Help - advise needed on breast reconstruction

Hi this my experience had lumpectomy 5 years ago had 3 weeks radiotherapy. Had mastectomy and lymph nodes removed last November and immediate DIEP reconstruction so I’m only 9ths along and plastic surgeon warned me there’d be more surgery

it was painful but is  doable as in I was up and walking within 4 days out of hospital on 5th day about 6 weeks after surgery my breast reopened underneath and had to heal by itself naturally with me be cautioned under no circumstances to let it get infected this was stressful but it did heal 

I then had 6 months chemotherapy which resulted in me having necrosis on the upper part of my newly formed breast which has a permanent bruise apparently caused by previous radiotherapy (nobody had warned me this could happen) the necrosis is quite large and I now feel I have 3 boobs!! The surgeon is going to go back in through nipple scar and scrape as much out as possible this will then cause a dent which will be filled by lipofiller i think. 

if I could choose again I’d just get mastectomy and use prosthesis but like I said this is my experience so I’d make sure you ask what effect previous radiotherapy could have on results  good luck whatever you decide xxxx

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Sorry you are going through this and decision is personal and difficult too.  I had bilateral lumpectomy so cannot tell you about mastectomy reconstruction experience.  I did find this website very helpful so sending you the link. I live in US and implants are the most popular here and many are nipple sparing so look good too.  Here is the link and both implants and flaps are discussed.  Site is Memorial Sloan Kettering so very reputable.  Good luck with everything.  

https://www.mskcc.org/news/breast-reconstruction-deciding-between-implant-and-flap-surgery?amp=

Barbara

Hi there,  another great article and don’t know if you have this option but an advancement for sure.  
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/new-breast-reconstruction-advances?amp=true

I don’t want to overwhelm you.  

Barbara

Hi, I feel your pain & confusion. I had breast conservative surgery but 8 weeks later underwent a mastectomy as they thought there was further cancer other than the main tumor removed. Sure enough there was......so mastectomy was right decision but difficult to make at the time.

I didn't like the thought of using my own tissues & also wanted to keep as a back up option if the implant route didn't work or failed at some point in the future. I don't like the thought of more surgery but as 54 likely the implant will need replacing at some point.

I've had the implant for 10 weeks and starting to get used to how it feels. Radiotherapy starts 22nd Aug & just hoping that it it isn't impacted, although I was aware it may be.

So much to think about & decide in short period of time. Good luck x

Thanks for your message, Kitty … I keep going back and forth every day, the implant option seems the simplest but I’m worried it will look ridiculous as it will be pert and new compared to my other natural one - I did ask if I could have both done at the same time (implants) to keep them the same but the surgeon won’t do it to mininse risk of infection- it seems every avenue has a downside. The Diep option is also freaking me out as the blood vessel cutting and reconnecting makes me nervous and I’m afraid I’ll have complications. I’ve been meditating about it and have asked for help finding the best option… so let’s hope the universe answers soon. 

I did the same, backwards & forwards between options, positives & negatives for each. When I had the breast conservative surgery I had a breast reduction on the other side, so now a lot smaller & less floppy, but then came mastectomy......I opted for recon straight away without tissue expander as I couldnt face knowing that would be 2 surgeries, the recon is slightly smaller than the other but I was like that naturally.

If there are problems after radiotherapy I may need further surgery, so back to 2 again, but just thought I would see what happened & see if I got away with one 

Hope the Universe helps x

Hi I had my right breast removed by mastectomy and reconstruction using DIEP using my tummy and lymph removal 11 days ago it was not an easy decision but I didn’t want to have to keep replacing implants etc and thought my body would accept my own flesh easier than something foreign.  I am not going to say it was an easy surgery I think mine was 8 hours and it has been a bit uncomfortable and painful after but not unbearable I was up and walking about within 4 days, home after 7 days.  I am still very bruised and swollen and I have opened a talk on realistic recovery times etc.  For me it was the best decision.