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Exchange City

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Comments

  • Orange73
    Orange73 Member Posts: 2,154
    edited October 2013


    I am in upstate NY


    I got rid of the first one both TE poked through after recoon


    No one would take them out due to him being on vacation


    Second one did TE and exchange


    I had no boobs for 4 months


    Lets see oh well that's the only two here


    Second ps also said my implants were to big but plopped them on


    When I exercise in the middle it gets very inflamed


    This my pain pills every day


    Pain docs just feed u pills


    I need another PS


    I would have to travel just scared since expierence

  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 404
    edited October 2013


    What city in upstate are you in? I grew up in NYC. There are two of the best surgeons in the country for breast implants in NYC. There are quite a few docs that will do phone consults if you send them pics.

  • Orange73
    Orange73 Member Posts: 2,154
    edited October 2013


    Really I am in Albany.

    That would be amazing if you could help me

    Thank u so much

  • schoolcounselor
    schoolcounselor Member Posts: 229
    edited October 2013


    orange,


    I'm in Westchester and love my PS. Also if you don't mind traveling , you could also go to Sloane Kettering or NYU cancer center. I went to Sloane for my 2nd opinion, but chose to stay with my doctors. I am really sorry you are having such a bad experience, it's the last thing you need!! Let me know.

  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 404
    edited October 2013


    Orange, I hope it makes you feel better that you have options!! If School already has a relationship with her Plastic Surgeon that would be a great place to start. Maybe she can scope the situation out, and see if he would look at pics, and talk to you before you made the long trip down. School, which surgeon in Westchester do you use? There are several there with great reputations.

  • Orange73
    Orange73 Member Posts: 2,154
    edited October 2013


    Thank ladies so much. We have such great support here.

    Thank u again so much

    If you know the docs in  NYC specific ill send them pics

    My sis lives in NYC so it would not be a big deal to go

  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 404
    edited October 2013


    Orange, that is awesome that your sister lives there. Let me find the names, and get back to you sometime today. You can't just send pictures. You will need to talk to the administrative staff in the office, set up a phone consult with the doc, and then they will want pics, either before, or after you talk to doc. You will hear from me sometime today with names. I will PM you.

  • Orange73
    Orange73 Member Posts: 2,154
    edited October 2013


    ok thank u!

  • mcgis
    mcgis Member Posts: 74
    edited October 2013


    goldie4040, he was going to do the nipples at the same time because I'm getting radiation after the surgery. But, now opting out of the nipples and sometime down the road will get 3D tattoos instead (after I'm TOTALLY healed from everything). So, it should just be the exchange and I'm going super small (176cc).

  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 85
    edited October 2013


    Good morning my ladies haven't posted for awhile but been lurking ... So happy with many of your exchanges ... And sad because some of us have to experience with this nasty PS ... Ok so my ladies ..... My PS is nice but not sure about professional I had infection from TE was antibiotics for 1 1/2 month didn't work had TE removed ... Started radiation and been out of radiation for 2 months PS said to wait see how it heals ... Made an appt ... I went to the office and he had 7 ladies appt at 8 am which i was one of them .. Waited for 2 hours didn't get to see him... The thing is that I'm so fed up with his 2 hours to 3 hour wait... My surgeon recommended him so when I tried to change PS she said that it wasn't a good idea .... Because I started my reconstruction ??? Well what if he gets sick or something??? Am I not suppose to see anyone else.... I know that in Miami they should have great PS but I can't find anyone.... My ladies please also since you have exchange already can you guide me about fat grafting and if you had TE replaced with radiated skin.... Please I can't find any information on reconstruction with radiated skin.... I do not want DIEP I'm sure there's more options I'm willing to travel ... Feeling so tired and want to give up.... I been through too much to give up help please

  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 404
    edited October 2013


    Patricia, there is a doc at NYU that was on CBS news recently. She is doing complete reconstructions with fat grafting. Here is the link to info about her.

  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 404
    edited October 2013


    http://www.med.nyu.edu/biosketch/ahnc02


    Patricia, here is a link to a doc at NYU that does fat grafting breast reconstruction. I learned about her on CBS news

  • mnsusan
    mnsusan Member Posts: 139
    edited October 2013


    Patricia, I saw a great PS in Ft Lauderdale. He's a Harvard Med School grad and was Chief Resident in Plastic Surgery in Minneapolis. He's kind, caring and talented. I'll send you his info in a private message.

  • andrea623
    andrea623 Member Posts: 572
    edited October 2013


    So, I saw the PS today. We've decided to do fat grafting to the rads side to fill out the flat scarred area. I'll have it done next year, as I don't want to have any procedures done over the holiday season. I'll see him again in January and hopefully can have it done that month.


    For those who had fat grafting at a different time than your exchange, how long was your recovery time? What type of compression garment did you have to wear? I can't stand even wearing panty hose, so this may be challenging for me!

