Exchange City
Comments
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thanks for responses. i will call my PS and ask. good luck to all of us.
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what's the reason for no underwire bras?
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Shoot, I pushed the wrong button and all my writing disappeared. I'll try it again.
Some school of thought is that implants, especially with fat transfer, are "high" and need to fall naturally; underwires interfere so wait 6-8 weeks or 6 months depending on the PS. Also, the wire lays on top of the scar, very irritating and can cause infection.
For me, I think both reasons are pretty good ones, plus I have all these little spitting stitches (love that term that I learned on here tonight) are really aggravated with them. Just plain gets uncomfortable.
So, it is just different opinions by the PS. Ride 'em high if it suits your fancy!!!!
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My PS told me that the "no underwire" school of thought is due to the fear that a wire will break or come out and poke the implant. Not an issue if you get a good quality, well-fitted bra, wash it correctly and keep an eye on it. Check out the Bras 101 thread for loads more of this discussion.
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No idea about the underwire but I hate them anyway!
I am on day 3 post exchange and feeling like my body has finally rid itself of most of the anesthesia drugs. Yay! I am also pretty pleased already with how my new "girls" look so I can't wait to see how they change and improve over the next few weeks. Thanks for all the advise ladies. Glad to be on the squishy side!0 -
Myra,
I have not worn a bra since my mastectomy except when exercising. My PS said I will be fine either way. Just a personal preference. I wear a camisole/tank. Works well for me.
Curly,
I am having abdomen lipo and fat grafting on May 23rd. Any details you can provide would be helpful. You can pm me if you want. Thanks.
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I ditched the surgical bras after my shower yesterday because without all the gauze they were just kind of dangling anyway. I wore a sports bra yesterday - but felt like it was pushing on the incisions too much, to I'm in a cami today. So far so good. As long as it's tight enough that the pantiliners with neosporin don't fall out when I walk, it's all good, right?
The strangest thing for me is that I still have some feeling I the skin right along my breast bone and it keeps freaking me out when I feel something there. Then I have to stop myself and remember that I have cleavage. Just not used to my boobs actually touching each other (hasn't happened since my boys were little and I was nursing).
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I've always loved underwires and am glad my PS doesn't care. My scares are horizontal across the middle, though, so no IMF fold irritation problems for me. I still need to shop for new ones, just need to find the time and patience. For the time being I'm still wearing stretchy Bali bras.
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I am 5 weeks post exchange....and still feel like I am wearing a tight underwire bra most of the time. (I stopped wearing a bra a week ago). I was SO hoping this would not be the case. I still feel that extreme heaviness when I sit up first thing in the morning, a lot of the stuff I felt with TE's. I do have a lot of swelling on the bottom part of my new 'foob'. PT/CLT is working with me on stretches and massage for that. I also have a swell spot. It's kind of freaky...the tissue is so hard that it feels like a rock, and looks like an orange peel. I know this was there with the TE's, but it wasn't so obvious because everything looked and felt hard and bizarre. If you just look at my breast, it's not obvious that it's really swollen, but it you FEEL it, YIKES! Not normal!!!
Has anybody else dealt with this? Is there any hope this tightness will go away, and I will feel 'free' and normal in my chest? Has anybody had this kind of hard, fibrous tissue looking kind of swelling and gotten it to go away?
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I've had 3 since October! - I might have to check the dates when I get home from work!
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thanx again for all the response. helps alot. my reconstruction is just straight forward plain simple exchange from TE to implant ( the smallest one they have). and the scar is just an inverted T which i was told to apply scar cream ( i really don't mind the scar). the only pain i have right now has nothing to do with the surgery but from all the joints of my arms. onco said probably from chemo effects.
mnmbeck: i had that fibrous scarring when i had my TE and it was at the drain site. when my lymphtherapist touched it in February after i complained of the tightness despite my yoga and that i cannot stretch out as much, i felt the sting same as when the drain was pulled out and that was pulled out in November. and yes if you looked at it there's nothing but when you touch it oh yeah it was there. my therapist ironed it out with gentle myofascial massage and right then and there i felt relief.
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mnmbeck: I'm 3 weeks out and I feel the same things. I hate reaching up to pull a bra down and realize I'm still not wearing one. I did think that would lessen but my PS says that pocket he had to make for the implant is still healing and gets a little stretched during the exchange so you have to expect more time. I also agree that the morning thing is uncomfortable. You have to sit there and let them settle, so annoying. I have the swelling at the top where the fat transfer is, really irritated. He says everything will settle but it takes months. Shoot!
