Exchange City
Comments
-
Green - I am sorry to hear about your bad experience. I have not entered Exchange City yet but would be very upset If I had to go through what you went through. I hope Dr Cyr returns and fixes all that needs fixing. Hugs, Nisa
0 -
Peanutsgal, i finally got the ps nurse to tell me he used natrelle 410 FF in 755cc I really did think of this as my last surgery as the origional plan was to fat graft where needed at exchange, plus having my own nipples left from nsBMX i thought this would be the end.
Goldie I am waiting on some phone calls to be returned and see what i can do. Im just wiped out from it all right now. Does anyone have any info on fat necrosis and what can be done?
Thank you all for making me feel justified that this IS a big deal and i should not feel guilty or settle for less than what i want to look like in the end.
Nisa thank you so much, not sure if im fixable, worried about causing even more reduced skin sensation and increased lympedema.
Delibear- You said it- Fiasco sums it up nicely.
Mammasix- So glad you got your exchange and i think the mentor high profile is an excellent choice. Take your pain meds lady!
0 -
GreenCowGirl - you should absolutely feel justified in pursuing correction to the bad results. I think we (women in general) are born with a built-in guilt gene that makes us feel guilty when we demand things on our own behalf. I mean, we're the 'nurturers', always taking care of everyone else instead of ourselves. Well, if ever there was a time to break that habit, BC is it!
0 -
Hi Goldie-
I just got the gummies put in last Friday and I really like them... I am your weight but 5'5- ended up filling to almost 500 cc and the implant is almot 600cc... I would liken them to a full B cup, which is what I was before. I also asked whippetmom for suggestions, she is wonderful! I was a little apprehensive about going with gummies, but my ps said that because my skin is so thin from the BMX, rippling would show a lot more with anything but the gummies- decision made! She also mentioned that after the first 6 wks, no bra needed! Bonus! Good luck with everything.
Penguin
0 -
Thanks, Penquin. You know what is surprising me it how many of you get bigger implants than your expansion was. How did your surgeon get 600cc implants into 500cc pocket? Do you have a natural drop already, or do you think you have some stretching left to do? It would seem like the skin wouldn't accommodate an implant bigger than the expander.
I am glad you are happy with your result. I just got a tentative exchange date for either 12/3 or 12/4. Yeh!
0 -
goldie - From what I've read from Whippetmom, Blessings, sweetandspecial, etc. the TEs are made of a tougher material than the implants. This might be a poor comparison, but I keep picturing a plastic water bottle vs. a water balloon. The TE has to be tough to stretch the muscle, but it can form odd shapes as it fills. It fills up the space, but doesn't necessarily lie smoothly against the ribs and chest wall. The implant is much more soft and pliable and fills in all the nooks and crannies in the pocket, including comforming to the front of the ribcage, etc. Basically, it fill the space more completely than the TE so the pocket can handle more volume.
If that's not correct, somebody please jump in here and set me straight
0 -
tina - I think you did a great job explaining the whole TE vs implant thing. Water bottle vs water balloon is a great analogy! The skin flap may have something to do with it too. If there's plenty of skin and the integrity is good the PS can still get adequate coverage for a larger implant than what the TE was filled to.
0 -
I was filled to 610 and 660 and came home with 800's!
0 -
Thanks, guys. Great explanations. My husband and I got to hold an expander, and he said, "no wonder you are miserable, these things are torture devices.' Then I got to feel the difference between a gummy and a regular silicone implant. There is a big difference in the feel of them. I hope I am happy with the gummies. At this point, I just want to be happy, and comfortable. I have forgotten what it's like to feel good.
0 -
Ladies that are LESS than pleased, please have faith that things will work out....don't settle for 2nd best, get second opinions, if you are not sure of your PS or their work or lack there of.
After my BMX I was left with "screaming Muppet mouth" and "shar pei puppy" LOT of skin leftover....(pre BMX I was very large and long!).....a month later I had tissue expanders put in and screaming muppet mouth screamed less and less, (at each fill), started calling lefty The "Z", but righty/shar pei remained (just a larger wrinkled dog), my PS said prior my exchange I would still have these "characters" on my chest, (he even call shar pei by name).....I did, only it was squishy and more comfortable than expanders, he would not do fat exchange at that time as he wanted to wait and see how they settled into my body.....then I had a REVISON, removed lots of excess skin....14" of suture lines on each side....but it which blew me away how PERFECT they looked, shar pei was gone and they were both ROUND AND PERKY (and dog ears were gone).....that lasted about 4 weeks.....SHAR PEI is still mostly gone, and but the Z has raised it's ugly head at almost 4 weeks post revision surgery. (it looks like a a Z or 7 in the mirror....my Zorro strike!
