Hi, I didn't have an implant and after doing some research I didn't really feel that an implant would have been for me. I am quite small and in the end didn't need one in any event, they got enough fat from my back to make the LD work 😀 . I was fortunate in that I only had to have the left side done. The symmetry isn't perfect but it's pretty good and with clothes on it isn't noticeable. To be honest i have found it harder getting used to the scar than being a bit uneven - although it was all explained to me i still found seeing the scar difficult, and i still do. In terms of the pain, it was certainly uncomfortable for a bit but for me it felt manageable and I was ok with regular paracetamol. I hadnt had an operation before so i had no idea what to expect about any of it. It definitely wasn't as painful as I thought it was going to be though. Recovering from having a baby was more painful i think! After the first few days it was mainly a feeling of constant pins and needles. My surgeon said that is the nerve endings trying to make new connections. I had a drain but that was only for a couple of days and I had a build up of fluid that had to be drained which hurt! Mobility was a bit tricky at first, but it improved quickly, although being restricted on both sides is sure to be more tricky in that respect. I don't have any pain although a small area under my arm is still numb. They have told me it might stay that way or it could take 18 months to settle down properly. It felt uncomfortable for a bit after radiotherapy was completed. I have pretty much all the movement back that I had before, although I have been really strict with myself to do the exercises they give you and I try to do a bit of yoga every day which has really helped me I think. Last weekend we cleared out our garage and I felt a bit of discomfort for a couple of days, it wasn't awful but was a reminder that too much lifting is not a good thing, and things aren't quite the same as they were before all this. Hope this helps a little bit, it is all hugely daunting and overwhelming and just a horrible situation to be in. Let me know if there's anything else you want to know
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