Any horseback riders have experience to share on implant reconstruction?
Bilateral mastectomy in October 2024 (IDC Stage 2A – grade 2). No radiation/no chemo. I live in a rural underserved area so delayed reconstruction was the only option. Surgeon performed an aesthetic flat closure.
I am waiting to meet with a PS who is 3 hours away.
I am normally slight in stature, but a very strict anti-inflammatory diet (other health reasons) leaves me with literally no body fat reserves. My only real reconstruction option is implants.
My husband and I run a small horse boarding farm on top of our regular jobs and I do ride.
Researching implants my concerns are:
If I go behind the muscle will this affect my strength for things like stacking hay bales, hauling water buckets, moving feed bags, mucking stalls, and of course riding? Could this level of activity be a concern for causing the implants to shift?
If I go in front, being so thin, I worry I will look weird and unnatural.
I will be discussing these concerns when I meet the surgeon but I’m hoping someone who’s lived it can share some insight.
Comments
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@missymoo Your far sounds lovely, and it sounds like you're doing a lot of your health. Thanks for posting your questions. Concerns like these come up often for people who do a lot of physical work- and who are thin-, so it’s understandable that you’re looking for real-world experiences.
From what members commonly report:
Under-the-muscle implants
- Some notice chest muscle tightness or “animation” when lifting, pushing, or pulling.
- Activities involving heavy upper-body work—like hay bales, buckets, or riding—can make this more noticeable.
- True shifting of the implant after full healing is uncommon, but the muscle movement itself can feel unusual to some.
Over-the-muscle implants
- Often preferred by people who want to avoid muscle involvement during physical activity.
- In very thin individuals, the implant edges or rippling may be more visible, depending on the implant type and tissue coverage.
- Some surgeons combine this with fat grafting to improve contour, but that depends on individual anatomy.
These are general experiences rather than medical recommendations, and outcomes vary widely. A plastic surgeon who works with athletic or physically active patients can give more specific guidance about what’s realistic for someone with your build and activity level.
We hope others who’ve lived with these options will share their firsthand experience.
And here is an article that could be helpful:1 -
@missymoo I also am a rider, trying to decide about reconstruction for left breast IDC that will require a mastectomy. I too am slim and have similar questions about implants. In general I find it hard to make a decision about whether to have reconstruction, and if so what type. It was suggested to me by my surgeon that I could have AFC and choose reconstruction later. I confess I am unsure how that would work. I am curious how you feel about the appearance of your AFC, and whether it has had any impact on your ability to work around the barn, handle the horses, and ride? I hope you get some answers at your PS appointment!
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Hi time28. The healing process was a bit frustrating not just for me, but for my husband and sons who had to take over the daily chores lol. I was down at the barn supervising most days but could not actually handle the horses for about 2 months - just in case one of them decided to get silly. You will be prescribed exercises after your MX and I will advise do them religiously. As a rider you are going into this with a level of strength that is probably above average so you should see some pretty rapid results. My surgical recovery was actually pretty quick, but some of the other treatments can have their own impacts which you may have to navigate as well.
As for the AFC I don't have issues. I did invest in a physiotherapist with experience in post mastectomy treatment to provide me with additional exercises to restore strength and mobility. I am also seeing an osteopath to help with facia adhesions and scar pain which has been very helpful.
Physically the BMX was very manageable. I am looking into reconstruction because for me there is an emotional aspect to loosing part of what makes me feel feminine. I'm not sure that a unilateral mastectomy would have made much difference there.
On the up side - I didn't have to worry about hay in my bra this year 😉
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