Exchange City
Comments
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Thanks HollyHope! Yes the implants look considerably smaller than the TEs. I was expanded to 670 ccs, got 650 cc implants and was surprised by how small they looked. But I think the volume is there, it just looks kind of squashed because you're used to the ridiculous shape of the TEs and because they need time to "drop and fluff".
Best of luck to you as you wait for your surgery and for the surgery itself. Please keep posting so we know how you're doing!
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Just a note about why implants seem smaller than TEs of the same size. TEs have a rigid backing so all the expansion is toward the front instead of into your ribs. Implants, on the other hand, are soft and squishy all over. Since the back is not rigid it conforms and molds into your chest wall, whereas the TEs sat on top the chest wall. Think of a water balloon and a china plate. If you set each of them on top of some marbles the water balloon is going to mold itself around the marbles but still have contact with the counter top in between the marbles (as will the implant with your ribcage). The plate, however, will simply sit on top of the marbles (and likely roll off the counter!) like the TEs sit on top of the ribcage. Maybe not a very good analogy but it's a good visual (at least in my head). This is why so many ladies exchange to implants that are larger than what they were expanded to. If you're expanded to, say, 600cc with your TEs, you would need around 700cc implants to achieve the same projection as the TEs.
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Foreverchanged,
How long was the recovery? I appreciate any info about what to expect. I am having fat grafting with my exchange. I had implants before but never had lipo, so I don't know what to expect. Thanks!
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I think I must be the only one who didn't have implants that looked smaller than my TEs. I was filled to 450cc and implants are 425. I certainly don't have the upper pole that the TEs created but projection and fullness seems to be same. It must be particular implants?
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Sweetandspecial, great analogy! It makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing.
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$1100 was the amount the insurance paid for the procedure,, the rest was discounted as in network. I only paid a percentage to hosp, PS and anesthesia which was small as my out of pocket max for year is $1200. I found the lipo from my abdomen to be painful, I took 4 weeks off which my PS recommended and really still had some pain when I returned to work. My PS wants to do another round of fat grafting and I am a bit hesitant to do it again although it really improved the breast appearance.
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Foreverchanged you took 4 weeks off? That makes me nervous because I plan to only take 11 days off from my desk job for my exchange with some fat grafting to fill a dent. I hope it will be enough time for me!
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My job is very active as a hospital staff RN, my PS would have sent me back in 2 weeks if I had a less physical job. My job requirements actually say lifting 100 lbs and carrying weights up to 50 lbs short distances and no light duty exists for my position. You should be fine, I think I was an unusual case pain wise from what I have read most people have much less. Good luck with your upcoming exchange!
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Will the surgery and recovery time ever end . . . . .
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Juliecc - foreverchanged is right - four weeks is a lot of time off, but I totally understand why, given the requirements of her job. I work from home, so I only took a week off and that was plenty of time for me. If you have a desk job, two weeks is perfect. As you know, I'm about three and a half weeks out from my revision with fat grafting and the FT pain was minimal. Same story when I had my first exchange (however no fat grafting that time). I was off the pain meds in less than two days both times. You're young (nearly 20 years younger than me) and you'll bounce back much faster than you think you will. I helped a neighbor move a small chest of drawers from my house to hers (across the street) at two and a half weeks and I felt fine. Now that's not to say that moving furniture is recommended post exchange - but I was able to do it with no problem whatsoever. You're going to do GREAT!
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Thank you, Foreverchanged and AZ. :-)
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HollyHope, I was close to half the size after the exchange. It worries me when doctors say you should tell them when you get to the TE size you like. I've read of a few women who didn't notice a difference, but I bet 95% of us would say the TE's were much bigger than the implant.
I really got to see the difference before the exchange because I had a TE on one side and an 800 cc permanent implant on the other side. Seriously, the TE looked about the same size as the implant when it got to be about 450 cc's. By the time I got up to 740 cc's in the TE, it was so much bigger than the implant that I had to add a mastectomy prosthesis into the bra on top of the implant to look the same size as the TE.
Re exchange recovery: while most will be fine in only a week or two, you will have significant restrictions for several more weeks. Even with a desk job, you will be shocked at the things you can't do at two weeks post-op. Pulling open a file drawer, picking up a ream of paper...the things you could do without noticing before will now make your body "complain." Also be prepared for the depression and buyers remorse that is so common after the exchange. It will pass, but you will find it kind of wears you out.
I did not bounce back quickly after the exchange. It took me 4 weeks before I felt ok physically and emotionally. I'm in the minority, however.
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My PS told me 4-6 weeks. Of course I am having a lift/reduction also.
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Sandra,
My PS was the same about filling TE's till you liked the size, which made no sense to me because when you start with nothing,I liked my shape after each fill, because I was getting shape. I was so uncomfortable with making that decision I finally told him you know what size I was and how much breast tissue was removed please make me that size which I was a 32 B before bc, I am 12 weeks out from exchange today and I still have some swelling in my upper chest area especially close to my arm pits and still a little painful a little boxy looking, I wonder if the boxy look will subside because it kinda looks like a body builders chest. but I do like the size in my lower part, I was filled to 500cc's and have 450 cc Sientra shaped silicone implants I'm 5' weigh 105 lb. PS said I will probably measure at a small C cup when it's all said and done, they are definitely smaller looking than my TE's. PS doesn't want to see me till I'm 6 months out then we will talk about any revisions.
