I think it's great if you want implant reconstruction. Typically insurance will cover both breasts (for symmetry)--my experience w/ my first mastectomy 2006 (w/ A cup breasts) was that in order to make them symmetrical, they had to make my contralateral healthy breast larger because the implant on the mastectomy L side doesn't sag. If you've got any aging, they've got to make it larger so that it "matches" the new one.

Our children never see us as women who'd like to feel good about our appearance either alone or w/ a partner, especially sons.

The question is whether you're going to do a tissue expander or just do pre-pec implants all at once. Unfortunately if you didn't opt for reconstruction at the time, the surgeon probably didn't leave extra skin, so you might need expansion. Frankly, tissue expanders often hurt much more than the minimally sore post-implant surgery because 1) they're stretching skin, which hurts more if it's subpec, which I had in 2006 and 2) prepec tissue expanders are right under the skin and frankly can feel like wire depending on how you move.

But in the hands of the right plastic surgeon the results can look AWESOME. There's nothing wrong w/ doing something for yourself, esp if covered by insurance.

I doubt you'd want any of the tram/diep flap surgery--while yes, there's a tummy tuck involved, or removal of fat from thighs, bottom, etc., they leave a long scar, and the recovery time is extensive requiring 24/7 caregiving, which doesn't sound like an option right now. But the implant surgery--esp if you could get it done all at once--can provide quick awesome results. I hope it works out for you!!