Reconstruction

minnie112256

I need some advice. I had a mastectomy in november. I had a tissue expander put in at the time. Now is is time for surgery. I am not sure whether I should have the other breast reduced and lifted to match the implant. Has anyone had this done? Is it real painful? What is the recovery time? Thanks in advance.

sevey

Hello there,
Yes I did have it done. I and the Drs agreed the risk of keeping the remaining breast which had signs of becoming cancerous too was so great that keeping it would be another problem in a few months...... Honestly, yes it is painfull!!!.... Not trying to scare you, but it will hurt for a while...... It does get better, but we are talking of putting a foreign obect into the human body.... In your case objects if you are thinking of having the other removed.... My question to you would be, do you run a risk with the other breast that is remaining???? Or are you going for a look that is asthetically pleasing???? If so I am not judging you at all in the least>>> Just wondering is all.... It seems that you don't have much time to make a decision..... So I guess if you are going to do it than go for it. When is your surgery??? Please make sure you are doing this for you... If I had a choice I would have kept the remaining breast, but at the last moment I had no choice at all..... I have saline implants and I am 44yrs old..... So even when I am lying down they stay up.... Same size but for some reason they look bigger because they are perky as if I were a teenager!!! So although they are only 34B1/2 they look huge to me as I am a very petite woman......Oh well, here I go again rambling..... Please tell us when you are having your surgery okay??? I will pray for you!!!
Gods Loving Peace
Cathy

minnie112256

sevey said:

Hello there,
Yes I did have it done. I and the Drs agreed the risk of keeping the remaining breast which had signs of becoming cancerous too was so great that keeping it would be another problem in a few months...... Honestly, yes it is painfull!!!.... Not trying to scare you, but it will hurt for a while...... It does get better, but we are talking of putting a foreign obect into the human body.... In your case objects if you are thinking of having the other removed.... My question to you would be, do you run a risk with the other breast that is remaining???? Or are you going for a look that is asthetically pleasing???? If so I am not judging you at all in the least>>> Just wondering is all.... It seems that you don't have much time to make a decision..... So I guess if you are going to do it than go for it. When is your surgery??? Please make sure you are doing this for you... If I had a choice I would have kept the remaining breast, but at the last moment I had no choice at all..... I have saline implants and I am 44yrs old..... So even when I am lying down they stay up.... Same size but for some reason they look bigger because they are perky as if I were a teenager!!! So although they are only 34B1/2 they look huge to me as I am a very petite woman......Oh well, here I go again rambling..... Please tell us when you are having your surgery okay??? I will pray for you!!!
Gods Loving Peace
Cathy

thanks for your imput. I am not having the other breast removed. I am just having it reduced and lifted to match the implant. I am not at risk for cancer in the other side. My nodes were clear so the doctor said I was ok. My surgery is the end of March. Thanks for the info on the pain. That is my main concern. I figure it should not be as bad as my other surgeries. At least I hope not. Thanks for your thoughts and preayers.

sevey

minnie112256 said:

thanks for your imput. I am not having the other breast removed. I am just having it reduced and lifted to match the implant. I am not at risk for cancer in the other side. My nodes were clear so the doctor said I was ok. My surgery is the end of March. Thanks for the info on the pain. That is my main concern. I figure it should not be as bad as my other surgeries. At least I hope not. Thanks for your thoughts and preayers.

Minnie,
I am glad you saw my post, and wanted to add some final thoughts after I posted that response. As far as pain, yes I still agree it will be painfull. As far as having a reduction done, well I have never to worry about that in boobland!!LOL I mean that in the kindest of ways. You go Girl and do what you think is right!!!! I am with you 100%. As far as the pain, it varies with people. One can really only speak of their own personal experience...... So don't let my poet get you too freaked out over it.... Keep in touch and I will pray that the pain won't be too much..... Always remember that it will pass soon..... Its really when you first wake up in recovery that is the worst day..... You know as you already have the expander put in.....
Fellow Sister
In Christ
Love Cathy

dep

I had reconstruction a year after my mastectomy. He also made the other one smaller to match the implant. As far as pain, I agree with Cathy but also it is minor compared to other surgeries. I didn't have the tissue expander but had the one where they take the muscle from your back and bring it to the front and make a flap. Another thing you might want to ask the doc is if you will still have sensation in the real breast. You shouldn't lose it if they don't mess with the nerve endings too much. Good luck to you and you will be in my prayers and thoughts. Just like Cathy said it will be over soon so think positive. Dep

jeancmici

minnie112256 said:

thanks for your imput. I am not having the other breast removed. I am just having it reduced and lifted to match the implant. I am not at risk for cancer in the other side. My nodes were clear so the doctor said I was ok. My surgery is the end of March. Thanks for the info on the pain. That is my main concern. I figure it should not be as bad as my other surgeries. At least I hope not. Thanks for your thoughts and preayers.

>>I am not at risk for cancer in the other side. My nodes were clear so the doctor said I was ok.<<

I am sorry, Minnie, but I have to comment on what your doctor said. Whenever a woman has cancer in one breast, she has a greater risk of getting cancer in the other breast. That's the truth which is why tamoxifen is taken to lower this risk. Not to worry, as we do not know the future.

jeancmici

minnie112256 said:

thanks for your imput. I am not having the other breast removed. I am just having it reduced and lifted to match the implant. I am not at risk for cancer in the other side. My nodes were clear so the doctor said I was ok. My surgery is the end of March. Thanks for the info on the pain. That is my main concern. I figure it should not be as bad as my other surgeries. At least I hope not. Thanks for your thoughts and preayers.

>>I am not at risk for cancer in the other side. My nodes were clear so the doctor said I was ok.<<

I am sorry, Minnie, but I have to comment on what your doctor said. Whenever a woman has cancer in one breast, she has a greater risk of getting cancer in the other breast. That's the truth which is why tamoxifen is taken to lower this risk. Not to worry, as we do not know the future.