Pictures of Breast Reconstruction
Comments
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Yes, there is a breast reconstruction technique that is called "one-step implant with Alloderm sling". There's at least one thread here about that.
The scar tissue - not sure what you are referring to. The scars from mastectomy? Those don't affect it. But there is another type of scar tissue that can form around the implant and cause deformity, it's called "capsular contracture". Seems to be less of a problem nowadays now, and if you dutifully do your "implant massage" once your PS gives you green light to do it, you should be fine.You are a long way from that right now.
Saline vs silicone - there are threads about that too. The shortened version: silicone feels more natural, some women though are worried about silicone escaping and migrating through the body, but with the new type of memory gel silicone implants that doesn't happen. check WhippetMom's major thread here, and post your questions to her, she is the most knowledgeable on these thing on this forum.
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is there a forum where people have chosen no reconstruction just to go flat.
Thanks in advance
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Yes, a whole board. In the list right below the "Breast Reconstruction" one.
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Hi,
I was wondering how your radiation turned out with the implants? Have you had any issues? I am currently at 400 cc's with my TE's. I had total skin sparring mastectomy in December of 2015. I'm on my third chemo . Three more to go then 4-6 weekso of healing then radiation. ( unsure how many at this time) Trying to decide whether to do radiation on TE's or implants. Any advice you have would be so helpful.
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Definitely not the implants. Also, you should postpone the TE to implant exchange until after radiation, because only then you will know if you have any skin damage, and that will have a lot of influence on how your reconstruction will be going further along.
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I haven't been up here for a while. Someone message me about my implants. I responded to them and thought I'd revisit some of the threads I was active on. I actually had radiation with my implants and I am very happy with the outcome. I consulted with two PS with different trains of thought about this, and the PS wanting to do implants prior to radiation seem more open minded, convincing, and confident. Also, I finished radiation on a Wednesday and left for a week long trip to Orlando that Friday! Spent days at the amusement or sitting by the pool in a Tshirt. No problems. Minimal damage to my skin, limited to the armpit area. I am African Americans; so that may have helped. The boobs look and feel smooth to the touch. If I squeeze them, I can feel some unevenness. I am hoping the PS is still open to some fat grafting to smooth things out some. Oh who am I kidding! I wouldn't mind the tummy tuck, either
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I am 14 days post op and just had my first filing today, ughhhhhhhh, is all I have to say, I had a bilateral double and I feel like a alien!!! If you want to message me, we could probably help each other through this!
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Hi, I'm new at this I had Chemo, Double mastectomy, 33 Rads a butcher for a surgeon and Dr Sullivan looked at me and said he would do the best that he could do with what he had to work with. And mine look just as good as the ones in the picks, scars still can be seen but i was concave and zig zag across my chest he is the best in my point of view. No promises but honest he is good and i left my state to get it done. Thank you Dr. Sullivan
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Hey mods!
is there a thread already i am not finding that is for images of tattoo work done to cover scars, etc? I thought maybe there was, but it seems that it is some kind of off-site photo page for reconstruction only. I think it would be cool for those of us that are more interested in covering our scars with tattoos to have a place to share the work done, and the info on our tattoo artists so that others can be inspired and maybe find a skilled artist. Would that be something that would be approved here? I'm just unsure of the protocol on something like this.
Thanks for your help!
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If you just google "tattoos for mastectomy scars" you'll find plenty
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The point of it is to share with this community, and to have a discussion board about it.
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Please notice that the photos in the link above are all from the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery, where some of the country's top plastic surgeons do breast reconstruction surgery. Your mileage may vary! If you are seeing a different plastic surgeon, ask to see her/his results photos and to talk to recent patients. I live in a small town and the surgeons here are very bad and have cause some women a lot of extra health problems with their poor surgical skills. Research who is available in your area, and travel for surgery if needed to find someone skilled.
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Where do I go to see pictures of you and others that are posted here?
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Where do I go to see pictures of you and others that are posted here?
