• After the incisions have healed, if your scars feel tight or painful, or if you experience general pain around the implants or notice a reduced range of motion in your shoulders or arms, discuss it with your doctor. My doctor suggested I see a physical therapist, who taught me how to massage my incisions and keep the tissues flexible.

• If you’re not completely happy with the shape of your new breasts, a lightly padded bra can make a big difference (not in size, but to provide a nice shape). These bras often have underwire which should not be worn until your surgeon gives you clearance.

• Your clothes may fit differently. I have found that the implants sit differently on my body than my 40-year-old natural breasts. I am now more comfortable in v-necklines than scoop or square necklines.

While I will never feel completely restored from the bilateral mastectomy, the reconstruction has allowed me to feel somewhat normal when I dress for work, or when I catch my reflection in an unexpected mirror. And when I meet new people, they have no reason to suspect that I have ever had breast cancer.