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Exchange City

Mykidsmom
Mykidsmom Posts: 448
edited May 2022 in Breast Reconstruction


We love to include everyone's surgery dates - Please PM me and I will update the list to include you! The list keeps changing since we try to move forward as the dates move forward. Thanks. - Jean


Useful web sites:


Mentor: http://www.justbreastimplants.com/implants/mentor_specs.htm


http://www.mentorcorp.com/breastsurgery/reconstruction/breast-implants.htm


Mentor ultra high profile implants:
http://www.mentorcorp.com/global/physician-information/silicon-gel-breast-implants.htm


Allergan: http://www.allergan.com/assets/pdf/natrelle_catalog.pdf

2019:

1/3/2019 - Crossh - Exchange Surgery (completed)

3/25 - Allebasi - Exchange Surgery left side and a lift and small implant on right side for symmetry (completed)

2020:

April 2020 - SuBreez88 - Exchange maybe in April.

April 16, 2020 - 08172016 - Exchange Surgery

AnnieAlso - Revision Sister in Waiting!

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Comments

  • Mykidsmom
    Mykidsmom Posts: 448
    edited February 2009

    Oh Hood - I missed the note from Moody! All kinds of prayers are flying her way through hyper space. She knows that we love her! And we lvoe her little girl too! If you write her, tell here we are here for her! Thanks for letting us know! - Jean

  • lisasayers
    lisasayers Posts: 144
    edited February 2009

    Please include me, I was part of the October surgery group....I'm all topped off and have been waiting to finish chemo, which is this Friday.  My exchange surgery is March 20 and because my PS is part of the trial, I'll be getting the 410 gummie bears.  Which are due to be approved here in the states any time now!!!!!!!!!!

    Can't wait to say good bye to the iron bra....not so easy to shimmy when I'm teaching zumba classes! LOL

  • Mykidsmom
    Mykidsmom Posts: 448
    edited February 2009

    Lisa - Is your PS sure the gummies will be available in March? Are you going to wait for them if they are not out. Can someone tell me more about them and their advantages. I wasn't sure they would be available, so I haven't been paying too much attention. Also, how many cc are your TE's now? Are they bigger than 410 cc? I am considering one more top off. Thanks. - Jean

  • lisasayers
    lisasayers Posts: 144
    edited February 2009

    My PS is one of the surgeon's participating in the trials...and I'm participating in the study, so yes, I will be getting them.  They have already filled out the paperwork and locked in my spot. 

    He said they could even be approved by then, but he wanted to make sure I got them, so I enrolled in the study. 

    If you do a search on here for 410 gummies, you will find a lot of great information...especially from the women who do have them.  My PS told me from the beginning that I was a great candidate for the gummies...and after reading all the information, I agreed that they would be best for me.

    I have 500 cc's....my PS likes to over expand to give that natural drop when the implants are placed. 

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited February 2009

    Welcome all... and yes.... Linda... I was talking about all you ladies that have been "exchanged" and waiting for nips or tats... :)

    WHAT is wrong with Moody/Karens daughter????? I missed the post too... POOR things....Now I feel bad about saying she was off the boards showing off her Ta Ta's....

    Praying for Moodys little girl!!!

  • fairy49
    fairy49 Posts: 536
    edited February 2009

    Hi! exchange surgery March 3rd, I can't wait!!!

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Posts: 517
    edited February 2009

    hey gals after reading hoods comment I sent this e-mail to Karen/Moody right away

    OMG I just checked out the new thread and hood shared what she read on a post about your daughter in the hospital   I'm sitting here with tears running down my cheeks hoping and praying everything will be ok   Our kids are the most precious thing to us   your in so many peoples thoughts right now...   (((HUG)))

    Sandy/Sunshine : )

    plus I posted on the Oct & Dec thread & the one about implants being smaller than we expected so others will join in on the prayers

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited February 2009

    Thank you Sandy! I did the same one the Bible thread... poor little girl. I wonder what is wrong. On one of the threads it said she should be coming home Monday or Tuesday, but do to the expense if the Blackberry/Internet... ( we all know how that is).. she would tell us everything when she could get to a PC.

    It is the worst thing in the world when it is our kids who hurt... HORRIBLE! That does not go away after they are grown and married either....

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Posts: 509
    edited February 2009

    Estepp,

    I feel bad too saying that Moody was probably at a  beach somewhere in a bikini.....But I know she would not want us to feel bad.    I pray that her little girl will be healed very soon.  I met her daughter, she is a precious young girl.

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited February 2009

    Linda.. if you do find out what is wrong.. could you post it on the thread I started for prayer for Moody/Karen. Thank you!

