Exchange City
Comments
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- Stphaniegee, i am 5 weeks post EX. I was bound tightly the first week. Then at post op was instructed to wear sports bra 24/7 except to shower for 6 weeks. It helps keep your foobs in the pockets and helps to prevent migration. I can't imagine not wearing it. I have gummies and I want them to stay put and fall into place. Robin
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Stephanie gee
I had fat grafting at my exchange because I have a very bony chest and the PS filled in the area above the implant to soften the edges so the implant can't be seen. My pectoral muscles are also less obvious now with a layer of fat over them. We'll see how much stays.
I asked before my exchange if I would be put in a bra after surgery and I was told only if he did a lot of fat grafting. I woke up with no bra on so I haven't worn one. My exchange to the 410 gummy bear implants was 4/2. I also didn't need to wear one with my TEs. If I did it was wireless or a sports bra.
Good luck with your exchange!
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Hi Stephanie. I had my exchange on 3/6. My ps surgeon said bra for 3 months. Although I have noticed that post op instructions vary greatly between surgeons😀 Just follow you surgeons advice. It's less confusing that way. I have 700ml mentor memory gels which weigh about 1.5 pounds each, so I wear a bra for support and comfort. I don't want my man made breasts going too far south, lol. My natural breast were about 1 pound each, so I can definitely feel the difference. My ps offered fat grafting for down the road to fill in the flat areas and dents if needed. I am going to let everything settle for at least 6 months first. I need a reconstruction free summer. Wishing you a great result.
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What is the recover period for exchange to implants? Anyone have reconstruction on their good breast done the same time as the exchange to make things symetrical?
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momwriter- I can do lower body/legs fine with no issues, but no core or upper body. I can raise my hands above my head to wash hair and put shirts on, but that's about it. No weighted overhead stuff. Nothing the engages the pecs and that includes ab/core exercises. Believe me I tried to find something I could do, but everything engaged my pecs. I even consulted with a PT friend and she confirmed that pecs are part of the core, so just stick to cardio and legs.
ThinkingPositive - usually when TEs are placed the lattimus dorsi muscle is cut to create the pocket. If you google an image of it, you'll know exactly why you experienced all the back and shoulder pain. I did a lot of yoga stretching and massage to help release the tightness in that muscle. It helped immensely. My exchange incision was inframamary and I've not had that issue this time round. Whew! It was sooo much easier!
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Hi everyone new to thread but not to the site..I had my exchange yesterday,although the pain isn't bad now lastnite I had terrible pain in my arms! ?! Have any of you expedienced this? My arms hurt more than my breast/chest!
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Hi enlm20Erica,
I had my exchange last Thursday on my left breast. My left arm really ached. I think they have to strap it down hard to do all their work and don't realize the pressure or the pull on it. It was much better have a couple of days, and today, 5 days out, doesn't bother me.
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Momwriter, did you have any reconstruction on your other? You only had mastectomy on left side, correct? I am trying to decide about reconstruction on the good side. Hoping to hear from others who may have had other side done as well, maybe reduction, implant to lift? If so how was the pain and recovery?
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Hi Thinking Positive,
Yes, I did have lift on my "good" side. They were very asymmetrical before. 5 days out , still asymmetric but not as bad. Some say the implant will fall further, we'll see. The lift was not any problem as far as recovery. In fact, there has been very little pain on either side- I only took tylenol for a few days- mostly felt tired. The hardest part is trying not to overdo it when I feel normal. Also because I had radiation I worry it will need to come out for some reason- but why borrow trouble.
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My PS wants to put a small implant and do a little reduction to my good side.. little nervous about messing with the good one.
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I know I'm a long way off but could you please add me to the exchange list for July 20. Still a long way off but at least I have something to look forward to:)
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enlm20Erica- I hope your arm pain has improved. Keep us posted on your progress. Since the backs of my arms are still a little numb and sensitive from the sentinel node biopsies I will be telling the surgical team to be careful during surgery.
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Trailrose, the arm pain has subsided alot so I'm happy about that.I'm still in this bandage so I don't know what I look like underneath, looks alot smaller than the expanders but it could be the bandages being so tight smashing the implants,I'll find out today when I go to see my PS and I pray to God he takes these drains out and removes bandages and puts me in some kind of sports bra or something. I'll keep posted☺
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Think Pos I was very nervous too. Even up to the day of surgery I debated not doing it. I don't regret it now, but I'm just a week out. But I totally understand if you don't do it.
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enim - so glad you finally meet the new girls for the first time. I hope they're all that you wanted.
