Posts
Putting Flat on the Menu: Flat Closure NOW (Archived)
At Not Putting on a Shirt, we are SO excited to announce the official launch of the new collaborative flat advocacy organization, Flat Closure NOW! Flat Closure NOW is an education and advocacy group dedicated to ensuring breast cancer patients and […]
Patient Advocate Sandee: “We all need advocates to help us speak our truths”
Editor: Not Putting on a Shirt believes that women shouldn’t have to take extraordinary measures to ensure that their choice to go flat is respected. Unfortunately, we live in a world where paternalism is still endemic. Sandee’s patients in Qatar […]
Rebecca’s Choice: Going Flat with Radical Self-Acceptance
Editor: While every woman’s story is unique, the contrast between the post-operative experiences of women who choose to go flat whose decision was respected, versus those whose wishes were not respected, is stark. Going flat can feel freeing and empowering, […]
Maribeth: “Instantly I awakened to the reality of all that had happened”
Editor: Maribeth’s well-articulated experience below is an example of flat denial by intentional disregard – when a surgeon performs a skin-sparing mastectomy instead of the agreed-upon flat closure, in order to facilitate future recon “in case you change your mind.” […]
Guidelines for Victims of Flat Denial: Navigating the Aftermath
Not Putting on a Shirt has written new guidelines to help victims of flat denial navigate the aftermath of this traumatic experience. The guidelines include: Taking care of your emotional well-being Ensuring that you receive proper medical care Considering revision surgery Finding […]
How to Ensure You Get an Acceptable Surgical Result: Guidelines for Patients
Not Putting on a Shirt has created an informational brochure (UPDATED!) for patients who have chosen to go flat after mastectomy, to help patients protect themselves from flat denial. Every patient deserves to have the cosmetic result that they choose following […]
“Going flat doesn’t mean just breast removal… it means being flat and having a nice chest contour” – Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo
DiepCFoundation patient advocate Terri Coutee has written an insightful article from the perspective of a woman who chose reconstruction, and who advocates for educating patients about their reconstruction options. She read about flat denial in Catherine Guthrie’s Cosmopolitan article and was […]
“It’s Your Body – Your Choice” Dr. Patricia Clark Speaks About Flat Closure
Dr. Patricia Clark, a breast surgeon who specializes in oncoplastic breast surgery techniques (lumpectomy as well as flat closure), has made a short video in support of patients who wish to go flat after mastectomy. “It’s your body – it’s […]
NPR Interview With Catherine Guthrie
Women’s health journalist Catherine Guthrie, whose groundbreaking article in Cosmopolitan blew the lid off of flat denial, was just featured on NPR talking about her own story and about the struggle that women face getting our wishes respected and our […]
Working Definition of Flat Denial (Graphic)
If you know someone who you think may have been a victim of flat denial, please feel free to share this graphic.
Pink Lotus Breast Center: Flat Denial is “Unthinkable”
Wise words from the digital platform of esteemed breast surgeon, author of “Breasts: An Owner’s Manual,” founder of the Pink Lotus Breast Center and the Pink Lotus PowerUp Online Community, and special guest on the October 2nd Today Show segment on flat […]
Word Continues to Spread through the Surgical Community
“We know that surgeons who perform breast surgery are also held accountable by their patients… This is kind of an uncomfortable place for us to be as breast surgeons.” – Oncoplastic surgeon Dr. Colleen Murphy, speaking at a University of […]