Exchange City
Comments
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Good advice already shared here. It's a temptation to lift too much too soon, especially when your incisions look healed. They are just the tip of the iceberg...there's much healing to be done below the skin and that part takes longer. Some doctors say don't pick up more than 5 pounds for 2 weeks, 4 weeks, or longer. Other doctors have different guidelines. After 5 surgeries, I've noticed that healing can be different each time - even though the operations themselves were similar. I have one side that is more fragile than the other and have learned the hard way, actually tearing internal sutures! Put imaginary glue on your sides and press on your arms from armpit to elbow. Don't reach out. T-rex arms keep you out of trouble for the early weeks.
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My friends here. I posted a very long post on January sisters about debating whether to do fat graphing and possibly some pocket work. I'd you have a chance please read it and provide feedback as I debate whether or not to do this. Thanks!!0
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I'm encouraged by all of you going thru multiple surgeries -- this IS a long haul! At least here, I don't feel like I'm the only one...
Skoolgirljen , I agree with the rest -- that you should follow your own PS's advice. My PS's first concern was to maintain good blood circulation (so didn't want anything too tight or with pressure spots), but she also wanted reasonable support.
CLYDAY , I had surgery to put smaller implants in, and it was covered by insurance. My PS's office staff said it entirely depends on the insurance company. I hope yours covers it -- it makes such a difference to be the size we're comfortable with!
I'm having surgery next week to replace the anatomicals with round. I'm very small-busted, and the anatomicals don't look right on me. Odd, because the anatomicals seem to work so well on other women.
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Went today to do blood work for my Dec. 10th exchange surgery..getting nervous..SO tired of being uncomfortable with these tissue expanders..pain comes and goes..now I'm getting emotional about the exchange..reality is sinking in...no more breast..but hey, I'm ALIVE!! Damn Cancer!
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Had my 4 week checkup with the PS today. He is happy with how things are looking - so am I; so much better than it was prior. There may be some more revision work in my future yet again; may get to punch that 'frequent flier' card.
Still have to take it easy but I am allowed back to the gym to start doing cardio and lower body weight training. In another 4 weeks I can start upper body training again ... but with "VERY light weights" boo! But I can be free of the bra in another 2 weeks - yipee!
It is so hard to listen and not do much especially when you feel good, but I guess we all need to listen and be good little girls hehe.
Good night and take care ladies.
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How long did you have to take off work to recover from the exchange surgery? I don't finish chemo until January, then I have to wait awhile after that for the surgery. So tired of these expanders
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Leslienva - I took just short of 2 weeks off. I think it really depends on each individual. I am a P.E. teacher and my doc knows me and he insisted that I take that much time off because it would be too tempting for me to start doing stuff too quickly. Honestly I felt really good within a few days, and really like normal within about 7.
Good luck with your exchange!
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Thanks, Kaos. I've been out on short-term disability for my mastectomy and chemo so I'm trying to decide when to go back. Glad to hear your exchange surgery went well!
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I had a bilateral bmx in May and just had my exchange last month. I am unhappy with the size of my implants and my mastectomy scar has a dart or weird flat part. I also have ripples on the one side. Just wondering if anyone has experienced these same things. Would also like to see what good reconstruction results look like to have something to compare with. Thanks Sandy
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sandgar,
Do you have access to the picture forum? If not you can request. It is not immediate access. There you will see all kinds of reconstruction which might help you evaluate your own.
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After 3 rounds of exchange all I can say is you have to be so patient and wait months to see how they will pretty much end up. I think 6 months after my switch to rounds in May I could see the shape and where they dropped to. Now I got one side enlarged to match the other and it is higher, but I know itll drop (I figure) and end up down near the side done in May...so try not to look now and feel they are done!
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I'm two years out. After a year I was still thinking about revisions & tucks & corrections. Now my scars (horizontal across the middle of both breasts) do not show at all. The PT who's working w/my radiation fibrosis & lymhadema says she has a hard time even finding them. So all I want now if for the breast w/implant that has not had radiation to be as perky looking as the breast w/implant that's tightened up w/rads.
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MinusTwo, I'm glad to hear that your scars have faded. I was wondering how long it would take. Mine have lightened some, but it's nice to know that they will continue to fade.
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Olaf, they can't grant access to the picture forum yet since I am new here.
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sandgar, just keep posting and you will be granted entry. In the meantime just give the foobs time to settle.
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Sandgar, in the meantime, there are plenty of pictures of breast reconstruction if you go to Google Images.
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Hi! I am new to this thread. I am scheduled for my dual exchange on Dec. 29. Praying all goes well and that the historically misbehaving left side decides to quit acting up! Great PS, no probs with fills. Reading all the previous posts to make sure I have questions to ask before the exchange. I am excited, though, because I am so ready to be "done". Aren't we all?
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Hi all,
Have lurked on this thread for a long time.
I had immediate implants about 6 weeks ago and all went great. So I'm not an exchange patient, but have a question about implants that some here might be able to address.
My PS suggested implant massage at my last visit a week ago. His PA demonstrated the technique. I forgot to ask what the purpose of this is. Can anyone explain?
Immediate implants btw are implants that go behind the pec muscle during the BMX or in my case 8 days after the BMX. Am 5'5, 120 lbs and had 500 cc Mentor silicone rounds put in. They look good but am confused at to the purpose of massaging them in.
Also, with my immediate implants there were no issues with 'drop and fluff'. They were in their correct placement immediately after surgery and haven't changed. Very symmetrical etc...Just wondering about the reason for massage.
Thanks all...
