“Going flat: rethinking life after mastectomy" - great article on flat closure and quality of life
A picture of me in one of my swim designs was featured in an Australian article on flat closure! It's an interesting read. Instead of just declaring, "You won't feel feminine without breasts," someone actually asked women who had gone flat. A massive 92% were happy with their results. Respondents also reported a lot of pushback and resistance from their care team when they asked for flat closure - some doctors even demanded a psych evaluation before they would listen to their patient! Hopefully, this article will help reassure surgeons and oncologists that going flat is a reasonable option that should be offered along with implant and DIEP options.
Comments
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What a terrific article. Thank you so much to contributing to the liberation of women and what it means to be female, beautiful and active.
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Hi, found this post when searching to connect with other people who have chosen to go flat. I had a bilateral mastectomy with AFC four weeks ago and know I made the right decision, just lonely! Hoping to connect with others.
Mare1 -
I had bilateral mastectomy with AFC in 2022. I know I made the right decision and my surgeon and oncologist also think so. I don't hate it but I don't love it, either. Physically I am very comfortable and am happy to not have to deal with reconstruction issues, but I do miss "the girls" and I miss some of the clothes I can no longer wear. I don't miss wearing a bra! The interesting and surprising thing is that most people don't realize that I am flat chested. People aren't paying as close of attention to our looks as we think they are.
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I had my unilateral mastectomy with AFC in 2019. My surgeon did a fantastic job. I miss the boobs I had in my memories - they were nice, and I enjoyed wearing cleavage showing tops. But in my 50's after nursing two kids, they'd served their purpose and weren't nearly as charming as they had been.
Even being single-breasted, it's amazing how rarely people notice. I don't bother wearing a foob, so it's obvious when you know to look. But most people just let their brains "fill in" the blanks, as it were, and perceive a normal chest shape.
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Thank you maggiehopley and miriandra for responding! I am only 4 weeks out from my surgery so I'm sure I will have similar thoughts and feelings as you. Being 64, and having breast fed two children my days of dressing with boobs in mind is over. And so far I feel comfortable in public and with friends, no one is looking at my chest :)
Currently wearing an Ace Bandage for support, haven't found a bra with enough compression. Most mastectomy bras have pockets and sports bras also are made for breasts. Also tried a few compression vests but they are too tight in other areas. That"s my dilemma at present. Enjoying the time off before I start on antibody infusions, Herceptin and Perjeta, Oct 1. and then at some point an estrogen blocker.
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