Reconstruction Re-do?
 

Hello,
I just had my exchange surgery this week and I am so suprised and disappointed. My "breasts" are lower baseline than I've ever had, and they are wide and flat. They expand out to cover a whole lot of territory, but they are like mesas -- not mountains there's not even a hilltop.
Surgery was Monday. I have a follow up Tuesday. Some people have suggested there is swelling to settle, but that won't make a hilltop appear on a breast, I would think the contrary. And I can only hope this is swelling along the baseline, as this seems halfway down my torso and looks quite matronly (especially broad and flat, very matronly).
I tried on an old bra and it's true, there isn't enough outward expansion to fill the cup, yet the baseline band is lower. And it does not seem you can "lift" matronly fake-boob implants. They seem to be where they are.
I'm so upset. Never was much of a boob girl, so my expectations were so low, but I had hopes of at least looking as good as my 49 year boobs, if not a little better.
Was anyone in my shoes??? Anyone?? I don't want to hurt my PS feelings, or incur a bunch of high prices in the new year, but I feel so much worse than even with the expanders in.
lizz

Re: Reconstruction Re-do?
 

Hi Lizz,

Don't worry about hurting your PS' feelings! You're the patient. You need to tell her how unhappy you are and they can do a re-do. I assume you had a conversation with her about what she was going to put there - size/shape/etc. There is very little swelling to settle if they are silicone - the shape is what the shape is.

Demand a re-do. Insurance will cover. I've had a couple of fat injections in one of my boobs because the implant kept on shifting. The PS is the one who keeps on pursuing - after all, it is her work that's on display!

Best
Janis

Re: Reconstruction Re-do?
 

She can redue them you have to live with them the rest of your life so you want them to be done right. I know my PS guarentees his work so any revisions he does for no charge. Ask her if she has any guarentees like that. Never settle.

Re: Reconstruction Re-do?
 

Thanks ladies. this helps me mentally a great deal. My anxiety is that my insurance carrier/coverage changes 1/1/15 and over the weekend, I have to put that in motion. May I ask, to your knowledge, it has nothing to do with the original insurance provider? Is that right? I hope he can fix these without much ado. I'm ashamed for being disappointed, but with even my husband saying they are not so bad..."just looks like you are wearing a sports bra"...i'm thinking I just can't handle this. My whole fmaily has been with me through this and at Christmas, I'm sure I will be doing all I can to wear a baggy sweater, because I just don't want to deal iwth it. I'm not vain...really not...I just feel like this is freakish. Which also, flip side, makes me think my PS will certainly agree it's not turned out well. thank you, Lizz.

Re: Reconstruction Re-do?
 

I am having a slight revision on one of my implants next Wednesday, due to shifting. The PS said insurance would cover it. We did do prior auth just to be sure. I would not hesitate to let them know you are disappointed with the outcomes.
Good Luck

Re: Reconstruction Re-do?
 

I cant speak to the insurance issue but I agree with my other HER2 sisters. I would get a redo. My PS told me that my final set would look good and they do. Sure I have scars but my breast are shaped real nice. I had radiation on one breast so that one breast doesn't look as good as the other. I didn't have unrealistic expectations and it doesn't sound like you did either. Your gonna have to live with the girls for a long time. Better to have a set you'll be happy with!

Re: Reconstruction Re-do?
 

I agree with everyone, it is you who have to live with and in your body for the rest of your life, so it is very important you discuss your feeling with your PS. It is not vain, especially if it is affecting you self esteem. I only had a unilateral mastectomy, so I knew that my reconstructed boob would never match my real one (and it doesn't) but I knew this ahead of time. It has been over two years now and the new breast never changed much post surgery, Mild swelling and a bit of softening... but that about it.