Surgery,  Treatment

The Flat Movement

Disclaimer/Warning

I will be posting a photo of my chest post-double mastectomy. I acknowledge that professional contacts do read this blog. If you choose to read on, know that.

I am choosing to publish a photo, publicly, of my chest because it’s important that breast cancer patients know they have options when it comes to mastectomies.

After talking to many survivors and joining several “flatties” groups, it’s apparent most surgical patients do not get great results. I cannot tell you how many photos I’ve seen of terrible, terrible surgical jobs. Some go through the implants route; many experience infections and other complications that ultimately leads to a flat closure. Not one person I’ve talked to who has had some kind of implants have been satisfied. Generally, they’re left with more and more surgeries.

Or, they ask for an “aesthetic flat closure” and the surgeon DOES NOT LISTEN and completes the surgery with excess tissue because they don’t believe that’s actually what the patient wants. I cannot fucking imagine. If I had asked for a flat closure and my surgeon decided to prep me for implants??????

I’m extremely lucky to have had a surgeon who listened to me and did a great fucking job, and I want breast cancer folks to (1) know this is an option and (2) direct them to where they can go.

Got it?

All I ask is that you do not bring it up in a professional setting unless I’ve brought it up. Or, if you know someone who wants to talk to me about it (I am more than happy to share my experiences with BC friends).

OK, let’s roll.

The Decision to Go Flat

After diagnosis, I was able to talk to many breast cancer survivors. They graciously shared their stories even though they may have kept that diagnosis private. As I wrote above, not one of them had a good surgical experience. All of them had at least two surgeries, if not more. Almost all of them ended up with a complication, an infection…something. Most were unhappy with the work that had been done. Some have been dealing with fixing their surgeon’s mistakes. Excess, flabby tissue; stretched out, saggy skin; bad nipple jobs; armpit folds that don’t go away; thoughtless surgical cuts and scarring. It’s as horrifying as it sounds, I’m sure. And that is not something I wanted to deal with. Cut ’em off and be done with it.

What is an Aesthetic Flat Closure?

I think I’m lucky that I initially wanted to go flat. When I told my surgeon, she asked if I wanted an aesthetic flat closure. I had to look that up. It basically means close the incisions for an aesthetically pleasing flat chest. This is probably similar to what trans folks get for top surgery.

There are several nonprofits dedicated to arming breast cancer patients and their doctors with information.

This is one of the best graphics I’ve seen from the nonprofit Not Putting on a Shirt. There are lots of different ways to remove tissue, depending on where your cancer is. They had to check my lymph nodes so I have what’s curved into my axilla.

I did submit my photo to their directory so other folks who go to Mayo know my doctor is awesome.

On the site, they include photos of “flat denial.” These are patients who asked for a flat closure and didn’t get it.

My Flat Closure

So here’s what it looks like (well, what it looked like – I have radiation scarring now):

Honestly, I feel pretty great about it. It feels good. Healed well. I feel like it looks good, too. I am very happy with the results.

In case you’re wondering where my nipples are, the right had cancer in it so it needed to go. I didn’t realize they were taking the other one, so I woke up to that discovery. I laughed. Better that they’re even.

Yes, I know I can get 3D nipples tattooed, but I won’t be doing it. I don’t care about them. Also, my docs suggested I don’t tattoo skin in the area in case it comes back. Then they wouldn’t be able to see any skin changes.

I do have plans for a tattoo in the area! Not sure what it’s going to be yet. I have an appointment with the artist in July.