New boobs, who dis? My surgery recap.

Flat, implants, or my own tissue?

After finishing chemo, I thought nothing could really shake me anymore. The next step felt like the last big hurdle: a double mastectomy with reconstruction. And yet, it turned out to be bigger than I imagined. I quickly want to say that, reconstruction is one of the most personal choices in this whole process, and there isn’t a universal “right” answer. Some women go flat and love it. Others choose implants, which can be quicker and less invasive but need replacing after 10 or 15 years. And then there’s the option of using your own tissue, usually from the belly, sometimes from the thighs.

I didn’t make my decision overnight. I went back and forth many times, weighing both implant reconstruction and using my own tissue (DIEP flap). I spoke with women who had implants, and I thought hard about whether that was something I could live with. For some, implants are absolutely the right choice, they’re effective, less invasive, and can look absolutely great.

But for me, it came down to sustainability. I didn’t want a foreign body inside me, or the thought of another surgery a decade from now to exchange the implants. I wanted something that felt natural, something that was mine. Even though I knew it meant a much bigger surgery: longer surgery, longer recovery, other risks. But it was the choice that felt right for me. I was also super lucky to keep my nipples which makes the result obviously looks so much more natural and like..your own.

What is that actually? A DIEP flap isn’t anything like cosmetic surgery, or what people sometimes compare to a Brazilian Butt Lift where fat is simply injected. A DIEP flap is a microsurgical transplant: tissue, fat, skin, and tiny blood vessels are carefully removed from your belly (in my case thighs, cuz no belly fat) and reconnected to blood vessels in the chest under a microscope. It’s one of the most complex procedures in plastic surgery, but it’s also considered the gold standard today for women who want reconstruction with their own tissue.

A small note on logistics: it’s very common to have this type of reconstruction done in one operation (like in my case) but doctors have different approaches depending where you are based. Some teams split it into stages to shorten operative time and lower risks like infection. I think, if mine had been splitted into two surgeries, I probably wouldn’t have done it... not sure.

Also: I’m really (!!) grateful for the medical care I can access here in Melbourne. I know not everyone has that, and I don’t take it for granted.

Going Into Surgery

I didn’t prepare much beyond keeping up my workouts, eating whole foods, lots of protein. I wanted to go in as fit as I could, knowing I’d be grounded for weeks afterward. Surgery day started brutally early around 6 am. in the hospital, and I didn’t get into theatre until probably 8. Every step was structured, from triage to gowning up, to lying in the bed waiting to be wheeled in.

That waiting was the hardest part. I had tears in my eyes and I wa so fucken scared. And then my plastic surgeon came to my bedside, calm and kind, reassuring me. Later on the anesthesiologists joked with me, telling me the sedative would feel like a “breakfast mimosa.” And it did.

By the time I was wheeled into the operating theatre, I was super chilled and honestly that’s the last thing I remember. Eight hours later everything was done.. crazy!

One thing that struck me was how different the hospital culture here in Australia felt compared to Germany. More open, more personal, more human - less stressed. Everyone was warm, everyone tried to put a smile on my face. It made the whole experience, as terrifying as it was, so much easier.

I'll write a separate blog post about this and to honor all of the amazing doctors and nurses who took care of me - cuz it honestly blew my mind.

Left: Thigh straight after surgery Middle: 3 week post surgery Right: 6 weeks post surgery

The First Days After

Waking up didn’t feel like shock or panic. It felt like waking up from a looooong, deep nap. I knew where I was and I wasn’t in sudden pain. Actually, not at any point I felt like I was under a massive pain. You can seriously trust hospitals to be good in pain management. They got you! :)

What hit me wasn’t pain, but weakness and not being able to do anything. I had a catheter, IV fluids running through me, and drains everywhere, two in my breasts and two in my thighs.

The first hospital nights were brutal. Nurses came every 30 minutes with a handheld ultrasound to check the blood flow in the flaps, making sure the transplanted leg tissue in my boobies was 'alive'. No sleep, only constant interruptions. When it wasn’t the flap check, it was antibiotics, blood draws, or a thrombosis injection in my belly. By the time I was discharged after three nights, I was both relieved and completely exhausted.

HITH (Hospital in the Home)

Leaving hospital with drains still in your legs is super scary. But here in Australia, I experienced something I hadn’t even known existed: Hospital in the Home. Yessss, that's a thing. Pretty fucken epic, hey?

Every single day for 3 weeks, a nurse came to my house checking on me. They measured the drain output, checked vitals, monitored healing. After such a huge surgery, when you feel vulnerable and fragile, having someone knock on your door daily was unbelievably reassuring. I don’t think I’ve ever been so grateful for a medical service.

Healing is Not Linear

…and honestly, it was more than a little bumpy. Let’s start with the good stuff: the breasts healed beautifully. They actually turned out so well they made the rounds all the way up to senior staff, and people kept popping in to take a look. Wild how quickly you get comfortable showing your boobs to new people in scrubs. 😆

The strange part is sensation. Because nerves are cut, there isn’t much pain in the breasts themselves, but they also don’t quite feel like they’re mine yet. It’s such a weird combo: you have breasts, and they look like you, but you don’t really feel them.

