Things to Know If You’re Thinking About PBM
If you are facing PBM, mastectomy, or breast reconstruction, here are the most important things (IN MY OPINION) to remember, and things I wish someone had told me. And, YES, I would do it all again. NO, I don’t ever regret this decision. YES, there are CERTAINLY things that no one told me that now, 2 years into reconstruction, I wish someone HAD.
Here are THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I can share:
I don’t know that anyone can truly prepare you for PBM and reconstruction. I’m not sure that you can really know how it will impact your body, mind, and emotions until you get home from the hospital your first day.
My story is only ONE story! There are great parts and awful parts. The only thing I can guarantee is that your story will be different from mine.
You are beautiful. You are not alone. Your breasts are only a little part of who you are, and as difficult as it is to look in the mirror at first, it gets better. I promise.
Do not be afraid to talk to several plastic surgeons! You will likely love the first one you meet and feel it’s Destiny that you ended up in their office. But you’re looking for a knight to help you through a dragon infested forest, and although that first surgeon knows the way, others may know a better way.
When you talk to your plastic surgeon at the first few meetings, ask questions about the future. You’re so overwhelmed with what is going to be happening to you that it’s going to be easy to miss the big questions you should ask. Will you be keeping your nipples? What kind of reconstruction does your surgeon do for nipples? What will your after care be like? Will you be going to physical therapy afterwards? How should you prepare to avoid things like blood clots, ‘dropped’ breasts, rippling, and symmastia? Will you have Alloderm? What is it made of?
These may seem like silly questions, but ladies, I didn’t know until the day before my surgery that my nipples would be removed. I didn’t know I was sensitive to some pain meds and ended up in the hospital for 5 days and got a blood clot in my leg. I didn’t know there was a chance I would not be able to use my arms for weeks. I didn’t know that I should wear special bras that would lower my chances of dropped breasts and symmastia. I didn’t know that my chest muscles could adhere to my implants and look weird. I didn’t know that there are many different choices in implants and that my nipple reconstruction and implant used would be based only on my plastic surgeons preferences, not mine! I had no idea that Alloderm is created from cadavers until it was already a part of my body. I was told it is a ‘bio-engineered muscle’. Ask, ask, ask, read, read, read!
Having experienced both a dropped breast and now symmastia, I will recommend to my dying breath that every woman going through breast reconstruction purchase special bras for recovery. You will leave the hospital in a compression bra. After that some people recommend sports bras or underwire bras. From the bottom of my heart I suggest you purchase one of these surgical bras. Wear it as much as you can. Sleep in it for months if you can. This bra helps your muscles and scar tissue grow where you will need them to be with your new body and I believe that my complications would have been significantly reduced if I had worn one of these bras.
Read the paragraph above again, and then order one of those bras.
Purchase Bio-Oil and once your tape comes off and your incisions are healed use it several times a day on your scars. I don’t know if it really helps reduce the color of the scar, but I can tell you that it really did make a difference in the scar tissue behind the scar. After several surgeries my left scar was thick and hard and left my breast looking square. I started using the Bio Oil and would massage the scar in a circular motion both clockwise and counter clockwise for at least several minutes a day. My scar became softer and seemed to break away from the implant, allowing the breast to be more round and supple.
Hi Michelle, I’m saddened to hear that you have even further complications. It just doesn’t seem fair. You have been such an enormous help to so many, me included. I had my PBM in October 2010, & your site was the greatest help- I checked here almost daily- sometimes more often as my surgery came closer. Your courage really did give me strength! Today I had my nipple/areola tattooing, nipple reconstruction is so incredibly healing. I am forever indebted to you for the information you shared. Thankyou, thankyou xxx
November 16, 2011 at 2:25 am
Michelle,
Wow…I am so sorry you have experienced so many setbacks but really appreciate your attitude (forge ahead, focus on the positive!). That has been my MO as well. I am 4 weeks and 4 days post a double mastectomy. I was originally diagnosed in 2007 with two types of cancer in my left breast(one was stage 1 and on was stage 0). I had a lumpectomy and radiation (no chemo). Was diagnosed with cancer again (I actually found it 3 weeks after having a mammogram! and coming up on my 5 year mark). Long story short, I opted to have a double mastectomy with expander reconstruction (too thin to use stomach and am a personal trainer, group X instructor, work out animal so didn’t want to use my lats). I know the potential for complications is higher this way and am determined to try to follow Dr’s orders as far as activity levels, etc. Just curious…do you remember how long your drains were in after the mastectomy? Mine are still in and it is not looking good to get them out this next week (week 5). I think my surgeon’s limit is 6 weeks so I am looking at two more weeks. One more question for you regarding the surgery to exchange your expanders for the implants: How many months passed between your mastectomy and expanders to the exchange to get the implants? Also, my surgeon told me the two subsequent surgeries to the mastectomy (implants then nipple reconstruction) aren’t as painful (my mastectomy was excurciating!). How painful was your surgery to exchange the expanders for the implants? How long was your recovery time? Thanks so much for sharing your story! It has been very encouraging to me. It is obvious that you are a strong intelligent woman with a heart to help other in the midst of your journey! BTW…I did order the surgi bra from your link…I won’t be able to wear it until these drains come out, but I am glad I found out about it now!! Blessings and prayers to you as you continue to fight the fight
January 8, 2012 at 2:04 pm