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited February 2009

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/38/topic/728346?page=1#idx_6

    Linda or anyone who finds out about Moody's daughter.. here is the thread I started...can you post it there..

    I am off to a party in my honor my brother is throwing... "Cancer Free Me"

    Love !!

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Posts: 509
    edited February 2009

    What a great brother you have!!!!

    I have talked with Moody and posted the update on the Prayers forum.

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Posts: 517
    edited February 2009

    Hood in my last post I forgot to say thanks so much for sharing that with us.

    Angela I hope you get your bodacious results ; - )

    Laura have fun @ your party

    I'll have to check out the prayer forum...

     I just want to share with all you gals the exchange surgery for most of us was a very easy surgery.  When I had my 2nd exchange since I wasn't loving my 1st implant, I did also get a lift and small expandable implant (now I have 200cc in that implant) on my healthy side.  It did give some discomfort but not real bad.  Plus I'm happy to say you can't even see my scar around my nipple : - ) ( to think I had a PS who tried to talk me out of getting it saying you'd see my scar 12 feet away) I just had 1 spot at the base of my breast which was sore.  But I'm so happy I did it.  As most of you know I have 2 threads on the pix forum.  I think the one is called my journey from expanders to implant and than the 2nd one is something like lift and expandable implant and new implant on cancer side.

    I was filled to 430cc in my expander and my 1st exchange I got high profile saline implant which had a fill range of 380-450.  My PS filled me to 400cc sat  me up 90degree and saw a lot of rippling and added another 50cc.  I was surprised after my surgery that my implant was smaller than my tissue expander even though I had more cc's.  Plus it wasn't much softer than my TE, I'm not sure if that was due to being filled to the max or if it was the scar tissue I had.  The day after my exchange my 1st PS shared she was moving to join her husband who moves several months earlier.  So I would have to find a new PS which actually turned out for the best because I was nervous with her doing my lift knowing she had only been doing these for about 5 years and was still working on getting board certified.  When I got all my records from her is when I realized my tissue expander was a Siltex Medium Height Contour Profile Xpndr 450cc 12.7x10.8x7.0cm.  According to the charts my implant was 11.4 Diam. X 6.4 Proj..  So I and others found out the hard way you can't just look at cc's when picking out a implant.

    After having my 1st surgery is when saw the u-tube video that silicone implants no longer are runny like honey.  If I can find it again I will post it here.

    So for my 2nd exchange my PS ended up using smooth round gel high profile 550cc which are 13.6 by 5.5.  I'm happy to say they feel softer and look better than my 1st implant : - )

  • traceyz
    traceyz Posts: 98
    edited February 2009

    Hey Lisa,

    I am gettig the gummy bear implants also. YAY!!!!

    Tracey

  • hood1980
    hood1980 Posts: 168
    edited February 2009

    Who/where is your ps?

  • traceyz
    traceyz Posts: 98
    edited February 2009

    My Ps is Dr Zwicklbauer at the Plastic Surgery Center of Hampton roads in Newport News, Va. We call him Dr Z. You can google the practice and read about him. He is AWESOME!!

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Posts: 517
    edited February 2009

    Hood I'm not sure if your asking me...

    who/where is your ps

    PS stands for Plastic Surgeon

    My 1st one was in Iowa City Iowa and has since moved to CA

    the 2nd one I talked to that tried to scare me away from the lift is from Cedar Rapids Iowa

    My 2nd PS that did my lift and 2nd exchange is from Dubuque Iowa, Dr. Erin Kennedy

  • Vinogal
    Vinogal Posts: 114
    edited February 2009

    Hey exchangees.....would like to join your group......hoping that a TE infection I'm dealing with clears up......so I don't have a great idea on timing yet.......but will eventually get my exchange.....glad to have a group to belong to.

    Cheers

    Jax

  • lisasayers
    lisasayers Posts: 144
    edited February 2009

    Tracey...when is your exchange surgery?  I'm March 20!

    My PS is Dr. Isakov at Cleveland Clinic

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited February 2009

    I love to see the thread Jean got going for us picking up... Welcome everyone!... This is a great place for us to visit about this... there are so many exchanges in the next 3-6 months around here. And for some... Nipples to come...

    It is great to have the gals who have done this already here with us too.. they are LOADED with Info... Thanks "vets" for being here with us!

  • KarenFtoo
    KarenFtoo Posts: 2
    edited February 2009

    Hi All, I am 3 weeks post op.  Just had bilateral mx on Jan 8, I am in process of getting my fills. Had my first this past Friday. I am currently at 120 ccs so this is the beginning of my journey with the whole fill process.  I am cancer free, no chemo, no radition.  I am so happy!!!

