Hi all, please bear with me, this takes a while to explain. Re-reading it sounds a bit unhinged but this is my experience.
I was diagnosed with an 8mm tumour found in a cluster of calcifications on one side only. My NHS surgeon who also has a private plastic surgery practice rushed me through my options of different kinds of incisions in our consultation, emphasising how superior the full lifting option was, aesthetically. He was proposing to lift the breast, and take the tumour out, which is high up, above my nipple. My other side, left a bit floppy (which he pointed out, using the word floppy) after breastfeeding would have stayed the same, which was fine by me. I did ask if it wouldn’t have looked even worse, but was told there was no time to do it. Whatever! Keen not to have more surgery than I needed, I didn’t complain. After the consultation I was very unhappy about all this extra surgery on the cancer side that didn’t seem that necessary for a pretty simple lumpectomy. My breasts are not perfect but they’re ok, I just wanted the cancer out.
On the day of the surgery, he told me they’d be doing both boobs in full recon style - areola cut off and reattached, tucks and reshaping. I signed the permissions etc, me and a nurse in my cubicle with this brusque surgeon telling me what was going to happen. I asked about sensation in nipple being lost - yes it probably will be partly or fully - and recovery times - no real information. Plus two drains put in. I was shocked and scared.
At the last minute I said ‘hang on a minute, is there some way of doing this without cutting so much and taking my nipples off’ and he showed me a much more simple op, with one incision just around the top of my areola. He gave me the choice and some time to think about it and after discussing it with the nurses and my Mum on the phone, I decided to have the simpler operation, probably a tenth of the amount of incisions. This was an amazingly stressful moment for me, I felt vulnerable and unsure.
I’m recovering well so far - a bit different and sore post op on one side, no drain, minimal incision. The imperfect boobs I’ve lived with for ages since having my daughter are still mostly there, for the time being anyway, and I’m so glad I had the courage to stand up to that guy’s railroading.
What is going on? How many other women have been subjected to unnecessary surgery like this? I can 100% understand it if you have more radical procedures, am in no way meaning to denigrate those who need and want reconstruction, but mine was relatively simple. I know it sounds paranoid but Is he training junior surgeons on NHS patients to work in his private plastic surgery practice? Is it a financial thing? Surely the full breast uplift costs the NHS way more than a simple incision? Your thoughts would be welcome, I find this disturbing and would like to know if I’m the only person who does?! Thank you for reading. X
Well done you!! 
good call !
did you just end up having a lumpectomy ??
its always good to make an informed choice, and not a rushed one either . I think I’d be totally happy with what you went for, and ended up with .
Thank you. Recovery will be babysteps I think, and hopefully everything will be a bit easier once my drain is removed on the 29th. I hope you're able to put your bad experience behind you and focus on healing. Merry Christmas to you too 
Hi, I had 3 options presented to me by my surgeon and at no point did I feel pressured to make a decision. He took time to explain the various pros and cons to me and I felt happy with my ultimate decisions, which like you, was the least invasive option. I am sorry you felt pressured and glad you made the call at the last minute, though that does sound pretty stressful. Hope you are recovering well
