Reconstruction and uneven results

JudyB-1
JudyB-1 Member Posts: 5
in Breast Cancer #1
Hey everybody. I had right breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. I had TRAM reconstruction on the right and an implant on the left. The TRAM side is good but the implant side lacks the protrusion and I am lopsided. Has anyone had this problem and, if so, have you found a way to look more even? A special bra or prosthesis? I don't know what to do or where to find help with this. Thanks.

Comments

  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #2
    I had a lumpectomy Judy, so,
    I had a lumpectomy Judy, so, I can't comment on your surgery. I know other pink sisters will that have been thru this.

    Wishing you good luck and sending a cyber hug to you!


    Sue :)
  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    #3
    ...
    Me too, the implant lacks protusion. When I mentioned this to my PS in the first follow up visit she simply told me that yes implants do seem to lack protusion. Then I got side-tracked before I could ask what can be done about it. My bad. Now she's on maternity leave and who knows when she'll be back..or even if she's coming back. Sigh.

    It wouldn't be so bad if the lopsided-ness didn't cause all of my tops to be skewed as if I can't quite manage the concept of dressing myself. Yeah, I know...from what everyone else tells me I look great but they apparently don't see me constantly tugging down one side of my top so to stay looking even.

    Really, the only thing I can think of is to get a (better?) plastic surgeon who will (amply/correctly?) fill tissue expanders to result in a better matched breast. Other than that I guess I just have to live with it, but I'd rather not.

    Wearing a sports bra seems to help.
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #4
    Judy: I too had
    Judy: I too had lumpectomy....I am sure someone here will have some advice for you...

    Denise W.
  • Different Ballgame
    Different Ballgame Member Posts: 868
    #5
    I'm Confused
    Judy,
    Why did your doctor do 2 different reconstructions? Two different reconstructions would give you two different results. You can have a another surgery to make your breasts be symmetrical. The surgery is named as a REVISION and insurances pay for REVISIONS. Do you like your PS? Do you have access to other plastic surgeons for a 2nd and 3rd opinion? I am going to ask my PS why would a PS do 2 different reconstructions?

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #6
    Hi -
    I also had a double
    Hi -
    I also had a double mastectomy. But I had tissue expanders put in both sides & have 800cc Mentor Memory gel implants in. My left breast has a flat spot on the front of it, it's not because of the implant but my PS says it's because of my "mastectomy flap", how the surgeon removed my breast. I was supposed to have my nipples reconstructed but told him I'm not satisfied with how my implants look with this spot. On March 1st I'm having fat grafting done, where he will take fat from my abdomen and inject it into both breasts, to fill out the flat area and to "plump up" both of them & give me more projection. It is normal not to have much projection from implants because we don't have any breast tissue at all in there. Someone else on here was talking about the fat grafting procedure they had also, hopefully she will chime in. May be an option for you & certainly wouldn't hurt to ask about it. I'll post after I have the grafting done, I'm really excited about the procedure (taking abdominal fat??!!! hello!!! yes, please!).
    *hugs*
    Heather
  • JudyB-1
    JudyB-1 Member Posts: 5
    #7
    Different Ballgame said:

    I'm Confused
    Judy,
    Why did your doctor do 2 different reconstructions? Two different reconstructions would give you two different results. You can have a another surgery to make your breasts be symmetrical. The surgery is named as a REVISION and insurances pay for REVISIONS. Do you like your PS? Do you have access to other plastic surgeons for a 2nd and 3rd opinion? I am going to ask my PS why would a PS do 2 different reconstructions?

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle

    There was not enough
    There was not enough fat/muscle to do 2 TRAM reconsructions, just enough to do one good one, which is what I preferred.
  • JudyB-1
    JudyB-1 Member Posts: 5
    #8
    Heatherbelle said:

    Hi -
    I also had a double
    Hi -
    I also had a double mastectomy. But I had tissue expanders put in both sides & have 800cc Mentor Memory gel implants in. My left breast has a flat spot on the front of it, it's not because of the implant but my PS says it's because of my "mastectomy flap", how the surgeon removed my breast. I was supposed to have my nipples reconstructed but told him I'm not satisfied with how my implants look with this spot. On March 1st I'm having fat grafting done, where he will take fat from my abdomen and inject it into both breasts, to fill out the flat area and to "plump up" both of them & give me more projection. It is normal not to have much projection from implants because we don't have any breast tissue at all in there. Someone else on here was talking about the fat grafting procedure they had also, hopefully she will chime in. May be an option for you & certainly wouldn't hurt to ask about it. I'll post after I have the grafting done, I'm really excited about the procedure (taking abdominal fat??!!! hello!!! yes, please!).
    *hugs*
    Heather

    Heather, please let me know
    Heather, please let me know how the grafting works for you. I really don't know if this is something I should just live with or what. It is not horrible by any means, but just one more reminder of what I have gone through, and at least outwardly I would like to look as normal as possible. Good luck to you, and I look forward to hearing from you again. Judy
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #9
    JudyB-1 said:

    Heather, please let me know
    Heather, please let me know how the grafting works for you. I really don't know if this is something I should just live with or what. It is not horrible by any means, but just one more reminder of what I have gone through, and at least outwardly I would like to look as normal as possible. Good luck to you, and I look forward to hearing from you again. Judy

    Thanks Judy - I'll be sure
    Thanks Judy - I'll be sure to fill you in on how the procedure goes. 11 days and counting!!
    *hugs*
    Heather
  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    #10
    Double mastectomy cut two difference ways so scars dont match. One done one month the other the next month. One side expanded on the day of operation the other slowly inflated. Hence, totally now no match. One side is very much bigger than the other, even though permanent implants are in and the same size. Cant wear anything plain as so noticeable nor a bra. In May I am having the larger side reduced a lot. In fact the surgeon has a two hour slot to deal with it, which is quite a long time compared with previous surgeries. Fingers crossed the outcome will be good - my plastic surgeon will have to really use his skills. We did talk about how to get a good match from both our points of views. Tell us what you decide to do, if mine works out well I will post the results to you so you can perhaps think about one more try.

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