loading
What to do if You are Unhappy with Your Breast Reconstruction PRMA Plastic Surgery

What should a patient do if they are unhappy with breast reconstruction results?

Breast Reconstruction helps many women feel whole again after breast cancer. How you feel about the “new you” is an important part of your healing journey. But what should you do if you are unhappy with your results?

Be honest with your surgeon.

It may feel like an uncomfortable conversation to have, but it’s an important one. Having an honest and respectful conversation with your surgeon is a healthy first step in addressing your concerns. Be sure and discuss your expectations and what can be done to achieve your desired results.

Get a second opinion from a specialist.

Seeking a second opinion is never a bad thing! Having another experienced surgeon who specializes in all types of reconstruction procedures review your needs is a good way to ensure you are given all your options to consider. Unfortunately, not all plastic surgeons offer today’s most advanced breast reconstruction procedures and travel may be necessary but worth it.  At PRMA, we frequently perform corrective surgery on patients who are unhappy with their results from surgery performed at other institutions.  If you are interested in a second opinion from PRMA, please fill out our FREE Virtual Consultation form HERE.  Once received one of our board-certified plastic surgeons will review your needs and provide you with their surgical recommendations all at no cost to you. 

Decide what’s best for you.

After hearing all your options, the pros and cons of each, and discussing realistic expectations with an experienced surgeon you will be equipped with the tools you need to make the best decision for you moving forward.  

Learn more about your corrective breast reconstruction options here. 

Author: Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo and Courtney Floyd

unhappy with breast reconstruction results

Seeking a second opinion is never a bad thing! Having another experienced surgeon who specializes in all types of reconstruction procedures review your needs is a good way to ensure you are given all your options to consider.

Sign Up for Our Monthly Newsletter

Online Form – Newsletter Signup

Continue Reading

Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Your Period
Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Your Period

Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Your Period December 02, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin During our pre-operative appointment with patients, a topic that occasionally arises is menstrual cycles.  It is completely normal for women to experience changes with their periods throughout breast cancer treatments.  These can be temporary or permanent.  Periods can be unpredictable following […]

Read More

 

What Bras and Abdominal Girdles to Wear After Breast Reconstruction Surgery

What Bras and Abdominal Girdles to Wear After Breast Reconstruction Surgery November 17, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin When preparing for breast reconstruction surgery, many patients want to know what types of bras and abdominal girdles they should plan to wear after surgery. Although every surgeon has slightly different preferences, we have put together […]

Read More

 

My 5 DIEP Flap Realities | A Guest Blog From Julie

My 5 DIEP Flap Realities October 28, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hi everyone, my name is Julie from It’s a Bosom Thing. I am so happy to be here as a guest blogger and have this opportunity to share with you a few thoughts about life after DIEP Flap Surgery. I was diagnosed […]

Read More

 

bra day 2020
PRMA’s BRA Day Virtual Event Recap

PRMA’s BRA Day Virtual Event Recap September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yesterday we celebrated Breast Reconstruction Awareness day! Although we missed seeing everyone in person this year, we were still able to spread education and awareness on ALL reconstructive options through our virtual efforts.  We were also able to share information on […]

Read More

 

Second Stage DIEP Flap Surgery
Second Stage DIEP Flap Surgery

Second Stage DIEP Flap Surgery September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin DIEP flap breast reconstruction is typically comprised of at least two stages for the best outcomes.  The second stage of surgery is commonly referred to as the “revision” stage and is usually performed about three months after the initial reconstruction.  The purpose […]

Read More

 

flaps good option for breast reconstruction_ PRMA Plastic Surgery
If ‘Flaps’ Are Such A Great Breast Reconstruction Option, Why Doesn’t Everyone Get Them?

If ‘Flaps’ Are Such A Great Breast Reconstruction Option, Why Doesn’t Everyone Get Them? September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Flap-based breast reconstruction procedures, like the DIEP flap, offer patients a safe, natural implant-alternative option to reconstruction after a mastectomy.  Flap surgeries are permanent and are associated with fewer complications after radiation when […]

Read More

 

Skin Island in Breast Reconstruction _ PRMA Plastic Surgery
What is a Skin Island and How is it Used in Breast Reconstruction?

