Aesthetic Flat Closure
I had surgery 1/14/26. I think my posture has changed or something because my ribs kind of flare out. I’m not sure if this happens to everyone- I think it is pretty common? Another change is I’ve had pretty radical mood swings and my period has been erratic since my surgery. Anyone else live through feeling crazy after mastectomy?
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Hi @nor.cal.alli, and welcome to Breastcancer.org. We’re really glad you posted, and we’re sorry you didn’t get a response sooner. Hope our post will bring attention from others who may be able to help.
What you’re describing does come up for many members after mastectomy with flat closure. Posture changes and some rib flaring can happen as your body adjusts, and a PT with post-mastectomy experience can help if it’s bothering you.
The and cycle changes can also be part of the after-effects of surgery and hormonal shifts. You’re not alone in feeling this way. If it continues, it’s worth checking in with your doctor.
You’re not “crazy.” You’re healing, and we’re here with you.
Warmly,
The Mods
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The rib flaring could be related to our body's guarding response, often called 'armoring'. After an injury, our body's natural response is to tighten up the muscles around the injury to limit movement. Add to that the fact that during stress, so much of our body moves upwards - our eyebrows move upwards so we can see where the bear is coming from, our shoulders move upwards so we can fight off the bear, and our ribs move upwards so we can breath in extra oxygen if we need to run away from the bear.
Your chest has just been through a lot, so your body is trying to protect it with armoring, and you may have residual stress-based rib elevation that got caught in the armor. Working with a massage therapist who has special training in surgical recovery and trauma-informed massage can be a big help in letting the rib cage release and ease back down. This can also help normalize your posture and bring your shoulders back to their more natural positions. Good luck!
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