Reconstruction - Part 1 (Contains graphic pic)

On Wednesday 3rd March I had the first step of my reconstructive surgery at Bowen Hospital. My operation was scheduled for 3pm but the plastic surgeon was still in theatre so they didn't get started on me until about 4pm.  I hadn't had anything to eat since 10 am that morning and nothing to drink since 12noon so was keen to get this over with so I could afterwards lay back, have a drink and watch 'Packed To the Rafters' at 8.30 that evening.  I had a sense of dejavu as I had my pre-op antiseptic shower and donned my lovely surgical socks. This time I felt so calm in fact I remember feeling more nervous than this when I first had a bikini wax.  This time I had the honour of being wheeled into theatre by the plastic surgeon himself and the anasethetist.  This time I had a good look around the theatre and noticed that there were six people all taking care of me plus the student  nurse who I had agreed to let observe the operation.This same nurse will also be taking care of me along the way right through to the end of the reconstructive process. It was strange going under the anasethetic this time. The first time I felt woozy and remember going out but this time my arm felt warm and that was the last thing I knew until I woke up in recovery.  The operation this time was only a short one taking about an hour.  It is called a delay.  The surgeon makes an incision in the shape of a horseshoe on my tummy.  This is to get the blood circulation going into the piece of skin they are going to cut out to form my new breast. From the photograph you can see the lines which the plastic surgeon has drawn.  This is the area which will be cut out next week.  The incision has been covered with honeycomb padding and waterproof dressing so I can shower.

The surgeon also drew some saline out of the skin expander because the skin was so stretched, that the fold of the expander was almost pushing a hole through my skin; so now I have a wrinkled up triangle shape for a breast.I came home the next morning and have been up and about but still quite tired and making sure I have lots of sleeps.