Colleen123

I was 59 when I had reconstruction.  I had two bouts with breast cancer resulting in a mastectomy each time.  So I have dealt with having one breast and a prosthesis and then no breasts and two prostheses.  I live in Canada and because I am thin and don't have enough tummy for two TRAM breasts, my only option was implants.  I did a lot of research and decided that I didn't want to be exchanging my implants when I was in my 70's and 80's (the average life expectancy of an implant is 10 years).. There is also the possibility of capsular contracture which is painful, disfiguring, and requires more surgery.   That, for me, ruled out implants.  (the long expansion process, which is quite painful for some, and the wierd motion of the breasts when your pectoral muscles are used also made me not want implants). Even though I wasn't a candidate for TRAM, research showed me that hernia is possible as well as back problems due to the muscle loss.

So, to make a long story shorter, I did a lot more research and asked a lot of questions on this board and others like it.  The names of two doctors kept coming up as among the best (if not THE BEST) in flap reconstruction.  They are Drs. DellaCroce and Sullivan from the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans, LA.  www.breastcenter.com  I got my nerve up and contacted them and the rest is history.  A year and a half ago I travelled all the way from western Canada to New Orleans for a bilateral SGAP reconstruction (using the buttocks tissue).  Three months later I had Stage 2 and last November I had the tattoos.  I am thrilled with the results.  The scars have faded to nothing (and if you have immediate reconstruction at the time of the mastectomy, there are almost no scars.... they have a breast surgeon there that works with them to do the mastectomies).  Most of the time I forget that I even had reconstruction.  My breasts feel and look so real.  They are warm, soft, and my own tissue..... and I never have to have another surgery.  I am done. 

Ultimately you have to make the decision that is right for you.  If you ask my advice, I would say to have the DIEP (not TRAM).... and if you cannot go to New Orleans for your surgery, then make sure that your ps has done hundreds, if not thousands, of DIEPS before you agree to be his/her patient.  You only get one shot at it, and you don't want to have the ps practicing on you.

Good luck

Colleen

Springtime..... I am 5'2" and weighed 110 lb when I went for bilateral SGAP with Drs. D and S at the Center.   My reconstruction was delayed, so Dr. D. didn't know what size I was before (which was a small B).  I ended up with C cups and a flat behind.  The breasts look great.... I have cleavage for the first time in my life, but..... I have a difficult time getting a bra to fit me.  None of the underwires fit.  It seems that my breasts are too wide at the bottom of the cleaveage to fit between the wires (meaning that the wires poke into the breasts).  Also the semi-cups of the underwires are too low cut and show the top of the nipple on one side.  Because of the scars (which have faded to almost nothing after 1 1/2 years) bras that are cut low  in the cleavage areas are not suitable.  I wear a stretchy sports bra most of the time, but I keep looking for a pretty, feminine bra whenever I am in the lingeree dept.  Having said that, I love my new breasts and I can easily go braless and just wear a camisole if I wanted to. 

The docs at NOLA do a great job at fixing the backside after SGAP.  They do a lot of liposuction and you get a "butt lift" at Stage 2 to fill in the dents left by the flap removal.  My backside is quite flat, but because of the lipo and the lift, it is smooth and doesn't look bad at all. 

You will be in good hands.

Colleen

I suggest you go to www.bcsupport.org and go to the "ask the doctor" site.  Dr. Frank DellaCroce from the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans answers questions regarding breast reconstruction, etc.  There are lots of questions (if you page down) regarding the success or failure of implants after radiation that you might want to read..... or you can ask him some questions yourself.  He usually answers within a couple of days. 

Good luck......

Colleen

ps.... I also had "normal" mammograms and insisted on further testing which resulted in them finding the cancer.  So... my advice to all women is to know your own breasts and if there are any deviations from "your normal", then insist on getting it checked out.  I believe it saved my life... not once but twice (mastectomies 1 1/2 years apart).