    I am so thankful to have this site to come to disucss the whole process. 

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited February 2009

    Hi Karen... congrats on NO chemo and rads... I did not get that lucky...:)... no rads though.

    I am happy you joined us ! Keep us up on your progress!

    I "thought" my last fill was last Friday.. BUT .. after seeing some family this weekend.. ( all the ladies are busty, I never was)... I think I am going to have just 1 more fill...hehe.... Boob greed I suppose... :) I am a small modest C now... I think I am going to go for the Full C... :)

  • psalmist
    psalmist Posts: 61
    edited February 2009

    Fairy, you and I have the same surgery date!  I'll be sending prayers your way as I go "under" the knife.    I'm sending prayers for Moody's little girl, too, and will visit the prayer forum.  Jean - you'll be getting out of the hospital in better weather than me!   This Big Sky winter has been long enough, don't you think???   I finally got brave and posted my 600cc finished expanders on the picture forum.  I'm "crooked" but my PS will do some pocket revision (which will make my recovery a little more difficult).  So far so good.

    Halluluia!  I wake up every morning thanking God I'll soon be able to hug people again.  Soft little ta-ta's here I come.   

  • lopalermo
    lopalermo Posts: 5
    edited February 2009

     Hi Everyone,

    I had my PBM on Nov. 18, 2008 and have my exchange for May 14.  Topped off TE's with 500ccs and am looking at what type implants to get.  My PS wanted to wait 3 months before doing the exchange which put it in April but then my schedule and her schedule didn't line up until May.  Looks like I'll be last in line for the exchanges - maybe y'all can give me some advice on which implants to get and any other advice you may have.  What is the difference between the gummie bears and other silicone implants?

    Lois 

  • traceyz
    traceyz Posts: 98
    edited February 2009

    Lisa,

    My PS is saying either the last week of March or the first week of April. So since you will be going before me I cant wait to hear how surgery went for you and how great those gummies feel!!

    Laura, LOL at the fact that you are going for 1 more fill!! I am laughing because I was just thinking tonight that I am gonna get one more fill. I thought I was done but I was looking at my chest tonight thinking just one more fill and I will be good to go!!Wink

    Tracey

  • traceyz
    traceyz Posts: 98
    edited February 2009
    LOL Daisy they really are steel mini monsters!!
  • Mykidsmom
    Mykidsmom Posts: 448
    edited February 2009

    I am also going to call in for one more fill.

    And I think surgery in April sounds great. At least I can sit outside while I heal!

  • Baxter
    Baxter Posts: 91
    edited February 2009

    Hey Gals!....I don't qualify for this group....but could I be considered a member in waiting?

    Most of you have read that on my exchange date 12/29 they found infection and had to take the expander out so I have to wait a minimum of 3 months before I can consider having a new TE put in. I wish all had worked in December, because I just flew long the plan that was laid out for me, and the major stuff would be behind me. I really don't like having all this time now to reconsider everything.

    I just hate the thoughts of going through this again now that I know how the TE feel. Maybe some of you can give me your thoughts on this .....since my surgery failed I've had some friends and family suggest that maybe this is an indication that I shouldn't try the reconstruction again.....two more surgeries...the pain .....the continued expense with the implants.

    I have been torn about it. I don't like looking like this, but as you know there are no guarantees with this stuff. I'll tell you it feels so wonderful to be able to breath and sing with the expanders out. My nurse friend (Angel, and she is one too) was with me at both surgeries. She said ask yourself "without the implants would you be able to move ahead with no regrets, or would you feel like you never really healed and recovered?" Good ?

    Anyway, I love hearing all the hope in your emails on this post. I am looking forward to following all the success stories. How about letting me be a cheerleader for you?! (just don't ask me to do a split!)

    BTW, please keep me posted on Moody. I will keep her in my prayers as well.

    Candi

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited February 2009

    Candi:  Welcome - of course you should be here!  You pose an interesting issue and one which my doctor made me "sign away" on before my bilateral MX with reconstruction - essentially that a percentage of reconstruction attempts fail and that I might be in that small percentage.  I had lived with the knowledge I would get breast cancer some day and I have known for the past twenty five years or more that whenever I might be diagnosed, there was no option for me other than bilateral mastectomies.  There is a thread of women who rejoice in their flatness - they really do.  They feel free and happy with their choice to not have implants.  But personally, for moi, I will put up a fight to have boobies!

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited February 2009

    Laura....absolutely....I am Deborah. 

    I do post my name sometimes...when I remember to do so.  So everyone, even if I forget to do so, I would be happy to be called Deborah on these forums!!!