Are you relatively happy with your implant reconstruction after bilateral mastectomy?

[EttaMagath]

Having surgery in a few weeks and worried about how I will look after reconstruction.

[Burningrock]

Have you and your surgeon discussed the intended outcomes? Do you have confidence in your surgeon? I had reconstruction just over a year ago. They look great, but it has been an emotional adjustment just the same.

[Dancegal]

I had a mastectomy on just the left side. I opted for an implant a year later. I am very unhappy as I have developed something called Capsular Contracture. It causes scar tissue surrounding the implant. I was not told about the possibility of this. It causes discomfort and has made the breast look like a hardball but it is not harmful. The only way to treat this is to remove the implant and try again, possibly scrape the scar tissue (still surgery) or go without. There is no way to know if it will happen again. The positive is that in a bra I feel like it matches my other side. With all that said, I know many women who have had no problems with their implants and are happy with the results. I hope this will be your experience!

[ROCgal in reply to Dancegal]

I just had my final “swap out” surgery this past Wednesday (I had tissue expanders in since my first two surgeries in October). I hated the expanders - they didn’t look or feel like breasts and they were uncomfortable and cumbersome. I am still dealing with bruising and scars healing (it was only a week ago), but I am so much happier with the actual implants. The mastectomy scars will always be there, but they are actually going to be kind of cute, I think!

I’ve also seen a few posts from UK folks that talk about all of the resources available to them. Sounds awesome, but nothing like that exists in the US, so we are left to go to message boards like these 😕.

Your surgeon should discuss the risks with you though. Sometimes I feel like our doctors still treat women like children that they don’t want to scare, but it’s important for you to understand what you are getting into. All that said, I am feeling more optimistic about my physical self than I have since the initial bilateral mastectomy 5 months ago. Here is a webinar I recently watched from a top surgeon where I am getting my treatment about implant risks. Hope it helps (without being too scary). youtube.com/watch?v=PMspxtx...(Not working as expected?)

Good luck! Whatever path you choose will be the right one for you!

[Burningrock in reply to ROCgal]

Thank you for sharing. A most interesting presentation.

[Figletf]

My plastic surgeon put the expanders in place at my initial breast removal surgery .I was a bit surprised that my chest looked like it already had small breasts.Each week I returned to Moffitt and my surgeon's nurse filled them up a bit more until they were the size of my natural breasts.The process is slow and uncomfortable but it was never painful.My surgery was in 2016 and my scars don't really bother me now.My plastic surgeon suggested nipple tattooing but I never got that.She had formed nipples from skin under my arms very near where my natural breasts had once been.My husband and I were amazed at how well everything turned out( he even more pleased than I was !)

I was quite thrilled for two years until my cancer had metastisized to my bones and liver.

My breasts still look natural in clothing and I never had any probs whatsoever with the implants. For me is was the correct choice.

[Mmnyc]

I had my implant surgery in January 2020. Honestly they look nothing like my original breast. I knew that going in but one can never prepare you for how hard they actually feel. The scars are VERY noticeable. I don’t see a point in getting nipples or tattooed nipples, for what purpose? They will never look natural. I recall my surgeon telling me that I would need new implants every 10 years or so and if I’m lucky to be alive in 10 years I don’t plan on getting implants again.