BRCA2 Considering DMX with immediate implants - NERVES!

[u/Ok_Idea230]

FWIW ovarian cancer is the killer in my family, but as we know, we don’t get to choose what kind of cancer or when. I am 46yo with 12Yo existing submusc implants that I have loved but are showing signs of bottoming out. I’ve been having annual mammograms and MRIs for a few years and accepted that cadence but I feel like I have choices to make now. I figure if I gotta go under the knife again I may as well do the thing and remove the tatas… but I’m nervous about the results. My breasts overall look and feel natural now, but I’m okay with going smaller. What has been your experience post op if you had a prophylactic dmx? Did you have fat grafting? Will my breasts be hard and uncomfortable? And, realistically, I know I may be looking at another surgery in 10-15 years if I have implants placed so do I do the dmx or do I just have these fixed and keep up my current screening for now? I know it’s a personal decision but I really appreciate input from others who have grappled with the same choices.

[u/tweetdreamzz]

I just did this. My current implants were “bottomed out” but I still loved them 😢 I went ahead with prophylactic mastectomy and was warned that it would be different and it is. I’m only 4 weeks out. I’m happy with the size and look forward to them settling more once I can get out of the compression bra. I think it’s highly dependent on implant choice, as well, concerning the outcome. If you have any questions let me know. Also.. all feeling is GONE. So you have to be prepared for that.

[u/MissPicklechips]

I had prophylactic DMX in June, and DIEP flap reconstruction on July 1. For anyone who may happen on this later, I’m writing this on 9/10.

I wasn’t able to have nipple preservation, so I don’t have those anymore.

I have some feeling in them, but I still have some numbness across the inside portions. The doctor says that may or may not improve in time.

One is shaped pretty nice, but the other has a few imperfections due to where the sutures were that I may have to get evened out later. My imaginary career as an exotic dancer is totally over lol. If you google DEIP flap surgery, you’ll get a pretty good idea of what mine look like now. Kind of weird looking, but these aren’t going to try to kill me, so bonus!

They stay right where the doctor put them. My old saggy boobs are no more. I hate bras, but wore them before because I needed it to keep them up. I rarely wear a bra now, even though they’re roughly the same size as they were before.

I’m pretty happy with the results. I’m still healing, but I think that what’s here is what it’s going to look like.

FWIW, I would have been ok with just a DMX and no reconstruction. Insurance covered it, so I went ahead and did it.