Breast Reconstruction Puns

Starting weight: 270 lbs / Current weight + Goal weight: 155 lbs.

5'4'', 30yo female

I wrote and edited a super long post about my whole journey (and maybe I'll post it at some point, though it felt really good to get down on paper anyway), but really all I want to say right now is that I cannot believe I am here. in the depths of my binge eating disorder and worst moments of depression, i did not see a future for myself. now i know i have one. tomorrow i get the surgeries that will make me feel like my truest self again: skin removal on my stomach / hips, breast lift and reconstruction.

I couldn't have done it without this sub; r/loseit (and r/1200isplenty ) was such a critical source of education, support, commiseration, and solidarity. if you're here, keep going. if you're struggling, keep reading. if you're losing, keep at it. like so many others on this sub have said: if i can do it, anyone can.

I'm definitely scared and really really nervous, but also excited. If anyone reading this has had post-weight loss surgeries, please – tell me it's gonna be okay!!!

ETA: I did it! It's been an exhausting first week of recovery, but the comments of support and celebration really helped. But I lived :)

For everyone asking for cost / surgery details, I'll DM you to answer any specific questions, but the summary of procedures + cost:

Abdominoplasty with flank liposuction, bilateral mastopexy, liposuction to lateral breast, bilateral fat grafting to breast. In layman's terms - tummy tuck + liposuction to hips + sides of breast, breast lift, and then they took some fat they lipo'd and re-injected it into my breasts.

Total cost (out of pocket, no insurance coverage) was just under $25,000.

Hey! So I’ve been looking at getting breast reconstruction way down the line. And I’d honestly only want really small breasts, like AAA, even AAAA if that’s an option (I don’t really know bra sized but I’d want a borderline flat chest still, not looking to get large breasts at all). Are there easier options for reconstruction when you want a chest so small? Fillers? Fat? Thanks!!

Hi! So I’m a 24 year old female who hates her breasts. I have one B cup and one C cup. The left is fine perky enough, but the right just hangs like a bag of meat. My nipple touches my stomach. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t stand to touch them with my bare hands. Finding bras is a horrible process, one side is always too tight while the other is just half full I want to seek out possible reconstruction/reduction. My question is with this big of a difference what would I be looking at procedure wise. I don’t know if this is the right place for this kind of post if it’s not just disregard this. Thank you in advance for any advice you can give!

I’ve seen real self, and some plastic surgeons websites but I’m wondering if someone has good links for other sites?

I’m all over the place still but now have to make my final choice. I believe it’s going to be unilateral , under the muscle. I’d love to see more real photos by women themselves. (I want reconstruction even though they offered me flat closure. I feel like I can choose later if it doesn’t work out).

Thanks!

I’m 2.5 years post-op double incision (had the surgery done at 19 years old and I’m almost 22 now) and I was thinking about getting implants. Having my breasts removed has really made me feel like a part of me is gone and I’ll never be the same, but for the sake of normalcy I was thinking about getting implants. Only thing is though, I have no idea who would be willing to take on a patient looking to reverse their gender surgery. Has anyone here had a successful breast reconstruction surgery and would be willing to share/recommend a surgeon?

I’m in the US and I would be paying out of pocket. (I started my detransition a year and a half ago, btw)

Thank you.

I (33f) had a full reconstruction when I was 18yrs old. My areolas were huge, I had one really small breast and one medium sized breast and they were both all areolas. I had a reconstruction of my areolas and got implants to help even them out in size. My scars are all around the circumference of my areola.

I remember my mom asked the surgeon if this would impact my ability to breast feed, which at 18 was never a thought that came across my mind. The doctor said it shouldn’t have any impact but some women never produce so there was never really a way to know for certain. Since finding out I was pregnant it’s definitely been a thought that I might not produce milk and if I didn’t that’s fine, because fed is best, but I was hopeful and would like to breastfeed if it is possible. I even held off buying a pump.

At 21 weeks I noticed colostrum droplets on my left breast and was so excited, it’s not milk, but it’s a positive sign nonetheless. My right breast had a lot more work done around areolas so I figured time will tell. Last night (25weeks) I finally saw droplets on my right breast and holy shit, I was so proud! I felt so accomplished by these breasts that have been a source of disappointment for so long.

