Breast Cancer Now Forum

Oh Linda, Sorry to hear about the op delay & the gall stones, i hope the appointment with surgeon next week goes ok & you get some idea of the time scale for final op. Its such a long journey & with nipple recon & tattoo its probably still a few months of waiting for me too. But im looking forward to being even & not needing any prothesis. The only thing i was suprised at is there wasnt any difference in where the fat was taken from. Perhaps thats because it was little bits from all over due to being slim rather than all in one spot. Just hope they can get enough this time-like you said ive had lots of offers of other peoples fat 🙂 Well i will let you know how i get on & also good luck for a speedy date for you too. xx ... View more

Oops I meant LD...silly predictive text. ... View more

Hey Linda Hope you're okay & all went well with your mammogram. I'm scheduled for my 2nd lipo & reduction on Monday so should hopefully be all done and dusted before Christmas. Looking forward to getting rid of my chicken fillet & being able to wear a normal bra. I actually didn't lose much fat first time around so I shouldn't need a 3rd go. My surgeon is also sorting a scar that's been tethered since the LG last year. Oh Chris re underwired bras, I can wear them but I have to even out the cups with padding. There's no problem with the under wiring though. 🙂 ... View more

Hi Linda How are you?. Are you all sorted & evenly matched now?. How about nipple creation?. I am on the waiting list for the 2nd go & uplift to the good side. The reconstruction is really soft and natural so hopefully the next go will be the last, I didn't lose much fat but I have to say I can't see any change in my shape where the fat was taken, or weight loss. Anyway hope you are well. 🙂 ... View more

Hu Rebel Last time she only managed 250ml & that was taking lots of little bits from thigh, tummy & love handles so I was very bruised but nows there's even less to transfer...I may have to give up the exercise & fatten myself up like a Christmas turkey. ;-). ... View more

Hi Linda Glad you're pleased with the latest op. What size are you if you don't mind me asking. Are you done with the lipo side of things?. I'm 6 weeks out now and retained about 80% of the fat, although there is still a dent that is "stuck" from under the skin so PS will have to cut it free. Expect to see surgeon in Oct to get on list for second lipo & uplift. I really don't have a lot of fat anywhere so not sure what they'll suggest. Take care ... View more

Sounds as if you've definitely had a better result than last time which is good. I'm still bigger on the BC side, expecting to lose a lot though. Surgeon happy to do again plus give ne 2nd uplift to good side if necessary, so I'll see how it looks in a few months. Fat filled side quite hard, but as there's not any actual breast tissue I wonder how soft it will get?. I can see a big difference at the mo & yes it was worth it, although not sure where the fat will come from next time...!. Finding it too hot to be outside in spanx & corset so a quiet w/e in front of the fan for me. Have a good weekend Linda & thanks for all the advice. I'll keep in touch. X ... View more

Thanks Linda Yep bruising is travelling south so some interesting sights lol. I'm using arnica cream & took arnica beforehand so I dread to think what it could have been like. Spanx & corset ok though warm at night!. Did you lose the grafted fat quite quickly & is it quite noticeable?. I was told whatever is still there after 6 weeks will stay although the swelling from the lipo will take a while to go completely. Seeing the ps in 3 months to evaluate and go back on the list-that's my Christmas belly taken care of then. Certainly more painful than I expected but hopefully back to work in another week. X ... View more

Hi Linda and any others, 🙂 Well I had my lipo and transfer Monday morning, came back home last night. Quite a bit of bruising ftom armpit to knees which is travelling south, as not got a lot of fat in one place PS went into several different places. Only got 200ml so definitely need a second go in a few months. Inner thighs and tummy the sorest & quite swollen tho not lumpy. Got 2 weeks off work, very sweaty at night though daytime ok & can potter about though stairs and bending a struggle. Will keep in touch to see how we are all getting on. Like you say Linda people ask why I bother putting myself through the ops but I hate the way I look after mastecomy so want to do whatever I can to look like before BC. Hope you don't lose any more fat. ★ ... View more

Hi Linda Thanks for the good wishes, hopefully it will go ahead ok on Monday, couldn't believe it was cancelled the night before, I'd made all relevant arrangements etc. I will be in touch once I'm done and back home. Sorry to hear you've lost most of the fat, but hope you're well otherwise. X ... View more

Hi Smudger I am having fat transfer from thighs to breast on Monday-my original date was cancelled the day before-so if you have any advice I'm all ears.. 🙂 thanks. ... View more

