Need to have MX on left side. Not suitable for DIEP, TUG, PAP etc but can have LD (with small implant) or implant and mesh. Decided on LD. Now about to have the op and starting to have doubts about my decision.
Wondering if a straightforward implant (with mesh) would be better for me as I’m not sure I want other parts of my body mucked about if I can avoid it. But, whenever I consider implants alone, I can imagine being able to feel reasonably ‘normal’ during the daytime but can’t imagine what they feel like when you sleep. I sleep on my side and worry that an implant will feel uncomfortable when I sleep. I worry that I wont be able to sleep for fear of squashing the implant and rupturing it. I worry about the same thing with the LD too. Help! I’m not normally a worrier about anything at all!
So, for all you lovely ladies who’ve been through LD or implant recon please will you tell me how you get on with sleep? Once you’d recovered from your op did you have to change your sleep habits? Were you able to sleep comfortably on your side once things had settled down?
Any feedback will be much appreciated. Hugs to everyone on this forum - such a great place of support.
I had LH MX in Jan this year with immediate saline implant reconstruction and reduction on RH side. I am now 1 week post op having just had my saline implant swopped for a silicon one.
To be honest the saline implant wasn’t generally comfortable, it felt like I had a tupperware tub stuck on my front !..not painful but uncomfortable and I was very aware of it all the time, not helped by the fact the port ended up stuck between my implant and ribs!
However, after the first 6 or so weeks post op I slept fine on either side, I find supporting myself with a soft pillow really helps. I also sleep in a sports bra which makes you feel secure!
Even after just a week my new silicone implant is lovely! I have a large amount of fluid that will eventually disperse but already the overall feeling is very different to the saline one. It’s soft but not squishy, dense and very comfortable. I’m much less aware of it than the saline one. I go to sleep on my right hand side but wake up all over the place and never feel in pain or that i have done anything to harm the implant. I still wear a sports bra to bed but think i’ll get some of those sleep vests with an internal soft cup bra in a few weeks.
My BCN recommended wearing a sports bra for the majority of time ( I find the zip up type best, m&s) but my top tip is to keep an ordinary soft cup one with you so you can swop during the day if necessary, the downside to a really good sports bra is that they can pull on your neck. I suppose they’re only meant to be worn for an hour or two really, not 24/7
I hope my info helps, feel free to ask anything else that might occur to you, best wishes
Hi 1960’s girl, I had mx left side with immediate recon using mesh and silicone implant in Feb 15 so I have now got used to my new shape! The result is very good and is a good match for the other side apart from droopiness! (I’m also a 60’s girl!) For the first few weeks or even months it feels a bit as if you have a ball strapped to your chest but now I am much less aware of it. I sleep on my left side now with no problems but it was several months before I could do that. I wear non-wired bras in the day but no bra at night now with no problems. It was good to only have one operation, but if you go for this one, be prepared for some chest pain when you are upright for the first 6 weeks or so! (The mesh is stitched to the chest wall muscle). I now run and play badminton again and do fitness classes though I do still avoid press ups! Good luck with your decision! Nic xx
Hi, I’ve had a direct silicone implant on both sides with no mesh as they are small implants. It was nipple sparing and was a very straight forward operation. I had polyurethane coated implants to reduce the chance of capsular contraction.This is is the most likely reason your will implants will fail eventually.
They stay where where the surgeon puts them so I didn’t need to wear a bra at all. But they are pretty solid and 6 weeks after surgery I’m not really happy lying on my side.They just feel in the way, not that it hurts. I have got used to sleeping on my back, I had drains in both sides for 12 days so not much choice then about sleeping position and I think I got used to it then.
But I’m so pleased with the surgery being very simple, little pain, quick to get on with life again. And no need to wear a bra is a bonus. I can wear under wired because the scars are across the beast.
just been reading through this thread with a lot of interest - I’m scheduled for right mx on 30 June (plus surgical biopsy on left side) and have been agonising over implant recon (for various reasons other methods not really suitable for me) or not and what bras to get. Really helpful to hear other people’s experiences and recovery stories x
Hi 1960sgirl
I had a skin sparing mx with LD flap last week. It already looks good & as the swelling goes down it’s feeling softer each day. I was told I may need an implant as well as I’m 38DD but in the end didn’t need one. The new breast will be slightly smaller- maybe C or B cup- which is good as I don’t like my droopy boobs. The other one will be reduced/ lifted a bit in about 6 months when everything has settled down . My back is a bit numb at the moment but movement is coming back & I hope to get back to Pilates ASAP. I have some sensation in the skin of the new breast. It’s only the nipple area that’s completely numb. I thought this would freak me out, but it’s ok actually & I can definitely live with it. The cleavage looks natural too. Hope you come to a decision that suits you. I was not offered implant alone as the surgeon felt the LD would match my 53yr old boobs better xx
Hi Caroline,
It’s great that you’ve come to a decision about your reconstruction. I was in hospital for 3 days & had 3 drains- one below the breast & two in my back. The breast drain came out before I came home, on the second day actually. The second drain came out after a week & the last one, hopefully tomorrow. They’re manageable & I got myself a drain bag from a lovely girl who sells them online. It means I can get about easily.have to say I’ve not had much pain so feeling lucky. Sending good wishes for your op
Sharon xx
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