This post I want to share the difficulty in finding a doctor for this type of procedure, and share some advice that I have learned while trying to find a physician I trust.

I first started looking online for doctors about a month ago. Most doctors, plastic surgeons, do not really advertise doing double mastectomies prophylactically. My sister, mom, and I looked at hundreds of pictures on doctor’s websites, and most of the double mastectomy procedures were done on patients who already had breast cancer. While this is fine, I personally need to see pictures of a woman who has NOT had breast cancer, and see what her breasts look like post double mastectomy. There is one thing that really scares me, the idea that my breasts won’t look or feel the same. They will look unnatural or disproportionate. But the reality is, most women don’t have perfectly even boobs, and it is very normal.

After looking at hundreds of pictures of surgical photos, I honestly needed a break from it all. I don’t know these doctors, and I am just supposed to find one online and give it a shot? I felt drained, and honestly sort of hopeless.

A little later that day my sister sends me a link to a doctor in California. I immediately went to the link and scoured the pictures, they all looked amazing. Additionally, the doctor specifically advertised performing double mastectomies prophylactically, something I have not really seen a doctor advertise before. Finally, I started to feel at ease. Maybe this would be the doctor I trust.

It’s been a long journey to find this doctor, and I was forced to look at many different surgeons, many different types of surgery options. Some doctors prefer to use implants, others prefer to use your own fat tissue if possible. It is all about finding the right doctor that you can trust and that suits your goals and needs for whatever type of surgery you decide. Find a doctor you believe in and trust.

The reality is, I do care about what my boobs look like. If I have the option, I want a surgeon that can make my breasts look even, and can do a nipple sparing surgery. As a patient, figure out what is most important to you. Maybe you want to save your nipples, maybe you don’t care. Then, look for a physician that can fulfill those goals.

I will end this post with encouraging you to do research on the different options of surgery, figure out what is the most important to you and what options are available. Reach out to support groups and talk to other previvors. Knowledge can be power, and using your community can be a huge first step.