Exchange City
Comments
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Good luck today, Sandra! Let's hope number five will be the last!
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Good Luck Sandra - hoping everything goes smoothly for you!
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Sandra - you're in my thoughts & prayers.
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Good luck Sandra -- #5 will be the lucky one!
I had my exchange yesterday! All going well. 535cc Anatomicals. All went as expected. 50% less pain than the BMX. Soooo relieved to have it over, less pain etc… another step over along the journey. Watching MLB playoffs -- good couple of weeks for recovery.
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Wishing Sandra & everyone well!
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Sandra hope all went well today and your resting comfortably
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Sandra, sending healing hugz and resting comfortably 😋.,,,, J
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Sandra hoping all went well today ! Remember, we're all there for you!!!!
Sailon -so happy all is good with you!!
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Sandra, thinking of you!
Yesterday was my final fill! He overfilled and squeezed in 40 more cc's so I'm at 310 cc's, throbbing since that fill. I am really uneven again and have to find another piece to stuff in the right side of the bra I've been wearing. He said 6 weeks is the minimum time to wait for exchange for me, he said radiated skin likes to recoil and shrink. It had softened up quite a bit in the 3 weeks since I last saw him and is once again tight and painful on the side. He looked at my back scar too (I had a Lat Flap with TE placement June 25th), I told him I've been sore and he said I have no fat back there so when I lean on anything I'm feeling my ribs. He will fix a couple of areas at exchange - one area on back that left a little flap of skin at the end of the scar and my flap is raised up on one side of the boob, he will fix all that and I will get a small implant on my good right side to give me symmetry. Looking at the calendar and trying to plan. Moving along!
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Kfinnigan, how's your lat flap doing? I'm considering a uni for next year, due to my rads side giving me trouble. Did you have any previous reconstruction? I want the lat flap, but it scares me from some of the stories I've heard. I hope the six weeks will go by quickly for you so you can get rid of that TE!
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sailon glad to hear everything went and is going well! Welcome to the squishy side!
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Sandra hope your surgery was a success and you are relaxing and recovering. One of your posts hit home for me in regard to something I'm dealing with right now. I had my exchange June 2. About two weeks ago I've noticed some swelling near my arm pit and like a flattening at the top of my breast... It's kind of - if you put your hand near your collar and moved down toward breast- its swelling, flattening, implant. My pa and ps said its because they removed the fat/tissue and my skin is rather thin. It can be "fixed" with fat grafting. Could there be any other reason for this? Is this something I should be concerned about?
I hope you are doing well and get the results you want and deserve!!
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Thinking of you Sandra. Sending good vibes and lots of prayers.
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Congrats, Sailon!
Sandra, I hope you are resting and feeling well.
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Divecat - thank you for that explanation. That makes sense; it def feel like the rippling is coming from the implant not being able to "fluff" out…but feels like it's a little squished in the pocket. My PS is very sweet, but my issue with her is she seems to not want to hear anything that may be negative. When I mention concerns, she usually says, "Well I don't don't really see anything…and kind of changes the subject or says don't worry about anything now." I guess it is early, so maybe I should relax and wait to heal more.
Sandra - I hope your surgery went well and you're recovering nicely.
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Frostecat -- I am happy to be on the squishy side. It is a relief even with pain etc.. right now. Pain is not to bad.
Mommyathome -- is does seem odd you PS would prefer to not talk about details etc…. it has been since June 2nd. That's 4 months. Time enough for "things" to settle in a bit etc… I am sticking to the rule of don't really assess what I have here for a few months. That has always been the coaching from folks on these forums. But 4 months -- I would say all bets are off and you are allowed to ask and or discuss anything!
Sandra -- I hope you are doing ok --- and that you are coming out of the surgery fog.
It's college football day and MLB playoffs -- nothing like a good Saturday to sit back and watch sports on Vicoden! I will get just as many calls right as the "Guys in NY" (Guido, Paulo and Giovanni and their mama who sorts things out if there isn't agreement.) that rule on the baseball calls when someone thinks the empires got it wrong. Looking forward to another day of new boobs settling in!
