Reconstructive breast surgery after double mastectomy

Hi

Sorry I think my phone had a moment!!

I had a bilateral mastectomy back in January and I was only offered implants due to the Covid situation.  I have been ok with them so far. They obviously don't feel like me and can feel cold. I feel numb in that area but they did warn me it could take many months for any feeling to come back if at all. I think thus may be the case with other types of reconstruction but I'm sure other ladies on here csn advise. I have good shape when in clothes and don't look too bad without. I think the plus with implants that the recovery time is not as long as other procedures. Cons- They do feel firmer than natural breast tissue but they have softened slightly since my operation,  I think diep and other procedures you will feel softer. 

Hope this has helped

Take care xx

I had a mammoplasty (lumpectomy and reduction) in one and mastectomy in the other because of multifocal tumours. After much thought I chose implant as didn't fancy the long recovery period in ICU which would have been necessary for DIEP. I very much admire the work of Plastic Surgeons who do this, and find it fascinating however. I did not mind the fact that implant is a foreign thing in the body - after all people have hip and knee replacements all the time. The loss of nipple is a bit odd though - getting used to the implant at the moment. Felt, as a more mature person, that this was less invasive option, and I felt I could not have stomached looking at myself "flat". Early days, but generally happy with implant so far and determined that it will work.

Thank you - yes it has I feel at a loss at moment about what to do 

so thank you for sharing xx

Thank you for sharing that’s a really good point about knee and hip replacements x

1. Hi. Probably a bit late to respond to this, but I am the same. Am down for a double mastectomy next year probably, and have been told that a tummy flap reconstruction is most suitable for me. I didn't want implants as there is a chance my body could reject them, I personally feel its best to keep it all my own skin and tissue if possible.

I am 17 days post op for double mastectomy with diep reconstruction done at same time. Had op on Monday and was home on Thursday, no drains and have internal dissolving stitches with external wound glued. Been doing exercises daily, tummy still feels really tight, and bruising taking a while to go down(this is normal for me) but generally feel better than I was expecting, need to remember this is a major surgery and my expected recovery time is 6 weeks.

Hope this helps

Donna

Hi Donna, thank you for replying. May I ask how long your surgery was? 

Very Well done ! You are an absolute superstar ! Did you have to spend any time in intensive care ? I thought a lot about having this. The fact you have no drains is a major plus. I tried to like the drains, but struggled a bit as one was very heavy to lug about.

I went down for surgery about 10am and was back up on the ward for just after 5, the surgeons were amazing and so was my after care, the first 24 I had a heat blanket on me, drip for fluids and was monitored every hour. All through my stay my wounds were monitored and physio therapist were in every day giving me exercises and on my final day gave me a leaflet with ones to do every week to build my strength again. I decided against implants as didn't want to have to face further operations to replace them but this is still a major surgery but your surgeon should run through all your optionand the risks involved in each of them, I also saw a phycologist before my op too. Good luck and do what feels right for you

Donna x