Hi and thank you so much for your response.  At my initial diagnosis no one discussed any form of reconstruction with me whatsoever.  Not the breast nurses, nor the first consultant I met.  I was simply given my biopsy results and informed that I would need a total mastectomy.    It was only after a few days of trying to come to terms with  my diagnosis that I did some research myself and when I subsequently contacted the breast nurses to enquire about reconstruction they said they'd have to send me information on it and request a referral for me to see a different surgeon who does reconstruction (the first surgeon "doesnt do reconstructive surgery" I was told) !     I was horrified that a full mastectomy was put in place without any discussion or consideration at all on possible options so felt very fortunate the 2nd consultant agreed to undertake a reconstruction procedure and I was pleased with the result however no one could have foreseen the pathology results with the hidden 2nd tumour and subsequent surgery now being planned.  I found your informatiom about having to have your implants changed as you get older particularly of interest and do wonder what that might involve - perhaps a lighter type of implant or something else perhaps . . . ?    So it leaves me thinking that there may well possibly be an option for me.     I understand the skin changes that come with aging means my result would be much different to someone so much younger.  I dont feel I want to have major surgery involving reconstruction from back/hips/tummy & really had felt that as I have large breasts to start with, that using the skin from them would be the least traumatic for me, plus I'd be quite happy to have much smaller breasts too.   Maybe I havent taken into account the actual weight of implants versus my grade/skin age, though there seem to be many older women who have had this done that I felt compelled to at least investigate this option.  I have contacted the breast nurses to ask if the consultant would reconsider an implant though I'm not holding out much hope that he will change his mind.  I'm hovering on asking for a second opinion but know this will also delay surgery too.   Thank you so much for taking the time to reply with your experience and information which has been helpful and has given me some food for thought.   Very best wishes to you for the future.