Breast implant decision - looking for positive stories

Well I’m reaching out to anyone on here who has a positive story to share of having breast  implants. I was diagnosed with TNBC just before christmas. I have just finished 3 EC treatments and 9 Paclitaxel with Carboplatin every three weeks. Half way through my treatment I had a complete response - of course we don’t know if that is a pathological complete response until the surgery - as my breast surgeon has firmly tole me - however the breast care nurse suggests its likely given the early response.

The curve ball (as if there aren’t enough) is that I have been diagnosed with the PALB2 gene - I have a 30% chance of a recurrence on top of the recurrence risk that TNBC brings. With this in mind I am going to have a mastectomy on both sides - first August 10th and other side when I am healed from that. I am clear that I want to live with reduced risk.

I had made the decision to remain flat - largely based on stage of life - (59) and less invasive surgery/recovery. I was kind of ‘settled’ with this. This was the decision i told the breast surgeon early June. She gave me the option to change my mind at any point - I never thought I would. However! I recently met up with a friend who had a breast implant following breast cancer 8 years ago. I had a look and a feel and was pretty marvelled at how amazing it was. She is quite small in all build - like me, and felt it was now very much part of her normal self. I realised that the decision I made to remain flat was partly because when on treatment I didn’t have the space in my head to think about anything else - I am really grateful that I am now at least thinking about it, even if I do decide to stay flat. I know I won’t have tissue reconstruction as I don’t want that level of recovery.

So, any thoughts/experiences gratefully received. I guess the things in my mind are:

What was the recovery like in terms of pain and movement?

How long did recovery to normal activities take?

If there were problems - were they easily rectified. - infection etc?

Did you feel as psychologically happy with it as you hoped (I will be having both done so they will match at some point)

What about the fact that it’s not for life? (This is one of my major thoughts).

I am of course mindful that if I don't have a PCR I will need radiotherapy - that could be a spanner in the works!!

Anyway - that’s where I am up to and I am meeting the breast surgeon this wednesday morning to discuss as if I do go down this road they need to be ordered.

What a dilemma - hoping someone has something to say - actually good or bad - I need to hear balanced thoughts.

Janx