Reconstruction but Didn't Have Cancer -

I am one of the unusual cases for a breast reconstruction, as I have not had cancer. I had a breast reduction which went horribly wrong in Sept last year. I also had a reduction 35 years ago, and that is where the problem stems from.... I am 58 and my breast were 36H. I had extreamly bad back and neck aches, and suffered from headaches which had been diagnosed as coming from my heavy breasts. My GP suggested I have another reduction.

Early last year I started my research and found a good PS here in Sydney. At the 1st visit he told me of the risks as a result of the previous reduction, and at the 2nd visit he repeated the possible complications. I decided to go ahead, and thought the worst that could happen is I could lose my nipples, but knew they could be reconstructed. After the operation I was told there was a problem with both my nipples and that I might lose them. I took the news pretty good and for 2 weeks we fought to save them.

The left side finally became pink, but the right got darker and had to be removed. Back into hospital I went, but unfortunately when the Dr came to see me after that operation, he told me that 1/2 my breast had also died, and had to be removed.... I had another another 2 operations before I eventually went home both times to debride my tiny little right breast, and also to have a skin graft on the left breast, as there had been skin seperation on the 'T' section..... I couldn't win.

I have been healing well and I have seeing my PS twice a week for about a month, then went to weekly, forthightly, then monthly visits, and now I will see him for a preop visit, in Feb and will have an expander placed in my right breast in March.

So my journey begins. I also need to have some more work done to the left breast, and there is also a 'dogear' to repair, but I am really pleased to start this transformation as I really don't want to be lopsided for longer than I have to be. I have gone from a H cup to a C cup and am wearing a prosthesis on the right side, but I have a very positive attitude. My PS is wonderful and I have full confidence in him, and know that I am in very good hands....

I thought I should add, that the reason the reduction went so horribly wrong was that the blood supply was compromised. After the first reduction the blood supply was coming from a totally different area, and my now PS had no idea where it was.


Not sure I know what you mean Beverly 'in terms of lifestyle'...
If you meant the 2nd reduction, I really hated my breasts, and with all the associated problems that I was having with them and I really wanted to get rid of them. There was a lot of things that are hard to do with extreamly large breasts,and was very disappointed that over the 35 years they had grown back much larger than they were before I had my first reduction. I was 23 and had was an E cup, and in all honesty wasn't really happy with the first reduction as I thought not enough was taken, and I only went down 2 cup sizes. Over the 35 years I had 3 children, and my weight had gone up and down, and through all of this my breasts just got bigger, and then menupause hit and they started to grow again.
As for now, I need to have this reconstruction to become the full me again. My husband is very supportive and of course for him I would love to have breasts that look great. I am under no illusion that my girls are going to look fabulous when finished, but they will hopefully be the same size and look good in a bra.
My PS is a bit of a perfectionist and I think he has taken the approach that he want to get them as perfect as possible for me, especially after what I have been through.


Megan... I asked to be a C/D cup. I am a small C at the moment
There are problems with the left breast as well, as there is also dead tissue in it, but my body has started to absorb it...thankfully.
After the expander has done it's job and the change over op takes place, he is going to take out the skin graft on the left breast and bring it back to a thin line scar, and also place about 100cc implant into the breast. This will also help to make the girls have the same shape. At this stage he is planning to put in 450cc into the right breast. After all is finished I will probably be a very full C to a D.

I am back home after spending 2 day in hospital after the first part of the Reconstruction process. I am very happy with the outcome so far and so is my PS.

My small right breast has had an expander put in under the muscle, and when I woke I found the Dr had already put 200mls into it. It is very painful at the moment and feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest...haha. My Dr has said it will keep getting better as the skin get used to being streached and soon the elephant will be gone. I will be having 100mls put in each fortnight until I am at the size I want to be. I am thinking this process is going to be painful each time.

The left breast had a few procedures done to it, but it is really looking good, from what I can see. The breast had dropped down the chest, so decide to do a mini lift. All the dead tissue was also debrided, He cut away some skin at the bottom of the chest and sewed the breast down to my ribs to keep it in place. The skin graft was also brought back into a nice thin single scar. The nipple had to be moved up to a higher position, and this was done as a nipple graft rather than doing it the normal way as he thought the nipple would survive a third move. I may not have as much feeling in the nipple anymore, but to be honest I didn't have much feeling there after the Breast Reduction anyway My 'dogear' has also been repaired, but as yet I cannot really see what it is like with the tape over it.

This is early days yet, but I think I am really going to be happy with what my PS has done, and I am looking forward to all of the tapes coming off so I can have a good look at my girls. It is going to be at least 3 months before I have the expander swapped over for the implant, and at this stage I will still be having a small implant placed into my left breast as well, as it is now quite small and it will help to give the girls the same shape.