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

I feel like at 68, I don't need any additional surgeries and pain and discomfort. I can live with my uniboob - LOL.

Ha I love that. Uniboob. Thanks for a good chuckle on this grey old day!

I'm a caregiver, and in the year before I had my own breast cancer diagnosis, I was doing care for a patient who had had a double mastectomy with implants and reconstruction. When I was helping her with bathing I got a good look at her surgery and thought, nope, I would not go there. I was diagnosed at stage 3(c) and it seemed like it was all complicated and challenging enough to deal with the radical mastectomy, chemo and radiation. I've never had a problem with going flat.

I agree, @nanahatton65. It is a very personal decision.

Nice picture. I hope you'll add it to your profile. Learn how here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/help-center/

I always appreciate it when members add an image and a brief bio to their profile.

I am 17 months out from Double Mastectomy and a poor attempt at reconstruction with pedicle flaps. .. lots of “extra skin left behind because the doctor thought I might change my mind.” I was just starting to try to accept the Friendsship? I now have with my husband (formerly my lover as well). My closest friend convinced me to try another plastic surgeon consultation. She went with me. I was hoping to finally find a doctor who could remove the extra skin. DISAPPOINTED again. Another arrogant male surgeon who wants me to get implants or “it’s not worth his time for $700 from my insurance company.” He said he doesn’t think they will even cover it. To make matters worse, my friend said, “don’t you want to feel like a woman again?” “Get the implants.”

@toomanyquestions - I had bilateral after dx for TNBC BRCA2+; dx only on left side but high rate of recurrence, so take them both. "I" decided to go flat then I informed my husband of my decision - never asked his opinion - my body; my decision. If our marriage depended on me having boobs - my marriage needed more work then I thought. I felt I didn't need boobs to feel like a woman - I don't. That doesn't mean that from time to time I miss the feeling of them; but I have prothesis and a pair of "knitted knockers" for shaping when I want it.

I was 68 at dx and had no desire for any more surgeries. There are a lot of things I want to do and spending time with more surgeries was NOT one of them. If I had been younger or if I had a high profile job where I was always being photographed - my decision might have been different. But if that was the case I would have been able to afford the extra help and cost that would have made the "downtime" less stressful or impactful on my life. I'm not so I didn't. I have not regretted my decision.

I'm a firm believer that it is my body and therefore my decision - whatever that decision maybe.

I decided not to. Then I had a fall in the hospital and hit the toilet with my right breast. I completely opened all the stitches in and out, and they just taped it closed. Took me 6 months to heal and I have a very ugly scar and a fliud bag that has come under my armpit. It is hard as a rock. This all happened thru covid, so another surgery to correct was out of the question. That was 4 years ago. I still have that hard fluid bump but for the most part it doesnt bother me anymore, and I am used to how it looks. Husband never cared, was just thankful we got it in time. I am 70 now......

I was 71 when I had a bi-lateral mastectomy a years ago and I haven’t regretted a moment of it. For me, there was no reason to do implants. My husband doesn’t care about that. He loves me for me. I can understand doing implants when someone is considerably younger when we are more likely to be more “attached” to our breasts and our figures. I’m not at all heavy. I just have a straight figure. The only thing I have to watch is the style of clothing I wear. Now I’m careful to not buy tops with princess seams, darts or plunging necklines. Finding a decent bathing suit without cups is difficult.

We need more female clothing designers for us “flatties”.😊

That is great and so much like me. Very reassuring. I am going with mastectomy of one breast and no reconstruction. I don't want the extra surgery and hassle.

oh what an awful experience. It's amazing what can go wrong with all this. Feels like a slippery slope. My surgeon said; "After surgery, then you'll be done." I asked; "so no radiation?" and he said; "well maybe a little." When will I be clear of this? I am looking forward to peace of mind that others talk about after mastectomy.