Breast reconstruction

[Suemarch]

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

This is an interesting read and the program should be interesting to watch. Ruth Waters is my plastics surgeon. She is amazing!

[biddenden_sue]

Thanks for that. Very interesting article and I'll definitely watch the programme. I was denied immediate reconstruction and ended up waiting over 2 years after my treatment to get my DIEP flap. It is now 17 months since that op, and next month I finally get a corrective uplift/reduction to my real boob so they match (I currently have 1 x DD and 1 x B cup so it has been very uncomfortable this past year and a half). Then at some point after that, I can finally have nipple reconstruction. The time frame is so frustratingly slow! I have felt like a freak for such a long time now. It is almost 4 years since my mastectomy and I have no idea when I'll be my old self again and feel normal.

[Suemarch in reply to biddenden_sue]

Glad you are getting there, but such a shame it has taken such a very long time. I can understand your frustration.

Nipple reconstruction is brilliant, but not the only option.

Have you looked at or been offered prosthetic (stick on) nipples? They are amazing, you wouldn’t know they weren’t real. They attach by suction or there are different adhesives, one which can last up to 3 weeks. A mould can be taken from your own nipple preoperatively, the remaining nipple at anytime or, as in my case, I was given a few different shapes, sizes & colours to look at and try on once my scars had healed and I chose what I thought suited me best.

You can also have tattooing without the reconstruction, which looks good.

Surgical reconstruction leaves your nipples permanently erect, which some women can find disturbing.

I am not going to opt for a nipple reconstruction, I am more than happy with the prosthetic ones, when I feel the need for them, which actually isn’t that often.

I am sure that once you have had surgery to match the two breasts, you will feel much better and have more confidence. Wishing you good luck with the op next month x

[sami11 in reply to biddenden_sue]

I get that totally x

[Moirs1964]

Very interesting. When it on bbc? I can’t seem to see the date. I had DIEP flap reconstruction and it is not good!!! In hindsight I should have travelled and found a female surgeon but I’m now stuck with a breast and stomach that look like a jigsaw 😞.

[Suemarch in reply to Moirs1964]

IT is part of a 3 part series on BBC2 on Monday 8th at 9pm, called Surgeons: At the Edge of Life. It is about life behind the theatre doors at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, which is where Ruth Waters is based.

[Suemarch in reply to Moirs1964]

When did you have your DIEP flap done? There are surgeons around who will revise previous surgery and scarring. Does your GP surgery have a choose and book service? If you are not happy, you can request to be referred to someone else. Mine will refer to private hospitals, as well as other NHS hospitals. Some private hospitals will take NHS patients, at no cost to the patient. Might be worth you looking into, rather than feeling that you have been given a rough deal. X

[Moirs1964 in reply to Suemarch]

Thanks SueMarch. I live in Southern Ireland and had it done under my private Health insurance. I only had a choice of 2 surgeons that specialized in Diep flap. Both men so I went with the one who claimed he had done lots of these!! It’s been 2 and half years and it’s still as ugly as day 1. Scars have not healed despite previous healing being good. I think he was just a poor surgeon. All talk and bluff etc. I recovered so well from chemo and mastectomy but this surgery has had a lasting impact. On me, my husband, my confidence etc. Thats why when I see someone thinking about this type of surgery I would advise they ask the surgeon about expertise and also I think it would help to talk and meet someone who’s been through it. I wish I had. I’m looking forward to seeing this program so thanks 😊

[Suemarch in reply to Moirs1964]

Such a sad story. There are many extremely good male plastics surgeons around, it sounds as though you were very unlucky. Would your insurance company fund “scar revision”? You could then look in more detail for a different surgeon.

[Moirs1964 in reply to Suemarch]

Yes I was extremely unlucky and I’m reminded every day. Thank you for tips but it’s unlikely the insurance company will fund it as they’ll see it as cosmetic which is not covered.

[Suemarch]

Words of a Ruth Waters, plastic surgeon featuring in the BBC2 program, Surgeons: At the Edge of Life.

huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/...

[RoxanneT in reply to Suemarch]

Thank you for the heads up Suemarch. I've recorded it.

I wanted to watch it but at the last minute I backed off. it was probably a good thing. I saw my plastic surgeon today and it was way too much information for me

[Suemarch in reply to RoxanneT]

The information given was very good, but the actual operation might have been a bit much for some to see. They did show a lot of detail. I hope you have managed to digest what was said today. Such a lot to consider. Best wishes x

[Moirs1964 in reply to Suemarch]

I thought it was a great program and thanks for letting us know. I wish I had that lady Ruth Waters when I had mine. She did an amazing job.

[biddenden_sue]

I found the programme fascinating. Yes, it was quite graphic when showing the operation, but I can watch that. I am in awe of surgeons. The other op they focussed on was amazing. A lady had cancer in her face. Two surgeons worked to remove quite a large section of her face, then rebuild it with a section from her hip. She looked great afterwards and the prosthetic eye that was created for her was a work of art! I'll be watching the other episodes too. It's fascinating.