I have decided to go for the TRAM recon and am having my op at the Broomfield hospital in Chelmsford, my PS is Peter Dwulski (spelt wrong, most probably!)
I am very small busted on the good side (34A) and as I am quite skinny, there is a chance the reconstructed breast will be slightly smaller, having said that Mr. Dwulski is confident he can match them.
Has anyone else with smaller breasts had this kind of recon and got a good match, and also, has anyone got any experiences of the Broomfield?
Hi Tracy, i had my reconstruction done at Broomfield about 7 years ago - not sure if it was tram but they took the muscle from my back not my stomach and my consultant was Mr (sorry i have forgotton his name, but I will find out later) , but it was not your guy. No probs with the hospital though, I used to work there in Micro Biology and they are pretty up to scratch cleanliness and all that! I’m trying to think of my surgeons name but it has gone completely he was nice though, if you want to know anything else just ask. Going back to the surgery my bust was about 34b so fairly small and they did a good job on the reconstruction and on the other one they suggested an uplift which i had (cos it was a bit droopy!). The only problem I found was that the reconstructed side just goes in a little before the boob starts so I notice (but no one else does) when i have a bit lower top on. I may well go and get that sorted at some stage, but hey at least I have a boob!
Thanks for your reply, I think I will go for the TRAM flap, I was offered the chance of an LD with tissue expanders but Mr. D thinks the TRAM is better for me. Did you have expanders as well? I was wondering how many times you had to return to get them filled up and whether I would have to go to Broomfield everytime or get it done at my local hospital (King Georges)
Hi,
I am treated at the same hospital and had an op there today, just minor and was treated really well in my ward. There was an article in the paper recently that they do all the recon ops for East London and Essex and are one of the top units. If you search you will find a lot of very positive comments about Mr Rama…, sorry cannot remember the name correctly. You can go to a meeting there and see people post op to get a good idea. I think they are called BRA. Lots of luck
Lily
Hi Tracy, I had expanders fitted and these proved to be really good. When I first went home I decided that the reconstructed boob was not quite as big as the other one, so I went back once I think and there is a little port in the site, which you cannot see, but can feel and they just put some more fluid in until the desired size - its like a miracle and it does not hurt at all. When are you going in to have your op Tracy? If I don’t post before you go in good luck I am sure you will be fine. I am off to Spain tomorrow for a week so I will check on site next week. Take care. By the way my I’ve remember my surgeons name it was Dr Niranjan and he was so nice as were all of his side kicks.
I’m on the waiting list which is apparantley 3 - 4 months, so I should go in around March or April of next year hopefully. I am going to call and see when the next BRA meeting is being held so I can go along.
Thanks for your helpful replies and have a lovely holiday Debs.
Hi Tracey
I had a LD reconstruction at Broomfield last May, the Plastic Surgery Unit is fantastic, the staff are really helpful and the standard of cleanliness is top class. The food is good too there is a really helpful little lady (I can’t remember her name - she comes across as a bit blunt but don’t be deceived) who serves up microwaved meals on a tray with a tray cloth & cruet and if it’s not hot enough to your taste will reheat it for you. I had my Mastectomy in Colchester and there is no comparison, I know where I would rather be. I hope all goes well for you, I know the staff will take great care of you - they did me. Jaxdar
I’m so pleased to hear such positive feedback about Broomfield, my name is now on the waiting list so it shouldn’t be too long now. Since my last post, I have had a re-think and am going to have the LD recon instead - my surgeon said there may be a chance that they would not be able to get enough fat for a TRAM or DIEP recon and I could possible end up uneven & smaller on the recon side (just my luck), I am only an A cup, so I may be able to have implants in both with the LD.