Nipple Sparing Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction
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monika I'm new to this thread but not new to NSM. I agree with Sweetie. I was very fortunate that my BS offered this (I didn't know it existed). I am very pleased with the outcome. I also had a one-step procedure where the implants were put in immediately. The PS used alloderm on the mx breast to support the implant.
Good luck.
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Speech529-I was never offered a one step procedure. Just curious how did it turn out? It seems like it would so much easier so I don' t know more people don't or can't have them.
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Good Luck Sweetie & Hurleygirly! I wish you all the best on your exchange. We're rooting for you! I know that you are going to be amazed at how soft and comfortable your body will be. It is incredible to experience how much better you can move and be rid of that TE foreign object feeling after exchange. Hope for the very best for your surgery and the days thereafter!
Saying a ((BIG HELLO)) to the newcomers as well as the familiar faces as I have been so busy and backed up with work/ etc.
Welcome, Crunchy Poodle Mama!
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THANK YOU, girls!! I'm waiting to hear back from my plastic surgeon so I'm in a holding pattern for now but I look forward to getting to know you all better!
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Hey Monika...what did you find out? I am praying for NSM.
I had my exchange last Wednesday. I was so uneven prior to the exchange my PS had to place different implant sizes, 650 on left and 550 on right. Believe it or not they ended up looking rather equal. They are Mentor Moderate Profile Plus. Got to say so comfortable after 5 months of TEs. I look like I am smaller than before BMX, I asked for a full-C, but it looks more like Bs. I am glad you have all shared that the will change over time. I was beginning to think I didn't go big enough. The only thing really wrong is my nipples seem to be pointing down. I cannot see them when I am looking down. PS says I may want a revision in 4 months. Any ideas?
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Whitedove-thanks for your encouraging words. You always have such positive energy, I like that about you!!
Dustymom-glad to hear your doing well. Have you been to the thread exchange city? they talk about all aspects of the exchange and I certainly have heard it takes several months for things to settle and have the final look. I'm curious though why your PS would already be talking about a revision? I would give it time though. You could talk to Kate33 she had her exchange a few weeks ago and had a NSM so you could ask her more about the nipple situation.
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The closer I get to next Tuesday the more agitated I have become with my TE. Is this normal. LOL..I think I am so anxious to get this thing out of me..I am directing anger at my whole situation and my poor stretched out foob.
or it's the effexor
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Twirl and Curl - Totally could relate to that anxious agitation pre-exchange. It's like we are so built up for this climactic event that we just can't wait to get it over and done with. There's a lot of expectation, eager tension and build-up. There is a lot riding on the Exchange Surgery and it was so hard for me to communicate that to non-BC folks. I remember just feeling like the day would never arrive. Hang in there, soon you will see how different and better you will feel.
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Hi Ladies, My doctor has agreed to do the NSM. He was very hesitant . He has only performed this procedure once before. But since he agreed in to using the scar that I already have from the open heart surgery, i figure I will be ok. I am still going for a second opinion just in case.
Dustymom: I saw my BS again yesterday and he said he will perform the NSM. But I also will go see your Doctor today in OC for a second opinion. I am glad you are feeling well.
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Monika, Glad to hear your doctor thinks you are a candidate for NSM. My only concern is that the PS was hesitant and has little experience. Did he said yes because, as you had mentioned, you were going to push for the NSM or tell him you would go elsewhere? Is there any leeway in how much time you have prior to needing surgery so that you can get a 2nd, or even 3rd or 4th opinion? Just know that a lot of what happens afterwards (well, most everything that happens afterwards) has to do with how well the intial BMX goes. Even though my BS and PS are top in the field, and are at the forefront of NSM specialization, I still was a nervous wreck, insecure and full of questions. Feeling confident and that you are in skilled hands matters so much!
Take care and good luck.
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Monika- Absolutely get some different opinions as whitedove suggested! The success of a NSM is directly related to the experience of the surgeon! I would never go to someone who has only done this type of MX once before. This is a very tricky surgery in that it takes great skill to maintain blood supply to the nipple yet remove as much breast tissue as possible. If someone is not highly skilled the likelihood that they will either (a) not being able to maintain the blood supply to the nipple and it will atrophy or (b) they will leave too much breast tissue behind putting you at a higher risk of recurrence. I don't know what type of cancer you have but if it is DCIS you have lots of time to find someone with more experience. I was DX in December and didn't have my NSM until March. If you are completely sold on this surgeon I would ask whether the one and only NSM they did was successful or not.
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Good luck Hurley, pleasant dreams.
speech welcome, have that itch I can't seem to get at. I have to actually move the implant around to try to reach it.
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Good luck Hurley Girl, pleasant dreams.
speech welcome, have that itch I can't seem to get at. I have to actually move the implant around to try to reach it.
