Anonymous. Don't know where you are writing from but try to find a support group in your area. There you will meet other women who have had reconstruction of both types that are proposed. These women can help you make your decision. Remember that the decision of what type of reconstruction is YOUR'S to make. Not your plastic surgeon, or your oncologist or your family. Yes, the abdominal flap surgery (where fat is moved from the abdomen to reconstruct a breast), is a much longer procedure. You will have two incisions--one in lower abdomen and one at breast site. If, as you report, you have rashes, fungus and yeast infections, I would not recommend any incisions in that area. Unless you can heal from those infections first. For the other type of reconstruction you would probably have two surgeries. One to put in a tissue expander. That expander is then filled over several months so that it stretches your skin to allow an implant the size of the breast you want. Then the second surgery places a silicone breast implant. Following that you can have nipple reconstruction and areolar tattooing (the colored area around your nipple).
Are you going to have chemotherapy and/or radiation? Those treatments also affect your decision. No decision has to be made in a hurry. Take the time to learn about each procedure and choose what YOU want.
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Anonymous. Don't know where you are writing from but try to find a support group in your area. There you will meet other women who have had reconstruction of both types that are proposed. These women can help you make your decision. Remember that the decision of what type of reconstruction is YOUR'S to make. Not your plastic surgeon, or your oncologist or your family. Yes, the abdominal flap surgery (where fat is moved from the abdomen to reconstruct a breast), is a much longer procedure. You will have two incisions--one in lower abdomen and one at breast site. If, as you report, you have rashes, fungus and yeast infections, I would not recommend any incisions in that area. Unless you can heal from those infections first. For the other type of reconstruction you would probably have two surgeries. One to put in a tissue expander. That expander is then filled over several months so that it stretches your skin to allow an implant the size of the breast you want. Then the second surgery places a silicone breast implant. Following that you can have nipple reconstruction and areolar tattooing (the colored area around your nipple).
October 7, 2011 - 6:58amAre you going to have chemotherapy and/or radiation? Those treatments also affect your decision. No decision has to be made in a hurry. Take the time to learn about each procedure and choose what YOU want.
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