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

Hi! I had bilateral mastectomy about one year ago. I decided to go flat at that time after weighing the increased risks and healing time with flap reconstruction and the additional future surgeries for implant replacement as implants only last 10-15 years and I am only in my 40s. I am a risk averse person by nature so my decision did not take too much deliberation. I went from a 34DD to being flat. I communicated my desired outcome with my surgeon and she did an amazing job. I have pretty flat, symmetrical scars and no dog ears. She is an exceptional surgeon who really listened to me. I do not regret my decision to go flat. I do miss my breasts and the sensation of having them, of course, but no reconstruction was the right decision for me. I had many people tell me as I started to get out after surgery that they thought I was so brave for my choice to not reconstruct and I explained to them that my choice was actually fear based-I simply wanted to avoid additional risk and that I felt reconstruction was the ‘brave’ choice and that there is no one ‘right’ or ‘brave’ choice. I hope you find clarity in your choice! Also, I got prosthetic breasts but have not worn them once. It’s nice to not have the extra pressure and weight on my scars and back and shoulders plus they are much smaller than my original breasts and just look funny to me. But I am glad to have them on hand just in case I ever feel like wearing them. Also also (lol) Knitted Knockers is a non-profit of volunteer knitters who donated lightweight knitted prosthetic breast to women like us! They are not wearable in swimsuits but women I know who wear them say they are super comfortable!

I think it probably depends on your age. I'm 81 so reconstruction means nothing to me. I had my right breast removed two years ago and I wish I could have had the left removed, too. I'm large breasted and it's terrible to have to try to balance the two, but I'm still glad I didn't go for reconstruction. Every woman has to make that decision for herself, but since I've had my surgery I'm more aware of how many flat chested women I see now. I know they've had mastectomies because nobody is that flat, but they wear their flatness well and still look chic and lovely.