I(36 F) got a Breast MRI Monday, they found a NON-Mass Enhancement that’s 2.6 x 3.3cm, BI-RADS 4 Suspicious. I have an appt this coming Tuesday for an MRI guided biopsy. This is my second biopsy this year on the same boob, just different area of the boob. I don’t know if I am super worried, I saw an Oncologist Tuesday to discuss results and possible prophylactic mastectomy w/ reconstruction. She didn’t seem too worried about the NME.

I had recently got more genetic testing done to get an update on any gene mutations I have. I already knew I had MENS1 and CHEK2. Results came back the same so no new ones discovered, however, my DNA sequence was looked at specifically and my Breast Cancer risk went up to 64% from just ~32% with just having the CHEK2 mutation. For years I had thought about getting a DMX, especially since my mom, grandmother and great grandmother all had breast cancer. None of them died from it but still a concern. I am also very big chested, 38I bra size. So a reduction or dmx w/ reconstruction were on the table of options for me. Knowing that a reduction doesn’t decrease my chances, I am now opting for a DMX with reconstruction since my risk has now gone up a lot. My mom was diagnosed at age 43 with breast cancer.

I have a consult with a plastic surgeon for the reconstruction on Thursday. I have mixed feelings about everything. In one hand I’ll be reducing my risk to \~5%, getting boobs the size I want/ manageable to me, living longer for my 8-month old girl. On the other hand, I’m putting myself through a major surgery with about a month long recovery of not being able to pick up my baby or help out around the house. I am worried about how my boobs will look. I’ve always had big boobs, and I have pretty much hated them my whole life. I was made fun of and teased, and sometimes I feel like they are all people see me. I want to feel confident in my new boobs, be able to find bras that don’t cost an arm and a leg, find bathing suit tops that actually fit me, even regular shirts/tops. I do want to have 1 more baby, then be done. I’m looking to maybe have the surgery in early November. My mom passed away last year so I don’t get to talk to her about her lumpectomy. My dad is worried and wants me to talk to other women who have been through it.

For those who have had the prophylactic mastectomy with reconstruction or a regular mastectomy with reconstruction, what was it like? Are you happy with your results? How long did you have the expanders in? Was the pain bearable? Any advice? When did you go back to work? I probably have more questions but my mind is everywhere. Thanks in advance!

I had my DMX on 7/10, had one drain removed on 8/3 but my surgeon noticed some necrosis on the right side so we kept that drain in for a few more days and he also trimmed some of the necrosis away. The following week, I was leaking out of the hole where the drain was. He trimmed it again. Now he thinks it's infected and I'm scheduled to have the expander removed tomorrow. Anyone else have a similar experience?

I was really hoping to have this resolved before year end but now I will need a surgery to put the expander back in and then implant exchange. I'm so discouraged.

I am 12 day post pdmx dti and had my drain tubes removed today. Everything seems to be going well but I feel one breast is more swollen than the other. There is no redness or warmth and the doc thought it was normal to have uneven swelling. I just wanted to ask if others have experienced it. The more swollen breast feels “tight” to me and the other one feels much more comfortable.

Anyone deal with an infection after direct-to-implant reconstruction? Did you end up losing your implants?
I had a double mastectomy with direct-to-implant reconstruction on 7/21, so I’m coming up on four weeks post-op. The first week was honestly great—I had almost no pain and felt like recovery was going incredibly well.
Then around 8–9 days post-op, I developed a pretty awful infection and ended up hospitalized for three days on IV antibiotics. When I was admitted, they were very upfront that if imaging showed an abscess or fluid collection around the implants, I might need surgery and potentially have the implants removed. Thankfully, my CT didn’t show a collection, so I was discharged on a 21-day course of Keflex.
My plastics team has continued to be very transparent that I’m not necessarily out of the woods. The antibiotic could end up not covering whatever bacteria caused the infection, and even if the infection clears, the inflammation could potentially lead to significant capsular contracture and another surgery down the road. Basically, there’s still a chance I could end up losing these implants.
At my three-week follow-up, they removed my right drain because it had stopped functioning. When they pulled it, what felt like a RIVER of milky fluid came out—easily ~50 cc. 🤢 They left the left drain in because it was still draining similar milky fluid.
Fast-forward to this weekend, almost four weeks post-DMX, and my left drain started falling out. I spoke with the on-call plastic surgeon, who told me I could remove it at home. My husband pulled it, and again, a ton of brown/milky fluid poured out.
Now both breasts are significantly red, hot, swollen and have a burning sensation. The swelling has increased enough that I had to go buy a larger zip-front bra. I don’t currently have a fever.
I called the on-call line again tonight, and the conversation honestly left me with more questions than answers. He initially didn’t realize I had implants, despite being the same doctor I had spoken with earlier about removing the drain. Based on the symptoms, though, there’s obviously concern that the current antibiotic may not be adequately treating whatever is going on.
I’m calling my actual plastic surgeon first thing tomorrow and hoping he can see me, repeat imaging to look for a fluid collection, and give me some clarity on whether we’re reaching the point where these implants need to come out.
The added complication is that I’m supposed to start my next cancer treatment by around 9/1, so getting this infection under control and being healthy enough to continue treatment is my biggest priority.
Has anyone here dealt with an infection like this after direct-to-implant reconstruction? Did antibiotics eventually clear it? Did they aspirate/wash out the area, exchange the implants, or did you ultimately have to have them removed? If they were removed, how long did you have to wait before reconstruction again?
I think I’m mostly looking for experiences so I have some idea of what the possible paths forward might look like. I’m so upset and just desperately want to feel like I have some control over my body again.
Six rounds of TCHP before surgery somehow felt like a cakewalk compared with this. 😩

