cheryl66

Ditto, here too.  Not a lot of pain during fills.

I did not have any drains.  I did have to have my inframammary fold lowered because PS couldn't raise the nipple high enough without possibly damaging blood vessels.  That was where most of my pain was from for a good 1 1/2 weeks.  I took three weeks off work, but I have a job that can be physically demanding at times and I had a 20# weight limit for a while.

Good luck on Monday, Sandy.  You will love the results.

Cheryl

So glad you were able to get it checked out and start on treatment so quickly.

Cornelia - I was out of work for 3 weeks after exchange and also had lift/reduction/augment of good side - with the "pocket work" on that side. That was the most painful side.  I work in a veterinary clinic, so can be physically demanding at times and I did not have any problems going back at 3 weeks. 

I needed a new inframammary fold made on good side as the PS couldn't raise my nipple high enough without compromising the blood vessels, so the fold was lowered.  Doc says he had to stitch it down to the rib, that is where most of my pain came from.

Good Luck with your surgery !

Cheryl

Gail,  I, too, assumed the exchange would be a piece of cake.  I had exchange on one side and lift/reduction/augment on other side.  Both sides hurt underneath at the inframammary fold area.  I had trouble sitting up and back in my recliner for a couple of days.  And forget about a bed for a week or 2 !!  It will get better with each day - I promise.

Cheryl

Another happy customer here !!  I had single mast. 6/2006, then chemo fall 2006.  I waited a year after completing chemo before I started reconstruction.  I waited because I was so devastated after getting the diagnosis, just getting healthy was my main concern.  I thought I would be ok with only 1 boob. WWWEELLL.....emotionally I wasn't ok with 1 boob. So Dec. 2007 I had an expander put in, June 2008 (2 years after dianosis) I had exchange and lift/reduction/augment of good side. Just had a nipple made Sep. 15th, and am scheduled for tattoo Dec. 5th.  --  one year after I started this transformation I will be complete !!   I did not have any complications, did have mild pain with expansion process that lasted a couple of days after every fill, so I did them every 2 weeks.  And for a couple of days after lift/reduction/augment - that side was VERY sore as the inframammary fold had to be lowered and it was stitched down to a rib.

I am giddy about my new and improved boobs and can't wait for the tattoo to complete the look.

Praying for benign results, or maybe reactive nodes due to an infection.  I HATE this crap!!

Beesie, I also want to know if insurance covers the MRI ?  I have one side that is all implant and the other side is 1/2 real and 1/2 implant.  I cannot imagine how strange it will be to get mammo on 1/2 real side - I understand they somehow manipulate the implant to displace it.  My real breast tissue is very dense, so I can see where an MRI on that side would be helpful.

Nice article.  Loved your analogy of jumping out of a burning house.

Cheryl

My PS  put a surgipad dressing with a hole cut in the center on my new nipple.  The pad was folded into thirds.  He recommended stacks of gauze pads or even a sanitary napkin.  I happened to already have the surgipads, so that is what I am using.