BRCA1, When considering going flat do your homework

By Ellen Lamb

Just a little information about me…Photos, stories, and social interactions with the social media support groups, “Flat Retreat“ and “Flat Closure Now,“ inspired me to chose flatness. I have a history of fibromyalgia, and multiple surgeries that I didn’t heal easily from. My diagnosis was BRCA1, high risk family history, and Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia. I’m 50 years young, happily married for 25 years, raised four kids, and love weight lifting and spin. I wanted the least invasive surgery with little down time as possible. I had my bpm on October 27th, 2019. The photos were taken March 2020. Recovery wasn’t easy, as I wanted to rush things, but risked opening my nice closures. I did quickly gain weight after surgery, but was able to return to the gym in seven weeks. I continue to stretch and massage for mobility.
If anyone is considering flat closures, I encourage them to do their homework. Not all surgeons are comfortable doing them and some are not good at aesthetically pleasing flat results. 

Again, thank you. I hope that by sharing that I’m paying it forward and helping someone else facing difficult decisions. 

Charise Isis is the photographer for #TheGraceProject. I participated in the photoshoot with the “Flat Retreat” which is a Facebook group that supports women who chose not to have reconstruction. 
http://the-grace-project.org/2020/03/flatties-our-bodies-are-beautiful/