Reconstruction

mmontero38
mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Ok guys I am having quite a dilema. When I had my radical mastectomy they removed sooooo much that my chest is now concave. My dilema is should I go with implants or the tram flap. I am afraid that if I do the implants you will still notice that I am missing lots of fatty tissue should I wear a v neck. If anyone out there has had this problem PLEASE let me know what you have done. Thanks girls I really don't know what to do and I am scheduled to see 3 more surgeons next week.

Comments

  • rescuerabbit
    rescuerabbit Member Posts: 6
    #2
    I am working to find out more about reconstruction myself--it is my understanding the tram flap takes muscle and puts you at risk for hernias. There are several types of reconstruction that use your own tissue. Personally, I am looking into the diep flap, but there aren't too many surgeons who do this because it is microsurgery, requires more training, and is takes a longer time in surgery. I hope others who have had these surgeries will share with us.
  • 3cbrca
    3cbrca Member Posts: 206
    #3
    I;m seeing my 3rd Plastic surgeon in 10 days. I too have a concave chest and have taken on the appearance of Buddha. I had skin sparing mastectomy, but the cancerous side had very little skin to spare. From what I understand they can build the concave area up. I didn't show a lot of cleavage before, so I'm not likely to worry about showing it after. I just want my breasts to be bigger than my waist!!!

    She
  • DEBY
    DEBY Member Posts: 19
    #4
    Hello, I was concave on one side and had both implants. One side had no cancer the other side had radiation. I did this from the start. I know I confused you more now. Both were even. The Radiation side was hard as a rock and no movement at all. I had expanders taken out before radiation. replaced with silicone implants that are softer then saline. If you read my story on this board Im the 9th one down under Deby. I am now having a lot of troubles with my radiation side. My advice to you then to go through a big tram flap is to get implants that look great but just dont play around with the nipple on side that has been radiated. This is where i went wrong after being happy for 4yrs. Just mounds on my chest not the same as your own breasts. But this was pretty even concave and all. The stretching of the skin is not to bad. I would go take some good old Tylenol before apt. At the beginning of this whole mess I to did not want to take on that big surgery and inflict any more pain on myself due to the fact of everyday demands in life. I had 3 small children at home 5,2 and 1. I hope I helped the both of you or anyone else. May God bless us all and be with us and give us strength. I now have to go for the tram flap. So wish me luck I'll let you know how I make out. Im not looking foward to this at all!! Debbie {Happy and Healthy New Year}.
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #5
    DEBY said:

    Hello, I was concave on one side and had both implants. One side had no cancer the other side had radiation. I did this from the start. I know I confused you more now. Both were even. The Radiation side was hard as a rock and no movement at all. I had expanders taken out before radiation. replaced with silicone implants that are softer then saline. If you read my story on this board Im the 9th one down under Deby. I am now having a lot of troubles with my radiation side. My advice to you then to go through a big tram flap is to get implants that look great but just dont play around with the nipple on side that has been radiated. This is where i went wrong after being happy for 4yrs. Just mounds on my chest not the same as your own breasts. But this was pretty even concave and all. The stretching of the skin is not to bad. I would go take some good old Tylenol before apt. At the beginning of this whole mess I to did not want to take on that big surgery and inflict any more pain on myself due to the fact of everyday demands in life. I had 3 small children at home 5,2 and 1. I hope I helped the both of you or anyone else. May God bless us all and be with us and give us strength. I now have to go for the tram flap. So wish me luck I'll let you know how I make out. Im not looking foward to this at all!! Debbie {Happy and Healthy New Year}.

    Hi Debbie. I was lucky I did not need radiation but I am very confused as to what to do. Even though I will not show cleavage (I never did), I still want to look normal in a bathing suit. One of the surgeons I saw suggested the expander first and then putting implants in both. Another surgeon suggested the tram flap, to make it look more natural. I am not so concerned about the pain since they do a morphine drip and give you muscle relaxers but I do worry about the weakening in the stomach area and will it really look more realistic. When you had the implants, once it was all done did they look even? My kids are 16 & 14 so they can pretty much do alot of things for themselves. My office is ready to set me up to work from home for as long as I need to so I don't have a problem in that sense and I know we will never look the same but right now I need to build up my self esteem and try to make myself look as normal as possible. I feel pretty yucky right now. Instead of loosing weight through out the chemo I've gained 30 lbs. My hair is growing in totally gray but is still to short to dye. Thank God for my boss, she is treating me to a day at the SPA and I can say I am really looking forward to it. Thanks Debbie for your reply. When are you going in for the procedure?
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #6
    3cbrca said:

    I;m seeing my 3rd Plastic surgeon in 10 days. I too have a concave chest and have taken on the appearance of Buddha. I had skin sparing mastectomy, but the cancerous side had very little skin to spare. From what I understand they can build the concave area up. I didn't show a lot of cleavage before, so I'm not likely to worry about showing it after. I just want my breasts to be bigger than my waist!!!

