Exchange City
Comments
-
Goldie - no, he didn't seem to think it was swelling. I think that after a several month waiting for the girls to settle in and become comfortable in their new home he wants to see if I achieve some level of ptosis (natural droop) that would help that tissue blend in and look more natural. Some women develop a nice level of ptosis and some don't so we just have to wait and see.
0 -
catey why did he suggest that? Does he think that will give you a larger implant and you would look better? Or make it easier to do the exchange? I didnt really think you go over the size of the TE. Not that I was looking yesterday, but they looked nice to me
0 -
Thanks Aviva, from what I understand he does overfill which a lot of PS's do as standard protocol, I think it aids in exchange in putting implants in and also scar revision or good skin closure. Oh and I know since being diagnosed I cant help with noticing other womens boobs, as I think that is normal for us ladies
0 -
It's actually quite common to overfill the TEs by 50 to 150cc. If you exchange to implants that are the same cc as what your TEs are expanded to, you need to realize that you'll lose a little size/projection because the implants are less rigid and they have a more 'relaxed' fit in their new home than the TEs.
0 -
cateyz2 - yeah, I notice boobs all the time now, and if I see someone older that looks nice and perky I no longer assume they were vain and had an augmentation done. It might very well be they're a BC reconstruction sister too
.0 -
Hi,
The expander pain is definitely gone. I'm not in that much pain. I just waited a bit on the pain meds and took advil, but that didn't work, so I took the pain meds too. I am able to do much more than after the masectemy...took a shower this am too. After those tissue expanders/mast I could barely push down on the soap dispenser, but that is no problem this time. Last night/this am I even got myself in and out of bed...but it was not easy getting up as the meds wore off while I was sleeping.
I am supposed to wear my surgical bra until I see the PS on Monday. They said I can drive whenever I'm off the pain meds. As for how I look...with the TEs my boobs felt like they stood straight out...which was weird bc I was an neg A cup before. Now they seem sqiushy and more spread out and round. So they seem a little smaller now that I was just getting used to them sticking out. Also, they used to rub against my arms and she fixed that when she moved them closer together. I think they look good, but with all that tape on there it's not easy to get a good look.
I cooked up a storm and cleaned like crazy on Wed. Now, I'll just relax on the couch and read or watch tv for a change!
Good luck to everyone.0 -
pTXunique - I'm so happy for you! I wasn't allowed to shower until drain tubes came out 3 days post-exchange. And it's soooo nice to have strength and range of motion after this one, right? After the BMX I could barely lift an 8 ounce glass of milk! And reaching for anything....forget it!!
You've got the right idea, relax, recover, let this new body invasion heal so you get the best results possible.
0 -
Myers: When I had expanders, I had redness on one side, but my PS said it was a reaction to the Alloderm. I don't know if your PS used Alloderm or not. My PS said it usually goes away once your body adjusts to it and it did. He gave me an antibiotic anyway just in case, but it just went away.
0 -
Well, I just can't believe it is my six-month exchange anniversary! Some days I hardly even notice or think about things being different. I hardly ever have discomfort from the implants but have some discomfort and sensitivity in my nipples (had nipple-sparing).
For those of you who wonder about your PS putting in implants with more cc's than your expanders, you really need to if you want to be close to your TE size. My expanders were 270 filled to 300, and I have ultra high profile 480 cc implants, which I am so very happy with. Don't be afraid to go larger than your TEs if that's what you want.
My implants have settled a bit more over the last couple of months and feel a part of me now. So that's pretty much my six-month update. God bless and best wishes to all!0 -
Thanks Sandra I plan to forge ahead and go for the implants at this point. My skin has done very well considering all its been through past few years. im sorry you had so many setbacks, but i LOVE your go for it, poistive attitude!!! Also having huge 34g before surgery i am not hating this smaller size either,, Yeaaah to no bra istrap ndents on my shoulders,they are nice and smooth now. I can wear so many more styles of clothes becasue i am not juggling the big girls around buttons,straps and stuff. Still do miss them a bit.
Nancy
0 -
Myers I am so sorry to hear about your deflation difficulties. I hope your PS has a good plan for you, things will work out. Keeping positive thoughts for you and wanting you to keep your spirits up. All the girls here a strong, yet we are here to support each other. You will get through this curve in the road. It took me a long time to get to exchange to and i got down many times, but always had an understnding friend to lift me back up.
Nancy
0 -
Cheryl_e - so great to hear from you honeybun! Wonderful that you're doing so well and are so happy with the girls. Great advice on the sizing issue - I would have ended up quite dissatified if I had not found this site and Whippemom's recommendations.
You're a success story and give hope to many still on the road to exchange. Thanks so much for the update!
