@A MyBCTeam Member if given the choice I would have had immediate reconstruction but that said I don't know your whole story and there is so much to consider regarding treatments, rads chemo etc. The great thing about waiting ( delayed) this will give you time to decide and not rush into any specific type of reconstructive surgery with out making a very well informed decision. And yes tissue expander so suck! I had them in for 9 months. For me I had to have delayed recon because I needed radiation after mastectomy. I in the end chose to have what they call Diep , basically I used my tummy fat to create 2 new boobs hence no implants needed and I'm very thrilled with my choice. As for the dog ears/dew paws delayed recon or immediate the law says insurance still has to cover any corrections needed and this is not considered cosmetic but recon. With Diep it usually takes 2-3 surgeries before most women achieve there goals of natural looking breast. I just completed phase 1 about 4 months ago and yes I have small dog ears that will be addressed in phase 2 along with lipo to move some more fat to my new boobs and the lifting of a boob and yes it's all covered by my insurance. If you have any further questions please feel free to ask and I will respond with in 24hours.

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A MyBCTea...

Honey if I could go back and change my mind about both removed and having cosmetic work done right after, I would choose to (no reconstruction ) and radiation after bilateral mastectomy ... If I would of chose that then I think I would have not gotten stage 4 bone mets!! Please pray!!! Don't matter what u look like as long as u have your life with your kids! God please take my advice! Both removed, no cosmetic and radiation to chest!! They might tell you that it won't come back after mastectomy.... They r wrong!! It comes back!!! Mine did!! Now my like with my babies is gonna be short. But I will do all I can to live for them!

Even with implants you may still have the flaps. I do. They get less over time as things sort of settle. I was thin with large breasts. I went with implants. I did immediate even though i had to have radiation. The radiated side healed, the other they had to take out because I would not heal. I am supposed to try again on that side in October.

Given the choice, I would do immediate reconstruction with DIEP. That was my choice. For me, I would have eliminated the need for another surgery. But, since there wa a chance I needed chemo, my PS and BS recommended tissue expander so chemo could start on time. As it turns out, I did need chemo. Just had 1st of 8 rounds last week. Once chemo is finished in August, reconstruction surgery will take place in October. So April 2, 2015, I had left mastectomy with tissue expander put it. In October, I will have right mastectomy, as a precaution, with DIEP reconstruction for both breasts.

I had a BMX in October with immediate reconstruction with expanders. I had large breasts (DD) and now have C's. I had my expanders exchanged at 3 months and three months after that had my nipples made and had fat grafting in the sunken spaces on my chest. I will have another surgery in September to tighten the skin under my arms where my breast tissue was removed, I think you call it dog ears. The benefit of having expanders is a faster recovery and less scars than a diep. My PS filled my expanders fairly large in surgery and I only had to have one fill. They will be hard as rocks at first, but when you get the permanent implants they will be much softer. I personally liked the look of reconstruction with expanders better than diep surgery. You need to choose what is right for you so if other's question your choice simply remember that it's your body!