Hello, i was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, had a lumpectomy in December but the cancer was still present so February this year had to have a mascetomy. I have recently seen the plastic surgeon to discuss reconstruction. He has given me two options:-
Has anyone had either of the above.Would be grateful of any input as so confused as to which one to go for.
Thanks
Lai
Hi Lai,
While you are waiting for replies from other users I have put for you below the link to a couple of areas of the website you may find helpful.
Reconstruction animation:
Reconstruction publication:
breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/bcc_reconstruction_v4_FINAL.pdf
Hope you find these helpful.
Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
hello i had reconstruction in april this year using muscle/skin from my back the results are brilliant, i was in pain to start with my back more so and had four drains. i was in hospital for a week.i am glad i decided on this option, hope this helps a little.
Hi Lai
I had a mastectomy last December followed by chemo and radiotherapy. My reconstruction is planned for sometime next year. I to have been thinking about this so I asked my BC nurse what my options were.
LD flap, is less complicated and can be done within 4 hours. It is more suited to ladies up to a cup C. As I’m only a 34A I may not need the implants. (This is one that I am going to go for).
TRAM, a longer operation. Recovering time longer. But you do get a tummy tuck at the same time.
Hope this helps.
Amanda 
Hi Lai
I had an ld flap recon and reduction and uplift on the good side. I am a 38E so not a small girl. The results are very good and im really pleased. The back pain was more uncomfortable than the front. I found a hot water bottle and a v pillow were the key to getting through it all. I do a very physical job but was back to work in 4 months.
Hope this helps whilst you consider which option is best for you.
all the best.
deed
x
Hi Lai
I had a tram it was 9 weeks today, I also had a reduction and uplift on the other side at the same time.I have gone from a 36F to a 40C. I can honestly say the only pain I had was in my lower back, and the surgeon said thats because I was on the operating table for a long time, 9 1/2 hrs in total. Would I do it gain…oh yes!!! I am over the moon with my new clevege, they absolutely work wonders, and now 9 weeks on, I feel great, my tummy feels a little funny still, but like I said it has only been 9 weeks, if you want to ask me anything, ask away, I’ll try to help.
All the best
Carole xxxx
Hi, also had the ld flap recon in feb this year, without implant. Couldn’t have the tram due to previous c-sections. Recon is very natural looking and starting to feel soft, had a seroma drained for 9 weeks, and will have lipofill as it has lost a bit of volume due to shrinkage. Otherwise, very pleased! Good luck!
Hi Lai.
I had free flap TRAM 8 weeks ago today. I had MX and immediate recon so a little bit different.
I had been absolutely thrilled with my new breast until about two weeks ago when it started hardening, lifting and growing. I am still pleased and do not regret the decision, but it is disappointing as my new breast was so beautiful to begin with but no longer looks like my natural breast!
It is a big op, and not to be taken lightly, but I was back to work after 6 weeks and feel fine. Still a little stiffness in my abdomen and some slight swelling but I love my newly flat tummy and enhanced waistline … the compliments just don’t stop!
I would be happy to forward a long e-mail that I sent to someone else here outlining my experience. PM me if you wish.
Jacqui
Hi Lai
I had a tram flap 2 years ago and psychologically for me it was the most positive step. I am very pleased with the results. My tummy is now flat and my stretch marks are gone! I am pleased with my cleavage. I am now awaiting a little liposuction off my new boob as it is slightly biggger than the other one and while there they are going to give it a new nipple…never really bothered about this but as my daughter gets older (she is 6) she asks more questions and thought it would look alittle more ‘normal’. I am still able to do everything I want and I go to aerobics twice a week and I’m still able to do the tummy exercises.
Good luck in making a decision.
Best wishes
Chris
Hi Lai,
I had a delayed LD flap in February (3 yrs post mx) and as I was a AA I had no implants in at the time. I went back just under two weeks ago and had implants in both sides - I am now A/B, not sure, not been measured yet! I am delighted with the results so far. No nipple yet, that’s still to come. Everything is still rather hard, but should soften in the coming months.
I couldn’t do the TRAM as no tummy, but I didn’t want that one anyway as I really didn’t fancy a big scar there. I have a friend who had the tummy one as she didn’t want her shoulder messed with - it’s really a very personal decision. Before the op I was worried about loss of strength in my shoulder, but I can honestly say I have felt no difference, and I run, swim, and ring church bells.
