Single Mastectomy: What will Recovery Time be like? How long?

Thank you for posting your recovery experience. I am happy for you that you got back to running in 6 weeks. I am a rower and very concerned about the length of time it will take me to regain range of motion in my arms in order to get back into a shell or to use my rowing machine at home.

Thank you for your response. I wish you the best of luck with your second surgery and I hope it won't be at all painful!

Hi @ppeg

I had a double mastectomy in October 2024. And I received tissue expanders during the same surgery. I had 4 lymph nodes removed. I’m getting implants and fat grafting on march 5. No chemo or radiation.

Until I got my drains out, I was pretty uncomfortable and cranky. I could not reach with my arms and could not lift or hold anything over 10 pounds. These restrictions lasted 6 weeks.

I slept in a recliner for 5 weeks. The recliner was so comfortable. Much more comfortable than lying in a bed.

I wore a plastic shower shirt until all of my drains were removed. I have a hand held shower which was very helpful. I also bought a hands free stand for my hair dryer from Amazon.

Button up shirts and pjs are a must.

There are helpful garments on Amazon that you can tuck your drains into. My favorite was a comfortable belly band with pockets for the drains.

I am a bit of a planner. I knew I wouldn’t be able to lift my arms. So I installed all smart bulbs before my surgery! So I could control them from my phone.

My tissue expanders have been filled by plastic surgery on almost a weekly basis.

So now I’m ready for the next surgery which other gals have told me is painful and daunting.

However, on the positive side, now I have great range of motion with both arms, although I will lose some of that with surgery #2. I can hold my grand children again and lift up a container of detergent. I can empty out the dishwasher. Very gently, I can do a few yoga poses, but the expanders are not comfortable. And my doctor is careful to make sure they don’t flip or leak.

It’s a long road. But women on this site have amazing personal stories. They’ve inspired me and encouraged me.

Good luck. Let me know if you need other creature comfort suggestions for post surgery.

Xo

I have DCIS HRT Positve. I am scheduled to have a double mastectomy in early March. I am already flat-chested, which is one reason a bilateral was recommended. I was told that I would be unhappy with a single mastectomy 1) Because of the likelihood of cancer showing up in the second breast, 2) Because the plastic surgeon would be unable to match a new breast to the existing one, 3) Because I was told I would not have to have radiation. I am the picture of health. I'm athletic & exercise daily, I haven't eaten meat since my 20s, I've never smoked, I have never been much of a drinker & gave it up entirely 2 years ago, I have never been hospitalized, and there is no family history of cancer. I am struggling to wrap my arms around losing both breasts. Going flat is not for me. It sounds like a 4-6 wk recovery, but I cannot find much information about what exactly you can and cannot do other than not lifting your arms above shoulder height & not lifting. Do any of you know where I can get some candid information about what to expect. If I know ahead of time, I will be able to deal with it much better.

i had a right masectomy about 8 months ago . no pain after operation or later . had 2 tubes to drain fluids but while these looked horrendous no pain .

clothes were the hardest finding clothes that didn't accentuate the missing breast . so many just don't look right any more , even with a prosthesis for the breast . it's a constant annoyance .

the scar can tighten up so good massage and oils is important . i had a lot of lymph nodes removed also so now have lymphoedema , which is annoying , more under arm out . so pressure garments are a must .

was surprised the lack of horror in seeing body after, didn't rattle me at all . it's surprising how your mind adjusts . i thought i would freak out but it didn't worry me , i suppose being older and was happy to have removed the tumour . would be harder on a young woman . iv found the unknown is tens times worse than the actual event so don't stress about it , it will not change anything . get good advise and go with the flow , keep your normal life as much as you can . then before you know it , it will be something in your past .

I'm tagging @tessadaly to make sure that she sees your message.

@carrot2453, have you had a mastectomy or are you preparing for one? Are you concerned about the pain post surgery?

I had my single mastectomy on Nov. 9 last year. I recovered well after two months. Mu left arm is still a bit stiff but I do stretching exercises everyday. I am now getting used to wearing mastectomy bras which I bought a month before the surgery.

Hello thank you for your comment on recovery time. You mention the right pain medication. May I ask what pain management you received? Thank you

I had my single sided mastectomy 5 years ago and it went well. Blessings to all you ladies. ❤️🙏🏼❤️

Hi, I had single mastectomy for invasive Ductal carcinoma 12 days ago. I was able to have a prefilled implant the same day so no expanders. Yay me. I’m off all pain meds accept for OTC. I still have a drain in and THATS’s a drain. I feel good but take a couple of naps every day. I’m actually surprised and grateful that my recovery is going so well. I’m 70 years old but still think I’m in my 40s….best wishes to you for a smooth recovery and to be cancer free!❤️🤟🌈