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Nov 11, 2012 11:38AM
Starak
wrote:
Not sure what you all are describing as lumps and bumps. Look for the photo on this page from an old thread. From my viewpoint, the work of a surgeon I would run from. But then I am not a medical person.....
http://community.breastcancer.org/topic_post?forum_id=82&id=695424&page=1
If you have seromas and/or what I felt was a lake on my chest, as the fluid is absorbed they will likely resolve or at least show tremendous improvement. My fluffy stuff under the arms will never be gone but has improved alot, helped along by weight loss and exercise. My BS & her nurse told me to expect it. If you gently grab the fluffy stuff horizontally and then try to raise your arm, you will not be able to do so, which is probably why it is common to lipo them. In my case, when I had The Mutants removed, I chose to leave the fluffy stuff alone for a number of reasons. They had improved alot over time, I already had nerve damage with ongoing symptoms on the right side and did not want to risk exacerbating the situation. Also realized how many lymph nodes and vessels are in the area and did not want to be inviting LE. I started to feel alot better about them too when I noticed the women of the Olympics Swim Teams had much the same thing. Sort of like our tummy, it was there all along, just became far more noticeable without breasts.
If what you are describing is a sort of point or bunching up at the end of an incision, it is likely a dog ear. Often the fluffy stuff under the arm is also described as a dog ear. Some create a point, others a hole. Any of you who sew will see that they are much like the end of a seam that creates a dart. Center dog ears are pretty much that. You will hear a number of explanations from hard to get it flat when you were exceptionally large prior to the MX or often excess skin purposely left to more easily facilitate a recon. Funny how we all react to them and can be a stark reminder of how two people can look at the same thing and come away with totally different reactions. I have heard a number of women here and a fair number of husbands who have a great fondness for the mini boobs as they can give an illusion of cleavage. Men might even like to play with them. I called them The Mutants to bring a touch of humor to something I hated and would eventually decide I could no longer live with. They were "things" that did not belong on any human chest, man, woman, child or teenager. I could not even think of a single animal with anything similar. There was no simply going flat, I had to strap them down with ace bandages or flat sports bras with no center seam. I can and do accept my flat chest with all the scars as an essential part of me. As their name implied, The Mutants were completely alien to me, and I used to fantasize about hacking them off. The constant strapping down and necessity to hide was starting to really weigh on my psyche. The PS, on the other hand, could hardly hold back the laughter, because to a doctor, they were just a couple of no big deal bits of tissue. Like I say just a demonstration of how differently each person can view the same thing. I do still think those who look at them with fondness are probably the mentally healthier.
Trouble with dog ears, they do not forewarn you and photos can be unbelievably difficult to find considering how common they are. For those looking at Diep reconstructions, they are a common leftover for the tummy tuck part of the surgery. I have found it far easier to find photos of tummy tuck dog ears than of mx dog ears. Don't know if they are one of those dirty little secret things or what but you will find them totally lacking from any photos on the boob factory sites. Many PS seem to think that repairing them when not doing a full recon is beneath their dignity and a waste of their artistic talent.
What I am hearing as ridges at the bottom of where the breast used to be is probably the mammary ridge. I am simply guessing here but another thing that becomes noticeable without breasts. Perhaps purposely left when there is any thought of recon as sort of landmarks if you will. It is my impression from my own chest as well as others who were clear about not wanting recon and requesting a result that is aesthetically pleasing as possible, that those ridges can be minimized/eliminated if the surgeon chooses to do so.
Much of the end result seems to have alot to do with the skill of the surgeon. In spite of The Mutants, I had an excellent surgeon who did a beautiful job and the only one I would consider using if ever faced with further surgery.
Barbara
Freed 'em when they tried to kill me. BMX, no recon, center dog ears removed, currently living flat but still tending an extensive foob and mx bra experimental farm in the back of the closet.
