reconstruction improvements?

Becky20
Becky20 Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi,
I'm a new subscriber. Had both breasts removed during 1991-2 and have been cancer free since then. I have silicone implants, and have never had trouble with them. I'm grateful for that, and to be ALIVE. My breasts are mounds with fake, ugly nipples. The scars are still quite evident, and one "nipple" is indented. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but has anyone out there experienced reconstructon that is more "natural" looking? Have to admit, one huge reason for my question is that my husband is a breast man, and despite the fact that he is wonderful and caring and supportive, I can't stand for him to see me in the nude, and our sex life is the pits. He is not attracted to me.I know there's more to making love than breasts, but...I read the book "The V.Secret Catalog Keeps Coming" and am depressed at all the cleavage out there. OK, enough. Any ideas? Thanks so much.

Comments

  • kathylulu
    kathylulu Member Posts: 8
    #2
    HI Becky,
    I had bilateral mastectomies Nov. 2001 and had expanders put in at the same time. Filling those were a nightmare, but that's another story, haha. I also have silicone implants. I realize it has just been a little over a year but they feel exactly like you described, a couple of mounds! I only have feeling in the top part, mostly in my chest, so that's weird. My chest muscle also tightens up a lot, which sometimes is very uncomfortable. My plastic surgeon says thats "just me", so don't know what to do about it. My husband is also a breast man, but has been very understanding.Still it doesn't make me feel any better. I too am intimidated by all the cleavage out there. Our sex life is a bit slow but I think some of that is the meds I'm on.
    Gosh I've just rambled, sorry. email me anytime you want. Kathy
  • kathylulu
    kathylulu Member Posts: 8
    #3
    I was interrupted before in my reply to you. I wanted to say that I suppose my breasts look like breasts except for the scar that runs all the way from side to side, haha. The nipple and areola look pretty natural. I had to have the tatoos done 3 times tho. I just wish they felt more normal. Did you have the numbness and did you get the feeling back and when? Some days I regret putting myself thru the reconstruction because, who sees them but me, the hubby and the doctors? Don't know if it was worth it. I also lost a whole cup size. I know this all seems trivial, but it weighs on my mind some days. I am grateful that the cancer is gone and am doing well so far. Anyway I will shut up for now. Kathy
  • Becky20
    Becky20 Member Posts: 8
    #4
    kathylulu said:

    I was interrupted before in my reply to you. I wanted to say that I suppose my breasts look like breasts except for the scar that runs all the way from side to side, haha. The nipple and areola look pretty natural. I had to have the tatoos done 3 times tho. I just wish they felt more normal. Did you have the numbness and did you get the feeling back and when? Some days I regret putting myself thru the reconstruction because, who sees them but me, the hubby and the doctors? Don't know if it was worth it. I also lost a whole cup size. I know this all seems trivial, but it weighs on my mind some days. I am grateful that the cancer is gone and am doing well so far. Anyway I will shut up for now. Kathy

    Hi Kathy,
    Thanks for writing. I have so many of the same feelings! When I had one of my reconstructive surgeries, one of my "breasts" got hard and swelled up to near my clavical area. My surgeon went in again, as I was in major pain, but there was nothing wrong with the implant. I was having an ongoing muscle spasm, which lasted a couple of weeks. Don't know if that's similar to the tightening you're feeling. I had expanders put in, then silicone implants,also.Haven't had scar tissue pain, or any problems with "deflating" in 10 years,so that's the good part. I'm very curious about the tatoo work you had done. Did they start with nipple/areola tissue and work from there? Or were the tatoos just done on your "mounds" post reconstruction? I kept my same cup size, but the shapes are quite different, and bras that have an area for a nipple don't get filled up the right way...I could probably do a dance with tassels on my boobs because the implants are under the muscles, and I can flex them. I can feel touch, like you can on your elbow or elsewhere, but there's no sensitivity. I don't mind that part so much; it's my misshapen, nippleless breasts that get me down...Yes, we need to keep telling ourselves the truth. We are alive. How old are you, by the way? I'm 52. All for now.
    Becky
  • kathylulu
    kathylulu Member Posts: 8
    #5
    Becky20 said:

    Hi Kathy,
    Thanks for writing. I have so many of the same feelings! When I had one of my reconstructive surgeries, one of my "breasts" got hard and swelled up to near my clavical area. My surgeon went in again, as I was in major pain, but there was nothing wrong with the implant. I was having an ongoing muscle spasm, which lasted a couple of weeks. Don't know if that's similar to the tightening you're feeling. I had expanders put in, then silicone implants,also.Haven't had scar tissue pain, or any problems with "deflating" in 10 years,so that's the good part. I'm very curious about the tatoo work you had done. Did they start with nipple/areola tissue and work from there? Or were the tatoos just done on your "mounds" post reconstruction? I kept my same cup size, but the shapes are quite different, and bras that have an area for a nipple don't get filled up the right way...I could probably do a dance with tassels on my boobs because the implants are under the muscles, and I can flex them. I can feel touch, like you can on your elbow or elsewhere, but there's no sensitivity. I don't mind that part so much; it's my misshapen, nippleless breasts that get me down...Yes, we need to keep telling ourselves the truth. We are alive. How old are you, by the way? I'm 52. All for now.
    Becky

    I don't know what scar tissue pain is. What is it? The tightening I'm feeling I'm sure is the muscle, because I can massage the area and it goes away, but, alas, it doesn't stay away.
    I am satisfied with the way the nipples look, but I too have very different shape breasts. I am still trying to find a bra that doesn't get all crinkled up because I don't fill out the nipple part.
    When I had the tatoo's done they made a little circle for the areola tatooed that and then tatooed the nipple a little darker.But like I said they had to do it 3 times before it stayed. I will tell ya a funny story about that. I have a 21 year old sona nd when he turned 18 he went a little nuts with getting tatoos. So during the reconstruction we were talking about how my tatoos would just fade away and he asked me what I was putting on them after I came home from the doctor. I told him vaseline is what she recommended. He said "Oh, God Mom that's the worst thing you can do, it will pull all the color out". So I thought it was a crack up that I was getting advice from my 21 year old son about how to care for my new nipples, haha. You know he was right tho, the last time I had it done I used antibiotic cream and they never did fade.
    I am going to be very honest about something now and I hope you are not offended. I miss my breast, when it comes to making love. They were very sensitive. I don't think I have taken off my pj top but one time when we have made love since I had the surgery. I don't think they feel like breasts, so I don't think they look like breasts, does that make sense? Since I don't have any feeling there I guess I feel like it's a waste of time to include them in the lovemaking.
    I am 48 years old, by the way. I had a lump in the right breast that was malignant and calcifications in the left that were pre-cancerous, so I elected to have both removed cause I didn't want to do it twice. I didn't have to do chemo. I take tamoxifen and will for another 4 years.
    Well I have rambled long enough. Take care, Kathy

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