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Hello and thanks in advance
Does anyone know how many women are currently living with at least one mastectomy? Either in US or worldwide, I cannot find this information anywhere. I am looking for percentage. Thanks!!
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DIEP Flap Reconstruction 2017
I am starting a thread for 2017. I had my initial DIEP surgery March 2014. I am having my final revision surgery Monday February 20, 2017. I had several set backs but am still 100% in favor of the flap surgeries. I will be glad to host this thread for everyone to share their experiences and ask questions to prepare for…
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How long after TE placement until can you be out and about?
I am having delayed reconstruction. Bilateral mastectomy was in 2019; delayed TE placement surgery coming up soon. After mastectomy I went flat, and was able to travel and be comfortably in public about 1.5 months later. Full recovery/getting to "normal" took longer than that but I was ok getting on a plane at that point.…
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2018 DIEP Surgery
Please PM me if you'd like to be added to our surgery list or if something needs to be edited. Sometimes it can get lost in the thread as fast as it moves. Thanks!! I'd like to welcome future DIEP ladies and thank you for sharing your journey, and also thank past DIEP ladies who are so graciously sharing their experience…
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Podcast: Talking to Your Doctor About Going Flat
Talking to Your Doctor About Going Flat February 17, 2021 Dr. Deanna Attai is associate clinical professor of surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Attai was an early adopter of social media for professional and patient education. She serves as the social media editor for the Journal of Oncology…
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Fat Grafting before Expander Fills
Has anyone else had fat grafting done prior to expander fills
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Revision Surgery - When to have Nipple Recon?
Hello all. After BMX in January 2020, I had DIEP flap surgery in August 2020. I am having revision surgery on Monday. My breasts are completely different sizes and shapes, and one is higher than the other. I also have some asymmetrical issues with my stomach, where it looks like they lipo'd more fat out of one side than…
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Bras 101: The Great Post-Exchange Debate
BRAS.......whether you love them or hate them, they are often part of our reconstruction journeys. Whippetmom and I decided to share some information that we discovered throughout our respective journeys through breast reconstruction. There are different practice styles and philosophies among plastic surgeons (PSs), and…
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For those who have had (or plan to have) DIEP surgery in Boston
Hi. I'm probably going to be having DIEP surgery in Spring 2021. I'd like to connect with women who have had (or are also planning to have) this surgery in Boston. Looking forward to connecting! Sharon
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largest cc for direct to implant?
Hello ladies- anyone had or know of anyone who had direct to implant recon with larger implants? Thanks
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PENN Hospital MI-Diep w. Dr. Kanchwala -Had Anyone?
Hi, I'm hoping someone(s) has had the new MI-Diep Flap recently, done by Dr. Kanchwala at Penn Hospital. It's a new technique he and colleagues developed that is supposed to be minimally invasive to the abdomen, causing a lot less pain, and much quicker recovery. Because they don't have an arrangement available to contact…
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Latissimus Dorsi Flap
can anyone who has had the latissimus dorsi flap breast reconstruction procedure tell me how you like it? It’s my only option and I’m a healthy 65 year old - not young anymore. Second time getting cancer in same breast. Had lumpectomy and radiation on the breast when I was 40. Thank you
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Revision from subpectoral to prepectoral.
I'm interested in hearing from anyone else who had revision surgery from subpectoral reconstruction to prepectoral reconstruction.
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Nipple reconstruction
Hi I'm new to this forum and see there are a ton of topics on this forum. I'm not sure how to search if you r looking for something specific. I'm having my TE's switched to silicone implants next month. I had nipple sparring mastectomy on non cancer side and nipple on cancer side was too close to tumor so it was removed.…
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Health concerns of Allergan Textured implants
hello everyone, I was diagnosed stage 3 breast cancer Dec.15. Had chemo, rads, node removal, bilateral mastectomy with TE placed. Had my reconstruction surgery June.2017. My surgeon didn't give me a choice or option of implant she just said "this is the one I use". So I was given a textured, gummy bear, anatomically shaped…
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Is future implant replacement covered by insurance?
