My Chest is FLAT, my Life is FULL #AestheticFlatClosure

For me it was never a question of what I wanted after mastectomy. The thought of reconstruction just did not appeal to me. Reconstruction comes with additional surgeries, chances for complications and if you get implants, they are to be switched out every 10 years or so. Signing myself up for more surgery in the future did not appeal to me. I had large breasts and I was 52 years old when I was diagnosed. We had a good run, it was fun, but now that one of them was trying to kill me I wanted them both gone.

My breast surgeon at the cancer center was very supportive of my choice. She did ask me to see a plastic surgeon so I would have all the information about my options. I saw him and when he told me I would never be happy flat I was bothered because I wonder how many women were basically bullied into reconstruction, feeling like they have no other real options. I'm here to tell you, FLAT should be an equal option to reconstruction presented to every breast cancer patient.

Reconstruction just seemed like a lot of pain and extra risk. I had been through ENOUGH with cancer and I am so happy with my decision. I'm flat and I healed very fast and started getting on with my life.

Many women want reconstruction and I'm totally supportive of everyone getting the results they want. I just want Flat Closure to be presented to everyone as an equal option so decisions can be made without pressure to reconstruct. I am very strong so I wasn't influenced by the ignorant comments of the plastic surgeon but I think it's terrible that cancer patients are made to feel like they will be less of a woman if they go flat. I am 100% the woman I was before cancer.