) The top angle of 7/Z is at my sternum/divot cleavage....I have no clevage on leftyI saw my PS yesterday, and the plan of action is cosmetic surgery unrelated to FOOBS, (which I am paying for...MY dollars!), and then 2 weeks later a revision of my Z/7, with fat transfer &/or alloderm and my new nips.
Now I am waiting for the scheduler to call me.....I hate waiting....if the foobs like this revision....the only thing I will need is tit-tats.
Patience, I have learned comes with this reconstruction....but the best part of this journey is: for NOW I am cancer free. Yes....I am OLD too....the clock is tickin'
Di
0 -
Di, thank you for your words of encouragement. I'm not pleased with my reconstruction. The radiated side is flat on one side where the PS must have removed a lot of scar tissue. It's puffy at the top, stiff, and when I wear a knit shirt, I can see the disfigurement. That's how I feel; disfigured. People give me the "no one notices but you/be happy the cancer is gone/your husband loves you" talk, but they just don't understand how I feel. I have discomfort or some level of pain on that side every day. Right now, I wish I had just gone flat from the get go. I'm just feeling discouraged lately. Won't see the PS till October 2, so we'll see what he says then.
If it's not too nosy, what type of cosmetic surgery will you be having? I hope your upcoming surgery will be your last and you can go forward, living and loving life!0 -
Face and brow lift
surgery......then my FOOB fat transfer to kill the Z/ divot surgery......I feel disfigured and need to wear a padded bra* to conceal the FRONT & center divot, (or sad frowny mouth when I lift my left arm)....so TWO surgeries....will be total of 6 surgeries in less than one year*don't need a bra....just to use to conceal....haven't even been fitted for a bra yet....waiting until I am satisfied & less self conscious with my reconstructed FOOBS (would never go to a public dressing room like the 2 gyms/pools I use to belong to )
0 -
Di, I'm a bit jealous! You are going to look fabulous when this is all finished! I sure wouldn't mind losing the jowls I seem to be developing. Are you nervous?
0 -
Andrea, yes nervous...long surgery about 6 hours....hoping my jowls and my turkey waddle is gone or greatly diminished....and my brows won't be touching my lashes, and my saggy lower lids will be fixed when this is all done....so I will be bruised and battered and sutured together for a long while from the hips up to the top of my head (hips are where they will harvest my fat for my FOOBS in my part II surgery)
0 -
I think after all this is over, you deserve to take a nice vacation!
0 -
Hi Penguin1 Congrats on your exchange and glad to like the gummies. Can you tell me what implant style that would be. I have a cohesive gel,(natrelle 410 FF) which i think is similar but i hate the way it looks. I was very large busted before and just wanted a smaller version of myself, i look like i have a manly chest becasue its so flat . Curious to know if you have any volume on the top of chest.
0 -
Well. What do ya know!?
My MO sent my insurance company some pressure & they approved the Lidocaine patches! Yay!
Now to see if they work. ..;)
Hang in there Everyone! Lots of issues here...:(
Violet0 -
Question to all who have gone before: How long does the swelling last? My right side (non-cancer side) looks normal slightly painful. Left side (cancer/lymphnode removed side) is almost double the size of the right. Both sides have the same size implants. Much more painful and lots of swelling under left arm. Lefty is very swollen from the clavical to sternum to ribs. Talked to PS nurse and she told PS and at the time was only half again as big, increased in size overnight. No reddness, or warmth, just swollen. Any ideas on what I should do? Pain meds relieve the pain but just feels so heavy especially underarm and back. Did not come home in any bra so wearing sports bra to help add support. Post op isn't until Wed with the nurse, should I seek an appt on Monday with PS? I know they are really tired of me calling so much, but just want to make sure all is ok. Have had a lot of seroma all through this journey, don't want it causing any more problems.
0 -
You still have drains I assume since your surgery was so recent. What does the fluid look like? Has it decreased/increased? I would call the doctor for sure. You have every right to have the doctor check you and make sure you are ok. Are you running a fever? Feeling bad?