Kate, I had uplift to good side in Oct when LD was done on BC side & initially it was firm & high but has now dropped & softened and looks great!. The scars are hardly noticeable, I've still got full sensations so give it time and im sure it will settle. I'm only having lipo to my recon side. Linda thanks for the lipo info, glad to know it's not going to impact too much on daily life. Looking forward to regaining my cleavage! Take care. ... View more

Just a quick Q..how restricted are you in the first few days?. Im staying in overnight, once home are you able to walk about ok, move fully clinb stairs, wear normal clothes?. I don't do sitting still very well although am taking the rest of the week off work. Thanks in advance. ... View more

Hi Girls, Just to say i have my op on Monday, so quite excited, have just had a week in the sun so perfect timing really, i wont need to worry about the holiday weight. :-).   I have a couple of pairs of primark pants and a mid thigh to ribcage shorts, so im hoping that will be ok, they are tight but not like a vice. Piggsy, do you think thats tight enough. Yes we are at the same hospital although my surgeon is a female one. Im pleased with my recon too, its so life like, feels great and a good size considering its just my LD muscle. Im expecting to be in overnight, op taking about 3 hours. Have you any other tips??   Ioona, hope all going well with you. Im hoping for a cooler summer now im going to be incarcerated in spanx for 6 weeks....I'll post again once through op. xx ... View more

Ioona, glad to hear the op went well & you're pleased with the initial results. Not so good feeling suck though...How long did it take the first time for the fat to reabsorb?. Hope this is the last time you have to have it & good luck with the recovery & nnot too much bruising. I was offered a date for next Tues but I'm actually away, so I hope I'm not going to have too much longer to wait-typical though!. Also do the compression shorts have to be mega tight ie smaller than your usual size?. The ones I have are pretty tight but not too uncomfortable as I figured you swell up a bit at first anyway. I'm sure I'll think of other questions but appreciate your feedback. Piggsy, you've done well to have 2 gos in 5 months, there's quite a waiting list here, sounds as if they have done a good job though. Did you bruise much & how's the recovery going?. I'm hoping I won't need too much time off work. Ok cheers ladies, have a good weekend. 🙂 Take care ... View more

Ioona I had an uplift on good side with my 1st recon op in Oct & its fab. Scars faded, didn't lose any sensitivity & its still a full C cup. After my lipo I will still have nipple work to do but as area numb & no implant I'm hoping it won't be as long a wait. Good luck on 27th X ... View more

Hi chrisalex and loona44 Great to hear you're both moving forward, im hoping to get a date anytime soon. I got some of the cycling short high waist shape wear, some from Primark and also a great brand from amazon that were only £6, so I'm all set. Have had a preop, no need to stop tamoxifen so just a waiting game now. Im a quick healer so hoping I'll be back to normal within a week or two. I worked all through chemo so pretty tough. :). Good luck to you both with your op & recovery and I look forward to hearing how you are doing. Thanks ... View more

Thank you everyone for the info, Sharon I will have a look online thanks. You're right Yvie that there's little info out there. Hmm interesting too that spanx weren't particularly good. Ive never needed shape wear before so just assumed spanx fitted the bill. I have seen a few shorts on eBay but you can't really tell how they fit so personal experience of others is always handy. Ioona44, I think we've had contact re LD recon before, I will certainly have a look in primark, its my love handles & inner thigh that's going to be the donor site & I'll need 2 ops, 6 mths apart. I'm hoping to get it done next month as I've got holidays soon & obviously don't want it before then. Did you bruise a lot & how long to get over the op?. I'd love to hear your experience. Any other opinions are most welcome. Have a good evening everyone. 🙂 ... View more

The node removal is strange to get used to as theres first numbness but also a "burning" sensation, try to massage the upper arm area and do all the exercises youre given , although its hard at first, its worth perservering as it can prevent cording and speeds healing. Worst bit is even now is having a numb armpit means keeping it hair-free is a tricky job.   The lipo is done on the NHS, not sure if all hospitals do it, but its becoming more common. It basically uses your own fat to fill in dents, add volume, match you up etc once the inital surgery settles  as without an implant, (just the LD flap) there is a size restriction. I can only quote what ive been told though, so im sure youre surgeon/team will have all the info you need.   My recon wasnt immediate as i had to have chemo, rads and herceptin, but i had a skin sparing Mx so although lost my nipple area I didnt need to use much back skin, just enough to create a new aerola/nipple when the time comes. Its a whole new world, but soon becomes familar once you go through it. ... View more