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I am a bit frustrated. When I went to see the RO, she told me to see the PS first and have my TE first before starting rad. Well I went to see the PS. He showed me some photos and the types of silicon implants he uses. Right from the start I told him I didn't want any of the samples. The smallest was bigger and heavier than my left breast. Also the round form didn't fit the form of the remaining breast either. OK. He said he will get a smaller implant for me. I was so thankful. He told me he will take fat and some areola skin from the left breast to reconstruct the right one. He listens and acts accordingly to my needs. On August 4, he will insert the TE and will begin the filling on the operating room. That means that I will be on terrible pain after that since the skin pouch left for the implant still hurts a lot. I was not going to do the reconstruction but after seeing the scar, I needed to come to terms with myself and decided to look as normal as I can and try to return to my normal common life that I loved and still love. I want to forget this ordeal as soon as possible after doing all the changes I need to. The RO told me that I will be followed up the rest of my life not only for cancer but also for the side effects of therapy after cancer. Since my life will not be "normal" again, at least I will try to make a lemonade from this very sour lemon I have been given.
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I was wondering the same thing about where the photos are. After 20 weeks, I'm fresh out of chemo, dealing with a messy house that needs to be cleaned up before my surgery, my disordered chemo-brain and everything else while trying to make this huge decision alone.
I don't have much time to write, but I've been spending hours and hours researching and reading. I think it's all making me more confused.
I don't trust M.D.'s as a general rule and so far, they're only telling me the rosy side of things. Their post-resonstruction photos are very scary and then coming here and reading about so many long-lasting, very painful and debilitating side effects has been frightening. I was thinking of doing direct to recon with bilateral DIEP, but it just seems like too much at once. I thought TE would be an easier middle step, but they sound almost just as bad.
And my husband decided this would be a great time to have a midlife crisis, start an affair and file for divorce. So I'm going this entirely alone, without even any caregiver. It's terrifying. Sorry I'm not a fountain of positivity right now, but I'm scared as h*ll.
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((Hugs)) to Everythingschanging! I'm sorry that you are going through tough times. You will get through it!
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I thought one of the worst things about my breast cancer was the filling. It seemed just when the discomfort and/or pain was gone....it was time to go for another fill. Other than that it wasn't too bad. I'm getting ready to start the reconstruction....waiting for the scheduling person to call and set the time. Worst part of the reconstruction is staying couch bound for 2 weeks. Ugh. Good Luck.
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thank you for the link to the breast reconstruction forum. I have viewed this many times. I have had radiation on right breast after mastectomy and nipple removal. I also had nipple sparring mastectomy on left side this past April 2016. I was able to have so many fills with tissue expanders and was quite happy with the look even though they were far from perfect. After my exchange this Sept. 15, 2016 has me in a constant state of anxiety. Looking down into the bra my breast are so flat and low. The ps surgeon picked an naturelle 410 FX anatomical silicone implant @ 360cc. I realize that that is not a high cc but from what I have read on the breast reconstruction forum thread is that this is probably the worst style to choose with someone of my frame. I do not feel like a woman at all. At least I felt good about myself with the tissue expanders and only 1 nipple.. This just always seems like a bad dream. Please advise and possibly direct me to a thread and/or grant me access to the picture forum.
Thank you,
Remi50
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I am considering having my implant removed, and replaced with a smaller one. My PS placed a much larger implant than I had expected. My left breast was smaller before now it is larger. I went directly to implant. I am worried about another surgery. Has anyone had implants switched out? I have decided not to do anything with my right side
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Hi Pilgrim64,
I"m sorry to hear that you are have reservations about your implants. Continue to post on threads that may have some sort of correlation to your topic. You may want to go to exchange city because even though you had direct implants the woman still discuss what type of end results they are experiencing with a final implant regardless of how they got there. Continue to post and request access to the picture forum. Read the instructions specifically at the top of this page. That will guide you to request the proper way to gain access. In the meantime I am sure the woman on this forum will be happy to give you suggestions and support you. Keep me posted.
Remi50
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This is a devastating story, that hopefully has a better outcome, not just for the patient, Sheila, but for those facing similar situations.
Trigger alert: the accompanying photographs are graphic and very disturbing, as is the Sheila's story.
For truly informed consent, not to cause worry or fear, Stephanie
xxx
Patients Can Impact The Breast Cancer Patient Education Act
by Marianne Angelo
April 30, 2016
excerpts:
As a breast cancer survivor and advocate for those considering reconstruction, the intention to write Sheila's story wasn't to frighten future patients from acting prophylactically as great results happen far and wide, but results like Sheila's are preventable. Patients should have the option to know what they can expect for their own body so that they can make the right choice for both procedure and plastic surgeon. When stories like this surface, it's a call to action and the patient community can impact surgical protocol for the better.
xxx
How could the system have worked better for Sheila?
