No regrets! Had mine July 9, 2025. My incision is technically healed, but I am actively working on minimizing scaring by masssging with vitamin D oil. I too did not require radiation or chemotherapy. I did lymphedema exercise exercises, two weeks preoperatively, and begain again one week following - and I continue to do these daily. I have residual lymph of 9% in my right arm and in my left. My condition is not considered to be chronic but acute and I can continue to bring down swelling (honestly you really can't even tell when you look at my arms; they just feel a tad heavy to me). I probably had some swelling because I hadn't learned how to clear what I called my parasternal and paravertebral lymph nodes in my preoperative training. We expect my lymph reading to come back down to preoperative in the next few weeks. If they don't, I will probably be fitted with compression sleeves. But maybe not because even though I am higher from preoperative, I am still in the "normal" (statistically good) range. I have also done my PT exercises regularly- that was hard at first because I felt tension in my pectoral region and limited mobility in both shoulders. This resolved within the first several weeks and I have 100% range of motion back on my left and 95% range of motion back on my right. Although to be honest, my right side always had a little bit less mobility than my left. My right side difficulties could be related to having a lumpectomy way back in 1989 where we did nothing preoperatively or postoperatively to manage swelling, etc. I also had a lumpectomy in my right breast in May - and at biopsy with a second pre-cancer found I had the mastectomy in July. So my right side has been fully assaulted!

It's kind of bizarre not having breast because when you look down you see your belly, not breasts - but on the plus sides it's easier to lie on your tummy, easier to get your arms around large or bulky packages, easier to trim hedge (I did that the first time this week), there is no need to wear bras (although I am still wearing my compression camisole. I recognize this joy when I don't need to be under compression), or under-breast sweat... I am sure I will find more pros over the next few months.

Although I had seen pictures of mastectomies, and I chose to remain flat, so I saw plenty of pictures before really committing to that choice, it was still a bit disconcerting to see my chest and scars post op - but I quickly overcame these feelings and am happy to report I am more satisfied with my decision, and the appearance of my scars, every day. If someone does not know that I've had a mastectomy they don't even notice - another plus! The only thing I dislike, and maybe others have not had this happen, is that when I get really cold, my pec muscles shiver...wierd sensation! I live in Michigan, so I suppose I will get used to this eventually... I never recognize how much insulation my breast tissue provided to my chest wall. BTW I had complete sensation on my chest postoperatively until I began PT - and then an inch above and below my incision went numb ... several weeks into PT the numbness diminished, and I basically have full sensation back. You should know some women report they don't feel sensation on their chest - but I've never heard any of those women say they regret having them mastectomy because they lost chest sensation. Maybe someone who's had that experience can chime in. Good luck with your decision.