Reconstruction with reduction. Help pls!
Maybe this has been covered before, but I couldn't find quite what I'm looking for, so I'm hoping some of you can share your experiences!
I was diagnosed with Stage 0 DCIS about two weeks ago. I have a strong family history of breast cancer, and I've always known what decision I would make if my number ever came up. So, in about four weeks, I'll be having a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.
I currently have large natural breasts (36 DDD), and I've honestly never loved having them. They've always been more of an inconvenience to me, so I'm actually looking forward to the opportunity to go significantly smaller with reconstruction.
My first thought was to go down to a D cup because I figured that would be a safe choice and that my clothes would still fit pretty much the same. But my plastic surgeon hinted that I might actually really enjoy being a C cup. He encouraged me to look at photos of reconstructed breasts and see what size and shape I liked.
Well...after looking at a LOT of photos, I'm starting to think he might be right! 😂
But this is obviously a pretty big decision, and since I only get one chance to make this choice, I'm nervous about going too small—or wishing I had gone smaller!
If you went from something like a DDD/D to a C (or even smaller), how do you feel about your decision now? Are you happy with the size and proportion? Did you have any regrets?
I'd especially love to hear from anyone who was nervous about going smaller but ended up loving it!
I have my pre-op appointment in two weeks, and apparently that's when I'll need to have a pretty good idea of what I want. 🤪
Thank you so much! ❤️
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Hi @busybonnie, welcome to the BCO community! 😊 You might find these Breastcancer.org resources helpful as you think through your reconstruction options:
• Breast Reconstruction Surgery
• Types of Breast Reconstruction
• Breast Cancer Surgery ImagesAlso, check out this thread and feel free to say "Hi" and ask any questions you have there as well: BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Hope this helps!
The Mods
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Hello @busybonnie. It’s been a while since I’ve been on here, but I checked in today and read your post. I’m really sorry you are having to make these decisions, I know they are not easy.
For what it’s worth, I was a very busty 38H (I’m 5’ 10” and wear a US size 16 or XL for reference) … I could squeeze into a 40DDD depending on the style of bra. Anyway, I was uncomfortably large in my opinion and very self conscious! Thanks to cancer, I had a single mastectomy and later a reduction on my healthy side and an implant put in on the mastectomy side. From day 1 after my mastectomy (with a new tiny flat tissue expander in place) I was SO happy to have the bulk removed! My neck and back were very appreciative! I kept asking my surgeon to go as small as possible on my reduction side … he wasn’t sure how small he could go and still spare my nipple but he did a decent job. I don’t actually know what cup size I am now, maybe a 38D? Maybe a C? Or somewhere in between. I wear a bralette style size XL. Everything was so sensitive that I couldn’t have anything tight around the band area so I don’t wear traditional bras. I feel so small and perky that I don’t need the same support I used to need, it’s really amazing. I occasionally wonder if I went too small but then I think “who cares”? I love feeling smaller! I can always wear the little cup inserts that come with the bralettes to look bigger if I want. Mostly, under clothing, no one pays any attention to my chest and I look and feel feminine enough.
I always felt like my surgeon was an artist and wanted to “sculpt” the best figure he possibly could for me. I am glad I trusted his judgment on things because he really did know how to make everything look correct on my frame. I hope you are pleased with the results, whatever you decide!!
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Thank you for your reply! Your sentence, "I always felt like my surgeon was an artist", was comforting to me. Because I got the impression that my plastic surgeon was just that! I want to trust him. Glad to hear you are happy with the smaller size. I bet it is wonderful!
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...oh, and i guess for reference, im 5'7", currently wearing a US size 12/14. I've never been under a DD since I was maybe 14 years old 😫 I have never been a fan of the tatas. You are giving me confidence to go smaller
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@busybonnie you probably are a medium frame, not that large given your height, maybe a small frame actually. I always struggled to find clothes that fit comfortably and certainly to find comfortable bras. I went to a chiropractor regularly and had chronic neck issues. I’m sure the weight and the posture (sort of hunched over to subconsciously minimize my size) contributed to my neck issues. It really helps when you feel confident in your surgeon. I got the impression that my surgeon was more concerned about the final outcome than I actually was! Of course now that time has passed, I realize that I do care and I’m very glad I went through it all.
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Thats a really good point about being hunched over. I've been doing that since puberty 😂 The smaller girls will likely stand out more since I'll be standing up straighter. Thank you, bc this discussion is really helping.
My mother had breast cancer twice, one after the other, and had a double mastectomy without reconstruction. She is thrilled being flat. I thought I would too, but now that Im faced with it, I realize that I do need something.
I have had neck issues for many years. From a serious car wreck, but now that I think of it, it probably is made worse by my posture. Interesting. I wear pretty tight minimizers, which really does assist with the back pain, at least for me. But I look forward to nothing digging into my shoulders. You wouldn't believe what I had to wear, back when I used to jog several times a week! Lol! 😂 Im so used to being uncomfortable all the time, I wont know what to do with myself!
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