Leaning towards Latissimus Flap

latissimus flap reconstruction
hi
i just finished radiation tx friday. anyways, that's what i had done & my skin held up fine but i am a sun worshipper so am used to the burn. i think that's really a better way to judge how your skin will react to the radiation - how you do in the sun.

with regards to the reconstruction, the radiation will keep the muscle swollen. i just had the right side so i can tell the difference. On the left, the swelling has gone down since surgery, 0ct 9 09.

with regards to reconstruction, expect your back to be tight & numb. my post op pain was from my back, not the mastectomy. unk how long the numbness/tightness will last. you will no longer have feeling in your breast, even if your keeping your skin. your back/shoulder will feel funny when you go to reach for something and will be weak. the streches & exercises are important for range of motion/strength.

just a tidbit, ask your breast surgeon if they can do everything thru the areola incision. that's what i had done so i don't have your typical line scar across your breast. i have no scars on my breast, just my back & that is very helpful.

good luck!

helen e said:

Kari
I had my mastectomy on 12/11/09 and decided that the tram flap was the reconstruction for me. I do a lot of sports with my kids and I worried that if I had the lat. recon. that I wouldn't have the strength and movement in my arm to play with my kids. My surgeon said that I would definately lose some of both of these. I also worried about losing a stomach muscle with the tram flap too. My doc said that I would lose that too, but, it wouldn't really be that noticable - unless I was a pro athlete. I had the tram done and am very happy with the results. I didn't have near the pain that I thought I would (I am a big wimp when it comes to pain). I am healing great.

That said, you have to do what you feel would be best for you. A lot of women choose implants, I thought I would do this but when I researched it, I changed my mind. If it's not right for you, you won't feel right. Good luck in whatever you choose.

I'm your lat flap sister~
Kari, any questions specifically you can pm me. It was the right decision for me and I healed beautifully. I was so scared going in for surgery, but it was less discomfort than the mastectomy was. I had a unilateral mastectomy (left side) and I am perfectly balanced. My surgery was Oct 08.
Melanie