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RAM- my PS used sizers. I had no idea what size or type of implant I was getting until I woke up from the exchange but my PS did a fantastic job. I had my exchange in April and my implants have looked the same since day one. I know that is not the case with others but it was with me.
I think someone else mentioned rippling on their radiated side. I have a small amount of rippling on my radiated side because my skin is so then there (so thin that my PS will not do the nipple procedure but instead recommended 3D tattooing). My rippling comes and goes and in general it is something that I have just gotten used to so at this time see no need for fat grafting because I really would rather not have another surgery (no matter how minor it is).
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Anyone else take awhile for their scar to heal up after the exchange?? I had my exchange in April and the scar on my left side has been healed up and turned white months ago but my right side continues to remain quite red. My PS said it could take up to 8 months to heal so I am not too concerned but it has barely changed in color since the surgery so I was wondering if anyone else had the same experience. Thanks!
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gindugirl check with your insurance company. They can tell you where one is. That is how I got the names of the two I went too. So helpful and they did not stop until thy found one that fit and then gave me a hug after.
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Hipz, I had my BMX in March and still have redness on parts of the scars (areas not opened up during my 8/8 exchange surgery). My PS said I have "hyperpigmented scars." I'm just not a good healer. I have pictures in the picture forum. I'm hoping they'll look better in a few months.
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What does it mean if the incision scar is purple? Had BMx jan 29 and exchange June 2...
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I have another question for you ladies. Did anyone encounter bowed ribs from the pressure of their TEs? My PS told my DH after my exchange surgery that my ribs were significantly bowed but that they should curve back out within a few months. Just another reason to celebrate the exchange to implants!
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Jill, I never heard of bowed ribs. I hope they fix themselves like your PS said.
Mommyathome, I think purple means they are still healing or maybe they are hyperpigmented like mine. I think lasers are an option if they continue to be dark. I believe I read it can take up to 2 years for scars to fade.
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Thanks ladies. I am not going to worry about my scars until I am 1 year post exchange next April. I was just wondering mostly because one side is all healed up and has been for months - stragely it is my radiated side.
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Jil MN, my PS told me he has seen that, as there is extreme pressure with TEs. I myself did not have it but rest assure that it does happen. So, in other words no worries.
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Jill MN,
By bowed ribs, do u mean like one sticks out more than the other like its swollen? I've had that since BMx January 29. My bs and ps insist its not from my surgery. Their response has been that we did surgery on your breast, that wouldn't cause this. Also on the same side I have swelling on my abdomen. I've had physical therapist look at it to see if it's truncal lymph edema but she said no.
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The third time really was the charm. Surgery #5 is now in the books. PS said pockets were too big so they were re-done to hold the 740 cc FF 410's tighter. Implants had bottomed out so fresh new set was positioned several inches higher and Alloderm was placed. It took two plastic surgeons three and a half hours. Trouble left side with it's super thin skin is getting that lavender color in a couple of spots which worries me because when I had the infection after the BMX, I saw that same yucky color. Capillary refill response is barely adequate but PS is optimistic. No fever. No sign of infection. Other side is fine, as usual. I do have a drain on that side. PS said it was much more vascular than the trouble left. I had two "leaks" last night but gushing blood from drain entry site was stopped. No more trouble today. This pain feels like it did after the BMX in spite of having Exparel this time. When I stand up it's pretty fierce and I have some shaking but I'm managing. Tylenol is no match for the pain but I know it will get better. Sure do wish I could take something else but I'm deathly allergic to all narcotics and opiates.
My signs that remind staff to wash their hands are working. Hospital staff couldn't be nicer. PS did not remove oversized left mud flap after all. He didn't want to do anything else on the left side. He will fix it in surgery #6 in a few months. That should be the last one. I'll get fat grafting then.
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Been thinking about, and praying for you Sandra
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Sandra, I'm so glad you checked in. I've been thinking of you a lot. Wow, you really had a lot of work done! I'm sending lots of healthy healing vibes your way. Rest up now.
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Great to hear from you Sandra, and so glad everything FINALLY went well for you! Keep us posted on your recovery!
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