I know this doesn’t mean I’m in the clear for issues producing milk and doesn’t predict my supply. There are still a lot of unknowns, I wanted to share a positive story for anyone else in a similar situation.

Hi! Ftmtf first time poster after having my "oh shit" moment in August after 3 years medically transitioning and getting top in May. It's literally so bizarre to me to be feeling this way when I always disliked my breasts, but seeing my scarred chest and awful nipples now is 10x worse and I'd really like to look into reconstruction eventually to get some semblance of my "natural" body back. Not to mention top surgery revealed I have a huge pigeon chest (pectus carinatum), it honestly still looks like I have breasts from the side when clothed because my sternum juts out super far for no reason hahaha.

I've read every breast reconstruction-related post on here up and down and was wondering if anyone who's posted about it before (or not!) would be willing to give an update on how it feels like...physically and emotionally? I probably won't get anything done for a couple years but I'm already nervous I'd get it done and feel worse somehow. I wish there were more photos too but I understand the hesitancy!

I'm mostly looking into this so much to keep myself from going crazy, but i think I'd eventually like to pursue autologous "flap" reconstruction over implants or fat grafting, but without insurance that's literally hundreds of thousands of dollars. Browsing on here I've seen one person say they knew a detrans woman who got it but I personally don't know how they navigated that process.

---Technical stuff about flap surgery that went on way too long, feel free to skip---

For those who haven't looked into it, flap reconstruction is when they take skin+fat from one area of your body (most often stomach since older women generally have tummies but can also be from hips, butt, thighs, back or a combination of those if you're thinner) and move it to your chest in the shape of a breast, connecting the arteries etc. with microsurgery. Older versions of this surgery used to take muscle from the area as well but that can cause muscle weakness/hernia so they try to avoid that as much as possible these days. I've read a lot of studies that showed that women with flap reconstruction are generally satisfied with their new results, surprisingly even more so than those with implant reconstruction.

It usually requires a few revisions for appearance in both the breast and the donor site but unlike implants once you're done with those initial surgeries you're good to go for the rest of your life, barring complications which are also possible and I don't want to downplay

So I’ve had Cigna for about 15 years and they covered me all through my breast cancer treatment and through my breast reconstruction so far. I lost my job so I’ve been on COBRA. I currently got hired with another company and they use Aetna. And I would like to know if Aetna would continue to cover the breast reconstruction. I have 3 of 6 breast reconstruction surgeries left.

if I continue to use CIGNA it’s going to cost me $900 a month versus just dropping Cigna and going with the medical insurance that the job offers which is Aetna.

Also, for someone like me that still getting surgeries and going through hormone therapy and seeing doctors on a monthly or a 90 day schedule, would the traditional insurance plan be best for me or should I opt for high deductible one with HSA? I’ve only ever had the option of the traditional plan so that’s new to me.

Houston, Tx

I had a mastectomy at 16, now I am 17. shortly after the surgery I felt regret and knew I had to detransition, I did and am still doing that.

I am also looking into my options for breast reconstruction surgery. It is very hard to find detrans females who have gotten it.

I am not even sure if I will get it, since I don’t want to make another mistake. Yet, I don’t want to live the rest of my life without a chest.

Is there anyone who has gotten or is thinking about breast reconstruction? Any advice or help? Cause I really need that atm.

Currently in the hospital waiting to get the first of two surgeries for breast reconstruction, 2.5 years after I originally got a DI mastectomy that I completely regretted within about two months. I'm getting saline expanders and then silicone implants in several months, and they're billing it as cosmetic because my insurance refused to pay for detrans-related procedures. I think they legally are required to cover breast reconstruction in the US because of the WHCRA, but I didn't have the emotional energy to keep fighting them and repeatedly explain traumatic memories of transition. If someone else wants to fight that fight, godspeed, but I couldn't. Anyway, this whole thing is costing me about 12k with anesthesia and facility fees, as opposed to if they billed it as medical self-pay (it'd be more like 130k that way- hell no...). I am pretty sure that my doctor did me a huge favor by billing a reconstructive procedure as cosmetic here.

