Louise O'Brien
12-18-2007, 11:38 AM
I've never heard of anyone else choosing this option, so I'd like to know if it makes any sense.
Next March I wrap up Herceptin treatments - and hopefully will get the portacath out soon after. I've always hated the damn thing and it hurts - I suspect because the remaining breast is rather large and weighs it down. I'm not overweight, but I'm a 38 D.
I'm now considering reconstruction and have already seen one plastic surgeon and he says I should have a reduction on the remaining breast. I totally agree - I don't want to be as big.
But I had reservations about the first plastic surgeon - mainly because he does the standard flap surgery cutting into the abdominal muscle and doesn't do the DIEP reconstruction. He came highly recommended though and I'm told he's an artist.
But it's been almost two years out of my life - and that of my husband's - and I don't feel ready for something that might require so much recovery time. I think I still need time to recover from the chemo and the Herceptin. I need more "normal life" time.
I also thought he was a little cavalier about HER2 because he was prepared to operate on me in March as soon as Herceptin is done. I said I'd rather wait until I had my second mammogram in July so I could feel more secure. He didn't seem to feel that was an issue.
So I asked for a referral to a surgeon who does the DIEP and I see the second surgeon on Jan. 4. However, I'm concerned about the length of the DIEP micro-surgery - eight hours under anaesthetic- and don't know if they do the reconstruction at the same time. One other slight problem - the first surgeon found that I had a small hernia in my stomach probably from a gall bladder operation ten years ago. So that has to be fixed as well.
So this is what I'm thinking. I think I might be happy with just reduction on my right side. Anything to make that sucker smaller. I could then wear a smaller prosthesis. I have one now - and don't mind it that much; a B-cup would suit me fine. I can only admit this here on this board but I feel freakish right now with that huge thing weighing me down.
I have considered implants - but I'm concerned about silicone and the first plastic surgeon I saw said it's not possible to get a natural look with saline.
So - has anyone ever done this? Just a reduction and nothing else? And if I go through with just the reduction, will the resulting scar tissue make subsequent mammogram harder to read?
Next March I wrap up Herceptin treatments - and hopefully will get the portacath out soon after. I've always hated the damn thing and it hurts - I suspect because the remaining breast is rather large and weighs it down. I'm not overweight, but I'm a 38 D.
I'm now considering reconstruction and have already seen one plastic surgeon and he says I should have a reduction on the remaining breast. I totally agree - I don't want to be as big.
But I had reservations about the first plastic surgeon - mainly because he does the standard flap surgery cutting into the abdominal muscle and doesn't do the DIEP reconstruction. He came highly recommended though and I'm told he's an artist.
But it's been almost two years out of my life - and that of my husband's - and I don't feel ready for something that might require so much recovery time. I think I still need time to recover from the chemo and the Herceptin. I need more "normal life" time.
I also thought he was a little cavalier about HER2 because he was prepared to operate on me in March as soon as Herceptin is done. I said I'd rather wait until I had my second mammogram in July so I could feel more secure. He didn't seem to feel that was an issue.
So I asked for a referral to a surgeon who does the DIEP and I see the second surgeon on Jan. 4. However, I'm concerned about the length of the DIEP micro-surgery - eight hours under anaesthetic- and don't know if they do the reconstruction at the same time. One other slight problem - the first surgeon found that I had a small hernia in my stomach probably from a gall bladder operation ten years ago. So that has to be fixed as well.
So this is what I'm thinking. I think I might be happy with just reduction on my right side. Anything to make that sucker smaller. I could then wear a smaller prosthesis. I have one now - and don't mind it that much; a B-cup would suit me fine. I can only admit this here on this board but I feel freakish right now with that huge thing weighing me down.
I have considered implants - but I'm concerned about silicone and the first plastic surgeon I saw said it's not possible to get a natural look with saline.
So - has anyone ever done this? Just a reduction and nothing else? And if I go through with just the reduction, will the resulting scar tissue make subsequent mammogram harder to read?