Who Else Has Decided NOT To Have Implants or Reconstructive Surgery?

I chose to be uneven, one is a "B" the other is a "D". I just wear a sports type bra and they arnt as easy to see a diference. They said to fix the trench where they did the 2 surgery cuts (they had to go back, missed some) was not a good idea as the skin after radiation would be hard to heal, and increases the risk of complications. Reduction of the other side, well, the only plastic surgeon on my insurance couldnt tell me a ball park $$$ and going thru everything else I cant afford to just do it, and find out. I am single and decided its just how I am, take it or leave it...just stopped the hormone blockers, havnt dated since, and the RX took away my interest .68 in a few months and I am ok with it all now, just glad its gone!

I had a double mastectomy and was relieved when I heard I didn't need radiation chemo or extra medication. I had thought I wanted reconstruction so a stretcher had was put in at the time of surgery. Now I am so sick of surgery that I think I want to just leave things as they are but I'll still have to have the stretcher removed. Has anyone else done that?

oh what an awful experience. It's amazing what can go wrong with all this. Feels like a slippery slope. My surgeon said; "After surgery, then you'll be done." I asked; "so no radiation?" and he said; "well maybe a little." When will I be clear of this? I am looking forward to peace of mind that others talk about after mastectomy.

That is great and so much like me. Very reassuring. I am going with mastectomy of one breast and no reconstruction. I don't want the extra surgery and hassle.

I was 71 when I had a bi-lateral mastectomy a years ago and I haven’t regretted a moment of it. For me, there was no reason to do implants. My husband doesn’t care about that. He loves me for me. I can understand doing implants when someone is considerably younger when we are more likely to be more “attached” to our breasts and our figures. I’m not at all heavy. I just have a straight figure. The only thing I have to watch is the style of clothing I wear. Now I’m careful to not buy tops with princess seams, darts or plunging necklines. Finding a decent bathing suit without cups is difficult.

We need more female clothing designers for us “flatties”.😊

I decided not to. Then I had a fall in the hospital and hit the toilet with my right breast. I completely opened all the stitches in and out, and they just taped it closed. Took me 6 months to heal and I have a very ugly scar and a fliud bag that has come under my armpit. It is hard as a rock. This all happened thru covid, so another surgery to correct was out of the question. That was 4 years ago. I still have that hard fluid bump but for the most part it doesnt bother me anymore, and I am used to how it looks. Husband never cared, was just thankful we got it in time. I am 70 now......

@toomanyquestions - I had bilateral after dx for TNBC BRCA2+; dx only on left side but high rate of recurrence, so take them both. "I" decided to go flat then I informed my husband of my decision - never asked his opinion - my body; my decision. If our marriage depended on me having boobs - my marriage needed more work then I thought. I felt I didn't need boobs to feel like a woman - I don't. That doesn't mean that from time to time I miss the feeling of them; but I have prothesis and a pair of "knitted knockers" for shaping when I want it.

I was 68 at dx and had no desire for any more surgeries. There are a lot of things I want to do and spending time with more surgeries was NOT one of them. If I had been younger or if I had a high profile job where I was always being photographed - my decision might have been different. But if that was the case I would have been able to afford the extra help and cost that would have made the "downtime" less stressful or impactful on my life. I'm not so I didn't. I have not regretted my decision.

I'm a firm believer that it is my body and therefore my decision - whatever that decision maybe.

I am 17 months out from Double Mastectomy and a poor attempt at reconstruction with pedicle flaps. .. lots of “extra skin left behind because the doctor thought I might change my mind.” I was just starting to try to accept the Friendsship? I now have with my husband (formerly my lover as well). My closest friend convinced me to try another plastic surgeon consultation. She went with me. I was hoping to finally find a doctor who could remove the extra skin. DISAPPOINTED again. Another arrogant male surgeon who wants me to get implants or “it’s not worth his time for $700 from my insurance company.” He said he doesn’t think they will even cover it. To make matters worse, my friend said, “don’t you want to feel like a woman again?” “Get the implants.”

I agree, @nanahatton65. It is a very personal decision.

Nice picture. I hope you'll add it to your profile. Learn how here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/help-center/

I always appreciate it when members add an image and a brief bio to their profile.

I'm a caregiver, and in the year before I had my own breast cancer diagnosis, I was doing care for a patient who had had a double mastectomy with implants and reconstruction. When I was helping her with bathing I got a good look at her surgery and thought, nope, I would not go there. I was diagnosed at stage 3(c) and it seemed like it was all complicated and challenging enough to deal with the radical mastectomy, chemo and radiation. I've never had a problem with going flat.