Hello - am scheduled for therapeutic mammoplasty/oncoplastic surgery next month and wondering if anyone here has undergone this?
I’ve done lots of research and my surgeon was great in discussing risks and expected outcome - I am pretty sure (as sure as you can be!) that it’s the right procedure for me.
Nevertheless it’s always good to hear from people who’ve actually had this the of surgery. Essentially I will have the cancer removed from one breast - along with the whole nipple areolar complex as that’s where it is located - and then both breasts will be reshaped and slightly reduced at same time to give symmetrical appearance. I won’t have a nipple on the cancer side but looking into 3D tattoo options for later - apparently the NHS waiting list for this could be as long as a year. I’d potentially pay for it privately if I knew where to find a medically-approved specialist I could trust not to mess up all the reconstructive work.
Any advice/experience is welcome.
Many thanks
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Hi roxie1
Yes I have had therapeutic mammoplasty. My cancer was in my left breast quite high up. My surgeon said I would have a sizeable dent. I said I didn’t want to look lopsided…I was 38g cup. So I had lumpectomy, therapeutic mammoplasty and reduction on my right side all done together. The surgery was quite long, 6 hours, as they removed a lot of tissue. I have kept both nipples. I am very pleased with the result. I am pert rather than droopy! Obviously I have scars both sides but they are fading nicely. I am having chemo at the moment and will need radiotherapy later, so I can’t really say what my cup size is now, I would guess a D cup.
Hope this helps.
So kind of you to share your experience. That sounds encouraging!
I have to lose one nipple as that’s where the cancer is unfortunately- but otherwise it sounds pretty much the same kind of approach.
Wishing you well and hope you get through the next phase smoothly. Stay well 🩷
PS - Pert or perky is also my hope! Not the worst outcome for an old bird like me, lol!
Hi Roxie 
yes I did my advice would be to get levelled up at the same time don’t go back to level the other one up later. I made that mistake I was so focused on them getting the cancer out and when I had my levelling up surgery my surgeon let his trainees loose on me and they bodged the levelling up and I still have to get this corrected so do push for levelling up at same time sorry you find yourself here and wishing you successful surgery 
Shi xx
Ha ha, yes same here ! I am 61 
I had lateral mammoplasty on the right side only - I wasn’t offered any kind of levelling out at all so I am now very lopsided and my nipples are super wonky. That said, the surgery was plain sailing, about 4.5hrs, and I healed really well. The only reason I have a dent now is because the margins weren’t clear so they had to go back in; before that the scar was really neat and tidy.
Me too! 
We are in our prime! 
Oh goodness - so sorry to hear you had such an upsetting experience. Bless you for sharing. I hope things go better for you from here on in. Very best wishes.
Hello again, sorry to keep picking your brains…but just wondered what recovery timescale is like from this surgery? One of my family wants to fly in from Spain to see me post surgery and I wasn’t sure if I should hold off a week before having family to stay xx
I was driving after 2 weeks it’s important you let your body knit back together so your recovery is quick I shared about pushing for the levelling up at same time so you or anyone else having to make decision doesn’t hopefully end up with a botched 2nd surgery I know I’m not the only one who’s had trainees let loose on them and ended up with unsatisfactory results, so wanted to raise awareness that your trusts can do this even if you ask your surgeon that it will be them operating on you. I know surgeons have to learn but we are not guinea pigs Shi xx
Hi, no problem! I had surgery on Wednesday afternoon, and wasn’t in recovery until 7 pm, so I had to stop in overnight. I was discharged Thursday afternoon, with a drain each side and Pico dressings on both as well. I was quite comfortable and didn’t have much pain. The drains were a pain to sleep with and of course visit the toilet and wash…I couldn’t shower for 3 weeks ! I had a couple of issues with the dressings and had to go up to emergency department on the Sunday as they weren’t working properly…they buzz, and mine stopped so were not working properly. I had drains and Pico dressings removed on the Tuesday. The drains were not really collecting anything. Once they were off I felt free! Thereafter it was just a case of having my dressings changed and a check up at the hospital. I had a slight discharge from one side so had 3 weeks of antibiotics just in case. I can’t say I ever had much pain or soreness. I couldn’t lift anything for 2 weeks so just took things easy. Just listen to your body would be my advice. Time from surgery to no dresssings and totally healed was around 6 weeks.