0 -
Sweet and Special, we have all been blessed to have you as a regular part of this forum. Your sensitivity and positivity go a long way!
0 -
Love your positive attitude GreenCowgirl. Some people probably think we are nuts to want small boobs but after a lifetime of having to deal with big ones, I'm delighted. No more aching shoulders and back! No more people looking at my chest first, then my face. If you have big ones, people seem to feel you don't mind hearing their lewd comments. Even as a teenager, boys would snicker when I walked by and embarrass me by assuming I wanted to have sex! When they did the BMX & put in the implants, I still lost 12 lbs that day! Those things were heavy.
Since one of the implants had to be taken out and a TE put in because necrotic tissue had to be removed, my PS says that side may not ever expand enough to put the original size implant back in. It's ok with me. I'm not willing to go through a lot of pain to stretch tissue that is not in all that great condition to begin with. Might as well expand a bit then do surgery #3, put in a small implant and then redo the other side to replace it with a matching small implant. I'm sure those of you who are trying to get the biggest implants you can get think I'm crazy.
0 -
I understand they get TIGHT don't they! I had a flw up today with my ps and redness is better and I go back in 2 weeks to start fills again. I'm not too happy with my ps right now... areola on the right is larger I asked him about it and he got in defense mode saying it was like that before sugery and continued to say if he were to get the before pictures out he could show me. I mean come on!!! I KNOW what I looked like before I don't need a pic. and the right was NEVER this much larger. I don't know about him anymore... I had kept track of my fills and he kept telling me for 2 weeks that I was less than what I calculated finally last week I made him look back in my chart and he says oh.. you are right. What an idiot. I can't not wait to be done with this
0 -
So glad to hear all the happy exchange stories. Congrats to all, and thanks for keeping us posted. Give us all hope.
Myers, if you surgeon is being like that now it might be worth it to get a second opinion before your final exchange. He sounds a bit arrogant, and flakey at the same time.
0 -
sandra - I didn't have extremely large breasts before BMX but I do know several women who have had reductions to ease neck, should, back and hip problems so I do sympathize and don't think you're crazy. If smaller is what works for you that's just as valid as smaller gals wanting to go bigger and those of us that pretty much want/wanted to stay about the same. Regardless of big or small my wish is for you to be content with the final results
I'm neither big nor small (imho) but since the BMX and through reconstruction/exchange people who know about my recent history still look at my chest first, but in this case I don't mind. They're curious, because when most folks hear 'mastectomy' the majority of them don't know the first thing about the reconstruction process or even that it exists. I know I didn't - when my BS gave me my surgical options I had to ask what breast reconstruction was!
0 -
myers, I love my ps, who is at Good Sheperd in Barrington, and also works out of Elk Grove. Not sure if you have insurance coverage issues (Im in an HMO and have to stay in network), but if youre interested he is Stephen Madry, and I highly recommend him. Im starting fills now, but he did oncoplasty and reduction before my bmx and te, and did a great job. He is very easy going.
0 -
Myers - I too love my PS. If you want a second opinion, I would recommend him - Dr. Neil Fine out of Northwestern.
0 -
Hello everyone! Finished chemo and ready to learn about next steps. First time visiting this thread, and very active in Stage II Sisters Club forum where many of us are new to treatments and experiencing SEs, pain, and all that stuff that I want to put behind me!
Thought I would be reading everything about reconstruction on this forum and then found over 1,000 pages of posts! So nice so much info here but the amount is a bit overwhelming.
I would like to know if you think 1) 10 days before Xmas is ok date to have implants surgery..good bye TEs!!, 2) were told you must wait AT LEAST 10 weeks between last fill and surgery, 3) I had 3 fills of 80cc in each breast plus whatever at surgery time...is this average? Don't know how to do the math....are the numbers reported the addition of all fills? And 4) please if you have a list of dos and don't, I am all ears and ready to take on good advise. like If you wrote a post that you think I should read, please let me know.
Nice weekend to all. And thank you for having me here! Nisa0 -
Nisa: Welcome to Exchange City. You will find a lot of help and support here.
Everyone is different as far as time between last fill and exchange. It has a lot to do with the type of treatment you've had (chemo, rads, etc), condition of your skin and your PS. Some wait a few weeks and some a few months. I had my last fill on July 16th and had my exchange on August 28th.
As far as fills, it probably depends on the size TEs you have. I had 400ccs put in at BMX and then 100ccs put in at each fill every two weeks until I reached the size I wanted or until the TE was filled to capacity.