I'm trying to be patient but find myself falling into anxiousness over this whole thing I just want to to look and feel normal again.
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Juneyb, Divecat posted a website for helping with bra sizing. Brasizecalculator.tk
I am 5'3" 108 and have Sientra shaped 425 and did my measurements and was awarded a 30D or 28DD (spot on Divecat😀). I am only 2 weeks out from exhange so I am not the one to offer advice but just encouraging words. Hang in there you'll get there! Many have!
Oh Sandra, once again spot on! Buyer's remorse, I have been hearing from DH and friends with these words, "embrace them"! It's just all so new and not used to the look. Along with the 30D!😀A little depression, but I think that stems from not being able to do my routine. I know that will all pass. As I have read, patience is hard.
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Hi ladies. How can I gain access to the photo gallery? My pre op is tomorrow and exchange on 7/25.
I am 8 moniths with my expanders, yes, I said 8!!!!
Thanks in advance!!!!!
Arizona, I'm truly happy read your posts. Great news.
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budrflygal - I had my TEs for 9 months so I get where you're coming from. While I did get used to the TEs and they didn't cause me any discomfort, they were quite bulbous which made side-sleeping difficult and obviously nowhere near natural looking so it was really nice to exchange to implants. You can PM Nowheregirl for information about the picture forum. There's one other gatekeeper but I can't remember the profile name right now. Best of luck with your upcoming exchange! Keep us posted.
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I believe Lilah is the other gatekeeper.
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That's it! I kept thinking 'Lilac' but knew it wasn't right.....
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Juney, ha ha, at first I too had what I called "man boobs." They were squarish. The edges rounded a bit and smoothed out over the next few months, but they are still quite wide.
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thanks sweet!! I emailed the moderator. Yes, bulbous is a good word to describe it. I am so used to feeling like this that I forgot what it feels like to "not" be uncomfortable. I'm sure you can all agree on that. I am a side sleeper and I always wake up with pain. But it's almost over!!! Yippy!!!
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budrfligal13- I am SO envious that your pre-op is tomorrow. Miine is next week and I am counting the days!! Bulbous...yes, that is a great description of these things.
You are getting so close...yippee!!
Ally
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My exchange surgery was this morning! I'm doing really well. The actual surgery took about an hour and a half, and I came home after two hours in recovery. I have very little pain on the left; more on the right because my PS had to do more work on that side. I haven't looked yet. I will do that tomorrow morning before my shower -- very curious to see the new nips too. Right now I'm just so tired and have been napping some.
Thought of something else to tell you all: my arm range of motion is very good!
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Congratulations Janett2014! Range of motion and recovery I found to be much easier than BMX. Don't be surprise if you see internal bruising days after. Rest up, you're on your way!
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Yay, Janett! Good to hear you are doing well!
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YAY, Janett2014! Welcome to the squishie side of life! Sleep whenever you need to, hydrate all the time, and take it very easy these first couple of weeks... you're going to be just fine!
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Olaf, Julie, and AZ, thanks for your comments! Yes, it was definitely easier than the BMX, and I think it might have even been easier than the lumpectomy. It's only been 11 hours though, so we will see how the next few days are.
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ok. Time for the repeat of our Mantra : Just because you can doesn't mean you SHOULD!
Jannette, I'm happy it was Easy for you. But please take it easy. You are healing inside and you don't want to do anything to retard your healing. Tearing internal stitches could set you back. So repeat the mantra every time you want to try something. Then you can do whatever you want but really please think about what you are doing. Ok. Mama is done scolding.... LOL
Congrats on making it to the squishy side!
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Moon, thanks for the reminder. I will take it easy but yes, it's difficult to do that when you feel almost normal!
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Janet, welcome to squishy side as the ladies have said!! It is so much more comfortable than the TEs!!
AZ, so happy you are doing well! I've been thinking of you, and wondering how Mommyathome is doing too.
I have been absent for a few weeks, as we went on vacation and then have had lots of company, plus I went back to work full time....I took 4 weeks off after exchange as my job is also very physical (staff RN) I am so much better now energy wise and pain wise. I still take the Neurontin for the nerve pain, but that is much improved also. I'm 6 weeks post exchange, and saw PS this week......he is recommending some revision on both sides due to a deep crease that appeared on the left side and a "dog ear" on the right side. He plans to do the nipples at the same time using the extra skin for grafting. I have to have prior authorization from insurance for the revision and will plan for sometime in August. He is hoping to get everything done, including tattooing (4 months after nipples) by the end of the year. Is this enough time for the drop and fluff, and healing to be done (don't want new nipples to be off kilter)!! I'm a big baby about being put under anesthesia again!
Healing is going well otherwise, besides a couple of stitch ends coming out at the end of the incisions! I will try to post updated pics on that site soon.
Thank you all for sharing your journeys, it is so helpful!! Love and hugs. There is an end in sight!!
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