Mismatched reconstruction

[IrvineFriend]

I'm about a month out from scheduling my PS appointment to switch our my expanders and curious of other's experience. I had a double skin sparing mastectomy and spared my non-cancerous breast nipple. Even before rads my left non-cancerous breast started sagging whereas my right side is totally solid so it feels like my breasts are traveling in opposite directions! I look ridiculous in a bathing suit or w/o a bra. The sagging one really hurts so I'm wearing a sports bra again 24/7. My PS said she will remove a muscle from my back to try to bring back some symmetry.

I'm doing the "meeting the parents" deal over Xmas and hate having to wear sports bras even to sleep -- and meeting the entire family (we're staying with them).

Has anyone looked like this before the last step and had them look OK after expanders were removed? Sorry for the lengthy question. I'm almost done and looking for some hope that this has all been worth it!!!!

-Julie p.s. Merry Xmas!

[LeahM]

Hi Julie,

I hope you had a nice Christmas and meeting the family went well.

My pre-reconstruction self did not look as you are describing yours but I can talk about my post reconstructed self, which, by the way, I don't do often.

My left reconstructed breast (healthy side) looks fine. Nice shape and form, if it had a nipple it might even look real.

My right reconstructed side (stupid cancer side) looks, to me, a bit odd. From my main view (looking down at it) it seems kind of flat on top, not rounded like the left side. When I wear a tight workout shirt and am looking at it while doing ab work I again see the flatness of the top. The very few people I have shown it to (including my PS) who all see it looking straight at it instead of looking down at it say they can't see it. Well, my PS says he can see it but it's minimal and the risks of "fixing" it outweigh the benefits. I don't think a nipple would help this breast. Plus, to me, the right breast sits higher on my chest and I'm afraid the nipples wouldn't be even. So...no nips for me

I had a small amt of abd lipo at the time of my reconstruction to "smooth" out any dimples or ripples. Well, I have ripples. I can feel them but as of yet cannot "see" them. Recovering from the lipo was harder then recovering from the exchange surgery. And post lipo I read that fat removed from one area and replaced in another would eventually reabsorb into your body as if it had never been moved to the new area at all. I don't know if it's true or not as I didn't research it further but I can assure you had I read that first (or youtubed lipo) I would not have allowed them to do the lipo.

It's all hard choices to make, even when the "hard" stuff is over.

Oh....and my boobs look hot hot hot in a Victoria Secret Push Up bra. I wear bras everyday....it's a normal thing to do and I am embracing "normal" these day.

Best
Leah

[jaykay]

Hi Julie,

I also had a double mx but did nipple sparing with tissue expanders. My "good" left breast had a lumpectomy and radiation about 13 years ago and adapted to the expanders fine. The new cancer breast developed capsular contraction - heavy duty scar tissue around the expander and started moving up even before radiation. I wore bras the entire time because I was so uneven (coobie with pads).

Had my exchange surgery a little over 2 months ago. After 2 weeks, the "good" breast kind of shifted. I have a very boney upper chest and according to the ps, this is not an unusual happening. Right breast is doing fine but I am massaging it daily to try to keep the scar tissue to a minimum. The ps did warn me that the effects of radiation are ongoing.

I will have a little bit of lipo for the shifted breast to try to fill in the "dent". I was also told that the fat may be re-absorbed but I'll see what happens. I go without a bra when I can wear layers and am not going anyplace. But I've always worn a bra and still do the majority of the time. Major plus is no underwire :-). The boyfriend says they are looking good, and compared to the expanders, they do.

Hope you had a great holiday meeting the family and a happy and especially healthy New Year!

Janis

[IrvineFriend]

Thanks for getting back to me. And meeting the family went very well and I had a great time. I'll let you know how the exchange goes when it finally happens. Just want to get it all over with and be as done as I can be! I am glad the hard part is over with!!!

Have a Happy & Safe New Year!

-Julie

[roz123]

Julie
ive had the "muscle" surgery - its called a lat flap
my advice is try the exchange and try to live with so, me imperfections - the lat flap surgery is a tough surgery to recover from and some (like me -lucky!) have on going issues from it
PM me if you would like more info

[Adriana Mangus]

Hi Julie,

Nice to hear from you!

I have nothing to say about expanders, but want to say have a great time "meeting the parents".

Love,

Adriana