Bringing Sexy Back - From Breast Cancer To Reconstruction To Tummy Tuck - New Orleans, LA

The past year has been an emotional rollar coaster ride from hell. In July of 2011 I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my right breast. I was very lucky and found the lump early which saved my live. So ladies, do self exams and get mammograms, I am living proof that they save lives. After having bilateral mastectomy in August and then in November 28 treatments of radiation I was excited to be scheduled for my first surgery to begain the reconstruction of the boobs. March 12, 2012 I had the DIEP flap done. They harvested 2 veins and fat with skin to create two new breast. This would also give me somewhat of a tummy tuck. On May 4th, I was back in the hospital with a failed flap on the left side, along with an infection and some dead tissue. I knew going into this that there was a chance the flap would fail so I wasn't suprised when it happened. I had surgery on May 5th to remove the dead tissue and clean out the infection. On May 7th my plastic surgeon did the latissimus dorsi flap and put a temp tissue expander. I was devistated because now I would have 2 breast, one made of "real" tissue and one with an implant. I just knew they would look horrible. On August 13th I had my last surgery. My plastic surgeon did a little shaping and finished them off with my new nipples. I am also happy to say that there almost really is no difference in the feel or the look between the two of them. Next phase for the breast is getting the color tattooed on.

The tummy tuck came about becasue of the scar I was left with after the DIEP. It was right in my waist line and it really had a hard time healing. Everything I wore rubbed on it and made it raw. Because he used tissue from that area to make me new boobs I was now smaller on the botton portion of my belly than on the top. My panties and my pants would fall because there wasn't anything to hold them up and wearing a belt was painful. After talking to my plastic surgeon about all of my concerns, said that he could revise the scar and do a small amount of lipo but that's about all my insurance would allow him to do. He suggested that I do a tummy tuck but without the muscle repair which would keep the cost down. This would allow him to move my scar down from my waist line to right above the pubic area. He would also be able to do more lipo. He sent me home to talk to my husband and think about it. I decided that if I couldn't have the bombshell boobs that I would spend the extra money and have my tummy area redone.

Surgery day the doctor came in and made his markings. I was blown away with the amount of lipo he was planning but I was excited and couldn't wait to see the results and my finished boobs. They gave me the good stuff in my IV and away I went. When I woke up the pain was horrible and I was informed that I would be staying the night. I had 5 drains this time, one less than the last surgery. I also had the On-Q pain pump. The next day I was released to go home with a follow up appointment to see the doctor the next day.