Hi Bridget

I travelled from Canada to NOLA for surgery.  I didn't meet with the doctors until the day before my surgery.  Everything else was done by phone or email.   About the hotels... on the doctor's website www.breastcenter.com, there is a travel section that lists the hotels that have a special rate for patients of the center.  Also, there is a place called Hope Lodge that you can stay at for free if you are a cancer patient.  (I didn't know about this place when I went there.).  My advice is to stay at a place that includes breakfast (Hampton Inn on St. Charles Blvd. is a nice one and it is not very far from the center).  Some hotels have a small fridge and microwave in the room (that helps costs as well).  I initially contacted them in November and had my surgery the following February (although that was in 2007 and I hear that they are getting busier now, so it may be longer at this point in time). 

You will not be sorry with your choice of NOLA.... I consider it the best medical experience of my life..... they certainly know how to treat you well.

Good luck.

I had bilateral SGAP in February of 2007.  I travelled from western Canada to New Orleans, LA to the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery. Drs. DellaCroce and Sullivan performed the surgery.  They pioneered the simultaneous SGAP .... even though other doctors do the SGAP,  it is done as two separate surgeries elsewhere.  Drs. D and S work together to keep the surgery time down.  Even though they have to turn you over twice during surgery, my surgery was still only 7 1/2 hours.  As far as pain goes, I didn't find it very painful.  Everyone is different, but I only used the pain pump twice on the advice of the nurse before I got out of bed.  Other than that, I only took two Tylenols for a headache in the hospital and didn't use anything when leaving the hospital.  I know that others lean heavily on the pain meds, but I didn't need them.  One thing that Dr. D uses is a numbing ball each side for the backside incisions.  This is a ball filled with a local anesthetic that gradually feeds into the incision over the first 24 to 48 hours.  It makes laying on your back comfortable.  I had my surgery on Thursday, was discharged to the hotel room on Sunday and left New Orleans to travel home on Friday.  The drains were removed from the breasts before I left the hospital and the backside drains I went home with and had them for about 3 weeks (I can't remember exactly), but my husband removed them when the drainage was down to almost nothing.  My personal doctor agreed to do it, but it was no big deal.... didn't hurt at all to remove them.  The backside looks pretty deformed after Stage 1, but Stage 2 was 3 months later and that is when the backside incisions are re-opened and tissue is moved around (like a butt-lift) and the "shark-bite"  is filled in.  The backside now is flatter, but looks quite acceptable.  The breasts are amazing.  THe scars have faded and are almost invisible, the nipples (created at Stage 2 and tattooed at Stage 3) really are the "icing on the cake" and make the breasts look very real.  I am thrilled.  Drs. D and S. do a lot of body contouring at Stage 2 (lipo of the trunk and legs, etc) to even things out.... they really do an excellent job.

It is a big surgery, and if you travelled for the surgery (to New Orleans), you would need someone at the hotel with you after you are discharged.  My flights home took approx. 11 to 14 hours with layovers between, and I managed all the walking in the airports just fine. 

I would think you could manage once you are home as long as you stocked up on prepared meals in your freezer, etc.  You wouldn't be able to drive for awhile, so if you needed to go out, you would have to take a taxi or walk if the stores are close.   You feel pretty good..... the drains are the worst part.... they get uncomfortable because you have to wear a compression garment until they are out.

I hope that helps.

Colleen

Another one here.  I found myself seeing boobs everywhere..... walking down the street, in the grocery store, on tv, in magazines.   Big ones, little ones, perky ones, saggy ones, young ones, old ones, fake ones, and even man boobs.  I didn't see faces, just boobs.  But.... I am 5 years out now from my first mastectomy and I no longer do that...... lol.  I'm not sure when that stopped, but it will stop. 

Hugs,  Colleen 

I'm glad to hear that you are on the mend and feeling better.  In no time at all you will be showing everyone you meet your sexy new boobs !!!  I found myself flashing a lot of people, especially new bc patients.  I know my personal physician has said that mine is the best breast reconstruction he has seen in his entire career.... and he is probably in his 60's. I had delayed reconstruction and they are not perfect, but I live in Canada and DIEP is a very new thing here and SGAP is not even attempted.  So... I think we are very lucky to have been reconstructed by the fab docs in NOLA. 

Hugs,  Colleen