Questions for Women Who Chose No Reconstruction After Mastectomy

I planned to have fat grafting done after my double mastectomies but was not pleased after the first time. I was bruised badly for 6 weeks and it hurt much more than my mastectomies. So I decided against reconstruction. If I were married I might feel differently because I feel so disfigured, but I am over the pain. I ordered forms and undergarments from The Busted Tank and wear them 24/7 and am pleased. God bless you on your journey.

I did not have reconstructive surgery out of fear of putting something foreign in my body, which can potentially harm you… No thanks! I’m also 58 years old, married to the same person for 36 years and he’s OK with it so why shouldn’t I be ?  My surgery was back in 12 /21, I was severely burned by radiation and still that area is tender to the touch and very dry skin in that area. Good luck and God bless you 🙏

I had a bilat mastectomy Feb 2024 with immediate delayed reconstruction, then implant & tissue removal surgeries x2 r/t infection. My plastic surgeon is encouraging DIEP flap reconstruction because I had radiation on the right. Just the thought of another big surgery or putting an implant in my non-radiated side makes me nauseous. I may have fat grafting done so I'm not SO flat but at this point I do not miss "the girls." My husband does but what he misses won't ever be the same anyway. After 32 years together, we will manage without the boobs.

Two years ago, I experienced a similar situation, which led me to reschedule my surgery. The results of the biopsy came back negative, and I underwent a lumpectomy, followed by radiation therapy and immunotherapy. As of today, I am NED (no evidence of disease).

Many women who choose not to have reconstruction find fulfillment in their decision and appreciate having one less surgery to recover from, while others later decide reconstruction was right for them - both paths are completely valid. This community has many members who've walked similar journeys and would likely be happy to share their experiences with life after mastectomy, including both the challenges and the positives they've discovered along the way.