single mastectomy scar

Hi Frannie, sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I didn’t have a mastectomy I had a lumpectomy but my scar is very neat. My surgeon was an oncoplastic surgeon. My stitches were done internally so there was no stitching to the outside. It might be worth having a chat with your surgeon and speaking to him/her to see how they plan to stitch your wound and what the scar will look like after. Perhaps you can let them know that it does concern you how it looks after the op. I can understand your concern as I know some can be very unsightly which then doesn’t help how one can feel about oneself. I’m sure there will be others that can advise how their mastectomies have been and whether they spoke to their surgeons or not. 
Wishing you all the best for your journey.

Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x

Hi,

I had mastectomy 4 weeks ago and same as you I know I will never want reconstruction and once I discussed that with the surgeon she was fine and has doen a very neat job.  I think sometimes if they think you might want reconstruction they can do skin sparing etc so just make sure they know you don't want that.

Thanks Lucy. I will make sure it is in my notes as I won't  now get the opportunity to speak to my surgeon until the day of my operation. I'll also talk to my BC nurse on Monday when I see her. I hope you are doing ok. Frannie

Hi Lucy,

Can I just ask how you are doing after your mastectomy 4 weeks ago and what recovery has been like? It looks like I am heading that way too in a while and I’m pretty sure I wont go for reconstruction either as want minimum invasive surgery. Any top tips?

Jan

Hi Frankie,  good that you are planning and asking questions.  Found this excellent link on aesthetic flat closure and good questions to have answered so there will be no surprises.

https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/going-flat-no-reconstruction/aesthetic-flat-closure

Barbara

Hi, I had a mastectomy about a year and a half ago, I never really thought about talking to my surgeon about having a neat scar, but my scar looks so good and very neat, I’m sure they will do a great job for you and it will not be as bad as you may be imagining x

Hi Jan,

I am doing pretty well after my mastectomy and the recovery has been okay really.  The first week I was in some pain and had a little discomfort from the drain being in and having to lug that about.  The hospital gave me liquid morphine to take home but that made me vomit a lot the day following surgery (I think only some ppl have this reaction so you may be fine if you have it) so i stopped that and any pain I had was very manageable with only paracetamol and ibuprofen and I even stopped that after about 10 days.  The wound itself has healed so fast and so well.  The only ongoing thing i have atm is areas of numbness and some cording which is hardened tissue under my armpit and into my arm from where the lymph nodes were removed, but the exercises and massaging the area is gradually loosening it off and improving range of movement.  I get stiff and a bit achey around the chest and shoulder on the side of the surgery if I overdo it and get the odd sharp pain but otherwise I'm doi g really well and have been pleasantly surprised by how much more back to normal I am than I would have imagined I would be by this stage. In terms of top tips I would say invest in a v cushion and lots of pillows as it is very hard to get comfortable at night the weeks after surgery and this helps you feel supported and propped up.  Everyone is different but I would say don't waste any money on post surgery bras as I have personally found it too uncomfortable to wear one.  I am only just in the last few days building upto wearing a soft cotton bralette and that's only comfy for short stretches of time and I have to take it off. I think when people have immediate reconstruction the compression bras etc are important but I think when it's just mastectomy it's not necessary (well at least that's what my surgeon said). Bbest of luck with your surgery x

Thanks Lucy,

That’s all really helpful - only just half way through chemo at the moment but have a faulty gene mutation which is putting me at high risk of recurrence so mastectomy is definitely on the table to think about. Sounds like you are doing really well - good to hear.

it’s all so much to get head around.

Jan x