  • di2012
    di2012 Member Posts: 871
    edited October 2013


    Andrea, I will find out on Dec 2....6:45 am at My PS will be doing that to me.....along with nips


    Di

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 1,750
    edited October 2013


    OK, I need some education about fat grafting. I have several problem areas and wonder if fat grafting is what I need. If not, what? I have one implant and one TE.


    One area on the TE side starts under my arm and goes part way into the space where the implant used to be. I could fit a golf ball into it. The surgery to remove necrotic tissue and part of 3 muscles left a major "divot" and is mostly just scars over the juncture of where those muscles were sewn together again. I'm doing exercises to stretch the muscles. The TE is trying to stretch the scar tissue too but is not succeeding very well. The PS says he will cut a pocket into the repaired muscle at the exchange so the side of the new implant will fit. But that won't help the rest of the divot. Can a patch of fat fill the rest of the hole?


    The other two areas are not very deep but are quite noticeable on my chest above my foobs. One is not big - about a 50 cent size several inches above the implant. The other is above the TE and is much bigger and wider; about the width and length of my index finger, middle finger, and ring finger held together. These two areas were black and blue right after the BMX and still feel bruised when I touch them, 8 wks later. There is no "meat" below them, just skin over bone. When I look in the mirror, the skin still looks very slightly bruised to me but the GS who did the BMX but says its just the way the light hits the uneven skin. Can fat be injected in those spots to even it out?


    Does the PS do lipo on you and then inject that fat? How does it stay where it's put? Do they take a small chunk of fat with its blood supply like they do with DIEP? Won't all the fat go away when I lose weight? I will be the PS later this week and want to be knowledgeable enough to understand what he says when I ask him.

  • keepswimming
    keepswimming Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2013


    I had my exchange surgery this past Friday the 18th. My husband talked to my PS and she said she was happy after 5 1/2 hours. I am really depressed, I'd be surprised if I am more than a double B. I am a large woman and was DDD. The expanders were up higher and I had a problem with the right one expanding into my armpit. She said she would need to use a smaller implant and fill around it. Even with all the swelling I am really small. Why did I go through all this pain? So frustrated and sad. Not much different than having none. Don't know what I should do now.

  • keepswimming
    keepswimming Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2013


    Sandra4611,


    They took fat from my stomach to fill where my port was, it looks great, I do have to wear a support belt for 6weeks, but I'm happy with the grafting

  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 404
    edited October 2013


    Sandra, they lipo fat from where you choose, and use it as a permanent filler in areas around your implant to smooth out the edges, and fill in divot, etc.


    Keepswimming, I am sorry you are unhappy with you implants. The good thing is you can get a second opinion, and get whatever bother's you fixed. I know another surgery is not something any of us want, but it's better than being miserable forever. I hate to even say this, but sometimes if you are not as big as you would like they will give you TE's again, and hopefully placed correctly, so you can have the implant size you would like. Again, I am so sorry.

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,669
    edited October 2013


    My heart just hurts to read about so much disappointment with placement and end results. My PS did a fabulous job and aside from some under the arm flab (which he'll remove some time next year) I couldn't be happier with my final shape.


    Keepswimming - let things heal and settle in so you can have a good idea of long-term appearance. If you're still disappointed and your PS still thinks you have no reason to feel that way it's definitely time to get a 2nd opinion. I know my PS had a different plan than I did for my final size but was absolutely willing to overfill and place a larger implant than he first intended. Whippetmom has an extensive list of PSs (both good and bad) and can give you a recommendation on who to see in your area. Hang in there :)

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,669
    edited October 2013


    Hey, how come my exchange surgery from 8-7-13 won't show up in the stats at the bottom of my posts? I've got it set to public just like the BMX surgery. I must be missing something simple........

  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 404
    edited October 2013


    Hmm, Sweet.


    Try again. They have been making so many changes to the format of this site. I really miss some of the features they took away.

  • di2012
    di2012 Member Posts: 871
    edited October 2013


    Lisa Jayne,


    It shows up for you as:


    "Surgery 08/07/2013 Reconstruction: Breast implants (permanent) (Both)"


    Di

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,669
    edited October 2013


    hmmmm....interesting, because it definitely wasn't showing up earlier. I know sometimes you have to do a refresh or reboot for things to update but I haven't done that today and now it's displaying properly. Oh well, I'm sure not gonna lose any sleep over that!