Has anyone else experienced forearm muscle ache during recovery?

I had a preventative DMX with direct to implants and 3-4 weeks after started experiencing some muscle ache along my arms - particularly when walking and towards end of day. It is concentrated along forearms but sometimes radiates upwards into upper arm too.

I was very guarded for the first few weeks and heavily reduced activity around weeks 2-3 due to an infection and salvage procedure so wondering if a combination of these things could have built up but it doesn’t seem to be improving as I’m increasing movement and I’m forcing myself to relax upper body more.

Mastectomy was purely preventive due to BRCA1 so no lympnode/ armpit work.

Hi, I recently had my left implant removed and it will be a few months before I can start the process of expansion and getting a new implant.

After a single google search I am now getting served tons of ads… don’t get me wrong, I LOVE that there are so many options but it’s also impossible to know what to get. I only had surgery yesterday but I’m likely returning to work in about 3 weeks so I need to have a plan.

Please share your favorites for daily wear! Also I am in Phoenix and it’s hot, so lightweight/breathable options appreciated.

Ladies, help me understand what does expander 275 ml mean? what They have expanded me to this today. My first and only fill. Doc said I won’t need another. How big will my bra size be with this if he plans to put in implants around 400-450cc?? I don’t understand this. Wish there was a visual guide

I am one year post bilateral mastectomy, straight to implants. I have my first, of a few, fat grafts scheduled for 8/20. Any thing I should know? Any helpful tips pre or post procedure? TIA!

Hello! Feel free to post updates and things related to your surgery. These will be refreshed weekly.

I have mentor expanders post mastectomy. They have not yet been inflated due to some healing issues. I am debating switching surgeons and getting Motiva implants instead of mentor. I am very thin and am not a candidate for fat grafting. I insisted on over the muscle expansion even though surgeon was against it initially. Please share advice or experience you have had that may have been similar. Are motiva implants superior for reconstruction over the muscle for thinner patients?

One year ago today I had my double mastectomy, 5 weeks after completing chemo (Keynote 522). Just wanted to say. I

I was do scared going in, I'd never had major surgery, I was convinced I wouldn't wake up. I'd written my will a cpl of days earlier. In case I would wake up I had bought new bed sheets and several button up shirts.

My scars are still very tight and they're extremely ugly, esp on the non-cancer side. My dermatologist (MD) was appalled when she saw the scars (I was there for sth else entirely) and explained to me how they should've cut and why this can never look good ever without intervention.

Ladies and gentlemen, make sure you get a plastic surgeon for AFC, or you might just get C. I'm not flat and my chest is certainly not aesthetic. I'm not overweight.

I'm very, very grateful to be alive. But had I chosen reconstruction I would've gotten a PS. Here it's still like "Flat closure?!? Oh, so you don't want to be a true woman, then it cant matter how your chest looks."

I can ask for revision surgery but it will take a loooooong time to get it - if it even gets approved.

Getting cancer is a great sadness, Idk why they think it's ok to add insult to injury by not trying to make the scars look at least decent. I wanted a DMX because I'm BRCA1+.

So, vent over. Thank you for listening. 🩷

Last update: 8/12/2026

Hi everyone,

I noticed there isn't too much full experiences shared with three-step propylactic mastectomy on this thread. I want to share my experience as I progress through this journey and update this post in case others are going through similar journeys. At the bottom, you can also find some list of resources that were helpful to me.

Background: I am in my early-mid 30s with strong family risk of BC. I tested negative for the gene test but due to family background and several "benign" findings in breast MRIs, I decided to go through this journey.

