[ Post a Response | Surgery / Reconstruction Board ]
Posted by cece on 8/25/2008, 3:33 pm, in reply to "Should I have breast op?"
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I had a very small lump and very bad radiation. I had 2nd and 3rd degree burns.My normal size D breast shrunk to a large A small B. I consulted a few plastic surgeons (i do not recommend a woman PS at all) who bascially told me that my only option was to cut my normal side down to a ''mound'' possibly i would be a small B. They all said i would look passible in a padded bra and clothing but never normal naked. I felt this was a total cop out, i wanted to LOOK NORMAL NAKED, forget clothes. They wanted me to accept substandard work--just like the rad onc wanted me to accept his damage by saying he saved my life and i should be grateful. I called MD Anderson and asked for a referral to a PS in Seattle WA who did breast reconstruction. I was referred to Frank Isik at the U of WA. Dr Isik gave me the option of repairing the damaged breast, not damaging the other one. I was given a choice of implant-which has a 20% failure rate the same rate given to anyone who has implants or a lat flap. I went for the implant and have not been sorry at all. The sizes are the same, and he promised symmetry within 1cm. Personally i would not damage the normal breast, if it were me. I was a C when i was 16, was a D since i was 22, i did not want to be a small B.I could not face that kind of damage to my body. My skin is so sensive that merely thinking about putting a plastic form of some kind in my bra makes my skin break out in a rash, it would trap heat and the skin would never heal, i can barely stand wearing a bra, much less some kind of plastic in the bra, LOL.
my suggestion is seeing more than one PS, finding on who DOES RECONSTRUCTION on a daily basis, finding one who cares about his work. Find one who understands that you want to look normal naked. (normal naked=fantastic clothed)I told the staff before surgery i was expecting perfect, not ok, not better than nothing, PERFECT. My implant surgery was 364 days after my lumpectomy. It has been 5 yrs and i have not had one problem with my implant. I asked Dr Isik if I was in the norm and if most women had repair work done and he said no unfortunately most have the undamaged side cut down because they are not aware that repairs can be done.
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