I'm 36 years old, nonbinary transmasculine, and just got diagnosed with breast cancer. My first thought, before they even ultrasounded my uninvited mystery lump, was, "Hey, even if it's cancer, free top surgery with no gatekeepers!" I'm pretty good at finding the upside of a situation, apparently.
Here's the problem and the irony: I have never been dysphoric about how my body looks or feels naked. I love my body naked. I am not interested in taking T and have never been interested in surgical interventions. The only situation in which I want my breasts to disappear is when I'm wearing clothes.
I hate that I can't present convincingly as flat chested without binding-which-gives-me-migraines. I haven't bound more than five times in the last two years due to avoiding the migraines, which is frustrating. I have a beautifully tailored suit I have not been able to wear in that two years. People have gently been asking me for years if I've considered a reduction. So hey, good excuse here, right?
I'm looking at all the before and after pictures on transbucket and they mostly make me twitchy. No one looks good right after surgery, I get that. But guess what, I don't get to choose Whether at this point, I just get to hopefully make some choices about How Much and What Shape.
Thinking about those possible choices leads me to the following basic key points:
- I don't want them adding back in implants for anything they take out, because hello, migraines.
- I have a horror of asymmetry, so whatever they trim down on one side they should match on the other (except nipple, I really like nipple sensation, thanks).
- I'd like to keep some curve if possible but I'm not sure how much.
So I guess I'm going after two questions here:
Has anyone here had top surgery complicated by oncology care? Or do you know someone who has? Will oncology surgeons collaborate with more FtM-experienced cosmetic surgeons for this kind of thing?
Has anyone here done or heard of partial top surgery? Like halfway through a photomorph from a D-rack to pecs? I have the impression that since I'm not on any hormone regimen, whatever's left might grow a little, which I'm fine with as long as it's symmetrical. But I'd really rather like to be able to confuse people's gendar even shirtless, while keeping a bit of curve and also reading as relatively flat under clothes.
I feel like I should be unlocking an achievement for this or something. First nonbinary cancer-complicated semi top surgery
performed on the Moon.
I thought with cancer they remove all the breast tissue and nodes so it doesn't come back. If I were in your shoes I would look into a top surgeon doing the operation instead of just some surgeon. They are similar operations but different in the end result. Cancer surgeons don't care what it looks like afterwards because they expect you to get implants. Top surgeons have additional artistic training if they are good top surgeons. If I were you I would go for flat as possible. If you want some curve, buy some breast forms.
Well, sorry about the cancer diagnosis...hopefully it was caught at an early stage and has not spread very far. You do have options with your surgery, but you may need two separate surgeons to collaborate, and likely two separate procedures. The oncology surgeon will be concerned with removing ANY sign of cancerous tissue, whether lumpectomy only or total mastectomy...and, YOU may also decide to have ALL of the breast tissue removed to help prevent further disease occurrence. That type of surgery is typically done with vertical incisions, with little regard to the shape or size of your scars, just so you are well and heal nicely. At the point of all diseased tissue being removed, you may want an experienced plastic surgeon to come in an do some skilled artwork, depending on your needs, and it can be done! But focus first on removing the cancer... Good luck to you!
@Alexthecat: Whether they take it all or not depends entirely on how advanced it is. They will always allow you to take it all off to prevent future problems, but I've still got fingers crossed that I'll get some choice about that.
Breast forms, unfortunately, are the opposite of the answer to my problem. :( I have the inconvenient combination of wanting curves under my skin but not under my clothes.
@HeyTrace19: Thanks for the well-wishes!
I'm told that most oncology surgeons have a lot of secondary cosmetic training these days, as breast cancer survivors also do surgeon reviews. It's not the chop jobs of 40 years ago. But as both of you suggest, and as I said in the original post...
Will oncology surgeons collaborate with more FtM-experienced cosmetic surgeons for this kind of thing?
Still hoping someone with direct experience can ring in...