Inner thigh tissue op for Brest reconstruction

Wishing you all the best full recovery and put this all behind you. 

Hi Fingir05, I’m sorry to hear about your breast cancer. I hope you are doing well after your mastectomy and TUG flap reconstruction.
I was diagnosed with multifocal cancer in left breast in March, and like you am having a skin sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. Like you I don’t have enough tissue on my tummy or elsewhere so my only option is a TUG or an implant. Both will require some some sort of symmetry surgery on the other side. 
I feel quite torn about the decision, would much prefer to use my own tissue and not have worries about replacing an implant at a later date. However I’m also concerned about recovery from TUG as it is a big op. Please could you say a bit more about what it was like for you? 
Many thanks, Rosie xx

I am just wondering what the scars and shape of your legs would be like after the operation, and as it heals. My surgeon has also suggested harvesting fat from various locations too and that does trouble me a little. My recon is a delayed one so implants would now involve stretching my mastectomy skin for some time before I could even have them fitted.

Hello pink ladies. How is it going?

Well 2 days before my mastectomy a different plastic surgeon said there wasn't enough fat on my inner thighs. They called in the 'buttock surgeon' but when I thought about having a flat buttock and tiny tits after he said he would have to take from both buttock cheeks and I would get an "a cup breast size!" I plumped for the implant (a couple of days before the operation). So I can't talk about scars on legs etc. What I would say is that the TUG op is very complex and can last all day long! If you are slim and don't have much fat it is really NOT WORTH THE TROUBL.E OR RISK.  I'm glad I made the decision for an implant in the end. My plastic surgeon agreed with me. I'm facing more surgery now (for axillary clearance) and don't think I could face it if I had had such a lengthy and complex operation. Hope this helps! Good luck - these decisions are so difficult when we are still shocked and numb that we are going through this.

Hi Fungir5, thanks for your reply. It’s really good to hear you are out the other side and also that you are happy with your decision. You are absolutely right these decisions would be hard enough to make anyway, let alone when you’re dealing with a cancer diagnosis. 
That must have been tricky and unsettling to have a change of plan just before your op. Sounds like you handled it well though and made a decision that was right for you
Like you I’ve been seen by a couple of different surgeons who have prodded and pinched my thighs, shoulders and tummy wondering where they could get enough to make a breast. I’ve got an appointment tomorrow with what I hope will be the final surgeon so we can make a decision. I’ve been doing some reading round both procedures and have got a list of questions so I’m feeling as prepared as I can be. Thanks for reaching out and for sharing your experience. Take care, Rosie xx

Sounds like the right choice for sure.  I am a slender woman too and didn’t need a mastectomy but at my age which would have been 73 I would have asked for a nipple sparing mastectomy and implant.  Of course age makes a big difference but when you don’t have enough fat it is too risky to even begin to try and harvest it from all over.  You certainly did an excellent job getting opinions and this advice sounds like a plan.  Take care and I am a 34 A so small breasted but ok with me.  
Have you asked about a nipple sparing mastectomy and if it is an option for you?

Barbara

How did your appointment go Rosie ? 

Hi Fungir05, it was a bit of a whirlwind. They put two more options on the table, so after thinking on it over the weekend I opted for a SLAM flap reconstruction. It’s like a DIEP for skinny girls - uses a mini flap. I had it done on Monday, an 8 hr surgery. Thank god the cancers are out and things seem to have gone well. I’m home from hospital now, I need to recover and get my strength back but I’m so relieved it’s over and I got through it. X

Dear Rosie What is a SLAM flap ? I was never offered this option ! I hope your recovery is going ok. I have a very slim body but  had an e cup breast size so I think that op wouldn’t have been possible for me. I had the worst body type for breast reconstruction! Finally I had implant with reduction on the other side. Big hug. 

Thanks Fungir. It probably wouldn’t have been right for you, the implant sounds like a good choice for your situation and body shape. I’m quite flat chested so the surgeon thought SLAM would be a good option for me as it uses a smaller abdominal flap than a DIEP, and it means I wouldn’t have imbalanced legs like I would from the TUG. Recovery seems to be going OK so far although I’m sore and I can’t stand up straight yet. That will get easier over this next week apparently. The new breast looks in proportion and is warm so fingers crossed the tissue has taken. Xx