For anyone wondering: If the thigh-flap tissue ever bothers you, it can be revised or reduced, and fat grafting is also an option if you want tweaks later on. I’m genuinely happy with my result and went in with zero aesthetic expectations. Right now I just want to be healthy and live my life, so I couldn't be bothered to have another surgery for now.

The legs are a different story. With two 25 cm scars on each side, healing was slower. Fluid built up, and while the body can reabsorb some, too much of it, is not good. That's what happened to me. It's called a seroma. After the drains had finally come out after 3 weeks, it looked like the majority of the fluid was out. Well... only a couple days later, one thigh needed another drain put in for a few days and the other was managed with an aspiration. It meant more hospital visits. At one point, I had to go back to the emergency department and even spend another 2 nights on the ward. Like, give me a break!!

Honestly, I had completely underestimated this phase. I thought recovery would just be rest and gradual improvement. Instead, it was stop-and-go, with setbacks I didn’t expect.

Left: 1 day after surgery Right: 4 weeks post surgery

Ciao Independance

One of the hardest parts for me wasn’t necessarily the medical recovery. It was more the sudden loss of independence. During chemo I was pretty lucky most of the time I was mobile and stayed active and could take care of myself. But after this surgery, I came home and couldn’t even put on underwear by myself. With the drains, the wires, the stiffness.. it was such a nightmare.

I could only sleep on my back for weeks, which left me with constant back pain and restless nights. Side sleeping was only allowed after about four weeks, and belly sleeping after six. I’m at week six now, and I still scared to sleep on my belly. 🤭

That dependency was brutal for me. Aaron and I both reached our limits during this time. I very easily feel like a burden, so I probably did more than I should have, just to avoid asking for help.

Aaron took a few days of carers leave when I came out of hospital, but then ultimately went back to work. I managed most of the things at home, but I wasn’t much help in the household, which put so much weight on him. It was massive, what he's managed for all of us!

6-week recap

• Week 0-1: 3 days in the hospital, then HITH for 2 weeks. Two drains in the breasts for 3 days, two in the thighs for 3 weeks. Super weak, low blood pressure, pumped up with meds. Pain well managed. Low appetite. Tiny walks around the block as soon as I was cleared.

• Week 2-3: Still resting A LOT and short daily loops outside. Daily nurse visits kept me sane. Compression shorts on all day/night. Still low energy. Basically living in compression.

• Week 4: Thigh drains came finally out, but fluid crept back after couple days. Back to hospital -> One thigh needed a new drain, the other an aspiration. Massive Frustrating. Tears. Compression continued, sometimes even double. Longer walks started to feel okay.

• Week 5: First tiny wins. Side sleeping cautiously allowed. 30-60 minute walks. Still tender at donor sites. Still wearing compression 24/7.

• Week 6: First real shift. Legs felt lighter, pressure eased, energy returned. No dressings on scars anymore. Gentle scar care started after clearance. Only daytime compression.

• Week 7: Lots of of energy, feeling SO good! Careful upper-body training with light weights. Still wearing compression shorts or leggings. Finally felt like recovery is happening.

  
  

Personal experience, not medical advice.

What actually helped me

• Protein intake. In the first weeks I wasn’t hungry because I wasn't moving a lot. Protein water was a huge to make sure to keep up my protein intake, which plays a major role in healing. Mostly I added creatine to reduce muscle loss.

• Stool softener or a laxative: I was pretty constipated from the anesthesia and medications. Getting a proper flush for me was a game changer!! I have the best bowel movement now. :)

• Hospital in the Home. If it’s an option, ask. Daily nurse check‑ins kept me calm and reassured.

• Clothing that opens in front. Zips or buttons make nurse access easy on the ward easily.

• Drain logistics. I mostly used a simple tote bag to carry the drain tubes with me everywhere. I think you get get creative here.

• Compression bra & shorts. I got my shorts from Boody, but I think you can wear literally anything that is really tight. Shapewear or bike shorts also works. My fav bra is from Kmart (yes, was surprised myself hehe)

(Personal experience, not medical advice. Always follow your team’s guidance.)

Looking Back

A double mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction is no small thing. It’s not cosmetic surgery. It’s one of the most complex operations out there, and the recovery is as demanding as the procedure itself.

What stressed me most wasn’t pain, but slowness. The endless days of needing help, the weeks before progress became visible, the way time stretched and tested me.

But here’s the truth: Your body is doing the work and healing all the time. Even when you don't feel or see it. You need to give yourself permission to rest, more than you think.

I was very 'lucky': I wasn't working during this time, I didn’t have external stress pulling me away from recovery. That space to fully focus on healing was a gift, and I know not everyone has it. If you do, take it. Don’t rush. Your body will need all the time you can give it.

In my next post, I’ll break down the first workouts that felt safe for me and the scar treatments I use. Honest stories, zero fluff. If you’d like to follow along, hit subscribe so you don’t miss it. ✨💖