Anyone know what kind of treatment Suzanne Somers got over the years?

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!!

I know it’s difficult to see yourself at first. I had a bilateral mastectomy 3/23. Being 70 I decided not to do reconstruction, I just wanted to get the surgery over with and not face anymore surgeries. It took me a month or so to really look at myself naked in the mirror. It was a shock to see but I said to myself “those breasts were diseased and they had to go. I am much healthier without them.” ( I had ILC in the left breast and IDC and a small area of DCIS in the right breast) I think I look like a pear. Small on the top and then it just gets bigger from there with my stomach and hips. Now I am just used to it and I am relieved that those diseased breasts are no longer part of me. I don’t find the official prostheses that comfortable to wear. My surgeon’s nurse at Mayo told me about the Athleta Empower pads. They are lightweight and very reasonably priced. You get 2 for the L or R side for $10. Their website says one to wear and one for the wash. They come in a little zipper bag that you can put them in for machine washing. So of course I had to buy 2 sets, one L set and one R set. Before surgery I was a size C or D depending on the bra and I ordered the size D which I think is comparable to a size C cup. I wear them in a soft sports bra, I have some by Jockey and also one from Coobie and they have a little soft modesty insert that you can remove through an opening in the bra. Since they have that opening you can slip the Empower pad in. They are very comfortable. I buy the Jockey bras from Macy’s and the Coobie bras online. When my husband and I are having our “romantic” times I wear one of the bras with just the little modesty inserts in it. I just feel better having something covering my flat pear top and it’s very comfortable. My husband has been wonderful about everything, it’s just me feeling better about myself during those romantic times. I hope this helps you. Sending Love, Healing and Wellness wishes to you. ❤️

I’m having a hard time with my body image after mastectomy. I feel that I look like a monster. Can anyone relate?

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!!