I haven't been brave enough for a massage. Not for sure if I could lay face down yet. I'm also concerned about the fat scar that runs under the arm to the back. I'm still griping about the stupid little singular stitches poking me so I'm drowning myself in food. I gotta get it together so guess I'll go find a smaller sandwich to put together while I moan so more!
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So sorry for all your set backs ladies
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Julieped, my PS just took a little fat from my tummy to put on my right side as the general surgeon removed nearly all the fat on that side during mastectomy. Left side had plenty of fat, in fact he removed a pocket of fat that was close to my arm pit on the left side. This was done with a small incision. I have three steri strips where he either removed or added fat. The sorest part for me after surgery was where he removed the fat at the abdomen. I only needed pain meds for first 2 days. I've been taking OTC Tylenol now with no problems. I am wearing an abdominal binder too to help decrease any swelling. It's all good. Good luck with your grafting!
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Regarding massage: my massage therapist has a cushion she lays on the massage table that has cutouts for breasts, ......there is no pressure put on my implants when I'm laying on my stomach for a massage. I would think many massage therapists or spas would have something similar??
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I am 5 months out from my exchange to Allergan 20 550ccs and the left side (rads side) is still not dropping & fluffing to our satisfaction so my PS is going to do a revision & go up 50ccs and see if he can do some work on the skin/pocket to help it drop a little. My surgery is scheduled for 6/27. It is a Friday and he said I will be back at work on Monday.
I'm excited & hope this will be the end. It's such a shame - the scar in the left is healing so much better than the right but I guess this will make them even (in more ways than one).
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Interesting post lately ladies. Just goes to illustrate for the thousandth time how different we are and how strangely we heal. Personally, I think I've been most surprised that each side has it's own schedule and peculiarities at every stage. Because I've had several revisions, I've had a unique opportunity to compare. Not only do different kinds of implants have different ways of healing, but even the SAME implant can result in different experiences...even in the same side! Multiply that times two sides (with their own time tables) and you have a tangle of healing experiences. I don't have radiated skin, which can account for even more differences.
Just hang on, girls. There IS no normal.
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Hi 2ns! re you being back at work Monday, my unofficial opinion: your Dr is nuts
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re: working on Monday after Friday surgery:
Depends on how comfy your desk chair is and how much snoring your office-mates can ignore.
I've tried sitting at my desk in my kitchen, but the angle I have to hold my arms to reach the keyboard is uncomfortable after about 30 minutes
I've had two days out of the recliner so far since my exchange (10 days ago). Thursday a friend took me to the store then I walked up the street to take my son to piano lessons, and I did very very light housework. Friday I think I left the recliner three times.
Today I rode with a friend and sang for a couple of hours, and am exhausted. Since I have to be up and out early in the morning for church, I'm back in the recliner this afternoon.
I am definitely finding myself in the "I feel great but it's because I'm doing nothing!" camp.
Happy healing everyone.
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McKatherine, you are doing it right girl. I know that some people can have surgery and jump right back into their normal routine, but the majority of us aren't that lucky. It takes TIME, even when everything goes right. The affects of general anesthesia takes time to wear off. Internal stitches heal slower than you think. You don't get a gold star for rushing the healing process. As you have figured out, we can do whatever we want but there WILL be consequences.
In my opinion, the secret to a quick recovery is to go to your recliner and stay there for a week or so. Just because you feel good doesn't mean you should be returning to regular life right away. You may be sorry. (P.S. There's no way I could have gone back to work on Monday after surgery on Friday. Doctor's who say that should first have to go through it themselves. Bet they won't be offering that advice so quickly after that).
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Happy Saturday ladies. I've seen many photos of reconstruction, however, I can't seem to find any photos of women who are done with their reconstruction. I can't find any of anyone wearing clothes. In other words, I just want to see what they look like clothed, maybe with cleavage.
I have yet to discuss size, shape, etc. with PS. I guess she is waiting until the last fill. I need to know what they feel like.
I'd love to get an idea of what to expect. Do you have cleavage? Or is it like the foobs are so tight that you cannot press them together?
When we all say "Welcome to the Squishy Side!", how squishy are we talking? I realize we are all different, however, all your thoughts are helpful. Thanks!
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Im not too squishy, as far as Im concerned. I am surprised how firm my implants feel, frankly. On the other hand what do I know? I was used to droopy mushy ol things, so is this how theyre supposed to feel? I might swap out in a few weeks to a round, smaller, but the PS did say I might not notice much firmness difference. They are firm but not like the TE, and not uncomfortable.
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I have silicone rounds. They feel pretty real...a lot like the originals. Yes...I have cleavage and they can be moved a bit. I prefer them not shoved up to my chin though. Lol. They look great in clothing.
