Not happy with reconstruction

[alexc23]

I don't know I'm afraid you need to speak to your general surgeon and ask what are the options for your follow up, don't be afraid to push for answers and ask what alternatives there are and where.

I was lucky and had good surgeon who wanted to send me where he thought I would get best results ask yours to do same for you

Good luck hun

[Pinkdoraged]

I see that you have been in Whiston. Do you know by any chance if they also do immediate DIEP reconstruction, ie mastectomy with immediate recon?
Thanks.

[alexc23]

Hi Preston girl

So sorry to hear you've had so much problems I'm blackpool based and my general sugeon referred me to Whiston in St Helens for my diep reconstruction and I can't say anything but thank god cos surgeon, and staff there were fabulous and I'm happy with results and theyve always listened to my point of view

Ask about other options about where can do the best job for you, good luck hope you get what you need to move on from this

xx

[preston_girl]

Thank you for your replies, I'm not planning on going private as I can't afford it and I don't see why I should pay for surgeons mistakes. It was surgeon who said that if I didn't want messing around on nhs then go private, which I think is very unprofessional.
I have since been to my go and he's going to refer me back to original breast surgeon so he can refer me onto another hospital as he doesn't do reconstructions which is a shame because he is a lovely surgeon and my mastectomy scar was so neat. I expected a lot more from a plastic surgeon. My tram flap scar is about an inch thick and only an inch below my tummy button not on bikini line as I was told and tummy button isn't even central. Tram flap boob is too low and implant is too high and two doctors have said fat transfer isn't going to be enough to sort it and that's why I walked out of clinic. I have lost all faith with the hospital and it's surgeons.
I don't know how they can get away with messing you around like they do. I don't know how you stay so calm as you seem to have been through a lot too.
Chris x

[BlackSwan]

My layperson't understanding is that some plastic surgeons use fat transfer/lipomodelling far more than others.  According to NICE review, several studies have reported significant improvement after this procedure - see http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/12575/53761/53761.pdf

If you google around (and look at information available on different plastic surgeons in private hospitals in your area), you should be able to find one who has a special interest  this technique for improving reconstructions.  Look further afield if you need to - it would be worth travelling to see the right person.

Once you've identified someone who appears suitable, get your GP to refer you to him/her on the NHS.  Or you can pay to see them privately and then if they sound positive, get your GP to refer to them on the NHS for the operation. Most private plastic surgeons also work at NHS hospitals and even if it isn't your local hospital, you can still get your GP to refer you to them (at least you can in England - not sure about Scotland/NI/Wales)

[impatiens]

Hi Preston girl, I'm so sorry, you've had a terrible time. I also had lots of infections and a tissue expander removed after the mx. It held up my treatment and I had to wait for chemo and radiotherapy after it had all cleared up, then like you on various waiting lists until recon which I had four weeks ago and nearly three years after my mastectomy.unlike you I think it's been a success , well so far anyway. A friend of mine also ended up going private because the hospital wouldn't do recon for reasons I'm unclear about. But it's very expensive. I don't live near you so I don't know anything about the hospitals near you, but I also had my recon cancelled three times in two months. Then I said I wanted to make a formal complaint and was told to contact the patient liaison person at the hospital. I did, by phone and email saying that I was very unhappy about the way I was being treated and saying I wanted to start formal complaint proceedings, like you I also thought that my original infection could have been nipped in the bud had my BC nurse given me better advice and looked after me better at the time. A very nice woman rang me back from the hospital and lo and behold they found me a surgery date that week! I had never complained before, I think the hospital in general is wonderful but admin systems all over the country seem to be terrible. So perhaps you should ask your surgeons assistant who in the hospital you start formal complaint proceedings with, get in touch with them and see what happens? Perhaps ask to see another surgeon at that hospital or ask to be referred elsewhere? Before you spend a LOT of money on private recon! My very best wishes, alison

[Sam_BCC]

Hi preston_girl

It sounds like you're having a really tough experience with your construction.  I'm sure some of ther other users will soon be a long to offer your their experiences.  In the meantime you might find it helpful to talk things through with a memeber of staff on the BCC helpline.  Here you are able to share your thoughts and concerns with someone who will offer you a listening ear as well as emotional support and practical information.  The number to call is 0808 800 6000 and lines are open weekdays 9 to 5pm and Saturday 10 to 2pm.

Best wishes Sam, BCC Facilitator  

[preston_girl]

Hi

I've not posted on here for a while.

I had double reconstruction in Feb 2012 tram flap to one side and ld flap with implant to other side, unfortunately the ld flap got infected and had to have implant removed and most of flap cut away.

I then had a tissue expander fitted in April 2013 and permanent implant fitted in September. 

Unfortunately the reconstructions are very different and my plastic surgeon has said that a fat transfer would help. I got a date for today but as my surgeon was off sick another surgeon was going to do operation but wanted to see me first.

I saw him last week and was told that fat transfer wouldn't be suitable and operation was cancelled for today.

It's a long story but I've had 3 operations cancelled in the course of my reconstruction journey and I walked out of clinic and said I'll be asking for a second opinion as I'm really not happy with how I've been treated.

Has anyone any advice on which hospitals are any good in the Lancashire area with reconstructions. I'm feeling very let down by the hospital I'm under now. 

The surgeon last week even told me if I wasn't happy to go private. 

I feel that the failed reconstruction was the hospitals fault in the first place as 2 urgent appointments were requested by nurse when my wound hadn't healed after 6 weeks and I never received an appointment. 

I only got seen after I went in as an emergency after fluid leaked everywhere from the wound.

Thank you in advance

Chris