Breast reconstruction,result not as expected/hoped for

[Lifealmostbeginning]

has anyone been in a similar situation please? Sorry as this will be quite long.

I’m part way through a breast reconstruction. (Not due to cancer) so far I have an implant in the affected side and it looks awful frankly. The chest muscle on that side has reduced/contracted up and I have zero fat or breast tissue left on that side. The skin is so thin there it’s like the skin on the back of your hand. This means the implant is very obvious and looks very different to the other side.

I saw the surgeon again yesterday. He’s been very honest and said I can never expect any kind of symmetry. They can do lipofill/fat transfer into the breast which will improve the top section. This means it will look better when in a bra. But it will take at least 4-5 surgeries.

Or they can do an LD flap, where they remove muscle/tissue from your upper back and move it round under the skin so it’s in the breast area. This is a long and complicated surgery with a long recovery time. I already have autoimmune/clotting disorders that make any surgery more risky than it is for the average person.

I know in the scheme of things this isn’t the worst thing that could be happening to me, but I feel it would be stupid to put myself through risky surgery for what is basically a cosmetic reason. I don’t know how to resign myself to the fact that this is what my breasts will look like now.

Does it look better than it did before? Are you having an implant on the other side?

Thanks for replying. It’s better than it was before in that I no longer need to wear a prosthesis. But there is no symmetry at all. One side is a stuck on lump with a very obvious outline and implant and the other is like a natural looking, albeit saggy, breast and hangs down about 2 inches lower, although my nipples are a similar height.

There are no plans to put an implant in the other side. In a bra both breasts are the same size more or less.

So in clothes it is fine? Why don’t you give yourself time to adjust and see how you get on. Would a small implant on the other side help?

Hi, is the implant over or under the muscle? And do you know what shape implant you have?

I have implants as I had surgery on one breast for a benign condition. My surgeon gave me under the muscle tear drop shaped implants for the most natural look for my body type.
Have you got a second opinion at all? Mine could have been done on the NHS but I chose a private surgeon after seeing a few, the surgeon I went with was the one who had most experience with the condition I have and who took the time to go through different implant types and what result I could expect with each.

Hi - I have a reconstruction with an implant. It's taken five years and six surgeries to get here - and it's still not quite done - but it looks great! I had a teardrop shaped implant, and a couple of rounds of fat grafting to it, and I also had a small implant put in the good side.

I'd say you really need to get a second opinion. My reconstruction was due to cancer, and I had the original one done at the same time as the mastectomy. It was an absolute mess - I remember being so upset whenever I saw myself in the mirror. My consultant referred me to a really good plastic surgeon though, on the NHS, and it was a transformation. The fat grafting especially works really well for thin skin, and makes it all feel a lot warmer and more natural.

PM me if you'd like a recommendation - especially with fat grafting you need a surgeon who really knows what he or she's doing. I was told by my breast care nurse that most cosmetic problems with reconstructions can be fixed - so do keep on asking if you're not happy.

Thanks. It does look ok in some clothes, it’s quite obvious if I wear anything low cut and in a bra or swimwear.

Wotonearthisthis, it’s a round implant. We did discuss tear shaped but for reasons I can’t remember decided against it. It was under the muscle but the muscle has contracted back up/atrophied, so the top of the implant isn’t covered and two surgeons have said that can’t be rectified.

I’ve considered getting a private opinion, but I’m I have other health conditions that mean I shouldn’t have surgery in a private hospital and there are no private wards in nhs hospitals near me.

I have a haematology appointment next week, I’m going to discuss the risks of the surgeries with them.

The most sensible thing would be for me to learn to live with it, but it’s difficult. It’s been like this for over 18 months now but I’ve never given it much thought before as it was always like a ‘stop gap’ until the reconstruction was finished. Other health problems meant it’s stayed this way a while.

Would it be feasible to get it removed & wear a falsie?