What is a Skin Island and How is it Used in Breast Reconstruction? September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin What is a “skin island”? The term “skin island” is used to describe the remaining visible skin from a transplanted “flap” of tissue. In the setting of DIEP flap breast reconstruction, the skin island […]

Read More

 

comparing apex and diep flap
Comparing APEX Flap and DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

Comparing APEX Flap and DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction August 10, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin We have been receiving numerous inquiries about the “APEX flap” recently.  Patients want to know what it is and how it differs from the DIEP flap. APEX is an acronym that stands for “Abdominal Perforator Exchange”.  Many patients believe […]

Read More

 

Monitoring the Health of Your Flap During & After Surgery PRMA Plastic Surgery
Monitoring the Health of Your Flap During & After Surgery

​Monitoring the Health of Your Flap During & After Surgery July 21, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Autologous flap (or tissue) breast reconstruction procedures represent today’s most advanced options for rebuilding a breast(s) following mastectomy. The most commonly performed method of flap-based reconstruction at PRMA is the DIEP flap. During this procedure, surgeons transplant skin […]

Read More

 

COVID-19 and the Impact on Cancer Patient’s Mortality PRMA Plastic Surgery
​COVID-19 and the Impact on Cancer Patient’s Mortality

​COVID-19 and the Impact on Cancer Patient’s Mortality July 21, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin There is still so much we do not know about COVID-19. Likewise, there is little known about how this disease impacts mortality for cancer patients. A study published in The Lancet evaluated and characterized the outcomes of patients with cancer […]

Read More

 

post-img
Prev post

What NOT to Say to Someone Having Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Next post

​Types of Tissue Expander and Implants Used in Breast Reconstruction

post-img

6 Comment

  1. Gloria

    Hi , I just had a double mastectomy 3 weeks ago , I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2020 on my right breast . Before my mastectomy I had saline breast implants I was a size 34D. I am 5’7 and weigh 115 pds after chemotherapy , my normal weight is 128 pds . I asked my plastic surgeon about tissue expanders to achieve the size I was , he told me I did not need them because my tissue was already stretched from my implants . So he did immediate reconstruction during the mastectomy. He said I had to be smaller than I was . I am very depressed and disappointed with my reconstruction, my implants are very flat . I understand it’s not the same as an augmentation, but I feel like I wasn’t given options , i seen a lot of reconstruction stories from other women and how satisfied with size they are and I wonder why I had to be stuck with such small implants . It seems really unfair to me . I also had a nipple sparing mastectomy. Can you please help me on options I may have , the stress of the cancer was so much and I just want to feel good about myself after all this nightmare

    1. PRMA Plastic Surgery

      We are so sorry to hear you are going through so much. Please know that it can sometimes take more than one procedure to achieve your desired results. We recommend following up with your surgeon to discuss your outcome goals. Of course, following your revision surgery, if you are still unhappy with your results we would be happy to provide you a second opinion.

  2. Jen

    I will say that my surgeons were wonderful, but I didn’t expect to be so much smaller than I was before my DIEP flap reconstruction. I went from DDD to what looks like to me now B or C cup. I knew I would be smaller because I didn’t have enough belly fat to be the size I was, but I see so much smaller than I thought. I’m still healing, and happy with the reconstruction, just not the size.

    1. PRMA Plastic Surgery

      There are options like fat grafting that can help increase breast size for patients after DIEP flap. We recommend discussing your concerns with your surgeon to see what your options are.

  3. Michelle Ferullo

    I had bilateral mastectomy followed by implant reconstructive procedure 10 weeks ago. Like others mine are smaller than expected but that’s not what is upsetting. I feel like the implants are under my arms and not where the should be. One side has a visible indentation towards the top while the other is full at the top. I’m not happy at all. If I complain it’s as if I’m questioning the plastic surgeons work. Is there anything that can push implants into place? When I lie down the go further under arms. I thought implants stayed in place. What can I do?

    1. Lana Cobb

      Thanks so much for sharing with us Michelle, we are so sorry you are going through this. Our best advice is for you to be open and honest with your surgeon about your concerns. Should you still feel uncomfortable, we would recommend seeking a second opinion from a board certified plastic surgeon.