Student research for breast recostruction and prosthetics. PLEASE HELP!!
Less than one minute read time.
FormerMember
Hello,
I'm a 21 year old fashion student studying in Leeds currently doing my dissertation. I've chosen to investigate the use of the prosthetic breast and reconstruction surgery and how important this is to each woman. Basically I'd like to find out:-
*If it helps to reclaim any feelings of lost "femininity" and if not what influences the decision to use either method if you
have?
*Does the "perfect figure" that the media shows and society make you feel pressured to wear a prosthetic or have
reconstructive surgery after the mastectomy? Would you be more conscious after a bilateral mastectomy?
*Do you feel there are enough clothing options available to you? Do you feel restricted in anyway? i.e. sleeveless or low cut tops.
*Do you have a partner or are you married or in a civil partnership.
*Do you have any children?
It would be appreciated so much if you could take the time to answer these questions for me. This is a subject I feel quite passionately about as I lost my mum to cancer in 2005, so I do understand if you wish to decline.
Thank you and kind regards
Hannah
FormerMember
Hi Hannah - I would like to answer those questions for you.
I am a 39 year old woman, married, with 2 children. I had a double mastectomy last year - and yes I absolutely feel lost without my breasts. I want reconstruction so badly - and I don't know if I am going to get it. I live in the united states, have no health insurance, and i will never be able to afford such a procedure.
The media has nothing to do with how i feel about my appearance. I feel that it is the final step in my healing process after going through the hell of surgery and chemotherapy. I want to be a "whole" woman again.
There definitely is a limit to clothing options. I find myself wearing large shirts because i feel like people stare at me when I'm in public. I try so hard to hide my "flat chest" -
It is very important to me to reclaim my femininity - I am young and I want to live my life to the fullest, and not hide anymore.
I'm 51, no children, single. I had a left side mastectomy in Oct 08 and have been provided with a really good prosthetic which I got free on NHS, it will be changed every 2-3 yrs. I may have a reconstruction in the future but was not able to have one immediately. I don't feel less feminine because of my op, but you do feel as those something is missing which it is.
Do I feel pressured by the media to wear a prosthetic. No the pressure comes from me wanting to look like I did before the op. When I am at home, I go bra less when I want, just like I always did and I don't worry in front of family.
You do become quite jealous of other peoples boobs though, I remember watching dancing on ice, the beautiful dresses. It didn't matter that I would never ever wear a dress like that, I hated the fact that I couldn't.
Clothing options: I have had no problem getting pretty mastectomy bra's, but the cups are generally fuller, or they have a camisole insert which can dictate what type of top you wear. I have also noticed that the prettey ones are generally limited to 40 AB or C. I have stitched pockets into some of the bras I had before and my local hospital will fit pockets in your own bras, provided they are not underwired. I can still wear most of the clothes I wore before my op, sleeveless etc but there are some tops I can't. The prosthetic is good and in the main makes me look like I did before, but of course it doesn't cling to your chest wall so you have no cleavage and I miss mine.
Hi Hannah i had a right side full mastectomy with immediate reconstruction taken from the muscle on my back. I have just recently had a few alteration but they were minor and i hope to have the nipple recon in a couple of months, I am a single mum but im glad i had it done even though i have a lot of hiccups with my health in general. Hope this of some use to you. I would be gald to answer any of your question may you have some? Love Cherylxx
Hi Hannah. I am 51, married with 1 daughter. Had a mastectomy and reconstruction using back muscle last november. As a nurse I have seen mastectomy scars and was very glad that I could have a reconstruction on the same day. It is important to me that I look the same postop as I did preop. Clothes not much of a problem really, finding a comfy well fitting bra is a little harder. The media etc does put a lot of emphasis on breasts but I think because Im older I find it doesnt really bother me. Also I have a very loving husband which is a big help, boosts self esteem. I will be having a new nipple soon, small surgical procedure then tattoes. Im looking forward to that, will even me up so to speak. It looks a little strange having only 1 nipple. I think that a prosthesis would have been harder to cope with, and not doing either would not have been good. I know that some women choose to have nothing done following a mastectomy but your attention is drawn to the fact that they look lopsided, I didnt want that. I hope this is of use to you.