0 -
mamasixtaz - I agree. One side twice the size of the other warrants another call for sure. Personally, I wouldn't wait until Monday to call, I would speak to the oncall doc on Sunday. Best wishes!
0 -
violet - Sorry things aren't going smoothly for you
Is this a new MO? I remember that you were searching for some new docs...0 -
mama - I second sandra and tina's comments. Did you come home at least wrapped in an ace bandage or something? Good compression after surgery typically helps keep swelling down. Definitely get it checked out.
0 -
mammasixtaz Yes that sure warrants another call-double the size, wow, makes you wonder if drains are plugged in there. Are you getting much fluid yet? How weird how PS are different, i had no wrappings at all, just clear tape from top of chest down, covering the horrible stitches blood and all underneath, with my sad cut on nips sticking out gasping for air!
0 -
Tina,
No not new MO..she was my original 2nd opinion onc. My other is my BS...I like both of them..its my PS that has the horrible personality. .;)
Violet0 -
sandra, Tina, and Sweets-Thanks for the advice. No drains this time, but kind of wish he had. He had told me he would with all the seroma issues from the bmx/LD recon but decided at surgery not to. No compression, he likes very little on them, in fact only dressings that I took off at 48 hrs to shower. I put on the sports bra to help support the weight as it was causing more discomfort. I think that has helped the most. No fever or other changes, incisions still steristriped no drainage. Placed a call to oncall PS, not so helpful, just asked me what I wanted him to do! He won't drain any fluid since the implants are in so we just need to wait and see. So, will watch today with bra on and call mine tomorrow. You are all much better help than he was! I'm tired but feeling overall well, but I will try to just veg and not do much to move and aggravate the situation more.
Thanks for all the support!
Go Broncos!
0 -
Chineymae, the foobs or any body part is not supposed to turn red and warm,it could be an issue. I would get in to the dr asap. My incisions turned red and my PS said come in right then. Fortunately it was just a reaction to the brown tape they had me on but it could have been an infection so you really need it chked.
Violet, that is so strange about the ice. Both my PS and all my docs were big on ice. I had ice packs but found frozen veggies worked best. However, that said, you might have some other issues so I would just follow the PS you have.
Yep, I had my implants changed out after only one yr. Now they want to lipo my tummy and put that fat on my new foobs. Is that fat grafting? My PS says I wont be sore but I am not buying that. Is it dangerous? Is it painful? Having the nipples done at the same time. It sounds painful. When I got my ears pierced, they hurt for about 4 mths. I almost went to the dr to see about the issue. Not happy with all the surgeries, but I dont wanna leave the nipples off. Has anyone gotten the surg nips? Did they collapse? Is that too personal a question?
0 -
Layla: My foobs aren't red. I did have a little redness when I had my TEs. It was a reaction to the allederm, but it cleared up. I haven't had any redness since my exchange surgery 4 weeks ago. Thanks though. I know someone that had cellulitis and they were hospitalized. You can't play around with that.
0 -
Hi green cowgirl! I have the exact same implants as you- 410FF Natrelle highly cohesive...it has only been a week so I'm not sure if this is how they will look forever, but I have to say that it doesn't seem flat at all! They are 595cc and, when they fitted me for the bra to wear for 6 weeks, they said it is a very full B, not quite c cup. Maybe because you we're busty before, they seem small now?? I was about this same size before. My ps said that there may be some areas I will want to fill in with fat injections when everything is settled in 3 months or so. The 'slope' as they call it, is amazingly natural looking... That's what will show with v neck shirts and stuff so I'm thrilled with that. What did your ps say??
Penguin0 -
Hi mamasixtaz.... Like green cowgirl, I'm amazed at how different surgeons can be! I had implants put in on the 20th with drains...drains removed a week later and fitted with a compression bra to wear for 6 weeks...will go back for check of incisions and possible nipple recon in 3 mos. how does everything feel?? I really don't have much pain except along the bottom where ps sutured on the inside....they'll dissolve and things should get better. Best of luck to you!
0 -
Layla,
I am getting the lipo/fat grafting next month (waiting to be scheduled) for a major divot defect in upper pole/cleavage of one Foob and will be getting both nips at that time, then I will go to NOLA/Vinnie 20 weeks after that to get my areolas/nips pigmented and the "foob creation" (NOT MY BREAST) will be complete!!!
Anyone else have a disassociation with your foobs, NOT being breast, but just a substitute for the lack of breast....rather just "mounds on the chest"?
0