Much of the end results are determined by the style and size of the implant, your body style/size, the health of your skin, the experience/skill of your surgeon, ..... Be sure to visit the Breast Implant Sizing thread!!
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My implants are not squishy either. They are definitely firmer than I expected but not uncomfortable so that is what is important to me. At least I can give my husband a hug now without injuring him! hahahaha
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My implants are definitely firmer than I expected too, but then again I can't remember how they felt when they were SUPPOSED to be firm years and years ago. I was so accustomed to the aged, saggy, loose, totally malleable breasts I had before that I'm still not totally accustomed to the new firmness of the implants. Way more squishy than the TE's though and I have no problems with discomfort at all. I have great cleavage, about one finger's width between the breasts without any artificial assistance (just stuck my hand down my shirt to check that out
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Aviva - I thought he was nuts too but Jeannie and Andrea both confirmed that I would be fine and it is a piece of cake! Time will tell.
I saw someone's post about 50ccs only being about 6.5 Tbsp which is not much to make much difference and now I am wondering if I should think about going up 100 on the left & 50 on the right?! I am going to post updated pics and would love to have feedback.
Jenn
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I don't know about the TBSP thing, Jenn, but I revised to 150ccs smaller and they weigh a pound less. (Combined.) Just remember it is the base width measurement that you must consider and that your PS is considering. When I changed sizes I also changed implant styles so that the base width could still be the same. (Did that make sense?)
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Aviva, 2ns-Jenn has same PS as us LOL
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Bud, implants are not hard like a full TE, but they are not what you expect. My husband says they feel like the breasts of a 20 year old - firm and not very bouncy. I started out with rounds and changed to gummie bears. They feel pretty much the same although some say gummies are firmer. If they are, it's not by much and really not noticeable, at least to me. Yes, you can move them together and push them up. They move on your chest under the muscle. If I'm lying on my side, the top implant will touch the bottom one but that is uncomfortable so I clutch a pillow to my chest at night to keep them where I want them. When lying on my back, the implants don't move towards the sides like a natural breast. Some people have implants that are very close together, others seem too far apart. It depends on the shape of your chest and bone structure + the implants you choose. The best person to ask is Whippetmom on Breast Implant Sizing 101.
It also depends on how much fat and other tissue that the breast surgeon removed along with your breast tissue. Sometimes the chest on one side is "plumper" than the other because there is more fat. Other times your whole chest is quite flat with implants below. (Mine are that way because my surgeon took absolutely all fat, breast tissue, and even the top layer - the fascia - of my chest muscles.) Quite a few women on this thread have had fat grafting to fill in above the implants. Sometimes you will have "divots", shallow places on your chest that can be filled in.
Your implants will not stick out as far as a full TE and will be smaller. I think mine look about half the size of a bulging 740 cc TE, but the implant is 740 cc's too. An implant conforms to your bone structure and kind of sinks into your chest a bit. Many women are disappointed at first so I'm glad you have been looking at photos.
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My implants are very firm, had them now for 1 year and 2 weeks....
I have been lifting weights to maintain arm strength as I age & have been doing modified "counter push ups" since 7 days post BMX ...had to stop when I had TE put in....and every other surgery/revision I had I stopped for a while...but I have a lot more strength now in my arms (I had hand/arm surgery and was in a cast or brace for 4 months....just 2 months before I was DX with BC)
my pecs are hard and the implants are contained under them....
I love to swim and so I have been doing the breast stroke.....but out of water....now calling it my FOOB STROKE
....so I can swim and not sink the next time I have the opportunity to get in water.Anyone have a problem fitting bras?...with the real girls I would bend over and shake 'em in my DD bra......now I bend over and there is only a half a cup to fill.....FOOBS looks flat when I bend over, but only when I bend over the cone shape is missing.....when standing up they are out there with a natural slope....one is a little floppy and needs MORE fat grafting, so a revision/lift has been mentioned by my PS....along with fixing my nipples he created and installed the wrong places. One is high and flat, other is low (on floppy) and big.....putting it on hold for now.
( I am wearing Nordstrom Rack "sports bras" that come with a padded triangle that I have in...(it is removable)....they are $4.98 stretchy ,no hooks and skinny straps.....wore them since BMX when I had large gouges in my chest, before TE were installed a month later, just worried they would invert when they were empty..... they hide every defect and I continue to buy them 4-5 at a time....they are like my disposable bras.
hugs,
Di
I made a whine about going into VS and got a lump in my throat and had to leave, on the over 60 forum and got some not so nice remarks. not suppose to talk about BC over there I guess.
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