Exchange City
Comments
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Thank you for the welcome AZ85048! I checked out the thread you recommended, what a wealth of information. I have my pre op appointment next Monday, the 23rd, so this is good timing.
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Obviously pain medication makes me babble.
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Thank you Elizabeththaw. This is the first time I'm looking forward to surgery! Of course, as the date comes closer, I'll be a nervous wreck.
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Thank you Elizabeththaw. This is the first time I'm looking forward to surgery! Of course, as the date comes closer, I'll be a nervous wreck.
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it is very exciting.mso mush softer and my under arm pain is gone. Those who have shared stories have made it much easier. I want to peek but I don't was to be disappointed. I know this isn't the final look. I don't know many who have had breast cancer and this website was my life line. When will your drains be removed?
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TeacherMom: My hospital put bands on both arms when I went into pre-op and they accessed veins via foot/ankle. Be sure to ask for a supervisor or charge nurse since many don't know how to put a line in there. Below is the link where I got my free LE bands.
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If I can feel little ripples on both of my implants is that a bad sign? It hasn't even been a week yet, so I suppose I have to give them time. Reassurance? I did re-read the information in the header part of this thread: "Step away from the mirror!"
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Hopefully drains will be removed Thursday when he takes all this gauze off. I am glad that we will be doing the unveiling at the Drs, that way if I faint in horror, I will already be at the docs. Taking my pain meds and hitting the hay for the night. Have good night all, and think happy foob thoughts
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I posted earlier but it didn't go through. At home resting and popping a lot of pills yes I'm sore but I did have exparel so I'm sure that is helping.
Everything went well I was in surgery for. 5 hours but I did have a lift, lipo and fat graffing too.
PS says there is a lot of intricate stitching involved. Super red from the fat grafting and they lipoed under my arm too and I guess that is bruising already. So happy to be on the other side, let the. Recovery begin .
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Frostecat, glad to hear all went well. I bet you're really looking forward to the unveiling.
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Still groggy from anesthesia and pain meds, but here's an update. Surgery went well and took about 4 hours. I am hoping this will be my last but my new PS, who I completely trust and love, said there's a lot of internal damage from radiation treatments. If I don't heal well or get an infection, my only option is the lat flap. I have two drains, the rads side is producing some, but the other side isn't. I'm pretty comfortable right now, but maybe that's the Norco! Barring any complications, he wants me to wait a year before any more surgery, so I can completely heal and bounce back, something I haven't done well. Goldie, I'm glad to hear you're doing well. Frostecat, hope your surgery went smoothly. Check in when you can.
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I looked at mine. How long does a drop and stuff take. The size is nice. But it looks flat. They are 475 cc 410ff
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Goldie it can take months. I am three weeks today and still pretty flat! Totally normal.
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Goldie,
It is different for anatomicals. You might have some settling into the pockets and relaxation of tissues which might change appearance some but your implants are form stable, pre-shaped, and textured (so all movement has to happen before the tissues adhere to textured shell) so won't drop and fluff the way rounds do, where as the tissues relax the silicone shifts to bottom of implant shell and fluffs out into a more teardrop shape, and the process can take months as the shells are smooth so there is no adherence between tissue and implant. My PS said most changes happen in first 3-6 months, but changes can still occur up to around a year after surgery. One of my sides did this process faster than the other, but are evened out now. I am just over 4 1/2 months out and they have done a lot of drop and fluff, but I expect there will still be some more changes over next while.
This graphic is for augmentation, so shows breast tissue we do not have after mastectomy, but shows the drop and fluff process in rounds. Just imagine a thinner layer of tissue over the implant:
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I guess I am kind of lucky, because I was sort of flat pre BC, and the projection of the TE's bothered me so much that I didnt even want to leave the house. Even though I cant see anything yet, I can tell they are much flatter then the TE's, and I am loving it. I can fit into my shirts again!!!
A women on a different site told me that she didnt wear a tight enough bra after exchange, and her implants migrated to under her arms. I am wrapped up very tight until post-op appt tomorrow, and even though PS has assured me that my implants are not going anywhere due to pocket work, it kinda freaked me out. I may need a hug!
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twoam - {{hugs}}
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AZ, you are wonderful.
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The most pain I am feeling right now is underneath the reconstructed breast where pocket work is done. I keep trying to move the bra and binding I have to reduce the pressure. That is my first pain level, followed by the liposuction - yowsa, followed by the lifted breast which really isn't bothering too much at this point in time.
Has anyone else experienced a great deal of pain in the pocket work area?
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divecat, thank you for that information! These are so much softer. Hopefully, my drains come out tomorrow.
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Frostecat, I'm glad to see you back. I've had pain in the pocket area after my last 2 revisions. Right now, everything is sore,but not too painful. My PS couldn't do fat grafting, because there was a lot of problems with my rads side from my previous PS' s work. I'm disappointed that the FG couldn't be done at this time, but I trust my new PS's opinion completely.
What kind of implants did you get? Rest up and update us when you can.
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Hello Ladies,
I'm going in for my exchange tomorrow and for some reason am so much more nervous than when I had my bmx. I think it's because I knew that the bmx was removing the tumors and I wanted them out! The exchange somehow feels "elective" although a colleague mentioned that it's hardly elective when I've been in pain from these damn TEs for months!
The ps is going to lipo the lovely love handles that have developed under my arms but said that the fg he wants to do will have to wait for later. Seems like they all do it differently!
Hope everyone is doing as well as possible
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Good luck tomorrow, teachermom! The exchange is a lot easier than the bmx. you'll be amazed at the difference. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow.
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teachermom, Hi, I had mine this afternoon and I am pleasantly surprised how good I feel. It is soo much easier than the BMX. I was really nervous too but not sure why now. Everyone said it was a lot easier, I guess I had to live it to believe it. It feels great to have those TE's gone! My nurse gave me a peek and they looked fine to me..they do look a little flat but I know that will change over time.
Good luck tomorrow!!
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Mischeif- welcome to the squishy side, do you know the style and volume of implant?0 -
cateyz2, thanks, definitely feels better than those TE's! I woke up with the Sientra textured shaped with round base 425cc. Little larger than we talked about but they don't look to big..my nurse gave me a little peek when she checked my insicions before I left. They do look a little flat but I know things will change over the next few months. I am not concerned.
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I had what I hope to be my last fill today and will likely have the exchange surgery in December. I am 59 and heavy, so I wasn't fortunate to have a model's body prior to all of this. I feel I just want the new one to be a close match to the old one but my doctor insists I need a lift on the old one. I can't see adding pain to the other side, so I'm not convinced. I would like to hear your experiences with a lift or if you choose not to have one. Also, did everybody have nipple reconstruction?
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Dear angelina50, welcome to BCO, we are glad you found us. It is a very stressful time but often
talking with others can help.You could read the Reconstruction stories and options on BCO
and ask questions.All the best making the best decision for your own situation.
The Mods
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Mischief - So glad that you are feeling well!!!
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Angelia - I am a Uni too, which sounds like you are. I just had exchange and lipo Two days ago. Let me tell you, don't let the lift scare you, that is the least amount of pain that I am in now. My pocket work on the TE side, and fat grafting hurt the most, followed closely by the lipo I had. I am 54 and had 42D breast, there was no way I wanted to be that size again so for me a lift was a no brainer. I don't know what your body type looks like, but for me, with my age and gravity was there was no he was going to match the reconstructed side without it.
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Twoam- I am sending you hugs. My drains are out and my implants exceeded my expections. I feel so much better. No more TE pain under my arms!!!
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