Exchange City
Comments
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Yay!! Babyo. So good you are happy with your results!! Rest!!
Bethq, welcome to squishy side!! Rest and enjoy. Sure thought about you ladies on your big day
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Babyo and Bethq - happy to hear you are on the other side. Wishing you speedy recoveries!
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so I did not receive any instructions on sleeping so not sure. I was in TE recliner last night but I read where some of you were told to sleep on your backs for some reason to keep them in place. What have you all done? Know to use pillows under arms but that's all! After showering do you put gauze back in or anything on the incision or just leave it as is since it's not healed yet? Maybe he told me but I was out of it! What about lifting hands over head? I guess if we can shower then we can do that!
Just want to be sure I do what's best so everything heals right. This is nothing compared to before so loving it. Just want my arms to be in positions that is best for healing. Thanks for all your good thoughts with this!
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Your all the best. Even though I probably was being very repetitive it was better having you there to guide me along with all this. Glad this exists! This is good !
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I plan to keep sleeping on my back for awhile- maybe a month or 2. I had steri strips for about 13 days but the ps removed those and the stitches. She told me to wear a bra 24/7, non underwire, for a month. She also said to start massaging the implants in little 2 inch circles but avoid the incisions for another 2 weeks. Today I am 2 weeks post exchange.
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so do I need to even be in a chair? I guess since it was easier than laying in bed since it was hard to get up after BMX that igneous be the same. Is being elevated like that going to affect my outcome? I am usually a back sleeper but sometimes do my sides. Do you out pillows on your side to avoid rolling over? Also do you have a hard time getting out of bed right after?
Thanks! Wondering what everyone did!
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babyo - aside from any specific instructions your PS gave you (any that you can remember, anyway...lol) I think it's mostly a 'do what's comfortable for you' sorta thing. I tried to sleep in the recliner the first night but didn't need to (it brought back bad memories anyway)......switched to the sofa for the first few nights and was very comfortable.
I wasn't allowed to shower until drain tubes had been out for 1 day or two. Don't do any above the shoulders reaching or stretching unless absolutely necessary and even then be very careful. Don't wanna put stress on either your external or internal incisions.
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When we think of bed sleeping we think of flat on back- you want to be sitting up more in bed, or reclining against another pillow heap. It really is what ever is comfortable. Id say they dont want you sleeping on your stomach to squash the work, but thats out of the question anyway! Pillows under arms, and I did under my legs like in hospital for awhle too. After some time, weeks, I tried to move to my side bit by big-- clutched a small pillow 'between' the tes and finally after a few months was comfortable on my side....
I think it is a real do what is comfortable thing...but if your ps gives you specific bra instructions, etc - follow that. I couldnt shower til after the drains were out, so lifting arms wasnt much issue..do look in to excercises for range of motion (rom), and how soon you can start.
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Dive-Cat - I find your feedback enlightening and encouraging. I never had any pain of any kind after revision, and have no rippling. But the gummies felt a little too big for me from the start. I told PS I wanted to stay Snall B cup but I ended up with a large B. I think PS was hoping my skin would stretch a little more. That difference in size, although not too big, has been enough to create discomfort. My fear is to develop new problems after a first revision and enter a cycle of multiple revisions. I dread surgery but I am leaning towards it after reading yours (and other) helpful posts. Thanks so much!
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Babyo and Bethq - congratulations! So great you are now on the other side. Wishing you speedy recoveries and lots of support during the first month post-surgery!
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Baby, have someone call your doctor's office and find out what restrictions you have. It's important that you follow his/her rules. All surgeons have their own special ways of handling recovery.
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Yes, I've had both rounds and gummies and really haven't noticed much difference. The gummies are taller and a tad more firm, but still qualify as "squishy."
There has been no rippling or migration on the right side. That's my "normal" side...ok, maybe not normal since I do have implants, but a heck of a lot more normal than the left side. My breast surgeon was very thorough with the BMX and really "cleaned out" the breast tissue from my clavicle down, leaving me with little more than ribs with some skin over them. While I appreciate his careful attention to detail, he left me with no padding under my skin, especially on the left. There have been ripples on that side, even with the anatomically shaped gummies. It's the damn thin skin. My PS says some fat grafting will fix all that with surgery #6. Surgery #5 is next month and the PS will once again try to fix the left side. The implant likes to migrate and this time the pain is because it has moved too close to the other side. While I don't have a uni-boob, there is less than one finger-width between them now.Although gummies have a slightly higher rate of rotation, it's still low so that shouldn't discourage anyone. Your PS needs to be experienced with 410's and must create a pocket that holds the implant perfectly or risk rotation. My problem is because the implant doesn't quite fit the pocket. He may use Alloderm this time, which I'm not looking forward to. The infection I had caused a loss of soft tissue and muscle so that side is not shaped right anymore. This causes stress on the pocket and chest muscles so the implant moves. For the PS, it's an uphill battle. He's worked on that side with every surgery but it is still a work in progress. The other side (the "normal" one) is fine. No movement, no rotation, no problems whatsoever. That's the way yours will be if you chose gummy bears. No reason to think there will be any more trouble with them than rounds.
