Adam Bryce Weinfeld, MD

If you decide to remove your implants, risk of infection will be lower than if you kept them. Risks of going flat could include increased risk of seroma (fluid collection) due to having a large open space that was once occupied with an implant. I only recommend you go flat if you are certain of your decision. Otherwise, if you were to later change your mind, starting over with reconstruction later may present further challenges. Best of luck with your decision.

There is not a specific maximum age to qualify for breast reconstruction. Even if you are in your 80's but without any major health issues, you may qualify. I encourage you to schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss your options further. Best of luck.

Its difficult to tell without pictures if you are a candidate for DIEP flap. If you have adequate abdominal tissue relative to your preferred final breast size, you may qualify. If, after examination, you told you are not a candidate, you may instead be better suited for implant based reconstruction. Best of luck.

I am very sorry to hear about your situation. Radiation can certainly complicate breast reconstruction. Given that you have had infected implants twice, I would be hesitant to try implant reconstruction again. Its difficult to tell from the pictures but if you have enough tissue to your abdomen, you may be a candidate for DIEP flap reconstruction. Best of luck.

Its unlikely you would be able to get a mastectomy covered by insurance unless you have cancer or are considered high risk (such as having a genetic mutation that increases your risk or a family history significant for breast cancer).

You may be a candidate for repositioning of your implants from the sub-pectoral (under the muscle) location to the pre-pectoral (above the muscle) location. This will eliminate the amination. Often times, in order to do this best, you would have the existing implants removed from below the muscle and tissue expanders placed above the muscle. A second surgery would later be required to remove the expanders and place permanent implants. Whether or not you can go much smaller would largely depend on how your tissue contracts after removal of existing implants. Best of luck.

Based on your age, implants may have to be replaced at some point in your life. That being said, there is no set timeframe when this should occur. They could last 10 years, or 30 years. If you note changes to your implants such as firmness, new pain, change in shape, etc you would want to tell your plastic surgeon so they can evaluate for potential rupture. If you have a rupture, it is recommended to have those implants removed and replaced. Otherwise, there is no need to have them replaced just based on implant age.

Your surgeon is correct. Teardrop implants have been pulled from the market. You can still get a wonderful result with standard implants, especially if your surgeon also does fat grafting to the superior pole (the upper portion of the breast) to make a more natural and smooth transition from implant to chest wall. Best of luck.

Your insurance should pay for reconstruction regardless of how long ago you received your DCIS diagnosis. Its difficult to say without photos or exam, but given your history of lumpectomy with radiation, you may be a good candidate for fat grafting to the left side to add volume. That being said, there are many factors such as existing degree of ptosis (drooping) to either breast, etc. I encourage you to schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction. Best of luck.

It is best to discuss this with your surgeon. It is possible there is still some filler remaining and if so, your surgeon may wish to inject a substance that can dissolve the remainder.