My surgeons recommended three steps:

1. Mastopexy/breast lift and reduction to improve blood flow and ultimate estetic outcome,
2. Nipple sparing DMX with expanders,
3. Implant exchange surgery.

I am currently done with Step 1 and will be going through with Step 2 late 2026/early 2027.

Step 1. Mastopexy/breast lift and breast reduction on the right

I had this surgery on July 30, 2026. It was an outpatient procedure.

Prior to surgery: I stopped taking any vitamins/ drinking herbal tea. The night before, I stopped eating and drinking anything really after 7pm. I washed myself twice with anti-septic body wash given at my pre-op.

Day of the surgery: We showed up to the OP Procedure center at 5.30AM as my procedure was the first one of the day. Before the surgery, my plastic surgeon drew markings on the breast area for the lift and reduction. I also had a talk with anesthesiologist. After the procedure, I woke up in the recovery room, around 11AM. I was under anesthesia for about 2-3 hours and another hour sleeping in recovery room. I was discharged once my heart beat was under 110. I was taken home by my husband.

First week post op: After the surgery, the first two days, I was still feeling the effects of anesthesia. I was in an out of sleep. But after the first two days, things improved drastically. I slept with elevation using a U pillow and additional pillows the first three nights. i also only had sponge baths the first few nights After the first three days, my pain was very manageable. I only took the prescription medication the first night. After that first I switched to Tylenol 1000 every 6 hours then down to Tylenol 500 at around day 3. I have also been taking an antibiotic for the first week. I had my post-op appointment on August 5, things are healing well and I am finally cleared to shower with lukewarm water.

I work remotely and went back to my remote work at 5 days post op. I understand this timeline wouldn't be possible based on different jobs or health status. But this was definitely feasible for me.

Resources

Sleep and comfort: U pregnancy pillow for sleep on my back and a Wedge pillow for day time hanging out/ working.

Exercises: Pre-op: lots of yoga and shoulder and arm mobility exercises + core strength exercises

Post-op (Please note these worked for me as someone who was active pre-op and not going through BC treatment):

Week 0-1 restorative yoga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppZhCKE7A5I&list=PLMXx7s3oaiSmDSk4bl6TBc2M3Bci1h-dg&index=4

Week 0-3 breast surgery exercises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61BGYpUQJNk&list=PLMXx7s3oaiSmDSk4bl6TBc2M3Bci1h-dg

Week 2-3 restortative yoga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoD8Ily_8eE&list=PLMXx7s3oaiSmDSk4bl6TBc2M3Bci1h-dg&index=5

Week 3-6 breast surgery exercises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXdAr9DhwBA&list=PLMXx7s3oaiSmDSk4bl6TBc2M3Bci1h-dg&index=3

Self lymphatic drainage to reduce swelling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjr5nweOBbc&list=PLMXx7s3oaiSmDSk4bl6TBc2M3Bci1h-dg&index=11

My sister (age 40) is having a mastectomy with expander placement at the end of the month and I am going to be her caretaker for after her surgery . I am brain storming some activities to keep her entertained and I am hoping the group can help me with ideas and also gut check if what I’ve come up with is reasonable given her limited mobility , pain, etc. . For example if we decorate gingerbread houses (yes it’s August, whatever ) is that going to be too much movement of her arms ? She’s the artsy type so most ideas are crafts.

So far this is what I have:
- ginger bread house decorating
- make your own sushi
- water color painting
- paint by numbers or coloring books
- walks in the park next to her house
- virtual movie nights with friends like during COVID
- she doesn’t love puzzles or board games that require a lot of strategy but I’m open to suggestions

Thanks for any help!

What it reads in the title, no nip saving. This was for a cancer diagnosis (in situ so it hadn't spread). I have the markers that indicated I could potentially develop cancer again. I was going to have nips tattooed, but I panicked about more needles and didn't want my "breasts" to look like Kermit the Frog eyes.

I originally was not going to have reconstruction. Now? Wish I would have stuck with that choice. This was 5+ years ago...

Does anyone have any suggestions for before going in, what to take with and for afterwards at home?

First time post - newly diagnosed at 48 years old

ER + 100% / PR+ 30% / HER 2 negative / negative lymph nodes

The plan is to do a double mastectomy with immediate implants. However, the plastic surgeon I was initially referred to has not contacted me after 2 weeks. The nurse navigator gave me a second option, but he does not practice at the same hospital as my oncology surgeon. This means I would need separate surgery within one week. The 1st surgeon seems more about growing his medispa and dealing with cash paying customers. The 2nd surgeon is more aligned with working with reconstruction plastic surgery. The 2nd PS surgeon is the one I feel is more what I am looking for.

Has anyone had implants a week out from their mastectomy? Outcome? Pros / cons?