When Recovery Felt Stuck After Mastectomy and DIEP Reconstruction

A real client story about Restore Scar Therapy, self-management and feeling empowered again

Shared with permission. This story is written in the client’s own voice, with identifying details reduced. Ying is named as the Restore Scar Therapy practitioner.

My progress had stalled

After discovering that I carried a BRCA2 gene mutation, I began annual breast screening. In my mid-forties, a biopsy identified early-stage oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, and I chose to undergo a bilateral mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction.

Although the surgery was successful, recovery was challenging. I had ongoing pain, tightness, and very tender chest and abdominal scars. Hardened areas and swelling limited my movement, made rehabilitation difficult, and at times I felt my progress had stalled.

Ying’s note: After surgery, a scar may look healed on the surface while deeper layers still feel tight, tender, swollen, sensitive or restricted. This can affect comfort, movement, posture, breathing and confidence — especially after major surgery such as mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction, where both chest and abdominal scars may need support.

Scar therapy was a turning point

Scar therapy was a turning point.

Ying’s insight and expertise made a real difference. She identified underlying adhesions and clearly explained how they were affecting my symptoms. Her approach combined gentle, targeted techniques with taping and lymphatic support.

This helped me understand why I was feeling stuck, and why some areas still felt painful, tight or difficult to move.

Ying’s note: Restore Scar Therapy is not about forcing the scar to change. It is gentle, precise work adapted to the person’s comfort, treatment history and tissue response. Sessions may include hands-on scar work, lymphatic support, taping, movement awareness and home-care guidance where appropriate.

Understanding what was happening in my body was empowering

Just as importantly, Ying gave me the knowledge and confidence to manage my scars at home.

That understanding — of what was happening in my body and what I could actively do to help it — was incredibly empowering.

For me, this was one of the most important parts of the process. I did not feel as though treatment was only something that happened to me during an appointment. I had a clearer sense of what I could do between sessions, how to work gently with my scars, and how to support my own recovery without pushing my body too hard.

Ying’s note: Home care is often where confidence grows. For some clients, this may include gentle scar awareness, simple movements, lymphatic support, taping guidance and a suitable scar oil. Scar oil is not simply a product for massage. In scar care, it can support the skin during scar maturation and remodelling, helping the area feel nourished, supple and easier to approach. Just as importantly, it creates a gentle way for the person to rebuild their relationship with the scar through touch. This touch does not need to be deep or forceful. It may begin with resting the hand nearby, lightly holding around the scar, or slowly making contact in a way that feels safe. Physically, the oil supports ongoing scar care; psychologically, the ritual of touch can help the person regain confidence, ownership and connection with an area that may have felt painful, unfamiliar or difficult to look at.

I was able to return to physiotherapy and exercise

Gradually, tight and painful areas softened. My movement improved, and I was able to return to physiotherapy and exercise.

Scar therapy has been one of the most helpful parts of my recovery. It reduced my pain, improved mobility, and helped me reconnect with my body at a time when I was losing hope.

I know every recovery is different, but for me it had a clear, positive impact — even a year after surgery.

Ying’s note: Restore Scar Therapy does not replace physiotherapy or medical care. In this client’s experience, scar therapy helped her body feel more able to take part in rehabilitation again. For many people, the aim is not only softer tissue, but also more comfort, more confidence and more choice in movement.

Seek specialist support when recovery feels stuck

My advice is to consider seeing a specialist who can both treat and guide you. The combination of expert support and self-management played a key role in my progress.

Above all, be patient with your body. Progress can take time, but the right support can help you move forward.

Ying’s note: Many people wait because they assume tightness, pain, hardness or restricted movement are simply part of recovery. Sometimes time helps; sometimes the body needs more specific support. A first consultation can help you understand what may be contributing to the restriction and what kind of support may be appropriate.

Gentle note

This is one person’s experience. Every recovery is different.

Restore Scar Therapy is a complementary approach and does not replace medical care, physiotherapy or advice from your clinical team. If you have new, worsening or worrying symptoms, please speak with your medical team.

Curious whether scar support could help you?

Ying Liu offers Restore Scar Therapy in Edinburgh for people after breast surgery, reconstruction, radiotherapy and other cancer-related treatment changes.

Sessions are gentle, consent-led and adapted to your body, your pace and your stage of recovery. Support may include hands-on Restore Scar Therapy, lymphatic support, taping, home-care guidance and suitable scar oil to support scar maturation, remodelling and gentle reconnection through touch where appropriate.

You are welcome to book a first consultation, ask a question, or download the free Scar Comfort Guide.