[Margerie]

I had reconstruction almost a year after my first mastectomy. Did prophylactic mast and immediate recon on the "good side". Procedure was a DIEP flap. I had nipple/areola reconstruction in May. Except for the interesting scars, very natural looking and feel like breasts to me. The tummy tuck was a nice bonus. I didn't realize how much I missed having 2 breasts until I had them again.

That said- it was 10+ hours of surgery and probably a month of recovery. I think it is like childbirth- you forget some of the gory details and time. So it is not a risk you want to take lightly. For me, surgery is no big deal- have had a lot of practice by now-LOL. I consider myself lucky to have had no complications. It probably would help if you had a consult with a couple of plastic surgeons, ask about complication/failure rate. They will probably give you some phone numbers of their patients. Although- they probably don't give you the ones that had a lot of problems.