I have put my 2nd, 4th and 5th expansions on YouTube.....

m-star said:

Hope2010~
you are very
Hope2010~
you are very welcome. I did it in the hope it would help women understand what the expansion process was like, and to not be afraid of it.
Its quite an "exciting" time getting it done,as its bringing you nearer to a finished look.
Sometime it seems women choose not to reconstruct out of fear of more surgeries and the mere thought of going through the tissue expansion process.Its to show that its really not that bad and is do-able!

I hope it helps more women-especially those who are fearful of being reconstructed.

m-star said:

Ronda, you are most
Ronda, you are most welcome!

Yes it's alot to decide all at once~all these decisions. I am glad you took the time to watch my video's~thank you. I know everybody's different,and some may choose NOT to reconstruct,but like you say,it doesn't hurt to consider things.

I had to laugh at the "cat that got the canary" remark! =D This photo is after my 4th fill and it was the 1st time i felt good about wearing a top like that! ha ha. Those are my tissue expanders! I put a video of my 5th fill on youtube yesterday but you may have already seen that one?

Regarding getting recon,i would say tissue expansion with implants is the "easiest" option out of them all. Quickest recovery time. Shortest surgery time. Least invasive. I too considered not having recon as i am scared of anaesthesia! I wanted to just have the 1 op to remove my breasts and that was it. Then i said i'd reconstruct after 6 months,but working it out,that meant 3 general anaesthetics. So i optede for immediate recon. They put the expanders in while you're asleep at the same time you have the mastectomy~so just 1 surgery for all that. Obviously,you have your healing time for a few wekks before the start expanding you. The expansions really are not that bad. I only had 1 which gave me a good bit of pain and discomfort,but it was my own fault for doing a 2 hour tae kwondo class 3 days before my fill. It had tightened my pectoral muscles up so stretching them hurt.

Once they have filled you up,its a matter of leaving you 2-3 months for the skin to settle,then back in for 1 more general, while they exchange your expanders for implants. Nipples are optional and would come at a later date.But you can get good 3D nipple tattoos now that look like real nipples but with no bump.

You may find this site very helpful over the coming weeks and months.I know i have.The forums on there are fantastic and FULL of women who have gone through every scenario possible.Women who have and haven't reconstructed, etc.You can browse without signning up,or if you want to take part in the forums,its free to register.You will find me on there

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91 (surgery before,during and after)

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44 (breast reconstruction)

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/82 (breast prosthesis and reconstruction alternatives)

good luck and keep in touch

Kay

ps just copy and paste the section thats NOT in brackets

2Floridiansisters said:

m-star You are very courageous!
Thanks for bumping this thread up, I spent last evening watching a lot of your youtube videos, you've given me a lot to reconsider, you look great by the way!!! I truly will give all this reconstruction some thought. I really want to live with the choice I make so thank you for taking the time to help all the rest of us out here dealing with this issue.

Love your photo there, you have a look on your face like that of the cat that swallowed the canary!!!! You're such a sweetie, thanks again, I'll let everyone know what happens to me in the next few months, I'm gonna continue coming to this site long after I'm "healed".

Love Ronda