I will be having a BMX in January with TEs. That much I know from discussion with BS as we won't know if I need rads until after surgery. I have also yet to meet my PS, appointment is 12/3. I am pretty sure I will be a candidate for DIEP and am trying to decide if I want that and all the recovery but then I'm done or the…
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Repeat surgeries? Please share your experience -
I had a nipple and skin sparing BMX with immediate reconstruction using pre-pectoral anatomical silicone implants in May. I am less than thrilled with the results and have tried to be patient. I realize that things have changed along the way and I'm grateful for that - swelling is gone, pain is negligible, and one side is…
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THE IRON BRA
Hi Ladies- I had a bilateral masectomy with tissue expanders and saline implants in 2003 and have just absolutely decided I cannot take the IRON BRA anymore! I have tried and tried to make it ok but it is not OK. I felt like this from day one and I must get them out. Just dont know what the cause is of the never ending…
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Anyone wiht Nipple Discharge after NSM told possible DCIS cells
Hi everyone I haven't posted for quite a while but I still check out almost daily all the amazing info that is available on this fantastic site. I had a NSM 10 months ago with no sign of cancer, we thought we were dealing with a large mass showing as a papilloma but after the op the pathology came back showing 11cm of DCIS…
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Will I ever sleep on my stomach again?
I've been reading these discussion boards for a few month now. Had a Bilateral MX November 30th, 2010with immediate tissue expanders. 2 days ago had exchange surgery; 500 cc Naturelle Silicone implants. I have learned so much and been helped tremendously by reading the experiences of many women on this website. Here's my…
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How much do tissue expanders weigh?
Okay, another one of my rather inane questions...I'm filled to 360cc in my one tissue expander. Does anyone know how much this darn thing weighs? I seem to be a bit heavier than usual (was weighed at a doc's appointment last week and surprised I weighed that much, because I'm in my smallest size pants). I should be able to…
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Anyone had a Strange-Acting "Infection" after Tissue Expanders
Redness, no fever, and this has happened twice now! Has anyone had this happen? I had bilaterals in May 2009 with te's placed immediately. I was red after surgery and asked about it but with so much done I figured it had to do with the surgery. I kept some of that redness with it eventually going down under the breast.…
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Post Diep Tummy Muscle Strength
Hi, I am considering the Diep procedure. I am still doing a lot of research on it. I just wanted to know from any ladies that have done this procedure, what your tummy is like post surgery It is not a tummy tuck from what I am told. They do stretch the skin down. Does your tummy stay flat and tight years down the road. Can…
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Immediate reconstruction minus nipples
Having a hard time finding anyone who has gone through this specifically. I am 3 weeks post op from having a bilateral mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction. I chose also to have my nipples taken off. The implants are done a newer way where they put them over your pec muscles. I am very pleased with how they…
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One step implant procedure with Alloderm - Anyone?
I had a bilateral mastectomy on December 1, not long after my dx. I had to decide quickly about reconstruction and I think I've been lucky. I was surprised to find a doctor in the middle of Nebraska who performs the one-step procedure with Alloderm. Has anyone else had this? Have you completed revsion surgery? I have not…
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"Cording" from below expander into ribs?
Hi, I've read about cording that can extend from the underarm where nodes are taken and down into the hand. I've seen pics of this too. The thing is, I've got that going on from the fold at the bottom of my "breast" (where the expander is) and down into my ribs and beyond. I can literally see a cord, a tight violin string…
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Just had fat grafting
had my first round of fat grafting 5 days ago Wowzers! That was painful. My question though is regarding the breast area, I did not have much bruising but noticed today my skin is a yellowish hue, it looks like a healing bruise would after a few days but like I said I didn't have initial bruising! Is this possibily the fat…
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Anyone's expander rotate? Swelling after Exchange
Hello. I was wondering if any of you had this issue? My Tissue expander rotated 90 degrees. I understand that it is not very common. I am not posting this to try to scare anyone, just to get more info. My PS told me this after the exchange surgery in June. (He was surprised when he opened me up). I had an anatomical type,…
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"Gummy Bear" Implants anyone have them?
My PS just got the new what the call Gummy Bear implants in. He said it would be a good option for me. Anyone have them and have any opinions on them??
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nipple tattoo???
I had my nipple tattooing today. Wow...was not what I expected. They are bleeding and there is bruising . The bruising may be from the lidocain injection. Not sure. But either way, they are hurting now. Can someone tell me their experience...