Cosmetic Decisions In Mastectomy Recovery

Up to one-third of women who undergo breast reconstruction surgery experience complications during the six to eighteen months required to complete the procedure. No fewer than 28 studies have confirmed that women who don't have confirmed that women who go without breast reconstruction do no worse, and often do better, in terms of quality of life, self-image, and sexual outcomes. However, even women who choose to forego both reconstruction and prosthetics have decisions to make.

• Women who don't want to have breast reconstruction may still face dealing with "dog ears" after mastectomy. These are smaller or larger deposits of fat left at the margins of the breast that has been removed. Women who reject breast reconstruction can still have "incision revision," a much less drastic procedure that doesn't require removing muscles or blood vessels, a few weeks after they have their cancer surgery.
• Another common issue for women who choose to go flat is keeping the surgical scar flat across the chest. A flat scar is less prominent than a curved or bulging scar. This is an issue that may be dealt with at the time of the mastectomy itself, or some women have strategically placed tattoos that draw attention away from the scar if it cannot be revised as desired.
• Sexual satisfaction after mastectomy can require some creativity. Even a reconstructed breast will be numb, and won't have nipples, but even women who have no breasts can find ways to enjoy intimacy. Some women say that wearing a breast form in a sports bra helps them recover the sensation of having breasts. Women who enjoyed wearing sexy lingerie before mastectomy generally enjoy wearing it afterwards, even without breasts. Losing nipples may cause other erogenous zones, such as the neck or scalp, to become more sensitive. Partners of women who have mastectomies may be hesitant to touch places women want touched. Usually the best way to deal with this issue is to tell your partner what you would like.

READ Rebuilding Breasts With Fat After Mastectomy

What about breast implants? Some doctors assume all women who have mastectomies will want implants, so they leave ugly, open flaps of skin for a future implant without even asking. While it's hard to predict which women will want reconstruction (Dr. Marissa Weiss, founder of breastcancer.org, reports that she has operated on nuns who wanted breast reconstruction surgery and go-go dancers who didn't), no doctor should assume what the patient wants. The flaps for future breast implants can become itchy, irritated, or infected, and some women simply ask to have them removed. It's best to have this issue resolved before cancer surgery.

Nothing in this article is intended to be anti-reconstruction surgery. But women who have breast cancer surgery need to know that going flat is an option, and there are many interest groups and Testimonials "out there" to support their choice.