Mentally preparing for surgery…

As I prepare for another breast reconstruction surgery on Monday, I’ve been trying to manage the expectations that come along with it.

Prior to my last surgery (expander to implant + fat grafting) I had the highest of hopes that it would be my last surgery AND I would have perfect results…..LOL.

When I woke up from surgery and looked down, I bawled my eyes out knowing the journey was not yet over.

My boobs were uneven, I already saw the rippling and they looked nothing like what I was expecting. Tell me why I was thinking I would walk out of the hospital looking like a Victoria’s Secret Model 😂

What I had wished my doctors helped me with, was setting the right expectations. If they had said, “We are going to do our best to get you where you want but we cannot guarantee this will only be one surgery,” I would have leaned into that a bit more.

So, here are some tips (as discussed on the Cancer Baddies platform) to help manage any upcoming surgeries:

1. Ask your doctor what they expect your post-op body to look like and what would be the ideal outcome in their mind (from Gabi Dawkins) - YES! I love this. Get an idea of what they are picturing so you can reframe your own image of what would be ideal.

2. Understand that this may not be a one-and-done surgery - someone once said that breast reconstruction is like aiming an arrow at a bullseye and never actually hitting the target but always trying to get as close as possible.

3. Adjusting to your new body takes time - it may not be love at first sight but really spend some time in the mirror using affirmations or gentle massaging to get familiar with your new self. Trust the process.

4. It takes months for the swelling to go down and for them to “land” - the end result may look nothing how they look now. Give it time for the inflammation to go down and for the implants (if you opt for this) to drop. Full healing may take months or up to a year.

5. It’s better to have little expectations than to be disappointed - definitely easier said than done but this may help with the process. I know for sure I would rather be pleasantly surprised than massively disappointed.

6. Speak to a therapist (specifically someone with cancer experience) to help with your emotions - as you know, this entire cancer journey is a rollercoaster of emotions. Speak to someone who has experience navigating the highs and lows to help with the after results of surgery. Sometimes leaning on friends and family isn’t enough so speaking to an expert may provide more lasting comfort.

XO, Amanda

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🌟SUN JAN 26 - 12 PM PST: Vitality Breath & Meditation with Emily Schmookler

Join cancer survivor and founder of Joyful Me Healing, Emily Schmookler, for a 1 hour session of vitality breath work and meditation to set the tone for a restorative week ahead.

🌟WED JAN 29 - 5 PM PST: Finding and Fitting a Wig w/ Goldie

Join Goldie from BossiGal Beverly Hills as she teaches you how to find and fit the perfect wig for treatment. Goldie currently works with women to help them find high quality wigs and weaves due to hair loss from cancer and alopecia.

🌟 THURS JAN 30 - 5PM PST: Post-Mastectomy: Restoring Strength and Mobility with Dr. Sarah Salva PT, DPT

Join Physical Therapist, Dr. Sarah Salva, as she walks us through recovery and empowerment following mastectomy surgery.

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