prophylactic bi lateral mastectomy and reconstruction

[marykelly]

Hi, i am coming up to my operation,i am having both breasts removed due to family history,but am scared to have reconstruction too,but i want to know if this is the more sensible option or are they dangerous?

[SueYoung55]

ahh...I see you're in the UK which has different options than the US. Still sending a message.

[SueYoung55]

Please choose your PBM surgeon wisely. Reconstruction done right is a wonderful and beautiful choice but this is not something done well by the garden variety plastic surgeon. Choose a doctor who does 500 to 1000 or more breast reconstruction surgeries a YEAR, not in a career. You should get recommendations from people walking in your shoes who've already been there and done that. See what they thought of their doctor AND hospital, because that is also a HUGE part of the experience. I'd have the mastectomy done by a TOP breast surgeon who works ONLY with a TOP plastic surgeon. If this is NOT what you've got scheduled, please reconsider and get the best. If your insurance company pays for a mastectomy they must also pay for your reconstruction, so why not get the best? Sending you a private message so check your email for it.

Best wishes.

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hi and welcome to our community!

Reonnstruction at the time of mastectomy can yield very succerssful results, but you should research all the different types so that you will  know the pros and cons of each. (For example people having the Transflap type can have long-term pain and develop hernias, because it disturbs the abdominal muscles, which we need!)

One of our members, SueYoung55, did a terrific job in describing the many options available in a previous thread, for which I am providing a link below:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Breast-Cancer/Trans-flap-vs-implants/show/1308880?personal_page_id=384050#post_5995708

Best wishes...