Who Else Has Decided NOT To Have Implants or Reconstructive Surgery?

I had a DMX in Jan 2023 and have been wearing prosthetics from
bustedtank.com inserted in trueandco.com bras. They are so comfortable! The prosthetics are lightweight, soft, wash well and look natural. And the bras are very soft and comfortable.

Problem with those long term is that if the side you're left with is heavy, you'll be unbalanced., with likely bad effects on your posture. After my first mastectomy I had to wear a size 10 prosethesis, even around the house. (My grandmother was of German origin - big boobs run in the family.) Now with nothing left, I go flat around the house and wear size 7 when I go out.

I had a double Mx , discs inserted , then silicone implant surgery , was sick all over and body totally rejected them and I finally had them removed them three years later at Mayo . I have stretched out skin under my arms around my chest that I would love to have removed but I’m 76 and my husband doesn’t care and it would be cosmetic . I did not have to have radiation and was on AI for five years . I just like being healthy and flat chested . The external implants look natural . I wish I had had no discs implanted at the time of my mastectomies in the very beginning . So thankful I got it early.

Greetings All beautiful people!
I did have a double mastectomy
In October 2023
I did not have any reconstruction!
I feel that not having any reconstruction avoids any further issues in the breasts
My mother had 1 breast removed at age 75 and the second removed at age 80
I only wish I had known that she could have had both removed and avoided the second surgery!
My plan is to laugh, live and love freely without any thoughts about will this come in my second breast or would any implants give me grief!
We do what we can to keep ourselves moving in a positive direction with hope in our hearts 🥰 the Lord as our guide!!
BTW flat is a new style and beautiful 😻
Sending prayers to all of us today and for future breast cancer candidates it’s a shock and scary when we find out and this web site has been a blessing for me!
Hopeful 2024

Hi Marybe- I had a double mastectomy with no reconstruction in 2021. No regrets. I was 72 at the time and also made sure my husband was ok with that decision. After telling my sister I was not going to reconstruct, I was surprised at how appalled she was that I was not going to. I decided then, that I would keep that decision private from friends and family.
I wear a very natural prosthesis and nobody would know. I wear a sports bra with inserts for comfort.
I have heard stories of many problems with implants that I have been happy to avoid. I believe that it will be easier for me to take notice of an abnormality in my breasts without implants and I feel better having all that breast tissue removed.

DMX in Jan 2023, went flat. I had no desire to put anything into my body when the focus was on removing. Reconstruction never even entered my mind. I was also married 30 yrs at that time (almost 32 now), my husband didn't care either way, not that I asked his opinion 😉

I have no regrets. Being flat is so comfortable!! I wear simple cotton tank tops under my clothes just so I don't feel "bare". I went to prosthetic professional, was fitted, bought a set of prosthetics ($800!!), thankfully 80% pd by insurance, but still ... ouch. Insurance covers a new set every 2-3 yrs, but I doubt I'll buy again. I have had them a full year, and worn them ONCE. They do look very natural, but they are kind of heavy, I felt self-conscious that maybe they had slipped, one was sitting higher than the other, etc, lol. Not worth the bother!! I am thin, so (I think) it is obvious that I'm flat, but honestly who cares, and I think it looks fine. If I go somewhere I'm concerned about the look, I wear a pleated blouse, or something on the baggier side, and I really don't think it is glaringly obvious then.

However -- thanks to jojo's comment here, I am now checking out bustedtank.com (never heard of them!), and think I might buy a few mast tanks and camis, and maybe even try their breast forms. I mean, for $18, I'll see if I like them. Probably lighter and more comfortable than the professional ones I bought and leave sitting in their case in my closet.

Good luck to you. I know it is a hard decision for some. But be assured that going flat is easy and comfortable, in my opinion. And bonus -- you could own several different bust sizes for various looks/outfits!!

There's a thought! I too go flat most of then time but sometimes wear my B cup protheses- fo example when photos are to be taken. But since the Australian govt will give me a new pair each two years, maybe I'll get much bigger ones for special occasions - to offset my big tummy which has so far refused to budge, despite all these high intensity gym sessions.

I too chose to go flat (was 69 and married over 30 years when DMX performed) and never regretted the decision. I got the heavier prothesis for those special occasions, but also made myself a set of "knitted knockers" for shape but no weight, otherwise I go flat. If I feel the need, I'll wear a scarf or a vest when I go flat instead of wearing anything for shape. I'm going to check out bustedtank.com for some additional bras to use with my "knitted knockers" - since they are light weight they should work well with those garments. The decision to go flat was easy for me at that time, but if I had been younger or had a more customer facing position, the decision might have been different. But at this stage of my life and based on my dx - removing them eliminated the high recurrence for the other side and the worry that would create. As is my dx (TNBC BRCA2+) has a higher recurrence during the first 5 years after dx.

Bpknitter— my dx was similar (ATM, not BRCA) and my thoughts were much like yours. One check up at a time. Hoping we both stay clear.

I know Modern Medicine has made wonderful strides for women, but I am very glad that at the time of my surgery, there was no information regarding type of cancer. I just assumed it had been removed and that was the end of it. I was 36 and I am now 93. The naming and giving information to women that can only worry them more, seems very painful and almost unnecessary for them to know. Know you are on the road to recovery, love every day, and assume you have been through HELL and ar e on the road out to a bright and wonderful new life Easy for me to say, and very hard for you to believe. I know, I have been there.
Gina5009