If you havent' been to the Implant Sizing 101 site you really need to visit it. The lady that started it, Whippetmom, is very knowledgable and has help 100s of women with choosing the type/size implant that would best fit their frame. She did wonders for me. I am very, very happy with my implants.0 -
Nisa - what she said. Chinneymae is right. First you need to check out breast implant sizing 101 and get Whippetmom the information listed in the thread header so she can help you figure out implant sizing. My PS requires a 3-4 month wait after final fill for best results - my last fill was April 11 and I exchanged on Aug 7. I was off work for 2 weeks with continued workout restrictions for another four.
I'm sorry you have to be here but we're glad you found us. Don't be afraid to ask any question whatsoever or vent your frustration with anything. We are our own small group therapy
.0 -
3 more days till exchange! I am busy cleaning and cooking getting everything ready,(really need to have surgery to get some rest!LOL!) Work is soo busy too, trying to get all done to be off, due to lifting and moving patients will be off 6 weeks!
Hoping for a better recovery time with exchange, as many have posted so far. PS says I will have drains, too much seroma/infection issues last time. Better safe than sorry, we can always pull them if not draining. Ready to get this behind me, looking forward to the day I don't wake up thinking about my foobs and going to sleep thinking about my foobs!Good luck Greencowgirl, you are right in front of me, see you on the recovery side, finally!
0 -
I'm new here - hopefully this is the right place to post.
I had my exchange beginning of June. They looked great and even at first. Now, the left side has dropped and is much fuller on the bottom/has a natural droop. The right side is sitting higher up and there's barely any volume on the bottom. It's also firmer than the left and seems to tense up much more.
I'm not sure if I need to give it more time (for the whole drop and fluff thing) or schedule an appointment with my PS?
Also, for those of you who did fat grafting - does it last? I heard the fat may not stay in place?
0 -
Nisa and roadwarrior, welcome.
Nisa,
As far as your specific questions, I would say that it really depends on how much "pocket work" your PS plans on doing if 10 days before Christmas is enough time to recover from exchange surgery. Even best case scenario, you will be on some type of restrictions during the holidays. I had minimal pocket work done and no drains so for my surgery, I would've been fine going into the holidays in that time frame. What you have to ask yourself is, "Do I have the discipline to stick with my restrictions with all the circumstances pulling me the other way?" If you can answer yes, then you might be alright. Otherwise, I would consider having it right after Christmas. I'm assuming you are trying to avoid another deductible.
I had to wait 7 weeks after my last fill before exchange surgery. Everyone's PS is different, though. The amount people are reporting is usually their cumulative cc's including surgery fill.
Roadwarrior,
I think You might want to go ahead and contact your PS. It is possible that you might be developing capsular contracture. If it is and it is early, there is a medication that has been found to help stop cc. It is used "off label." Which means it was developed and approved by the FDA for a different purpose, but has been found to help in other areas. It is called singulair. Just a thought. It never hurts to get it looked into. As far as fat grafting, my PS told me that sometimes the graft takes place and sometimes it is reabsorbed. I'm having it done Monday so I'll let ya know how it goes.0 -
Peanutsgal - good luck tomorrow! Here's to successful surgery, painfree recovery and awesome results!
0 -
Same from me Peanut. Keep us posted. Good luck!!!!
0 -
road - sorry to hear you are still having issues - I would definitely talk to your PS, or possibly get a second opinion. I had fat-grafting in December of 2012 - have lost zero fat (either from there, or anywhere else, lol!) and very happy that I did it - I had the fat placed about the implant to soften the divot between my collarbone and top of the implant - it was very obvious. Fat-grafting solved that problem and I look much more natural and soft now. I had no fat placed over the face of the implant.
nisa - my PS did not require me, as an individual, to wait very long before exchange because my fills were so slow. I waited a month, but only had 25cc fills weekly to go from 200cc surgical fill, to 575cc left, and 650cc right - so a long process. I think more PS like to wait a bit if your fills were larger. Also I had the fat-grafting done two weeks before Christmas - same kind of restrictions as BMX or exchange - can't lift more than a milk container, etc., but I also had to wear compression garments, and could not go to the gym for eight weeks. I had no problem with it being that close to the holidays - house was already decorated and just had others lift heavy stuff for me.
0 -
I am having my exchange surgery on October 28th (cannot wait to get these TE's out already!), and I just found out from my PS's office that I have to go off tamoxifen for 2 weeks prior and 10 days after. Has anyone else had to do this? If so, can you please tell me how that went for you? I had a terrible time adjusting to going on the tamoxifen in the first place (crying for 4 straight weeks, cramps, unbearably itchy scalp, the list goes on...), even with a slow dosage ramp-up, and now that I'm finally stabilizing, I'm terrified that I'll have to start all over again. Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated!
0 -
Violet29 - I can't address the tamoxifen issue but congrats on your exchange date! You should PM Mykidsmom so she can add you to the roster in the page header. That way we can all keep you in mind as your date approaches
.0
