Bilateral Prophylactic Skin Sparing Mastectomy with Immediate Reconstruction of Implants with Strattice
again in English...
bilateral - both sides
prophylactic - preventative
skin sparing - the skin will be left intact and the breast tissue 'scooped' out.
mastectomy - removal of the breasts
strattice - a section of synthetic skin that will lie under the implant, acting as a hammock.
So I will be having the breast tissue from both breasts removed through a hole where my nipple was. The skin (excluding the nipple which I have chose to have removed [see my diary]) will be kept and a silicone implant will be placed in each breast to replace the volume of breast tissue lost. The implant will be placed under my Pectoralis Major muscle (the one that forms pecs on men) and because the muscle will not cover the bottom of the implant a strattice will be added. This will be stiched to the bottom of my Pec muscle and to my Serratus Anterior muscle (this muscle stretches over and between the ribs, sitting under the Pec muscles). The strattice will therefore act as a hammock; creating a stable pouch for the implant to sit in, preventing it from slipping and adding an extra layer between the implant and the skin.
I will then be sewn up, leaving me with a straight scar on each breast where my nipples were. At a later date, when my new breasts have settled into their final position a raised scar can be created in the shape of a nipple and an areola tattooed on, alternatively a 3D tattoo can create the look of a nipple and areola without the need for further surgery.
My Diary will document the entire journey; before, during and after reconstruction. I will use this page to summarise my experience; making it easier to get the concise surgical story.
prophylactic - preventative
skin sparing - the skin will be left intact and the breast tissue 'scooped' out.
mastectomy - removal of the breasts
strattice - a section of synthetic skin that will lie under the implant, acting as a hammock.
So I will be having the breast tissue from both breasts removed through a hole where my nipple was. The skin (excluding the nipple which I have chose to have removed [see my diary]) will be kept and a silicone implant will be placed in each breast to replace the volume of breast tissue lost. The implant will be placed under my Pectoralis Major muscle (the one that forms pecs on men) and because the muscle will not cover the bottom of the implant a strattice will be added. This will be stiched to the bottom of my Pec muscle and to my Serratus Anterior muscle (this muscle stretches over and between the ribs, sitting under the Pec muscles). The strattice will therefore act as a hammock; creating a stable pouch for the implant to sit in, preventing it from slipping and adding an extra layer between the implant and the skin.
I will then be sewn up, leaving me with a straight scar on each breast where my nipples were. At a later date, when my new breasts have settled into their final position a raised scar can be created in the shape of a nipple and an areola tattooed on, alternatively a 3D tattoo can create the look of a nipple and areola without the need for further surgery.
My Diary will document the entire journey; before, during and after reconstruction. I will use this page to summarise my experience; making it easier to get the concise surgical story.
Build-up to Surgery
The road to surgery has been long and involved.
I have had far more medical appointments than I expected (you can find details of each in My Diary) but although they take up quite a lot of time they're fine; just talking to various medical professionals and the odd bit of screening.
Telling extended family and friends about my surgery has been surprisingly easy; people tend to understand and accept that it is the sensible thing for me to do. Those closest to me have struggled most with the idea of major surgery; they don't like to think of me on the operating table or in pain (see My Diary for posts by my mum and partner).
I don't feel very scared at the moment (I am writing this two months before my surgery date); I had a few fears when I set out on this journey but they have calmed as my knowledge of the procedure and recovery increases. I think I am experiencing the calm before the storm.
I'm not looking forward to the recovery, but I'm not dreading it; I have read so many personal accounts that I know what I can expect. I also have lots of wonderful people willing to help me while I concentrate on healing.
I haven't really given any thought to the long term; my main aim is to recover well so I can get back to my studies at the end of August. Beyond that I don't know, I hope that my results are good. I have no doubt in my surgeons ability but I am under no illusions; my breast will not look the same.
I have been very clinical in my decision making, I think that is my nature, I knew that this was what had to be done and I got on and did it. I think things will get much harder emotionally and to be honest I don't think I'm fully prepared for that, I will just have to take each day as it comes.
I have had far more medical appointments than I expected (you can find details of each in My Diary) but although they take up quite a lot of time they're fine; just talking to various medical professionals and the odd bit of screening.
Telling extended family and friends about my surgery has been surprisingly easy; people tend to understand and accept that it is the sensible thing for me to do. Those closest to me have struggled most with the idea of major surgery; they don't like to think of me on the operating table or in pain (see My Diary for posts by my mum and partner).
