Show and Smile: Breast Reconstruction

PJ--you are awesome. There's no other way to put it.

:)

PJ- what an inspiration you are to all of us.  I had a bilat in March and wished I could have seen a set myself for the encouragement.  Keep up the awesome work.

Tina

Now that I've suffered the agony of losing my breast and look wistfully at the smart fitted dresses I used to wear,it would lift my spirits immensely to look at a well reconstructed breast.I think you're doing a real good turn to women who,like me,wonder what it would actually look like if they decided to have one. 

Like the writer, I've become far less modest after breast reconstruction.  I've shown the results to female friends and in the locker room at the public pool.  The scar across one breast is less obvious every month.

I had a right mastectomy due to small breasts and location of the small tumor close to the chest wall.  The whole situation made immediate reconstruction not possible.  I was lacking in sufficient tissue for a transflap or other type of reconstruction that involved my own tissue (fat).  Best option for me was use of silicone implant - the results have been fantastic.  It took about 18 months for the entire process with one setback - a bad wrinkle in the first implant and an additional surgery.  Was it worth it? Absolutely!  I'm 66 and can hug the grandkids, wear all types of clothing, and not be shy in an intimate relationship.  The reconstructed breast feels entirely like part of my body. The other side that got a tiny implant to perk it up and match the other side feels entirely natural.  It was worth all of the trips to my fantastic plastic surgeon and the hassles.  Ladies, the additional surgeries are worth it.  Feeling fine!

PJ, you are an inspiration to others.  When a survivor showed me her reconstruction, I just wanted to cry.  They looked so amazing.  She told me that she had no regrets.  I went ahead with confidence, and I've never looked back.

So Im not the only crazy one showing my new breast to everybody.