I had a double mastectomy in 2006. I had the flap surgery on my left side because I had extensive radiation during treatment for my 1st breast cancer in 1990. The radiation fractured a rib and caused burns that left scars. Radiated skin doesn't heal-ever, thus, the need for the flap in 2006. The flat wasn't large enough to cover all of the old, radiated skin so I took several weeks of 5-day a week hyperbaric treatment. That helped a bit, but the skin which was scared by radiation burns died and had to be removed and replaced by a skin graft. The graft healed, but it was touch and go for a while. I have the smallest implant available on my right side, but it is still a bit larger than my left side, where I cannot have an implant. I spent 18 years with my breasts being very different sizes, the left side srunken by radiation and lumpectomy and the right side "normal". Now I am closer to the same sizes, A cup on the left and B on the right. I don't wear a bra because the scared tissue on my left side hurts with a bra, so a "falsie" won't work. I've decided to skip nipples-the extra surgery, pain, and the unnatural way it would look simply isn't worth it.

I just had a bilateral mastectomy with Tram Flap reconstruction 2 weeks ago.  I had breast cancer 2 years ago, and went thru a lumpectomy and chemo and radiation.  This time, I decided to just have the mastectomy and be done with it.  Only problem is, they tried to save the nipples, but they both have died, along with a good chunk of area around it.  It looks hideous, and they are wanting me to do a "skin graft" for the dead area.  My plastic surgeon says, it will heal without the skin graft, but it could take up to 2 months.  I'm just confused about whether I should do the skin graft or let nature take it's course and let it heal.  Right now I have an infection in one breast, and according to my doctor, until it heals propertly this could happen over and over.  What is your opinion on this?  Please email me at comommy3@aol.com, as I may never find this website again