I don't feel very scared at the moment (I am writing this two months before my surgery date); I had a few fears when I set out on this journey but they have calmed as my knowledge of the procedure and recovery increases. I think I am experiencing the calm before the storm.
I'm not looking forward to the recovery, but I'm not dreading it; I have read so many personal accounts that I know what I can expect. I also have lots of wonderful people willing to help me while I concentrate on healing.
I haven't really given any thought to the long term; my main aim is to recover well so I can get back to my studies at the end of August. Beyond that I don't know, I hope that my results are good. I have no doubt in my surgeons ability but I am under no illusions; my breast will not look the same.
I have been very clinical in my decision making, I think that is my nature, I knew that this was what had to be done and I got on and did it. I think things will get much harder emotionally and to be honest I don't think I'm fully prepared for that, I will just have to take each day as it comes.
Preparing for Hospital Admission
I was to be admitted on the morning of the 12th June.
The night before surgery was a little strange, my parents had arrived, my bags were packed and all we had to do was wait for the morning. We just watched telly and avoided eye contact.
Sean and I arrived at the hospital at about 7.15am and went to our allotted ward, we were the first there and were shown to a room containing about six recliner chairs in the place of beds.
I was told I was first on the list and would be going down to surgery at about 8.30am. Between arriving and being taken to surgery various people came to visit...nurses, anaesthetists, surgeons....they all had something for me to sign or a swab to do or blood to take. Sean was allowed to stay with me throughout all this and it was a very calm environment. I was worried that one of us would get upset but no-one in the room did.
I had to put on compression stockings and a surgical gown fastened at the back, I was allowed to leave my knickers on. And then it was time, I said a quick goodbye to Sean and was lead down to the recovery room by a nurse to wait for the anaesthetist.
The night before surgery was a little strange, my parents had arrived, my bags were packed and all we had to do was wait for the morning. We just watched telly and avoided eye contact.
Sean and I arrived at the hospital at about 7.15am and went to our allotted ward, we were the first there and were shown to a room containing about six recliner chairs in the place of beds.
I was told I was first on the list and would be going down to surgery at about 8.30am. Between arriving and being taken to surgery various people came to visit...nurses, anaesthetists, surgeons....they all had something for me to sign or a swab to do or blood to take. Sean was allowed to stay with me throughout all this and it was a very calm environment. I was worried that one of us would get upset but no-one in the room did.
I had to put on compression stockings and a surgical gown fastened at the back, I was allowed to leave my knickers on. And then it was time, I said a quick goodbye to Sean and was lead down to the recovery room by a nurse to wait for the anaesthetist.
Surgery
I was taken into the anaesthetic room at about 9.15am. ECG leads were put on my back to monitor my heart and then I was given an injection into the cannula on my hand...this made me feel very drunk. A mask was then put over my mouth and nose and another injection given that made me go to sleep.
And then I woke up...I can't really tell you what time it was, I made sure to look at the clock before the op but I understandably forgot to look when I woke up!
I was in no pain, the nurse kept asking me to rate my pain in the recovery room but I had none...I did however desperately need the toilet! The nurse brought a bed pan and I instantly felt much better!
I was hooked up to a drip and a morphine pump and I had an oxygen mask on.
I think I must have been in recovery a long time...they kept ringing the ward but no-one came to get me for a while, they must have been busy. I got to the ward at about 3pm. I don't know how long my operation took...the surgeon expected it to take 4/5 hours and that would fit with when I got back to a ward.
As soon as I got to the ward I rang Sean and asked him to come see me. I felt completely fine and with it despite the morphine, I did however spend a lot of time moaning about the fat lip that I had woken up with! I also managed to put a post on the Breast Cancer Pals forum...I didn't realise I had done this until I looked a few weeks later!
And then I woke up...I can't really tell you what time it was, I made sure to look at the clock before the op but I understandably forgot to look when I woke up!
I was in no pain, the nurse kept asking me to rate my pain in the recovery room but I had none...I did however desperately need the toilet! The nurse brought a bed pan and I instantly felt much better!
I was hooked up to a drip and a morphine pump and I had an oxygen mask on.
I think I must have been in recovery a long time...they kept ringing the ward but no-one came to get me for a while, they must have been busy. I got to the ward at about 3pm. I don't know how long my operation took...the surgeon expected it to take 4/5 hours and that would fit with when I got back to a ward.
As soon as I got to the ward I rang Sean and asked him to come see me. I felt completely fine and with it despite the morphine, I did however spend a lot of time moaning about the fat lip that I had woken up with! I also managed to put a post on the Breast Cancer Pals forum...I didn't realise I had done this until I looked a few weeks later!