The Second Reconstruction Surgery
his one could be otherwise titled, “Was It Worth It?” This surgery was for all the cosmetic odds and ends to make the implants look as normal as possible. Included in this process was sucking some fat from my abdomen then putting it into the divots left from the mastectomies around the implants. Additionally he tidied up some scars.
Because of the radiation and possibly some plastic surgery deficits, I am not completely symetrical. However, I look fine in my clothes (especially after the emergency pectoral repair 2 weeks post implant placement, as Dr. T made the implants more symetrical).
This final surgery itself involved 7 very small cuts and one scar revision. Afterwards there was soreness and bruising in my abdomen–not so much in the chest region. Unfortunately I got an infection in one abdominal incision. The recovery was not as easy as I would have thought.
The only thing that I wanted from this last surgery was to have two divots filled in the areas below my collar bone. This area shows when I wear summer tops. All else was cosmetically acceptable to me.
Unfortunately, the doctor either had a hard time doing this or he just did not receive my communication. One divot is well filled in and the other is not.
However, I can see already that the fat is starting to be reabsorbed. So the imbalance is not going to matter in the long run, hence the surgery probably will not either.
If I were asked whether to recommend this surgery or not, I would give it a thumbs down. And in truth, I would say research your plastic surgeon as carefully as you do your oncological surgeon.
The only thing left to do is to go back one more time to the aesthetician for a darkening of the areolar tattoos. I have 9 months to get this completed, insurance wise. I will take my time.
This blog entry is meant to be informative (not complaining) in its nature. I am content– I have breasts or a facsimile thereof. Now I can move on to more healing discoveries. Blessings!