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Hi Girls, just got back from my 2nd opinion. She is a young doctor but she specializes in NSM. She showed me her work and we talk for a while. I left there very confident on her capabilities.I am going to see two of the plastic surgeons she works with on Monday and I positive that I will choose this doctor over the other one.
DUSTYMOM: Thank you for referring this Doctor to me. I really liked her.
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Whitedove and Kate thank you for the encouragement and advice.
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Monika- So happy you found a doctor you like who is also experienced. Hope you find a PS you feel confident in as well!
Dustysmom- Glad to hear your exchange went well. Don't stress about the size. They change dramatically so I think you'll end up bigger than you think. Don't run out and buy expensive bras quite yet because even after 4 months I am still changing. As far as the nipples go one of mine was pointing in the wrong direction after my MX and my PS fixed it somehow so I know it can be done.
hurleygirly, Sweetie and twirlandcurl- Just wanted to wish all of you good luck this week and early next. Hope it all goes smoothly, that the Boob Fairy is kind and good and that you are soon home in Yippee Squishee land!
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sweetie (and others) I did not seek out a BS who could do a NSM. I was fortunate that my BS at Mayo does NSM often. She and my PS presented a poster session on the one-step procedure that was on display at Mayo about 6 weeks before my MX. I had not opted for mx at the time but I did read the poster and do some research on this procedure. Just out of curiosity. I had no idea that I would be getting the same procedure 6weeks later.
I agree with others--get another opinion if your doctor is not sure, has only done the surgery 1x, etc.
Hugs to all!
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There is a photo forum with reconstruction pictures. I have posted one before and several after photos if you want to see my NSM with immediate recon. It's titled: Uni MX one-step w/immediate recon (speech529). If you don't have access you can PM a member called TimTam.
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Monika- here's the link to the "Where are the NSM SSM procedures being done?" Best of luck in your search. Good luck with this new doctor. Even though my PS was young (mid 30s), I had a wonderful experience. I think youth can be an advantage when it comes to the medical profession as they can have a more modern mindset and be more up to date with new procedures.
. http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/750056?page=5#post_2006109
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hurleygirly~Thinking about you and sending you soft hugs for your new yippee squishee's! hope your feeling well and healing well also. Sweetie & Twirlandcurl~ sending you both hugs and happy healing for your yippie squishee's also! Keep us posted to how your all doing with your exchanges this week!
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GAgirl, I am already feeling good! I went into surgery at 11:30 this morning and I believe that it lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes. I woke up with absolutely no pain and no nausea and then they released me. I feel relaxed as if I had a few glasses of wine. Not a bad feeling at all! Oh and the results...my ps went with the 400CC silicone Allergen 20 high profiles and I already know that I am going to be really happy with them. THEY FEEL REAL! I know everyone said that before but you have no idea until you feel it yourself AND they look totally natural! YEAH!!!!!!!!
Thanks everyone for all of your good thoughts. I am doing great and so happy about everything so far! Sweetie and Twirland Curl, I wish you guys the same easy recover as I am having! Super exciting. Yahoo!!!
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I'm new to posting, but I have been reading this thread for weeks now. I just wanted to thank you all for sharing your experiences. I have learned so much from all your posts! That being said,..I have a few questions for the AZ members,...
Speech529,..I just read your post on the "Where are NSM procedures done?" forum and it looks like we both have had the same procedure done by the same BS and PS! The only difference being I had a BMX. My surgery was on Aug 18th, which means I am 6 weeks out. I have a question for you and for the other ladies on this forum: Do you have any feeling across your chest (the breast itself) and if so, how long did it take to gain it back? Also, did our PS have to do any adjustments/revisions to your implants after your 3 month period?
Kate33,..you seem so well informed and active with your breast cancer care. I was wondering if you belong to any local support groups there in the east valley?
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Hurleygirl! YAAYYY! Congratulations. I am so happy to hear how well things went. WOW 400s! You must be pleased. You have been such the poster girl for the ideal NSM/BMX. You take the medal! It is wonderful you are comfy and lovin' the new look and feel of the Y/Ps. Ga-Girl, I am glad you are doing well as well. It is so inspiring to see this new wave of women (and many younger women) who are having positive, inspiring, empowering, courageous and hopeful experiences with their BMX/NSM/treatment for BC. This is all a great sign!
Sweetie and Twirl - Good vibes are being sent your way. Much good wishes as you make the big leap. May you be comfy and pleased after the xchg.
SMH - Hi and welcome! I had an NSM/ BMX exchange recently and have little to no feeling in my breasts. When touched, it feels like I am touching something stuffed with cotton. A strange concept. I have some temperature tingling - and tingling in the nipples when I yawn, inhale deeply or get cold - I know, weird. I don't know how else to explain it. Could be phantom nerves regenerating but not sure. I am still struggling with adjusting to this. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions etc. So glad that after reading this thread you have joined us. Oh yes, I attest to the value of Kate's activity and dedication here!
