Articles
New Scoping Review Article on AFC Just Published!
Just published! A new, excellent journal article on AFC out of the Indiana University School of Medicine, by authors Bhaskara […]
Goldilocks Mastectomy: Am I the Right Fit?
Mastectomy, What’s Next? Considering a mastectomy is a deeply personal and difficult decision for many women. Once the decision is […]
New Flat Closure Surgical Technique Article
A new AFC surgical technique article just published in The Breast Journal about the Angel Wing Technique.
Finding the Perfect Fit: The Goldilocks Mastectomy
When faced with a breast cancer diagnosis, the journey towards recovery can be overwhelming. One of the most important decisions […]
Editorial in Annals of Surgical Oncology: “The Era of Flat Closure Mastectomy”
A fantastic new editorial on flat closure was just published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, authored by Dr. Jennifer Baker of UCLA.
New Flat Closure Study in Body Image Journal
A stellar new study on patients’ flat closure experiences by lead author Tracy Tyner has just been published in the prestigious journal Body Image!
New Study Looks at Trends in Going Flat After Mastectomy
A new study looks at trends in going flat after mastectomy from 2004-2019.
“When Boobs Go Bad” Article on Medium
“When Boobs Go Bad: A Welcome to Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” is a fantastic article co-authored by Sara Nash of FLATworks Press & Christy Avila, founder of International FLAT Day and Fierce Flat Forward and NPOAS VP.
AFC Info at BreastCancer.org!
Breastcancer.org is the premier online educational resource for breast cancer, with information about risk, diagnosis, treatments, surgical options, survivorship and […]
New Flat Closure Technique Article!
Just published in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) Global Open, a fantastic technique article “Not Just a Linear Closure: Aesthetic […]
The Middle Way? SWIM
UPDATE – Please view our Goldilocks/SWIM information page here for up to date info, a photo gallery, and more! Goldilocks/SWIM […]
Fall 2021 AFC in the Media Roundup
May 05, 2021 “People have questioned me for not getting implants but the truth is none of us feel truly […]
Survivornet: “To Reconstruct or Not”
Read Kathy’s experience with cancer and making the choice to go flat only to be intentionally denied by her surgeon in 2003.
Going Flat Story Featured in Florida Local Newspaper
AmySue Benker of Naples, FL tells her story, including how she decided to go flat.
Juliet Fitzpatrick in Vogue UK
Vogue UK just published a feature with flat advocate Juliet Fitzpatrick, featuring photos from “Behind the Scars” by Sophie Mayanne.
Carine (France) Speaks Out About Fighting to Go Flat
From France, Carine speaks out about her choice to explant with aesthetic flat closure (“reconstruction à plat,” or “fermeture esthétique à plat”).
Mollie Hartford: This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, think beyond pink
Mollie Hartford (MA)’s article for the Daily Hampshire Gazette focusing on the need for MBC research (and #aestheticflatclosure)!
Feature Friday at Surviving Breast Cancer.org – “Going Flat”
Feature aboutgoing flat, flat denial and #aestheticflatclosure at SurvivingBreastCancer.org
Yahoo! Life – Article on Flat Advocacy & the NCI Term “Aesthetic Flat Closure”
Yahoo! Life – Article on Flat Advocacy & the NCI Term “Aesthetic Flat Closure”
Mastectomy Tattoos with Artist Amy Black
Introduction to Mastectomy Tattoos Visit our Living Flat page for more about mastectomy tattoos, body image, sexuality, and more! Healing […]
Why I Advocate for Aesthetic Flat Closure
ReThink Breast Cancer has just published our guest post about aesthetic flat closure! Canadian advocacy organization ReThink Breast Cancer focuses […]
Advocating for Women Who Choose to Go Flat After Mastectomy
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) just published our guest post about aesthetic flat closure! Many thanks to the […]
My Body, My Choice: Aesthetic Flat Closure After Mastectomy
Our Bodies Ourselves published our guest post about aesthetic flat closure! Thanks to Our Bodies Ourselves for helping spread the […]
Prof. Abigail Bakan Publishes Treatise on Going Flat & the Politics of Choice
Canadian sociologist publishes feminist analysis of going flat and the politics of choice
“In Search of True Informed Consent” (Wildfire Magazine)
NPOAS VP Christy Avila tells us more about her article “In Search of True Informed Consent” that was published in the most recent issue of Wildfire Magazine
Guest Blog: Plastics Closure Should Be Routine
by Marie-Claude Belzile Marie-Claude Belzile of Tout aussi femme is the leading voice for flat advocacy in Quebec. She recently […]
NPoaS Survey 2018 Report
Download the entire report here. The data analysis is in from our “Going Flat After Mastectomy Survey 2018.” Many thanks […]
Should I Confront My Surgeon?
Confronting Your Surgeon After Flat Denial: A Personal Choice Preface by NPoaS Founder, Kim Bowles If you have been a […]
Aesthetic Results Matter to Male Patients Too
Just before the holiday, the BBC published an article featuring a UK man, Peter Bagnall, who was diagnosed with breast […]
Focus on Flat Closure Techniques
Awareness Continues to Spread Word continues to spread among the surgical community that patients going flat after mastectomy expect their […]
What Flat Denial Is, and Is Not
We would like to clear up any confusion about what flat denial is, and what it is not. We want […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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, […]
“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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
International Media Coverage Begins
International media coverage is starting to trickle in… in the same way that we at Not Putting on a Shirt hope […]
Harvard Medical School Social Work Program Manager Emeritus Speaks Out on Patient Consent (Article)
Oncology social workers are the change makers in the breast cancer patient’s world, which has suddenly contracted after diagnosis and […]
Call to Stakeholders to Speak Out Against Medical Assault
A call to stakeholders to speak out against medical battery.
Informed Consent: The Difference Between Medical Care, and Battery
The difference between medical care and battery is informed consent – the patient MUST agree to the treatment being performed ahead of time.
$$$ Conflict of Interest for Flat Closure $$$
Denying a patient a flat closure at their initial surgery can result in more profit for the surgeon performing the revision to “fix” it.
Shouldn’t CANCER be your toughest fight when you’re fighting breast cancer?
Flat denial can be even more traumatic than the mastectomy itself, and must end.
The Hippocratic Oath
Intentional flat denial is a violation of the Hippocratic oath to “do no harm.”
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
Kimberly Bowles answers: how can patients facing mastectomy protect ourselves from flat denial?
“Flat Denial”: Stand Up, Speak Out, and Protect Patients
I have struggled to come up with a label for the malpractice of leaving extra tissue on a mastectomy patient’s […]