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been doing some reading on drop and fluff so wondering where there are good examples of pictures on the other site. I have looked but font see a specific thread on it. Also, I get the drop , it looks more natural right? Rather than go out it gets more in the lower part of the chest rather than the upper ploe. Either fluff you go out more, is that right? Like project more but how much size does it typically add to what you are?
Obviously I am still swelling which willtake awhile to go down but is the drop and fluff typically close to the size your swollen to or is the fluff just means that you get bigger all over? I like how itbis now, even though I haven't looked yet, but dread being bigger. Told him I liked the size but it's as big as I wanted when I should have said smaller. If he matched the size and then there is drop and fluff it will be bigger.
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I guess another question I have is how does what the expander siZe was relate to implant size. Meaning my expander was 11.7 cm wide and 6.6 cm projection but was overfilled by 100 cc in the end. So I was projected farther than that. Now my imants are 12 cm wide and 6.1 projection so does that mean I will be at or smaller than I was with the expanders or no relation or unsure of it?
Also, like expanders can be overfilled can the final size of the implants be bigger than what the measurements are or is it all dependent on pocket work or how the muscle acts?
Just curious about this.
Thank you!
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Sandra4611 - thank you for your detailed response. I am sorry you had to go through so many surgeries and discomfort. If you wear a tank top, can you see your chest troubles in the upper pole? I too was "cleaned out" pretty good and my previously bony chest is now markedly bony. My PS is at a university center where rounds were the standard for decades, until last year. Maybe I should choose rounds (instead of smaller gummies) to increase my chances of success? I'm finally leaning towards surgery and now I'm driving myself crazy debating over smaller gummies versus rounds! Before I posted my question here, I had almost decided to live with my current gummies. It is so helpful to read about other experiences and suggestions, that I am now moving in the other direction - thanks!
Babyo - glad you asked those questions, I'd like to read answers too!
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Hello everyone! Well, it looks like I'm back. Long story short, BMX in September 2012, exchange to implants July 2013, revision January 2014. My radiated side has been bothering me, so I went to a new PS, who does extensive work with BC patients. I was going to have a unilateral DIEP on September 9, but my CT scan came back showing my veins are very small, and PS thinks there's a risk involved with it, so it's back to square one.
I'm really disappointed about the DIEP, but trust this surgeon, so instead of the DIEP on September 9, he'll be exchanging both implants for anatomicals,removing a lot of scar tissue, and do some fat grafting. He already said I'd have a drain, so hopefully it won't be there for too long.
I wish everyone quick healing and a great outcome!
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Nissa, yes it's painfully obvious that something is wrong with my chest. It's literally skin over bone with some serious dents. From the side I look like a letter b. It was bruised badly after the BMX and is still very sore to the touch a year later. I can't wait until I get fat grafting.
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Sandra, you had rounds that were exchanged for anatomicals? Did you need a lot of pocket work so they'd fit correctly? Are you happy with how they feel and look? I'm having g my rounds exchanged for anatomicals in a couple of weeks and was wondering what to expect.
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Andrea.....I thought of you often, wondering how you were doing.....I am sorry you have to go through another surgery....but I know you will do great. HUGS
I will have revision #3 at some time....anemia it weighing more on my mind now.....
Babyo, I don't think I heard of someone getting "bigger" with drop and fluff
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Hi Di! How have you been? I think this will be my last surgery unless there is more fat grafting needed. I am so ready to move on!
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Please add me to the list! I have my exchange on Sept 8. I will have Naturelle 410. I had implants before so I hope the recovery is similar. I am so excited. I have had expanders too long. I am nervous to have another recovery but I will be happy to have squishes.
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Goldie, I am Sept 8th also, and will be getting the 410s! Hopefully, I should add lol.
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Yay, lots of gummy bear girls here today. Welcome to the club. Andrea, whether you'll need more pocket work will depend on the exact measurements of your tissue expanders vs. which size implant you will get. There are a number of different styles of Allergan Natrelle 410 Highly Cohesive Anatomically Shaped Silicone-Filled Breast Implants. (Yes, that's the official name...no wonder we call them gummy bears or 410's.) Go to Breast Implant Sizing 101 and look at the bottom of the long header for the links to the manufacturers specifications. Find your particular type of TE and then go to the section on 410's to see how close the numbers are. Obviously if you have pockets created for a TE or previous implant that are much different than the new implant, some pocket work will need to be done so they won't tend to rotate.