Best wishes for your decision
xx
Hi, just like to say a big thank you to all of you for your indivdual experiences of reconstruction.
It has helped me a great deal and has given me a lot to think about in both of the options.
Will keep you all informed. Thanks again and all the best to you all.
Lai x
Hi just to say I had the LD flap done way back in the dark ages in 1989. Yes 21 years ago. They used the muscle from my back plus an implant. It still looks good all these years later.
When I was deciding the hospital put me in touch with a lady who had the opertion done a few years earlier. This was so helpful and gave me the courage to go ahead as I was very scared of the unknown. After my op I did the same for ladies following in my footsteps and have shown my boob to more ladies than I care to remember! My friend had the tummy one done a few years after me and she is happy with the outcome of that too. Can you ask your breastcare nurse at your hospital if they could put you in touch with any ladies who have already had the op? If you live in Scotland and are near me I would be happy to help. Val
Hi,I am also due to have an LD reconstruction next month and have found your comments very useful. My surgeon has suggested putting implants in on both sides to balance things out. Do you find that if you have not had this done your breasts still look equal?
Rawlie x
Hi Rawlie,
I can’t answer your question, as I had implants in both sides. But from my perspective I would say the advantage is that I am very even - not only in size & shape, but also they both feel very similar - I don’t have one pert and one going south!
Rawlie, Lai
I had a recent LD reconstruction with an implant on the one side only. My plastic surgeon achieved a remarkable likeness without doing anything to the healthy breast.
My reconstructed breast looks great, and is soft to the touch - nothing to fault there. But it does feel a bit foreign, and lying down I can feel the edge of the implant with my finger on the inner-side of the breast. Having said this, it’s not a big deal, relative to having a good looking breast.
L
Rawlie - Good Luck on your LD reconstruction next month. Would be great if you could keep me posted and if possible your info and experience on the op.
Lampochka - Glad you are happy with your new breast. I appreciate your info on your surgery. With this did you go up a cup size?
Scottishlass - Thanks Val for your kind offer. If i lived up in Scotland would have taken you up on it but sadly i live down South. However, thank you for that piece of information. Will have a chat with my BCN.
All the best
Lai x
Hi, Lai
no, I am the same size now as I was before the surgery, and can wear all my favourite bras again.
Best of luck with your decision. Let me know if you have any more questions about the LD flap experience. Though I am pleased with the result, if I had my time again I think I’d ask more questions about how the reconstructed breast feels. I wonder now if the surgeries that don’t involve an implant fare a bit better in this respect. But that’s just speculation on my part.
L
Hi All, thanks for the advice. Roadrunner - that was exactly what I was worried about, having one breast being pert and the other heading south. I had an appointment with my surgeon yesterday and she said they will do the LD reconstruction first with implant. Then in 3 months time they will do an uplift on the other breast and insert an implant to match. Then if I am not happy with the size of the implants, they can be changed.
My op is booked for 14th October so will keep you posted. My surgeon told me I would be in theatre for 3 hours and then in hospital for 1 week. This seems to differ from other peoples experiences on the forum!
I have another question…I live in France and am hoping to come back to England for Xmas. Does this seem feasible after having the op in October?
Rawlie x
When I had my LD flap in February I had six weeks off work. I was extremely tired for the first month or so, I did virtually nothing, if I pottered in the house for half an hour I had to sit down for two hours to recover! And speaking as someone who ran the race for life on chemo, it takes a lot to knock me out!
By the time I went back to work I was feeling a lot better, the first couple of days were hard - I finish at 3pm, if I worked full time I would have given up and gone home then anyway. But after that I was OK. So I see no reason for you not to be able to travel by Christmas (assuming you have no complications). I would say it took a good four months to really get my energy back to pre-op levels, so don’t expect too much of yourself.
Wow, Roadrunner, I can’t believe you ran the race for life on chemo! I found it difficult enough to walk any distance on chemo! Thanks for the advice. We’ll just have to make our travel plans at the last minute so I am sure that I can travel. It’s a bit daunting knowing I have to go through the surgery, pain and tiredness again. I just keep having to tell myself it will be worth it in the end!
Rawlie x