Mastectomy and breast reconstruction pros and cons?

Good question, I will have a double M in April 2022 looking at options for reconstruction. Staying small 34b at 55 I like to stay active and love boating
Small fits me well

One doctor advised that one should recover from the cancer surgery and NOT put in implants immediately, giving your body a chance to heal and not fight a foreign substance at the same time. That made sense to me. I settled for prostheses instead of implants.

I am 74! (can't believe it) and have a seroma from too much radiation and IORT, plus a tiny but virile re occurrence. Having bilateral mastectomy Dec 1. Will probably stay flat after healing. I can vary my "look" depending upon the occasion. I want to continue playing tennis, swimming and dancing.

Hello @mlk i wanted to check in and see how you were feeling after surgery? How are you feeling?

I felt amazingly good immediately , surgery was dec 1, still have drains but feel fine and am not taking any pain pills! Surgeon wants me to do 20 sessions in hyperbaric chamber. thank you so muc for caring AuntieOakley

Can’t tell you how happy that makes me! Doing a snoopy dance now. Hyperbaric chamber, will that make the incision heal quicker?

@mlk so happy that you are doing well following your surgery. That is such great news!

When will you have the drains removed, @mlk? Did they talk to you about exercises post surgery?

I see surgeon for first time the 13th, surgery was Dec 1. Have 3 drains, 2 are very very little now. but getting concerned about tightness, it still feels like I have a very tight bandage on and I do not. skin feels so hard, my stiches are "glue" that will dissolve eventually they say. I had a seroma which was removed of course still have some orange peel skin. Just want my chest to soften a bit. hope exercise will be suggested Monday.

The tightness gets better. You can stretch the skin by opening your arms wide repeatedly, but it starts to resolve with time.