    She

    Hi. I've already seen 3 surgeons and am seeing 3 more next week. Of the first 3 I only liked one but he is a little too expensive. Did your surgeons discuss how they would build up the concave side up? I am not sure which procedure I should do whether to go with the implants or do the tram flap. Lili
  • DEBY
    DEBY Member Posts: 19
    #7
    mmontero38 said:

    Hi Debbie. I was lucky I did not need radiation but I am very confused as to what to do. Even though I will not show cleavage (I never did), I still want to look normal in a bathing suit. One of the surgeons I saw suggested the expander first and then putting implants in both. Another surgeon suggested the tram flap, to make it look more natural. I am not so concerned about the pain since they do a morphine drip and give you muscle relaxers but I do worry about the weakening in the stomach area and will it really look more realistic. When you had the implants, once it was all done did they look even? My kids are 16 & 14 so they can pretty much do alot of things for themselves. My office is ready to set me up to work from home for as long as I need to so I don't have a problem in that sense and I know we will never look the same but right now I need to build up my self esteem and try to make myself look as normal as possible. I feel pretty yucky right now. Instead of loosing weight through out the chemo I've gained 30 lbs. My hair is growing in totally gray but is still to short to dye. Thank God for my boss, she is treating me to a day at the SPA and I can say I am really looking forward to it. Thanks Debbie for your reply. When are you going in for the procedure?

    Hi, You would not believe how con-caved I am right now. When I had the implants everything looked great I wore plunging neck lines and always in a v neck. See I loved me Ds before cancer. But I had very nice cleavage with the implants amazing what they could do. {NO BRA}...
    The bad points they feel like to big balls on my chest even after the 4 yrs. They never felt like my own this could be very annoying to most woman that i talk to. Since I lost an implant I would much rather have it back. But I am looking forward to my new boob it should be a lot better because i had radiation on that side and will be getting rid of any dead skin. So the key factor in some of your decision is: Will you be getting radiation? My right side with implant no cancer no radiation feels softer but still ball like feel. If you go for implants make sure to get silicone. I have BC friends that changed over from saline. There's a big difference {rocks}. Debbie
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #8
    DEBY said:

    Hi, You would not believe how con-caved I am right now. When I had the implants everything looked great I wore plunging neck lines and always in a v neck. See I loved me Ds before cancer. But I had very nice cleavage with the implants amazing what they could do. {NO BRA}...
    The bad points they feel like to big balls on my chest even after the 4 yrs. They never felt like my own this could be very annoying to most woman that i talk to. Since I lost an implant I would much rather have it back. But I am looking forward to my new boob it should be a lot better because i had radiation on that side and will be getting rid of any dead skin. So the key factor in some of your decision is: Will you be getting radiation? My right side with implant no cancer no radiation feels softer but still ball like feel. If you go for implants make sure to get silicone. I have BC friends that changed over from saline. There's a big difference {rocks}. Debbie

    Hi Debbie:
    I can just imagine how concave you are because I am the same way. I do not need to go through radiation because none of my lymph nodes were involved. Luckily we caught it early and the reason I went through chemo was because they found traces in my blood stream. The first surgeon I went to suggested the silicone implants, my concern is like you say they would feel like balls because I have no muscle in my chest. The second surgeon suggested the tram flap because it would feel natural. I am seeing two more this week. One on Thursday and the other on Friday and I suppose I will see what they have to say. I get my port removed tomorrow, so that is another step in the right direction of trying to put all this behind me. Are you on any estrogen blockers now? They put me on Tamoxifen and the weight gain is incredible. Starting tomorrow I am stopping all carbs because I am gaining too much weight. Do you have your surgery date yet? I am praying that all goes well for you and all of us that are going through this. Lili
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #9
    rescuerabbit said:

    I am working to find out more about reconstruction myself--it is my understanding the tram flap takes muscle and puts you at risk for hernias. There are several types of reconstruction that use your own tissue. Personally, I am looking into the diep flap, but there aren't too many surgeons who do this because it is microsurgery, requires more training, and is takes a longer time in surgery. I hope others who have had these surgeries will share with us.

    Hi:
    I checked some more into the DIEP Flap and the news I got was not too encouraging. Basically it is the same as the tram flap but instead of tunneling it through your body it is cut and then reattached. I was told there is more danger of bleeding, site rejection which would mean you would have to go back into surgery and the flap may not take which would mean you wouldn't be able to do it again. Make sure when you go for the consult that the doctor explains very well what the risks are. Since both my brother and sister-in-law are doctors, I had them check for me and I've decided to do the tram. I found a great doctor who was voted one of the top breast reconstruction surgeons in NJ and he is young enough to know the latest techniques and old enough to have the experience and he was also compassionate. After all the egocentrics I've seen he was charming. Good luck to you and keep me posted as to what you decide to do. I go back on 1/14 and I guess all the details will be worked out. Good luck. Lili

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