  • mainemom_pumpkin
    mainemom_pumpkin Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2013


    Hello ,


    I had been reading, awhile back, then my computer crashed - I am keeping my fingers crossed it will be ok, as I have wanted to post for quite a while now. I had my Dbl. Mas. in June and am scheduled to get the TE replaced with Implants this Friday, the 25th. After reading all you have been through here I realize just how lucky I was, especially as I had not had a mammo for over 6 years, due to no insurance and extreme lack of $ - husband is a contractor. The TE have been driving me crazy, it seems like the smallest movements set off a world of pain. I have been looking forward to the exchange, but now find I am getting realy anxious about the surgery and recovery.My PS assured me the recovery was much less to deal with than the mas., but I have Fibromyalgia and I beleive this might be at least part of the reason I have had so much pain. I also think alot of it is that I don't have much support, my son ( 17 , a real lifesaver lately, my rock ) went to the hospital w/ me for my surgery, hubby only went with me when I saw BS for my Dx. I had told him that she requested both of us to be there ( which was the truth ) but deep down , I think a part of me wasn't sure he would take it seriously if he didn't hear it directly from the Dr. My son has gone to 95% of my Drs. opt with me for support., hubby ' drove me ' 2 times, but waited in the truck. He is somewhat supportive at home, but didn't think twise about thowing a tantrum when he realized I wasn't going to be able to cook supper one night, just a few days post op. then , exaclty 1 week after my surgery, he walked out - he didn't wan't to be around me anymore - he did come back, but only because he had zero $ and no gas in the tank. He is not always a jerk, but defintily runs hot and cold, we walk on egg shells much of the time.


    Wow, I didn't mean to make this a pity party,I guess I needed to get it off my chest.


    I just wish I knew more of what to expect after the exchange surgery, I didn't ask enough questions. I hate to depend on my son for so much,not being able to do so much post op, but I try not let my friustration over the situation(s) overide everyting. But you know kids, just one look and you can tell they know exacly whats going on.


    Thanks for listening, and if anyone has any advise on what to exdpect with the surgery / recovery , I would greatly appreciate it.


    mainemom_pumpkin

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,669
    edited October 2013


    Hi mainemom. The ease of your exchange recovery is dependent on your particular situation. Mine was easy-peasy - minor pocket work so very minor internal ache but I didn't need any pain meds after it at all. It was actually kind of difficult for me to respect my weight restrictions because I felt so good. I can't even guess what effect your fibromyalgia will have. Hopefully it won't cause any more additional pain. If you have a lot of pocket work done (increasing or decreasing the pocket size as needed, suturing in alloderm as a support/placement aid, etc) your chance or more noticeable pain increases. There is no way, however, that your exchange recovery should ever be as difficult as the BMX was, so please don't anticipate that kind of misery. As I said, for me, the pain was very negligible and my range of motion was not impaired at all with the exchange surgery. After BMX I had virtually no range of motion at all.


    You can do this. I'm very sorry your hubby isn't providing the support level that you deserve. As my husband has told me, people forget how hard this is on the spouse too. My hubby has been a rock and is my biggest fan after seeing me go through this, but some guys kind of withdraw and don't seem to know how to deal with it. Have you tried to talk to him about it? You have my thoughts and prayers for a successful and pain-free surgery and recovery and results that you're over the moon happy with :)

  • goldie4040
    goldie4040 Member Posts: 404
    edited October 2013


    Mainemom


    I believe Sweetandspecial said everything I could possibly have said. I guess that is how she got her name, so sweet, and very special.


    You will be fine. You will be able to get around much easier this time around, but please do not over do, just because it's seems easier this time around. Follow your PS's instructions.


    Please check in with us when it's done. We would love to hear how it goes.

  • LoriWNY
    LoriWNY Member Posts: 178
    edited October 2013


    Mainmom


    My experience was similiar to Sweetandspecial and goldie4040's. The exchange is NOTHING like the BMX and you will be able to handle it much better. It is awful about your husband's lack of support. On the positive side, you have raised a wonderful and caring son who will never treat a woman the way your husband has treated you. Good luck tomorrow.

  • di2012
    di2012 Member Posts: 871
    edited October 2013


    Mainemom,


    My thoughts will be with you as you go through your exchange....may many betters days, months and years be ahead for YOU!!


    (I am so sorry you hubby has been so self centered, as any woman going through this process needs support, doesn't he get that?)


    Cheers for you son!


    Di

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 1,750
    edited October 2013


    So sorry some of you are having to deal with this illness without the support of your husband. I think it's amazing that at teenage boy would step up and take over that role. You've raised him right! When I got diagnosed, my daughters were concerned and interested in every step. One of them even flew in for two weeks to help after the BMX, even though my husband is an angel. My son (27) heard the diagnosis, stopped in his tracks, thought about it for a few minutes, and said, "Um...that's not good." He ca, bume to the hospital once in 7 days and did not come at all two weeks later for surgery #2. After I came home, he would always ask how I was when he came over but he didn't know what to do or say. He is very kind but dealing with breast cancer was totally out of his league. We should have prepared him better because I'm sure he was feeling upset and had no idea what to say or do. I'll do a better job of it before my exchange surgery. Glad you mentioned your son...got me thinking about mine. Thanks. See how we help each other even when we don't realize we are doing it?

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