Hi, this is my first post - I have been trying to come to terms with the symmetry of my reconstruction, but just want to know if I’m normal to have these feelings and if anybody has had the same experience, so I have plucked up the courage to post this message!
I feel I should be grateful and happy, (which I am!), that I am now cancer free, but am trying to mentally come to terms with what has happened over the last two years. One of the things I am struggling with is my cosmetic results but I am hoping in time that I will get used to the new me! I had smx with immediate DIEP reconstruction just over two years ago and have mixed feelings over the results, the reconstruction is very natural and everything has healed very well, but the symmetry is not good, I feel so lopsided, the reconstructed breast is at least two cup sizes bigger than my good breast and so I have to wear a prosthetic on my good side just to feel ‘even’, my PS has offered either a reduction on my reconstructed breast or an enlargement with implant on my good breast - although I’m feeling unhappy with the difference in size I don’t feel I want to go through anymore surgery. I went through 12 hours of surgery so that I could feel as natural as possible and if I wanted an implant as is suggested for the healthy breast then I wouldn’t have gone through the lengthy surgery for my DIEP - has anyone else experienced this dilemma and does anyone else have to wear a prosthetic on their healthy side? If I knew there were ladies out there like me, I wouldn’t feel so abnormal - it just seems ironic that I have to wear a prosthetic on my healthy side - look forward to hearing from anyone who may have experienced similar x
Could the difference in size be down to lymphedema? I had a lumpectomy which initially deflated my left boob, but as lymphedema has developed, the left boob is bigger than the right. I am managing it with taping and massage which was show on to me by my lymphedema nurse
I too have the same outcome after mastectomy & immediate reconstruction (tissue from back & implant) last May. It does feel and look odd I agree, but having been offered a reduction to the reconstruction I don’t really want to go through more surgery if not a medical neccessity. I manage the imbalance by wearing a padded bra which doesn’t even out the 2 cup size difference completely but looks OK when clothed. I even swim wearing a cleverly designed swimsuit from M&S and I find that wearing scarves or something not too tight disguises it well. The main consideration for me is that I’m feeling well and getting on with life. This may not help much but you aren’t alone and you probably feel it looks more obvious than it actually does. Good luck with whatever decision you come to.
Strawbs - I hadn’t even thought of the possiblility of lymphedema, however, the size difference was obvious immediately after my operation, my PS said he had made it fuller/bigger intentionally as reconstructions tend to settle and reduce slightly, mine never did! So lymphodema wasn’t mentioned even at an early stage - can you still get this in a DIEP reconstructed breast, I wonder?
PoppyJ - Thank you for making me realise I’m not the only one having to concentrate on symmetry with my healthy breast! I just find it so confusing that my reconstructed breast is not the one I’m having to balance out with a prosthetic! However, your right, I am so grateful that I’m cancer free - I think I’ve just had a set back mentally now I’m a couple of years down the line and realising I’ve got to do this ‘evening-out’ every day! Thank you though for your thoughts, its been helpful x