I'm 5'9 and pretty curvy so I'm hoping I'll be able to do implants big enough to look proportionate with the rest of my body, but honestly either way I'm just excited to have a normal-female-looking body contour without prosthetics! Super hyped to exercise without getting super gross/sweaty from having random stuff strapped to my chest and having to constantly readjust. They aren't going to look perfect, or totally natural, but I think it'll at least look good under clothes and make me feel comfier in my body.

The surgeon has been incredibly kind and understanding of my situation and hasn't tried to bring up any kind of political rhetoric with me- I went to a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in helping women after breast cancer mastectomies. I've felt much much more seen/cared for than any of the times I saw a trans health practitioner. Everyone at his office really understands how to handle someone experiencing grief like this.

When I was looking for a doctor, I spoke to a few to some more trans-focused surgeons, and two of them made me really uncomfortable with bringing up gender theory and political rhetoric- like, this isn't Twitter, this isn't a Judith Butler seminar, this is a doctor's appointment, PLEASE SPARE ME!! So if you're looking into detrans-related reconstruction, and you want to avoid that kind of conversation, FYI.

Anyway, thanks for the support over the past years, the positivity and commiseration in this sub literally kept me alive at a few points, so I wanted to post an update for ya

My original post here

As u/Loren_Drinks_Coffee suggested below, "...to anyone who is worried about an upcoming test or waiting on test results, follow the link to the original post. Have a look through all the comments."

Hello beautiful souls.

I wanted to give an update on my little journey, as it might(?) be helpful for anyone experiencing anything similar.

I had a "ropey feeling" breast lump of concern, found ~one year ago, right at the edge of my nipple. I put off having it looked into, thinking it was period-related (only 26! Pff!). In August 2020 I went to my family doctor for an unrelated pre-op assessment (permanent sterilization, a bilateral salpingectomy). I mentioned the lump offhand at the end of the appointment. She did not look up from her papers. She did not feel or examine the lump. She told me that it was likely related to my menstrual cycle, and told me to come back later (???) if it was still there. No time frame given. And I left!!!!!

I cannot stress enough... push for your doctor to feel your breast. She should have requested an ultrasound immediately.

In December 2020 I let my doctor know that it was 👐 still there 👐 and she.... 🥁🥁🥁.... requested an ultrasound.

The ultrasound led to multiple mammograms, then multiple biopsies. My surgeon let me know that I had DCIS (ductal carcinomas in situ, or a contained pre-cancer). DCIS is when the cells have not moved beyond the duct. I had 4 lymph nodes surgically removed, and they came back clear; nothing had spread to anywhere else thankfully!

On March 30th, I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. It was a 3 hour procedure. After waking up in recovery, I was discharged same-day to recover at home. This initially was a scary thought, but I can see now how it promotes faster healing. I was given T3's, but ended up using Ibuprofen 400mg 2-3x per day. Only the first two days had pain registering no more than 6 out of 10. Then it was a few days of intense itch, and now it's really nothing. I was sent home with Jackson-Pratt drains, which stayed in for one week - dumping the liquid and recording amounts - before being removed. They were by far the worst part simply due to being annoying.

Opening my compression top to take my first shower after drain removal, was the most emotional part of this journey. I d

Hi all,

I wanted to see if you can provide me some pointers and maybe some comfort for my mom who will be having the surgery this coming Friday.

I wanted to see if there is anything special I need to have set up or have at home to help my mom feel comfortable after she is out. Or what did any of you did that made you feel comfortable as you recover from the surgery?

Also it seems like my mom is still worried how this surgery will affect her work because she does some heavy lifting at her job. I’m sure that the surgeon will talk to my mom and I about her recovery time and the exercises she will need to do as she goes through her recovery processes. I was wondering if someone in a similar boat can share their experiences through the recovery process? And how you feel after recovering? I’m hoping having my mom read some experiences will lessen her worries.

Thank you!

I'm 6 weeks and 4 days pregnant, I had diep flap reconstruction 1 year ago. I've got a huge scar on my belly. I had my daughter 8 years ago, back when I had a "normal" body, this will be my second child, but the first time having a baby in this body 😅

My questions are

Do you show sooner?

I have no fat on my stomach whatsoever because of the surgery. I can feel my enlarged uterus clear as day. My first pregnancy it wasn't so easy to feel since I had the normal layer of fat over it.

