Bad Reconstruction
When I had my double mastectomy, I was not give any choice in what plastic surgeon I had. So, my doctor was young and I'm not sure had a lot of experience. I had expanders for however long, then got the implants installed. This was five years ago last month. They are just terrible! They are completely round so they look fake. They're too close together. They're not wide enough for my chest size. They have ripples and they jump up and down when I use my pecs. They are also tight felling and uncomfortable. I am single, but won't date because I would never take my shirt off. The scar itself isn't bad, but they removed my nipples, too. I'm 71, but in generally good health and expect to live quite a while yet. Is there a way Medicare will pay for me to have these things redone?
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Hi @hantayowin, I'm sorry that your reconstruction did not turn out well. Were you stuck with an inexperienced plastic surgeon because you were in a Medicare Advantage plan that limits your choices? If this is still the case your choice of plastic surgeon may still be limited due to your policy. If you have regular Medicare you can go to any plastic surgeon in the country who accepts it as payment. Not all do but you have a much larger pool to choose from. Research any surgeon's experience, reviews and example photos ahead of time.
Medicare will pay for a revision surgery if it is considered medically necessary. It must be for the treatment of a medical condition or a malformed body part. It would be up to a plastic surgeon to decide whether you qualify. Things like pain and discomfort would be considered while cosmetic aspects like looking fake would not.
Removing the nipples is pretty standard unless you request and qualify for a nipple sparing mastectomy. Some women get nipple tattoos to create the illusion of what is no longer there. Tattoo artists with experience in this do a good job. Medicare is more likely to pay for this if it is done in a medical facility by a NP, PA or doctor.
Good luck in your quest.
P.S. There are good men out there who wouldn't mind if your chest does not look completely natural. You might have to spend more time making sure you have a good connection before taking off your shirt but that's always a plus in a relationship.
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Actually, that's not the reason. First it was 2020. Covid made everything harder. The reason i got who I got is that one practice was the only one the cancer surgeon worked with and he was the only one available. She was supposed to be the best breast cancer surgeon in the area, so when she said that she thought he did good work, I trusted her judgement.
Yea, I know about tattoos, but to get those, I'd have to go somewhere deep into Dallas, and I hate driving there that much.
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