Speech (and others) what is the scoop on the pic forum now? Sorry, I'm a little out of the loop.
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SMH Welcome! I was very pleased with the outcome of my surgery--how are you doing? I know it's early--just a little over a month. It's amazing how much changes. I hope you are doing well. My sensations are improving a little. Everything is numb from the nipple out to a radius of about 3 inches. I don't know if any more will come back. I had pain for a while on the outer edge of the mx breast, but I think it just needed massage and stretch. I feel itching inside the breast and sometimes a sharp pain. Probably phantom stuff. Docs told me I would be numb forever. I have not been back to the PS for the 3 month postop...that's at the end of Oct. I am pretty happy with my breasts. I'd like them closer, but I don't want to go through anymore surgery.
hurleygirley It's great to hear you are doing so well and you are so very happy with the results.
The pic forum is up and running. PM Timtam if you want access she will contact you. I decided to post because there were pretty much no pics of people like me with NSM/immed recon. It was scary--took me a long while to do it.
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Monika!!! yeah, I am so glad that you had the same impression that I did. The surgeon is really young, but what I liked is that she said she specialized in this because she felt that she had a great chance of having BC herself, so she felt compelled to learn all she could. [my personal opinion, is that a female surgeon certainly can "relate" to the part of the anatomy being messed with...] And about the nipples, never had dark nipples, never saw any discoloration or the like, the only odd thing I can remember after the BMX is that the skin around the aereola resmebers chicken skin in that it has really pronounced pores. But that diminished rather quickly.
Kate33 ~ thanks for the information. Larger than I think...I would not be upset. I am 5'7", but with a small frame, so I was kind of leaning towards bigger, but was to hesitant to say it. But it sounds like a 550 or 650 should be plenty.
Hurleygirl ~ congrats on the new yippee squishees. The do seem so comfy!! I am still surprised how "normal" they feel. Yeah, for you!!
Nite...
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Sweetie2040...my PS had mentioned while I was still having fills that because of the larger than normal difference between the two breasts, she warned me that I may require a revision 4-6 months after the exchange. BUT, she said that the whole point was to save the nipples not to make the two misshaped breast match {since they didn't in the first place}.
I was scheduled to have mastoplexy at the same time as the exchange, "we" decided to wait a see. The reason it came up post-op appt was my surprise on the downward facing nipples. Interestingly enough, they already seem better since the swelling has decreased. I could tell by her face, that she didn't want me to be disappointed.
Thanks for your input...I think I can "RELAX"...
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Congrats to you Hurley.
SMH, its best to wait six months for all settling to be done before doing any revisions. What looks off now may correct itself and you may have other issues arise. I had a revision at 6months, put in a larger implant and took in some skin at the original suture line.
I had most of all my feeling return after the first surgery. With this revision half is numb again.
Whitedove your reference to cotton is right on,
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hurleygirly - SOOOO glad everything went well and you are feeling great - makes the rest of us in waiting feel less nervous. Enjoy your time off work!!
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hurleygirly- So glad all went well and that you were home so quickly! Enjoy your week off!
sweetie- Hope you are our newest citizen of Yipee Squishee Land, too, and that it went as well as h.g.'s did!
SMH- Welcome! Just to let you know I did not get much sensation back until a few months after exchange. Now I have feeling just about everywhere but the nipples themselves. Like PB22 said, most PS's don't want to address revisions until about 6 months after your exchange.
As far as a BC support group I haven't attended one but I do know they hold one at Banner Hospital the 4th Tuesday of every month. Here is the # for more info- 480-412-5578. There is a group on here that tries to get together once a month for some kind of fun activity, though they aren't for October since a lot of them are participating in the Kroman races. The name of the thread is "Anyone in Phoenix, AZ Area?". Here is the link-
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/34/topic/706450?page=12#idx_335
I'll also PM you my contact info if you would like someone to talk to or have any questions!
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Well ladies no yippie squishes for me today. I went to the surgery center at 6:30 and they prepped me and I met with the Dr. Over an hour later the nurse came in and said they whole floor was having issues with equipment and they couldn't do any surgeries. At that point they didn't know when it would be fixed and my Dr. had another surgery in another hospital. We decided to reschedule for the first thing next Friday. Everyone felt really bad about it, but what could they do. I'm sad today no yippie squishes.
Hurleygirl-glad your doing well and 400's! You go girl!
Speech529-saw your pics on the thread and you look wonderful! Your results look very natural. I would be thrilled with a result like that.
Dustymom-glad to see the nipples are looking better.
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