Does the abdominal scar stretch/get bigger?

This one might be a stupid question but... I'll ask anyways.

I won't be lactating, will there be any changes to my boobs? (I don't have implants, just a fat and nerve graft.)

Thank you if anyone has any answers or tips for me💕

It's been about 2 years since I had the surgery. I have "falsies," fake boobs that I wear with special bras.

My husband is a boob man. He loves breasts. When my doctor said I needed the mastectomy he asked if I really had to have one. I know he's started to watch porn with women with big boobs.

We have sex infrequently now and always in the dark or with me wearing a shirt.

He has been very honest in saying he is turned off by how I look without a shirt now. I sleep with my bra and falsies on.

Anyway we went to a check up and my husband brought up reconstruction surgery. My doctor says I'm not healthy enough to risk the chance of infection.

I wish I could have the surgery but since I can't I need advice on how to get more attractive to my husband. Thank you in advance!

I’m... FTMish. I don’t regret all of my transition and I still use he/him, but I’m pretty sure I’m actually just a very butch lesbian.

I got top surgery over a year ago. I had VERY big breasts, and I don’t miss them... but weirdly, I do miss bras.

My question: what are breast reconstruction options? I really don’t want huge tits again, honestly just an A/B cup would really be nice. But here’s the problem... I didn’t get nipple grafts. So I don’t have nipples. It is really the only part of my transition that I 100% regret.

Hi - I've (45M) been dating a woman for a bit over a month now who's great. She's chill but energetic, funny, sexy, beautiful, and we have a lot in common. She had a double mastectomy years ago followed by reconstruction - she mentioned this on our first date, and later said she brings it up then because it's deal breaker for some guys. I don't get why that would be, but that's beside the point.

We haven't had sex yet (she wants to take it slow, although it doesn't seem related to her surgery), but the other day she told me it would be "soon'.

I don't know how she feels about her breasts now - do I leave her bra on or take it off? is she comfortable with me seeing them, touching them, etc? My current plan is to just bring it up before we get physical (not 5 minutes before, days before) and just ask her how she feels about it and how she wants to be treated.

I want to make sure I'm treating her body in the way she's most comfortable. And I understand that what she's comfortable withay change over time

I have seen reconstructed breasts on TV. I love Ink Masters and they had an episode with women who had reconstruction. They had some scars on their breasts and didn't have nipples (I think I heard somewhere else that prosthetics are an option though). I thought the women were so brave and I didn't find their breasts unattractive at all, which, to be honest, suprised me a little.

Anyway, I'm the best thing to do is just talk to her about it. But I figured I would ask here in order to get some perspective. Thanks so much!

PS I'm definitely a sapiosexual if that matters. Looks count, but I've met good looking women who later became completely unattractive because of super negative attitude, being rude, etc.

EDIT:. She had the double mastectomy due to breast cancer. Also, I'm not going to bring up the sapio thing in the breast conversation or the bedroom. I already told her that on our first date. She knows I'm looking for both a physical and emotional connection. So far, so good! 🙂

Women of Reddit who have gone through mastectomies and then had reconstruction, how do you feel about your partner touching your reconstructed breasts as part of your sex life? What can your partner say and do to you to let you know you’re still the most beautiful thing in the world to them? My wife had a double mastectomy last year due to breast cancer and is having a diep reconstruction next month so I’d very much appreciate your thoughts. Sending love and best wishes to all of you.

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-05-03/obamacare-gave-more-breast-cancer-survivors-access-to-breast-reconstruction

I've seen a lot of people say that protesys bring a lot of pain and problems. My doctors have been planning to recostruct my tiddie soon, since the tests have been doing well, but since I saw that there might be side effects I got a bit scared. I want to have something to fill the other side of the bra but idk if it's a bad idea lol

Anyone has info about this? Some type of source of info??

I finally found a surgeon who wants to do a reconstruction on me. I haven’t been to the appointment yet but here’s what I know so far. I basically have two options.

1. Getting implants. The surgeon says I’m a bit too young to get implants because I’d have to get them replaced 4-5 times in my lifetime (I’m 25). I’m not sure how invasive it is to get them replaced.

