Newbie..therapeutic mammoplasty

Hi   I had a therapeutic mammoplasty in October 2018 after a very similar diagnosis to you.  I was very large chested and they reduced both sides at once.  The skin on my chest felt very tight for a few weeks but it was ok.  I still have slight numbness on the side the tumour was in, I think because of the 3 lymph nodes they removed and the nerves that will have been damaged by that but mainly I was happy with the results of the surgery and my recovery.  Best of luck with it all xxx

Hi , thank you for replying. They are reducing both sides for me too. Please can I ask how long it took for you to recover? I have been told so many different timescales. 

I was in overnight and discharged the next morning.  I was tired for a week or so and I wasn't allowed to drive for 6 weeks.  I did my exercises religiously, particularly on the side with the lymph nodes removed and I have full range of motion now with no real stiffness. The skin on my breasts felt very taught for a good few weeks before slowly starting to soften and settle.  My advice is buy some very soft bra's, the scars underneath my boobs were a bit swollen and tender and it was uncomfortable to wear too tight a band on the bra. You won't be able to wear underwire bra's for a few months post op, I found that quite annoying, I love a good underwire but I got used to wearing the soft bra's 24/7.  The district nurses visited a couple of times to change my dressings which were a wee bit oozy as I had drains in hospital but everything healed well.  I wasn't allowed to shower for two weeks as my surgeon likes her patients to keep their dressings on for two weeks post-op but I don't think they all do that.  I have to say the most painful scar was the one under my arm from the lymph node excision.  The breast nurses gave me a good soft heart shaped pillow which helped loads to ease the pressure.  I would say it definitely did take about 4 weeks before I felt like myself again after the wounds started to settle but I'm really happy with how the surgery went and the wounds healed etc.  If you have any other questions, fire away and I'll do my best to answer xx

Thank you , I have been told about the exercises and will make sure I do them as I know I need to get full movement for radiotherapy.  I have bought some non wired bras but don’t know what cup size I will be after the op so haven’t bought loads. I’m seeing the breast care nurse tomorrow to talk through the surgery in more detail so I’m hoping she can give me some indication of cup size then. I have to admit I’m started to get a bit nervous about the op now it’s only a week away. I had hoped I could return to work 3 weeks after but lots of people have told me to take at least 4 weeks off. Thank you, that is really lovely of you x

Hi there

I had a therapeutic mammoplasty and SNB 10 days ago - one side to remove three small tumours, the other side to match. I was in at 7am and on way home by 7pm, I have had very little pain, and the dressings came off yesterday and it's all healing very well. So i haven't had a moment's concern about the surgery, it's like they do this stuff in their sleep. The general anasthetic though was a bit of a challenge - i was nauseous and groggy on and off for a week, which surprised me but is apparently quite common. I napped every day for 10 days, and quite long ones (on the other hand, because you can only sleep on your back, once i had woken up at 4 or 5am for whatever reason I struggled to get back to sleep so was reading for an hour or so in the middle of the night!) Once I felt a bit more confident about my scars and could go for short walks in the fresh air and get some daylight on me, it did really help.

I was told to get a supportive sports bra a cup down (but it might depend on the size of your tumour) - Marks do a good front zipping one for £25. 

Good luck with it!

Hi , its great to hear how well your surgery has gone. My op is on Monday and I’m feeling a little nervous about it now. It’s good to hear that the pain has been ok, but I hadn’t realised the anaesthetic could affect you for that long. I’m hoping I will feel fine by Xmas as I have two kids and don’t want this to impact on Xmas at all. 

It was my last day at work today until the new year and I asked everyone to suggest books. I’m very much looking forward to catching up on reading. 

I have two sports bras from Asda that my breast care nurse said was good but not sure what size I will be until after the op as I have a small tumour but also DCIS and their location would mean quite a lot would need to be removed. 

Thank you. 

Hi BearCat19, I am having 3 lymph nodes removed before Christmas, and then a mastectomy in the new year. I'm having Diep flap restructure on the one side then they will have to wait till they reduce the other side for several months. I'm confused about what bra's to buy too as I will be going down from my current F cup to a C so will be completely wonky to say the least!

I hope your surgery goes well. 

Sam x

Hi Sam, 

Thank you, I’m finding it all quite confusing, the uncertainty is the hardest bit. I like to plan and not having all the answers yet is tough. I hadn’t realised the surgery I am having was even an option and not knowing what cup size I will be is interesting. I’m currently a g cup and they said it shouldn’t be less than a d cup but it will depend on the day. 

I hope your surgery goes well too x

Hello ,

Just a little 'Hello and wishing you all the very best for you surgery'.

We will be thinking of you.

Love and Hugs, Gail x

Hi Gail,

Thank you. The surgery went well, I’m a bit sore but that’s to be expected. Was home yesterday in time to see the kids before bedtime which I was really pleased about. My husband is amazing and I’m going to settled down to watch a few Christmas movies.