at all ridiculous!” I was diagnosed with DCIS in one breast in 2005, aged 63 and opted for a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. The breast surgeon and the plastic surgeon said there was no way the recon could look anything like the other breast (your image of the melon and the orange would have been applicable to me), so they asked me if I would like to consider a bilateral mastectomy with immediate recon. It was their idea and the plastic surgeon said I should consider how I felt, that this was not a question of what she called “coquetterie” (this took place in Geneva so we spoke French, but I guess that word is international). I was fortunate in that my insurance covered the second breast - they only do that if at least a certain weight is removed 
I don’t know what the set-up is in England, either with NHS or with UK private insurances but it doesn’t cost anything to enquire, does it? The important thing is that you should feel comfortable with yourself and if a reduction on the opposite side is your solution then do investigate the possibility. I am very happy with the “new me”! “Our age” is nothing at all these days - my mother is 89 and she has four siblings of whom the youngest is 83 - you might hesitate to have plastic surgery when you get that far, but not at “our age” - the world is still our oyster! Think grey power (do they call it that in England?). Best regards, petitepart
Hi JoJo,
I think that it is important to make the distinction between cosmetic and plastic surgery. Breast reconstruction (and/or associated breast reduction/augmentation to even up the size of both breasts) is plastic surgery because it is designed to eleviate a situation that has been caused by surgery needed for a disease.
Whereas health issues can be a bar to breast reconstruction I don’t think age is. I note that you are in your sexy sixties and that in a few years time you will be in your sizzling seventies. If you want something done go for it.
Best wishes,
Sue
Hi Jojo,
Just wanted to had my comments, when I was in hospital having my bilateral reconstruction using the LD method there was a lady in the bed next to me in her early seventies who had a single recon using the skin and fat from her stomach. She was in theatre for approx 7 hours and came out of it amazingly, I couldn’t believe how well she looked straight after surgery. The reconstructed breast also looked fab.
Hope you make the right decision for you
Keep us posted
Love
Kaz
xx
Thank you everyone for your encouragement. Still not sure what I will do but now I feel I can at least consider it without looking foolish.
Rads are going well, although quite tired now, but skin is still in good nick., just a little warm and itchy!
Lots of hugs to everyone
Jojo
Hi JoJo, you are not old at all, and why shouldn’t you look your best? go for it, your still young xxxxxxxxxxxx
Alisonxxx
Hi JoJo
I posted a similar question about reduction a few weeks ago on this forum.
I am definitely going to ask about reduction on my good boob when I see my surgeon later this month. I mentioned it to the Oncologist last week and he told me it’s possible, but to wait 6 months [this will be up by the date I see my surgeon]. I am even more determined to have this done now, especially when he said I still have some swelling on the underside of my boob, so when that goes, the boob will be even smaller - eek!