There's more to reconstruction than an implant.
“I'll keep going until you are happy”
Soon after I learned that I'd need a full mastectomy of the left side, I received a consultation appointment with a plastic surgeon. I didn't know what to expect. Cosmetic plastic surgery is widely spoken about, whereas plastic surgery for medical reasons is less understood.
Like many surgeons, Adam works across both the private and NHS sector. During the consultation he spent over 2 hours getting to know James and I whilst understanding my medical history. He then explained that you must understand that reconstructing a breast can be an 18 month journey. The mastectomy operation and immediate reconstruction is to remove the cancer then ensure there is a breast there that can later be sculpted and perfected in later operations. This was a huge relief to hear because if I'm brutally honest, the reconstructions we saw on a DVD were not what I'd hoped for. At the same time it brought home the scale of what was needed and the fact that there is no quick fix. Adam explained that between the Queen Victoria Hospital (NHS) and the McIndoe Surgical Centre (Private) over 300 microsurgical breast reconstructions are performed every year, each one unique to the patient.
We are so conditioned to seeing breast implants nowadays and you almost expect that result. However if you want a reconstruction that lasts over time, using your own body tissue is your best option. New breasts can be created by using your tummy, back, bottom or inner thigh tissue. The type of reconstruction however all depends upon the patient and their medical history.
Adam looked at my post baby body, took photos of my breasts and advised I'd be a candidate for either a TUG flap operation (inner thigh) or a DIEP flap (tummy). The pros and cons of each procedure were explained along with numerous photos of past patients. We were told to do our own research, have a good think about it and return in 2 weeks.
Once the initial reconstruction is complete, surgery wounds must settle for about 3 months, after that you meet again to discuss symmetrising. This typically involves, creating a new nipple, tattooing the nipple so it resembles the other, lifting the breasts so they sit at the same level and adding volume through liposuction and fat grafting (if needed). James and I felt reassured and went home with a lot to consider. To put it simplistically, I knew this plastic surgeon was going to be the one to make me feel like my former self. He reassured us that although it may take time, he'd keep going with the reconstructive surgery until I was happy with the end result.
A week later I met with a breast reconstruction nurse. She answered the questions that had popped into my head since seeing Adam. I learned about the garments needed post surgery to provide support to the operated sites. On the shopping list were bra extenders and non padded, non wired bras - I was shown a shock absorber sports bra. Then you need compression shorts, which were particularly hard to find so I ended up with Mens ones. She then explained that it will be difficult initially looking at the reconstructed breast, so she'd pop something in the post to make it easier. A few days later a small package arrived. It contained 2 aesthetic nipples, they even had a name "Tawny". Well that was that, into my hospital bag they went. I can confidently say, that's one thing you don't ever anticipate coming through your letterbox :)
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