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Anyone take "before" pictures of breasts prior to surgery?

Posted by mygoodgirls @mygoodgirls, Mar 20 7:15pm

I am considering taking some "before" photos of my breasts prior to my lumpectomy. Part of me thinks it will help with my recovery process and part of me wonders if it will just make me sad. Anyone have experience with this?

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katgob | @katgob | Mar 20 8:19pm

I took pictures of both on an instant camera. My pictures for me. In my case, it was because within a year i had a double mastectomy. Your breasts, just know on a phone they could be seen. If you have a camera, less a chance to have them shared accidentally if that is important to you. If to see before and after, why not!!

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Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Mar 20 8:44pm

I did! You may not want to compare before and after . . . but life is long. You may think, oh, 15 years from now, you know I wish I had that photo.

Call me crazy, but my husband and I took a photo of me every day after the surgery for weeks, then every fee days for a couple of months.
It was helpful to be able to compare changes in recovery.
Really helped because at one point my breast turned a bit red. I’m 3 1/2 hours from the cancer center, so i send photos through the portal. I could send a photo 2 days before, and then with red. Helpful.
Another time my breast had a little swelling above the nipple sutures - and they could assure me it looked okay.
I realize everybody opening my medical portal could see those photos, but I edited my face out, and i was 68 at the time. Kind of old to care.

We all have different comfort zones! Best wishes as you navigate this!

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katgob | @katgob | Mar 20 10:23pm

Our health info was taken by a 3rd party. My 1st thought was crap, my before breasts and mastectomy and such. But no face is attached. It is in my file, but no one would know they were mine. Just me and my plastics dr.

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mygoodgirls | @mygoodgirls | Mar 21 7:41am
In reply to @katgob "I took pictures of both on an instant camera. My pictures for me. In my case,..." + (show)
Profile picture for katgob @katgob

I took pictures of both on an instant camera. My pictures for me. In my case, it was because within a year i had a double mastectomy. Your breasts, just know on a phone they could be seen. If you have a camera, less a chance to have them shared accidentally if that is important to you. If to see before and after, why not!!

Jump to this post

@katgob
Thank you ❤️

REPLY
Profile picture for mygoodgirls
mygoodgirls | @mygoodgirls | Mar 21 7:44am
In reply to @triciaot "I did! You may not want to compare before and after . . . but life..." + (show)
Profile picture for Rubyslippers @triciaot

I did! You may not want to compare before and after . . . but life is long. You may think, oh, 15 years from now, you know I wish I had that photo.

Call me crazy, but my husband and I took a photo of me every day after the surgery for weeks, then every fee days for a couple of months.
It was helpful to be able to compare changes in recovery.
Really helped because at one point my breast turned a bit red. I’m 3 1/2 hours from the cancer center, so i send photos through the portal. I could send a photo 2 days before, and then with red. Helpful.
Another time my breast had a little swelling above the nipple sutures - and they could assure me it looked okay.
I realize everybody opening my medical portal could see those photos, but I edited my face out, and i was 68 at the time. Kind of old to care.

We all have different comfort zones! Best wishes as you navigate this!

Jump to this post

@triciaot
Thank you ❤️

REPLY
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justabumpintheroad | @justabumpintheroad | Mar 21 10:25am

I opted for a bilateral. I took before pics, flat pics and pics with the new perkies! I am happy with the new girls and just looked at my before picture yesterday. It is good to have that to look back on. Seems like a lifetime ago!!! I am 4 months post reconstruction. I am still pondering getting nipple tattoos.

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1 reply
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mygoodgirls | @mygoodgirls | Mar 21 2:38pm
In reply to @justabumpintheroad "I opted for a bilateral. I took before pics, flat pics and pics with the new..." + (show)
Profile picture for justabumpintheroad @justabumpintheroad

I opted for a bilateral. I took before pics, flat pics and pics with the new perkies! I am happy with the new girls and just looked at my before picture yesterday. It is good to have that to look back on. Seems like a lifetime ago!!! I am 4 months post reconstruction. I am still pondering getting nipple tattoos.

Jump to this post

@justabumpintheroad
Thank you ❤️

REPLY
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mssewest | @mssewest | Apr 2 1:00pm

Yes do it. You thought of it, make it happen. I wish I had. I’ve seen women make a plaster bust of them and paint and decorated it.

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mygoodgirls | @mygoodgirls | Apr 2 8:32pm
In reply to @mssewest "Yes do it. You thought of it, make it happen. I wish I had. I’ve seen..." + (show)
Profile picture for mssewest @mssewest

Yes do it. You thought of it, make it happen. I wish I had. I’ve seen women make a plaster bust of them and paint and decorated it.

Jump to this post

@mssewest
Thank you ❤️

REPLY
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muscolor | @muscolor | Apr 11 11:51am
In reply to @katgob "I took pictures of both on an instant camera. My pictures for me. In my case,..." + (show)
Profile picture for katgob @katgob

I took pictures of both on an instant camera. My pictures for me. In my case, it was because within a year i had a double mastectomy. Your breasts, just know on a phone they could be seen. If you have a camera, less a chance to have them shared accidentally if that is important to you. If to see before and after, why not!!

Jump to this post

@katgob
I used an old digital camera with a sim card. I didn’t want to accidentally show them along with photos of my grandkids!
I continued to take photos every few days. I am in week 8 post op. It has been encouraging to see that the swelling does actually go down!

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