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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.ค. 2024
- In this interview, breast cancer survivor Sarah Clark shares about waking up with unwanted extra skin on her chest when she wanted to be flat after her double mastectomy. The extra skin has impacted her body image and complicated her adjustment to being flat. Sarah also talks about dating after going flat and meeting her now-wife.
I am sorry for your experience. I'm a board certified plastic surgeon taking care of cancer patients and sadly you are not alone Sarah. I meet patients like you more often than I should. I think there is increasing awareness now on esthetic flat closure and I will be doing a short video on this soon on my patient educational channel. I had one patient I made flat 6 years ago and changed her mind and she was able to get delayed reconstruction. There are always options. As surgeons we are rarely 'offended' when you get a second opinion; most of us just want you to feel comfortable and have the result you desire with a surgeon you trust. I keep brochures on flat closure in my consultation room, along with breast implants. No one size fits all for patients.
I think no matter which option we choose as women, we all want symmetry, comfort and the most attractive results possible. We shouldn’t have to struggle with body image issues after the fact on top of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. We need more honest conversations and pictures out in the open. Now it’s too hidden in shame and embarrassment.
So proud of you Sarah! Thank you for bringing awareness about this!
Thank you ❤
Thank you so much for interviewing me!
Sarah, I just seen your interview video.
I went to my surgeon with pictures, he did flat although he took out my drain tubes within a week because I was starting to get infection which gave me seromas that he didn't want to drain he did drain the right side a little bit the left side of my chest.
I now have extra tissue and a lump at the bottom on the left side and he removed fascia at the top so it is really stuck down and painful.
I am scheduled to have revision surgery they canceled once on me because I had infection in another surgery site from an inguinal hernia which I've been fighting for two and a half years amazingly it went away in October right before I found the lump. I wasn't diagnosed till December then infection came back after the process of going through mastectomy.
I'm scheduled for revision October 31st although I'm very worried as is my plastic surgeon that I can get infection in my chest from having infection in the hernia scar.
I'm going to have to call the surgeon tomorrow and see about getting the infection drained and tested to make sure it's not MRSA again definitely don't want to have surgery if I have that again.
There's more to my story, I have myofascial extreme tightness, cording that has not gone away.
I also have lymphedema a little bit, enough that I have to wear double layer compression tank.
I was just curious if you had any of these things? I didn't know if flat closure caused any of the things I have.
How did your revision go and did you only get it on one side?
My cancer was hormonal.
My oncologist wants me to be on hormone blockers although it will make a lot of my pre-existing autoimmune disease get worse and I heard it will make sleeping a thing of the past which I've already lived with for 12 years.
I chose against taking it curious to know was your cancer hormonal and did you have to take the hormone blockers.
I really hope you are doing well and healthy.
I'm very happy for you that you found love and a wife that loves you for you and is there for you.
I'm married although my 24 year old son is who has been there for me and goes with me to my appointments.
After being diagnosed my only other family my aunt told me there was nothing happy to talk with me about anymore and hasn't spoken with me since and friends (so I thought) haven't even bothered to keep in touch with me.
My son had surgery on his both his lungs during COVID, not due to COVID, so I understand how scary it was for you to go through this during that time.
We've been keeping the doctors pockets full of $.
Would love to talk with you a little more privately.
Thank you for doing this video, to help others.
Hope to hear from you. Lisa
It so important that doctors and surgeons - who know more about the details of breast surgery and mastectomy - to FULLY inform patients of ALL of their options with respect to any level of reconstruction. In other words, they should carefully outline what flat closure is/can be, and to educate patients about the “lingo” needed to communicate what the patient desires. It’s shocking to me that a plastic surgeon would not automatically focus upon flat closure options for someone who indicated that that’s what her desire was. To ignore the patient’s desires for an aesthetic flat closure - even if they don’t use those words - seems to be gross negligence / malpractice.
I’m seeing my surgeon on Friday. I now know exactly what to say. Thank you
Great interview! Thank you Sarah for sharing your story!
Really really great interview. Well done!
Thank you for sharing your story!
Thank you for sharing. I appreciate it.
Bless you, the doctor should have listened to you. You were the person paying the doctor for a job that you wanted. Do not feel bad for getting what you want. It’s your life and your happiness. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37 and I chose reconstruction and 16 years later, I chose flat closure. I am happy I did and it’s a very personal choice either way. May your next surgery be beautiful and successful. ❤
Did you have reconstruction complications ?? I’m going to have to make a decision in a few months and I’m really nervous
@@Amethyst12thheaven
Did your revision surgery go well?
@@lisagreer9282 still waiting- it’s supposed to happen this month. I decided on uni-mastectomy with DTI. Thank you for asking 😊
The terminology around flat closure didn't exist when I got my surgery but my surgeons still knew damn well that I didn't want the hard, ugly, uncomfortable silicone implants they made me have. I remember saying "can I not just be free, can I not just be me?" I don't think it should be on the patient to know the exact words to use - the options should just all be presented to us openly so we can choose our preferred outcome.
I tried reconstructing directly after mastectomy, nearly died, the expanders were a pain out of this world, had to be removed which I ended up with an infection. So now I wear prosthesis and have a lot of scar tissue which hurts from time to time. I don’t ever want reconstruction
I've just had mastectomy with expanders. The surgery was yesterday and the pain has been incredible but it's the weekend so nobody has been available to help or advise. When I woke I was expecting full implants and appreciated that if there was trouble with them during radiotherapy then I would have them removed but at least Id known I'd given it a go. I wouldn't have gone for expanders knowing I'd need a further surgery down the line. They are very good at glossing over words and you feel almost like you don't have much choice. They just say removing the cancer is more important than anything. How awful that they never listened or clarified with either of us. Bless her. Heartbreaking to hear that she's having to have further surgery. I'm pleased she's going elsewhere. Thank you for sharing xx
I try to avoid tissue expanders whenever I can; direct-to-implant is always the top choice if possible.
@elinabalt7716 I’m glad you got the surgery you are happy with! It’s important your surgeon discusses the possible complications of any procedure. I posted a TH-cam short on my channel with a very happy flat closure patient. She wanted nipples and I performed free nipple grafting.
@elinabalt7716I am coming up on my mastectomy surgery likely early March. At first I thought the thing to do was get reconstruction with expanders and implants. Then I was given paperwork to sign regarding the implants. I took a copy of it home to read line by line. Why would anyone sign up for such great potential for complications and further disease. 😢 Thanks for sharing. It is comments like yours that let me know I am on the right track.
I had a terrible experience