It Takes Time: Single Mastectomy with Implants and Nipple Reconstruction

Sixteen years after my mastectomy, I’m happy with my breasts, and I look good. Be patient with yourself because it gets better. 

• Procedure: single mastectomy, implant reconstruction, and nipple reconstruction
• Reconstruction immediately postmastectomy: 4 months after
• Years of procedures: 2009 and 2023
• Age: 48 years old
• Ethnicity: Black/African American

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Diagnosis to surgery timeline

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2008 at the age of 33. I had a really traumatic mammogram where once my breast was put in the film plates, blood came from my nipple. I suddenly had breast cancer.

Fast-forward 2 months, I had a unilateral mastectomy on the left side, and they were unable to save the nipple. The process was overwhelming, but my doctors explained every option to me and answered all of my questions.

I kept a running list of questions because I needed to know everything — it’s my body. And I didn’t know many women my age going through breast cancer and reconstruction.

Choosing implant reconstruction

My plastic surgeon let me see what silicone implants look like and showed me images of people who had similar reconstructions with implants.

After the mastectomy, I had a tissue expander for 3 months and then underwent another surgery to replace the tissue expander with a permanent implant in April 2009. At that time, I also had a silicone implant placed in my natural breast to make them symmetrical.

My recovery from the implant placement was much easier than my recovery after the mastectomy.

If I had the option, I absolutely would’ve chosen DIEP-flap surgery — but I wasn’t a good candidate because I didn’t have the right body composition.

That summer, I decided to have areola and nipple reconstruction.

The surgeon took a piece of my right nipple and a skin graft from my groin to reconstruct the left nipple, but the skin graft didn’t take. Unfortunately, the skin died and fell off — but we didn’t give up.

I was tired of surgeries, so instead of another graft, the doctor used stitches to pull up some skin to make a little nub. It didn’t require surgery or removing another part of my body.

Replacing the implants is inevitable

Fast-forward to 2020, I got a call from my doctor saying that my implants were recalled because they had a chance of giving me breast implant-associated lymphoma. I couldn’t have the removal surgery immediately because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I had my silicone implants replaced in December 2023, and I’m currently 6 months post-op. It was a hard decision because I’d had the implants for nearly 16 years, and I considered going flat.

If I could’ve had DIEP-flap reconstruction, I wouldn’t have to get the implants replaced every 10 years. I’d have peace of mind without the possibility of my implants getting recalled again.

Afterward, I felt extremely relieved to finally have the surgery done. All the stress and anticipation was over, and I cried for a few days. Everything had passed.

I’m happy with my breasts, and I look good. My incision healed really quickly, and the implants feel natural. I’m comfortable.

What I want others to know

You’re going to hear a lot of opinions about which doctor to go to and whether you should reconstruct or not. It’s important to weigh all of your options.

Your first gut instinct is usually right. Listen to what you feel deep inside yourself because you’re never going to steer yourself wrong.

It gets better. You may think it won’t, but your mental and physical recovery will happen. Be patient with yourself, and give yourself time because there’s no rush.

It takes time to adjust to the new body you’re in. But in time, you’ll realize what you’ve been through and feel like you’re in a better place than when you started.