Even though Sheila was presented with quality photos of the surgeon's results for other patients, and was told what she could expect to look like, she did not come close to the results presented in the plastic surgeons examples. Perhaps if he told her that she could end up disfigured by going through with this surgery, she would have had the chance to walk away and find someone else.Sheila's Rule! is a petition to ask the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider adding to the education campaign they are currently planning titled the Breast Cancer Patient Education Act, that plastic surgeons provide examples of projected results of what patients can expect for their own body so that results like Sheila's can be averted.
The Breast Cancer Patient Education Act is to inform breast cancer patients of the availability and coverage of breast reconstruction and other available alternatives post-mastectomy. This Act can do more. Information is education and patients who participate in their care can leverage their results for the better. Petition here.
xxx
Story and photos here:
https://medium.com/cancer-communication-research/p...
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I had a nipple-sparing bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (silicone implants in my case), which I highly recommend if at all possible. While it's a longer surgery (and longer recovery), you avoid the emotional and physical stress of multiple surgeries and the discomfort and inconvenience of tissue expanders. One and done! Also, some say it leads to a more natural looking result.
Incidentally, my twin sister is a plastic surgeon and she actually performed my reconstruction (that's a story in and of itself!). Because of her influence, my general surgeon was willing to do the mastectomy through incisions under the breast (the inframammary fold), so there are no visible scars.
One thing I will add regarding reconstruction and radiation: my sister is insistent that you get the best cosmetic result if you do reconstruction BEFORE radiation.
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I'm sorry you are going through this. I feel the same way. I don't know if my expectations are too high or if this just sucks. I went with silicone round implants so I could receive the full 800cc implants ultra high profile mentor. I had heard about others complaining about the flat look and looking smaller than they are when used for breast enlargement. I got a little afraid they might be too big after seeing some pics of the 800cc, but sucked it up and hoped for the best. We'll I'm glad I did. They look flat and I can't wear a bra because about 2-3 inches of the nipple area dents in where there is no breast. They are kind of misshaped but in the normal range. My scars are not all the way in my fold and extend from the middle of my cleavage to several inches past my armpit into my back area. I measured and all told, it is 27 inches of incision. I second guess all my decisions now, I did not have cancer and never had any breast problems, but discovered I was BRCA 1 positive two years ago. I also had my ovaries out and they will not give me any estrogen therapy which has been a nightmare and my sex life has totally ended because of it. I'm sorry to be so negative, but hearing all the wonderful stories about how well things went and how everyone loved their new breast and their Doctors where so wonderful and the fear of cancer really impacted my decisions to have these invasive life changing procedures. The most confusing of all, is how great my PC and his staff think things have went every step of the way. Like I said, maybe my expectations are to high, but a flat wide, breast with 27 inches of incision that are not all the way in the mammary fold does not seem like an occasion for celebration to me. I have been blessed to have no complication from surgery, no infection, no unexpected pain. Strangely enough, I live in Nashville and my doctor has many, many, reviews from patients, and I have yet to find anyone who has given him anything less than a 5 star review. I'm baffled.
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Why can't I see any of pictures? I would really like to see pictures of Tram Flap breast reconstruction. I am scheduled to have one in 10 days and I am starting to get nervous.
Thank you
Miranda
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Lorrielephew and Miranda, just wanted to say welcome to our community here at Breastcancer.org. Sorry you had to be here but we're so happy to see that you decided to join this wonderful group of people.
Miranda, you can click on the following link from our main site for reconstruction photos: Pictures of Breast Reconstruction. Hope this helps!
The Mods
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Miranda, you should get photos of your surgeon's work. The photos at the link above are from reconstruction done by some of the best surgeons in the country. Your surgeon may have very different results. I would ask for contact information from your surgeon's previous clients if possible. If your surgeon cannot provide photos and referrals, please find another surgeon. The surgeon in my small town was one to avoid at all costs.
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Just wanted to throw this in here - good looking results are not all that is to it. I have absolutely gorgeous looking reconstructed breasts, but got disabled due to the procedure. Make sure you do all the research possible. By what I've seen the easiest and less prone to impacting your QOL and with good results is the one-step implant with Alloderm sling, if you can do the skin-sparing.
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I just had my TE exchange surgery on Friday 1/27/17
I looked at them today and they look extremely veiny, does anyone else have that ? Also the PS went underneath so I have 2 scars on each breast.
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Not sure what you mean by "veiny" but you need to wait, it takes a few months, sometimes up to 6 months for the final implants to "drop and fluff" to their final stage. You're way too early in the process. Those scars won't be noticeable at all after a year or so
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