The Beauty of Choice: Aesthetic Flat Closure After Mastectomy

For as long as I have been alive, societal norms have dictated how a woman should look, dress, speak, act, and even parent. Growing up, I definitely felt the pressure to fit into the mold of what society considers beautiful and feminine. As a teenager, my frizzy black hair, brown skin, and small breasts fell outside of that mold. It wasn’t until I faced removing my breasts with a preventive mastectomy that I truly experienced the essence of my strength and beauty as a woman. And it shattered the societal expectations that I grew up with.

Expectations vs. Personal Choice

At my consultation with my plastic surgeon, I was told, “You are young and beautiful, so a mastectomy with direct-to-implantation is the perfect choice.” I hadn’t even had the chance to share anything about my feelings regarding implants or my true desire to explore going flat after the mastectomy. (Aesthetic flat closure is the decision to forgo traditional post-mastectomy breast reconstruction options like implants or flaps and instead have a flat chest.)

This is not an uncommon experience for women, since breast reconstruction at its essence is about preserving “femininity” and “womanhood” — considered by many to be linked to the physical appearance of a woman’s body. During my consultations, my choice to pursue aesthetic flat closure was brushed aside because I was “the perfect surgical candidate for implants” and because I would be “psychologically scarred” if I went flat.

Choosing whether to get breast reconstruction or go flat after a mastectomy is a deeply personal decision, one that can impact a woman’s health on many levels. Many factors go into choosing the type of reconstruction after mastectomy, including age, medical history, body type, lifestyle, and personal preferences. Part of the beauty here is being able to make a decision based on what feels right, on something more than what meets the eye. It’s never easy to go against what society tells you is beautiful or what your family expects, but it’s your body and your life.

Why I Chose Aesthetic Flat Closure

When I started researching my options for reconstruction after mastectomy, I was overwhelmed by the number of options, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted. There were so many different types of implants and flap procedures. I had a gut feeling that I didn’t want implants, as I didn’t like the idea of a foreign body inside me. At the same time, I was told I didn’t have enough fat tissue to get flap reconstruction, like my mom did. That was when I asked my husband the question, “What if I went flat?”

I asked myself: Do I really want to go through multiple surgeries for breasts that won’t feel or look like mine and aren’t necessary for my health?

I came to the decision that my breasts had served their purpose in my life by nursing both my children. I knew they would not feel or look the same with reconstruction. I also knew I didn’t want to have multiple surgeries or risk further complications. For the first time in my life, I was able to look in the mirror and feel confident that my breasts did not define my femininity. Choosing to go flat felt like a powerful declaration of autonomy, strength, and my resilience as a woman.

Choosing aesthetic flat closure after mastectomy was about so much more than choosing not to have breasts. It was about being empowered to advocate for myself in a system that sometimes overlooks the importance of informed personal decision-making. It took me on a journey to really question who I am and what truly makes me a woman. This experience allowed me to discover my true worth, not just as a woman but as a human being.

Conclusion

Facing life-changing decisions like mastectomies and reconstruction can challenge our perspectives about beauty, femininity, and self-worth as women. Every woman facing these decisions deserves the opportunity to make a choice that aligns with her values and desires about her body, free from societal, cultural, and medical pressures and expectations.

In my case, it was only after I chose to go flat after mastectomy that I truly discovered my power and magnificence as a woman. And while it may take time for society and the medical culture to see women beyond what their bodies look like, I challenge you to remember that nobody knows your body better than you do. This means that your informed decision — whether you choose to get breast reconstruction or go flat after mastectomy — is the right one, as long as it aligns with your values and desires.

Each of our journeys is uniquely ours, yet we all share this one truth: Who we are as women and what we are capable of is so much more than what we look like on the outside!