Latest Surgery - Left Mastopexy and nipple reconstruction.

After a couple of consultations with the plastic surgeon it was agreed the best course of action to correct my wonky boobs was a left mastopexy (uplift) to realign the boob and create better symmetry to my barbie boob. Whilst there I was also to have a nipple reconstruction, (on the mastectomy side). This procedure was not covered under the insurance so was a cost to me.

Due to Corona Virus during most of 2020 this operation was delayed longer than I would have liked, but I soon got the call to get booked in and start another stage of the process and healing.

Wednesday the 13th Jan 2021. Checked in to the wonderful Bournemouth Nuffield. Again treated pretty much like a cosmetic case as opposed to post cancer treatment, but that’s fine. I guess it was cosmetic. It was me who wanted the symmetry and to feel more ‘me’.

The surgeon popped in first thing and drew all over me. To set the position for the uplift and the new nipple. I can’t tell you how they recreate a nipple as he wouldn’t tell me that info. He said he could, but he would have to kill me after! So it’s a top secret procedure but also very affective.

The op itself was very straightforward and I was in recovery within the hour, talking nonsense to the lovely nurse who had been assigned to sit with me during this period. I won’t lie, the pain was out of this world. They give you lots of pain relief but also put you in a surgical bra. It was so tight it was painful. So I had a bit more morphine when I was taken back to my room after half an hour or so and then met my nurse for the day. I can’t remember her name now, but she was lovely. Really attentive, made sure she was with me throughout her shift, making sure I had everything, food, phone, glasses - until she left for the evening. I felt nauseous this time, really sick. I couldn’t however be sick. So I kept one of those lovely paper sick bowls near by as getting out of bed was not allowed for a while.

Then the night staff started! I was desperate to sleep and this lovely Italian nurse was chatting away outside my room. Anyone who knows what the lovely Italians are like…. They certainly have a zest for life and this lady did! She came in to see me around 10pm for the last check. I told her how tired I was and she said she would leave me alone unless I needed her. I managed to sleep until 6.30am when she came in do do blood pressure and temperature. I was so pleased she left me alone and stayed away from my door.

This is also another reason I am grateful for the private sector on these occasions. The privacy, the ability to be left alone and sleep. I realise I have been lucky on this front, but I would equally have gone through the NHS. This part of reconstruction is not, however, available on the NHS. I believe you can have one op to correct symmetry, which looking back would probably be good to do an uplift first. I should have gone down that route, but wanted implants to feel the same. They don’t! Barbie boob will never feel like a normal boob. But I have become very fond of this one. I think I actually prefer it ;-)

I was discharged after 24 hours and outpatient booked for the following week. Bandages on both boobies for two weeks whilst the wounds healed. No full shower, just a lower body and flannel wash. I hated that part. I love a nice hot shower. But the bandages couldn’t get wet. When one lifted (the uplift side), I caught a glimpse of some redness. Naively I thought it was where the drains had been, but the outpatient nurse told me it was the start of the incision. I hadn’t realised in my head how big it was going to be. It literally is the width of my boob (seems obvious now). So I then had to get my head around this. But 9 weeks down the line, it is healing really well. I rub it everyday to break down any scar tissue and help promote blood flow. It is still bigger than I would like, and I’m not 100% convinced it will go down anymore, but, it is early days, and I am seeing the surgeon next month, to iron out any of my concerns. So watch this space I guess, I may have another op to make it smaller in line with the mastectomy side, or do I just stop now and accept it is what it is? Am I being fussy?

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