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Massaging can soften the implant but main reason I have been told is to prevent capsular contracture which would require surgery to correct. My PS told me to do in the shower daily forever.0 -
Just noticed a tiny bump on top of my skin next to implant on non-cancer side and am concerned. Had my exchange a month ago. Has anyone experienced this?
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Very, very few of us were told to massage our implants. In fact, just the opposite. We turned out fine. Massage used to be recommended for breast augmentation because of capsular contraction, but modern implants for breast cancer reconstruction are not likely to have that complication. I think it's just like all the other "you MUST do this" things that plastic surgeons have different opinions on. Name a subject and you'll get 20 different ways of doing it including extremely opposite points of view like tight ace bandages and no showers until drains are out vs. no bra and shower right away, even with drains. All I can say is that there are many reports of successful reconstruction by women who followed all these different "rules" that it is apparent there is no right way or wrong way. If there was ONE path to success, it would be written about extensively and Breastcancer.org would certainly know about it.
This is why we must ask questions. Perhaps the reason is because your case is slightly different in ways they never informed you about and certain procedures are necessary. Don't just disregard your doctors advice. Ask him/her what the consequences of doing it/not doing it will be. Sometimes it's just a preference. Show the PS an article or talk to him/her about conflicting advice. Do your research! Ask questions! For instance, this time I had to wear a bra 24/7 for two months but never had to wear a bra at all after the previous 5 surgeries with the same PS. There was a good reason why it was necessary this time. I asked.
Yesterday I saw my PS for a 2 month checkup. He was delighted and proclaimed October surgery #5 a success. My own tissue has grown into the grafted AlloDerm "scaffolding." The implants are staying put and as a bonus, look good too. He gave me an early Christmas present - the final surgery is scheduled for December 19th. My remaining mud flap will be removed and I'll have fat grafting to the divots on my left side from the many repair surgeries and more fat grafting to "low water crossings" across my chest from the BMX 15 months ago. I was sure none of this would happen for another month or two, so it was a surprise.
Yesterday was my birthday too, so it was a good day. A friend from another BC.org thread came to San Antonio on a short vacation and I met her for lunch. It's so cool to meet someone you already feel close to for the first time. Whenever we are traveling I always make it a point to meet a nearby sister.
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I am another that was told to massage, also to prevent capsular contracture and reduce scar tissue.
sandra - congrats on getting the upcoming surgery on the books, and belated happy birthday!
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Great news Sandra! and Happy Belated Birthday sista! I love when we get to meet fellow sista's from this site.
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OceanSky:
I had direct to implant surgery as well, except no delay at all between BMX and their placement as they were put in immediately after the BMX, and also have smooth rounds (435cc). I was also advised to massage after a few weeks (I had Alloderm so my PS did not want me massaging right away). At first quite gently, but after a few months was encouraged to be a bit more aggressive with the massage. The reason is to keep the capsules that form around the implant over time softened, and the implant moveable within that capsule, to hopefully stave away capsular contracture or scar tissue. There was also the benefit of massaging my muscles to help them relax over implants a bit. In my case once my incisions were healed, I was also encouraged to gently massage along the scars to break up any scar tissue. I actually did notice some bands of scar tissue soften/ break up with massage in both the scar lines and implant itself.
I am doing a swap in the new year to anatomicals and already know that my instructions will be NOT to massage those as in that case you want the tissues to adhere to the textured surface of the implants to help prevent movement and rotation.
I by the way DID have drop and fluff with my implants, but most of the changes took place over several months, not so much weeks.
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Divecat why are you switching to anatomicals? I asked about them before exchange and he shook his head no. I have allergen round hp 425cc and am not totally happy. I also have a small dart at the end of one incision and a ripple in the other.
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Is anyone on here in Northwest Indiana? Did anyone have Dr David Robinson as their ps?
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My PS mentioned that he could do the exchange and implant on good side through either a IMF incision or an anchor type incision. Did any of you choose or did you let your PS decide. I don't know what's better and what type did you end up with?
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sandgar,
I am switching to try and see if we can remedy some of the issues I have with rippling and denting on one of my sides. I have a deep dent (which I call Dentina, as I am not very original) on the outside upper quadrant of my right breast that is present at all times and some other cosmetic ripples and dents. My PS also suggested trying fat grafting, but I want to try the anatomicals first and see if that rectifies the issue. I know some rippling is a risk - the rippling on my "good side" is quite livable and acceptable to me but the "bad side" is not good. The anatomicals of course are more form stable and while some traction rippling is possible, they are less likely to have the kind of contour deformities I am having.
Are you pretty soon out of exchange? Do give them some time to settle in, mine changed a lot over the first few months.
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kfinnigan,
I understand that by "good breast" you mean your healthy breast - you had a UMX?
Unless your PS needs the anchor incision for some particular reason - like to lift the breast or move the nipple, I would go for the IMF. I had IMF incisions for my nipple-sparing BMX/Reconstruction and you can't see the scars at all as they are hidden in the IMF (well you can see the upper corner of one but that is just because it comes a little higher than my IMF and is still a little pink. I am not sure what the benefit of doing an anchor incision would be if you do not need to have your breast lifted/nipple moved or something as it is a lot more incisions/scarring and wound healing; also includes more cutting around nipple which can put it at risk of necrosis or loss of sensation.
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Thanks DiveCat! yes by "good breast" I meant healthy breast, I had a UMX 7/2008 and had a lat dorsi flap 6/2014 so will have exchange of TE on lat flap side and a small implant on healthy breast. My PS had mentioned the different incisions at our initial visit but the last 3 fills (I'm done filling now) he kept checking my fold on the lat flap side, so I'm assuming he will do the IMF incision on both. But I wondered about it. Thanks for your info!
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