Breast Cancer Patients Deciding to Go Flat—And They're Shaking Off the Pressure for Reconstruction
Whether it’s implants, flap reconstruction, or opting for a flat chest with aesthetic flat closure, the point is: it’s your body, your rules. Some breast cancer survivors are choosing to embrace going flat after mastectomies. But here’s the catch: some doctors didn’t seem to get the message.
Women deserve the freedom to choose what feels right for them, without judgment, without pressure, and definitely without a one-size-fits-all approach. When it comes to breast reconstruction after cancer, it’s about time women had all their options laid out—including the choice to go flat. Because, let’s face it, the decision to rebuild or not is personal, and no one should be pressured into thinking implants are the default.
“Women facing mastectomy deserve full disclosure of all of their reconstructive options, including aesthetic flat closure, and to have their informed consent respected.”
Cosmo’s Article on Flat Denial
An article published in Cosmopolitan from Catherine Gutherie highlights how some breast cancer patients opting to go flat after mastectomies face resistance from doctors who ignore or dismiss their choice. “These Breast Cancer Patients Wanted to Get Rid of Their Boobs for Good. Their Doctors Didn't Care” features one of BISA’s breast cancer advisors, Kimberly Bowles. Kimberly is a breast cancer survivor and founder of the nonprofit, Not Putting on a Shirt when she experiences “flat denial.”
The article examines how women are facing a frustrating reality where their decision to forgo breast implants or breast mounds is being questioned, downplayed, or outright dismissed. Women are asserting their right to control their post-cancer bodies, but some doctors are more concerned with fitting them into their vision of what’s “normal” than respecting their personal choices.
This story exposes a battle between survivors and the medical system that shouldn’t even exist and BISA hopes that stories like this put a spotlight on the issue to create positive change for women in the future. “Flat denial” is a problem.
BISA’s founder, Maria Gmitro said, “We hear from women often about how they felt pressured into breast reconstruction. I have known Kimberly Bowles for years and am proud of the work she is doing to raise awareness about this issue and bring aesthetic flat closure to the forefront. If breast implant reconstruction is covered by insurance, then aesthetic flat closure should also be a covered option. It just makes sense!”
What is Aesthetic Flat Closure?
Choosing to go flat can offer women simplicity, quicker recovery, and fewer surgeries, while also helping them avoid potential breast implant complications however choosing to go flat and aesthetic flat closure are not exactly the same surgery. Not Putting on a Shirt has an excellent description with images to demonstrate the difference.
“Many people think of reconstructive surgery as breast reconstruction with tissue flaps or implants. But aesthetic flat closure — considered to be the gold standard for going flat — is also a form of reconstructive surgery” according to BreastCancer.org.
The National Cancer Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), added “aesthetic flat closure” to its official Dictionary of Cancer Terms, defining it as a reconstructive and aesthetic surgical procedure.
aesthetic flat closure
(es-THEH-tik flat KLOH-zher)
A type of surgery that is done to rebuild the shape of the chest wall after one or both breasts are removed. An aesthetic flat closure may also be done after removal of a breast implant that was used to restore breast shape. During an aesthetic flat closure, extra skin, fat, and other tissue in the breast area are removed. The remaining tissue is then tightened and smoothed out so that the chest wall appears flat.
BISA has been collaborating with Not Putting on a Shirt and the Stand Tall AFC. We are proud of the work they are doing in the breast cancer space.
Whether it's opting for implants, flap reconstruction, or embracing aesthetic flat closure, each option should be available without pressure or judgment. BISA believes every woman’s journey is unique, and having the freedom to decide what feels right for her body is essential.
About Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA)
The Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA) is the largest organization of board-certified patient advocates and subject matter experts in the world dedicated to patient and consumer safety relating to breast implants. Representing the millions of individuals worldwide that currently have, had, or are considering breast implants, the alliance is a non-industry funded leading authority dedicated to providing balanced, evidence-based information for informed decision making about breast implant surgery and related issues. Founded in 2019 by women, BISA is a grassroots nonprofit organization led by volunteers who do not receive a salary for their work.
Contact: Maria Gmitro, President | maria@bisanonprofit.org