Hope this is useful xx
Many thanks for your candid and thoughtful reply - very good of you to look out for other women in this way.
I’m having surgery on both breasts in a single op undertaken by a senior surgeon - so hopefully all will go well.
One more question for you if you don’t mind - would you say in 24 or 48 hours post surgery you’d be able to have family visit?
Wishing you health and peace.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. It sounds like you’ve been very stoic through a few complications you experienced.
Excuse my ignorance - but what is a Pico dressing?
Also I wonder if it is standard practice to go home with drains… I thought I probably wouldn’t have any - I will ask my nurse and surgeon about this next opportunity.
I hope you go from strength to strength. Take care and thanks again. It’s so good to be able to learn from others in this way - even though of course we are all different and so are our experiences, it still helps to think about what is to come!
Wishing you good health 🩷
Hi
A Pico dressing is sort of a compression dressing, it is supposed to aid quicker healing. They are connected to a small box by a wire. They are very fiddly and temperamental! It took 3 attempts for the nurses to get them to work when I had to go to the emergency department! They also buzz and if not quite right buzz an awful lot, like a mad wasp🙈 . If you google Pico dressing you will see what I am on about. They are expensive as well.
Drains are the norm from what I gather, very few people don’t have them. You may be lucky 
Hi, ive just had theraputic mammoplasty with contralateral reduction just over three weeks ago. I ‘m 68. So i now have two matching boobs which are more perky. Im pretty pleased with the results. I think i will end up being a C cup. Scars are healing really well, but i do have prett horrendous bruising on the cancer side, i guess the surgeon had to do more ‘rooting around’ to make sure no camcer cells left. I had two consultant surgeons working on me so surgery took about 3 hours. I went home the same day! I know sounds quick, but i did have option to stay over if i wanted, but thought i would sleep better at home. I just took paracetamol regularly but didnt have much pain. The Pico dressings were a bit uncomfortsble as there was a lot of tape holding them in place. I had those dressings on for a week, no drains. I did have a visitor or two the first week, but you cant really do much and probably get tired easily, i put off my son and little granddaughter coming as thought that might br a step too far to see a lively toddler. I was recommended a v-shaped pillow at night which has been invaluable. Ive hsd a few more twinges in week 3, i think because i’ m doing more now. Oh and mske sure you do the exercises. Best of luck.
Penny
If you get a drain your surgeon should advise you prior to op you’ll have one. You will have a tube sticking out and a bottle attached to it, they usually give you a little carry holder to sling over your shoulder to carry it around if they don’t give you one a little tote bag will do and depending on how you get on they could send you home with it in. I was kept in overnight post op and yes you will have visitors as they contact them to let them know when you are out of surgery and in recovery button front pyjamas and a dressing gown and some slides for hospital and lip balm and hand cream as skin can get dry. Have a bit on anosol ready too the op meds can block you up post op Shi xx
Hi @roxie1 I had therapeutic mammoplasty 4 and a half weeks ago. Surgeon did an amazing job, surgery just one side, but amazed how symmetrical he’s made them look just the surgery side is very “perky” 
driving as soon as I’d seen the surgeon at 2 weeks. Out walking out and about in days. Folk had warned I’d have to sleep on my back, I slept on my side happily with pillow behind my back. Pain v manageable just added codeine for a couple of days, then just at night for a few days. Compared to chemo it was a breeze. And so relieved margins were clear. Good luck!
Such an encouraging story! Thanks so much for taking time to share it - it helps calm the nerves for sure! May you have a great and smooth journey of recovery and stay well from here on! 
Many thanks