2. Getting a reconstruction like they do with cancer mastectomies, i.e take a flap on my stomach and attach it to my chest to make breasts. This is obviously a lot more invasive but I wouldn’t need to retouch them. I’m just not sure I could keep my nipple grafts. I might not have enough stomach fat to have breasts the size I want. I’d like to have C cups like I used to have pre-mastectomy. My surgeon seems to think this option would be better.

The second option is a big surgery and I’d have a scar on my belly. I also have some light hair because of the testosterone so I’d have to get electrolysis. I’m a bit wary of more surgery but I really want breasts again. Is there anything I’m overlooking? I’m trying to list my questions for when I get to see my surgeon and I don’t want to miss anything important.

Hey FtM--

I'm 30, nonbinary, and recently learned that I'm high risk (~34% lifetime chance) for breast cancer. I feel p neutral about my titties, and so wouldn't bother with top surgery if I weren't in this position, but since it turns out they're potential cancer sacks, I intend to yeet them. Has anyone here ever been in a similar position, and more explicitly, explored options for post-mastectomy reconstruction w/plastics, to a cis-dude chest rather than a cis-lady chest?

I'm trying to decide between doing a prophylactic mastectomy designed for cancer risk reduction vs. a traditional top surgery. Option 1 removes all tissue (maximum cancer reduction) whereas option 2 leaves some so the chest isn't completely flat, and looks more aesthetically like a "normal" cis-dude chest (greatly reduces my cancer risk, but it'd still be high enough where I'd need to get MRIs every 6 months to a year).

Option 1 involves working with a cancer surgeon and reconstructive plastic surgeon together, whereas Option 2 just means going to a top surgery doc. When I went to see the cancer surgeon, he was like "yeah there's some chest enhancing plastic surgery you can get afterwards so your chest isn't flat, similar to what cis-women get" but then my plastic surgeon responded in a separate appointment with "I have no idea what cancer surgeon was talking about. I can work with you so that the incision is in the spot more typical for a top surgery (i.e., not along the nipples) but I wouldn't be doing any reconstruction beyond that. Unless you have something specific in mind?" Have any of you heard of reconstruction with plastics done to masculinize a chest? Trying to reduce as much as possible my breast cancer risk, but I also don't want to look totally flat-chested, ya know?

Grateful for any guidance/help you're able to give!!

I never liked my chest pre-top surgery, and I don't necessarily dislike being flat. Still, I regret having had top surgery. I was so sure it was the right step for me, and I was happy with my decision for years, until I wasn't anymore. I guess part of my regret is connected to the fact that post-transition, I'm still not happy with my body. What I always thought was dysphoria (and I now am not sure if it was or wasn't)- the claustrophobic feeling that made me wear binders and layers upon layers of clothes even in the hottest summer weather, is still there. Not as strong, but still there. I never expected it to completely vanish, but I thought top surgery would help more than it did. I'm working on accepting my body, and battling general body image issues, and something that has helped me is thinking that the body is not wrong- and as such, I'm sad I altered it surgically to begin with. Hope that makes sense.

TLDR: I regret having altered my body, and I wonder if I could have accepted myself without surgery.

Some questions I have, for anyone who may be able to answer: If you've had reconstructive surgery, did it help? Did it help as much as you thought it would? Were you able to get close to what you had pre-top surgery? Do you think it would have been possible for you to accept your body without reconstructive surgery? Do others (friends, partners, hookups, etc) who didn't know you beforehand notice you have had reconstructive surgery?

If you had top surgery but no reconstructive surgery, are you okay with your body the way it is now? Is there any way of thinking or any advice that helped you accept your body? Are you ever asked about it by people around you?

Is there anyone who likes their surgery results while still feeling like transitioning wasn't right for them?

How has your top surgery or reconstruction affected you in dating & general life?

Grateful for any answers. I'm debating on whether or not reconstructive surgery is right for me. Hope it comes across that I don't mean to come at this issue with anything other than respect & compassion, I know it's a sensitive topic for many.

Any ftmtf here with breast implants after top surgery? Are you satisfied with your results and what surgeon did you go through?

Is there anyone out there who’s ftmtf and has had breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy? What type of reconstruction did you get and why? How did everything go?