Example: My pockets were created the same day as my BMX since I had Direct to Permanent Implants. I had Natrelle Style 20 800 cc silicone rounds which are 15.3 cm wide, 6.02 cm high, with a 6.1 cm projection. (2.4 inches.) When I lost my left implant, I got an Allergan Style 133MX-15 700cc tissue expander which is 15.0 cm wide, 14 cm high, with a projection of 8.1 cm (about 3.18 inches.) It was expanded to 740 cc's and then at the exchange, both sides were changed out for the largest 410 available, Style FF (for full height/full projection) at the top end size of 740 grams (= 740 cc's.) These gummy bears are 15.5 cm wide, 16 cm high, with projection of 6.2 (2.4 inches...the same projection as the rounds I started with but MUCH less than the TE hooker-boob projection.) Some pocket work was necessary even though the rounds and gummies are so close in width (15.3 cm vs. 15.5 cm.) You wouldn't think that tiny amount would make a difference. Remember, a whole centimeter is only a bit over 1/3rd of an inch. (1 cm = .393701 inches) Since TE's are tall, gummies won't be noticeable. If you go from rounds to gummies without TE's in between, however, you'll notice a big difference in how high they come up on your chest. (my right side implant is 10 cm higher!) Otherwise, they look identical. They stick out the same amount as the rounds.
So the answer to your question of will you need pocket work is, ????? Ask your doctor what style and size gummies he plans to use and how much pocket work you might need. I've had pocket work on every single one of my surgeries and will again on #5 next month.
If you are worried about increased pain from pocket work, you need to remember to ask your PS to inject Exparel. It's a fabulous anesthetic that's injected into the incisions at the end of the surgery. It foams up and gives at least 3 full days of pain relief. Wonderful. Made a huge difference with my last surgery. I'll never be without it again.
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Sandra, I had exparel for my BMX and asked for it again for my exchange. My PS said, "No you won't need it." I think she was right. I have some soreness and tightness but overall, it's been pretty easy. I think it is very expensive so that is another reason for her not to use it.
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I had a tough time with exchange recovery. It took me a full 4 weeks to turn the corner. You never know. The pocket work threw me for a loop and I swore the PS had hit me in the ribs with a baseball bat. I've had pocket work on other surgeries and it wasn't bad. Guess you can never tell. Anyway, for the next surgery after the exchange, I asked for and got Exparel. Heaven!! Did I "need" it? Would I have had another difficult recovery without it? I don't know, probably not. But I do know it was 100% better than any of my previous surgeries. (Remember, I'm the one allergic to all pain meds except Tylenol.) I'll never take the chance again. Exparel rocks!
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I wish I had gotten it. I think it totally made a difference with the BMX. She didn't give me valium either, just norco. I had a few leftover so it was ok.
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Thank you for the information, Sandra. I don't have TEs, I was exchanged to implants last year, but had capsular contracture on my rads side, so last January, the scar tissue was removed and a smaller implant put in. My rads side still bothers me, and I feel the implants are too round, like a couple of grapefruit halves under my muscle. I'm now seeing a new PS, who works extensively with BC patients. I wanted to do a DIEP, but my CT scan showed my abdominal veins were very small, and he was concerned about healing because of that. so, he's going to remove both implants, clean up the scar tissue, and put n the anatomicals. It never occurred to me to ask if he was going to use the 410 or the Sientra. Right now, I have Natrelle 20, 350cc implants.
I hadn't heard of exparel, but I'll definitely ask about it. It sounds great!
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anyone on here get exchanged to an ultra mentor implant? I haven't seen many on this site so wondering for those who have how the projection holds and what to expect as far as settling goes since they are not as wide as the others. If there are any members who had them that may no longer be active on the list I would love to chat with them. Thanks!
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Hello ladies....I finally have my exchange surgery Oct. 29th and will more than likely have fat grafting at the time of exchange...think from my tummy. Cam anyone give me some insight as what to expect? ! Thanks
Cherri
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Hi Andrea....I was recently thinking of you recently.....sorry to read you have to have another surgery.
I need another revision too, but have putting it off.
One foob is okay other that the "muscle squish" in my former "shar pei"...now I call "Grimace" when a muscle flex happens ......but looks somewhat normal when I bend over,other than the PS nipple went FLAT
"SCREAMING muppet mouth" turned into "Floppy" (named by my PS)....and looks flat & like " wwww" when I bend over....YUK! nipple is 2.5 CM lower than the flat nipple too.
Hug,
Di
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