I too have had a bilateral mastectomy...quite a significant amount of complications but that is another story. I was recommended by my breast care nurses and my surgeon to use either E45 cream or Aveeno. I actually found the Aveeno lighter and massaged in much easier.
I have been using bio oil on my left mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction. It’s meant to be brilliant for scarring but I'm wondering if it’s still too early for it. I too like Kaz have complications - well just one really but it’s necrosis (which they hope will sort itself out), so I think I am going to switch to something like E45 or Aveeno for a while.
I hope those complications get sorted for you Kaz. Im 5 weeks post surgery now and will be having the other side done in January as a protective stance - so here comes the drain again!!!!!
I was told by my surgeon' and the breast care nurses, not to use Bio Oil at all! I was given a sheet of "do's" and "don'ts"....more "don'ts" and bio oil was top of the list. After a month I was permitted to massage my breasts but not before. At least 3 times daily to gently use the cream as a moisturiser. I too had necrosis (4 times) but mine was so bad, unfortunately all the half implants and reconstruction via DIEP had to be cut out and treated. Last Christmas, had to have my left breast completely removed. I was given a date of 4 July this year (my birthday!!!) For my surgeon to perform a Pedicled Latissimus Dorsi reconstruction. This seems to have worked a lot better than the Diep but have no feeling whatsoever. Still have to 3 times daily use the moisturiser and massage. Not out of the woods yet but I am a fighter.
Oh my goodness re the bio oil! Thank you so much for telling me this!! I wasn’t told this or given a list of do’s/dont’s. What a massive journey you have had with this. I’m so sorry for you for this - damn necrosis! Mine looks like NIKE tick slogan and is just under the nipple. I’m really hoping it will will lift as they are thinking but I think its going to take a while.
In my operations they cut out a large oval shape taking my nipples away completely. I tested positive for the BRCA 1 gene and, because of extensive family history (both sides) going back as far as Great-Grandmothers, had the bilateral mastectomies and immediate Diep reconstruction. Necrosis 2 weeks after the first operation 9 August 2022, (hottest day of that year)! Then more Necrosis right up to beginning of December last year. Was in hospital already in the dressings clinic when the infection burst through...immediate surgery that night/early morning...that was when the surgeon had to remove everything.
Yes it has been a long hard process. I still get a little down about it all but, as I said earlier, I am a fighter and will not be beaten (hopefully). I lost my mum in January this year ...she too had been through breast cancer a few years ago ...but she actually passed away through heart failure at 89 years ...so it was even harder to cope with.
I did open up a new forum just before July (this year) called "Pedicled Latissimus Dorsi" but unfortunately at the time no one else had had that procedure.
Can I just ask what cream do you use for massaging your breast? I also had a DIEP reconstruction but my breast is pretty hard (I am 8 weeks post surgery) and my surgeon told me to massage it. He mentioned E45. Also what's your experience with the massaging, does it work for softening the new breast tissue? I'll have two more plastic surgeries to further 'sculpt' my new breast and symmetricalise the other one. Any thoughts or advice on that? Hug, xx
Hi hope you have a speedy recovery, I had LD reconstruction too I feel as if my muscles on donor site are stuck to my rib cage, very uncomfortable iv been exercising and trying to get family to massage it my surgery was 13 weeks ago.
I was advised to use E45 after my surgery. Once I finished my radiotherapy I used 100 percent Aloe Vera which further helped with the moisturising of the skin and stop it burning.
I saw a post c section scar massage specialist after I had my last baby who taught me all about the powers of massaging any scar, I intend to do the same with my mastectomy scar when it’s healed more. The product she uses is Naqi oil. It’s expensive around £20 for small bottle but a little goes a long way. Unlike other oils like bio-oil this one penetrates through the layers of skin. It’s excellent I’d highly recommend. And if you want to look at some scar massage techniques there’s a physio called Fiona who runs HLP therapy and has tutorial videos on her YouTube and Instagram page. Doesn’t matter what type of scar the principle is the same , I’ve put a link below. I hope that helps xx