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enlm20Erica- Good to hear your arms are feeling better. I bet you're looking forward to seeing your PS today. Hopefully those annoying drains get to come out!
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I have my TEs coming out and implants going In on Wednesday April 22.. So looking forward to meeting the new ones. These TEs need to go. Wondering what all of you had for restrictions after your exchanges. Compression and for how long? How long on pain meds or regular Tylenol? When could you vacuum again? When could you go back to work? I'd love to hear some stories. Thanks!
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congrats on TEs out!! I had a surgical bra and ace bandage very tight for a week, no drains, but no shower. Didn't need anything stronger than Tylenol/codene the first couple of days then OTC extra strength Tylenol. No pain to speak of. Glue closure on incision took almost a month to come off completely. I have to wear a sports bra 24/7 for 6 weeks. (1 more week to go!) i have Allergan 410 with 475cc anatomicals. They look great!! So much better than TEs! I am very happy with them. They still have to drop and fluff, but look good to me. I was not supposed to do housework or yard work for a few months. Range of motion came back much quicker than BMX. I went back to work 2 weeks past. Best of luck! Robi
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congrats on TEs out!! I had a surgical bra and ace bandage very tight for a week, no drains, but no shower. Didn't need anything stronger than Tylenol/codene the first couple of days then OTC extra strength Tylenol. No pain to speak of. Glue closure on incision took almost a month to come off completely. I have to wear a sports bra 24/7 for 6 weeks. (1 more week to go!) i have Allergan 410 with 475cc anatomicals. They look great!! So much better than TEs! I am very happy with them. They still have to drop and fluff, but look good to me. I was not supposed to do housework or yard work for a few months. Range of motion came back much quicker than BMX. I went back to work 2 weeks past. Best of luck! Robi
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Thanks for the response Robin. I agonized between going with anatomicals vs.rounds. Can I ask you what made you choose anatomicals? My surgeon said he could do either for he but having been pretty droopy after nursing three babies, the idea of the fuller on top rounds was attractive to me. Thanks.
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Oh sweetie there will be no drooping!! Are your TEs in your throat? These girls are placed perfectly on my chest. I am almost 61 and figured I would like a more natural look rather than porn star baseballs on my chest! I went back and forth too. I know I made the right choice. Goid luck
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my doc assured me that my rounds won't look like baseballs. Be said I would get a more natural look with them than I would with the anatomicals. For the life of me I can't remember exact what he said but I trust him completely. Exchange is scheduled for one week from Monday!!!
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newgirls - yay, you'll finally meet the girls!! I hope they're exactly as you wanted. I originally had Mentor Memorygel round smooth 425 cc but I had severe rippling medially on both boobies and I thought they were too small. They were a B and I wanted a C. I hope you showed your PS pictures of what you wanted to look like and not just said a cup size. That was the lesson I learned. I had a revision to the Mentor Memoryshape (gummy bear) 525 cc. I love them much better and the size is perfect. However, one boob is still havng ripples and there's no upper pole so I'm working on finding a new PS for that.
In my first exchange the recovery was pretty quick. By day 3 I was off pain meds and just had to remind myself that I couldn't lift anything more than 10 pounds for the first two weeks. I wore the sugical bra for three days and then a sports bra for 6 weeks. I had IMF dissolvable stitches with steristrips on top as I had a NSMX.
In my revision surgery he had to raise the IMF on one boob so he had to put some stitches into my ribs and that was very sore for two weeks. it felt like I had bruised ribs. But the rest was the same as the exchange. Also, now that I had the anatomicals I had longer weight and activity restrictions because they really have to adhere to your chest wall.
In a nutshell, it really depends on what's being done in the exchange as far as extra pocket work. You should follow your PS advice as far as restrictions and compression because that varies by PS. But all in all it really is a very quick recovery compared to the MX and it feels great to finally have those soft balls off your chest!!
Good luck!!!
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That is the beauty of us being so different!! I could have gone either way and almost chose rounds. It is a hard decision. I am just so thankful there is such wonderful technology to give me back what I lost Hugs to all of you this week and beyond
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I thought I'd chime I as I had extensive pocket work done and was in a fair amount of pain for the first 5 days. Then I switched to IBU/Tylenol during the day for a few more days and half a pain pill at night. I'm 2.5 weeks out and on the nights I don't take the half pain pill I sleep terrible and am exhausted all day. I was unwrapped at day 9, but was experiencing some pain where he did some pocket work,so he wrapped me back up for another 2 weeks. I'll then wear no bra for the next few months. At the same time I was cleared for cardio (no arms) and have been doing that 5x/week just fine. I think I've just been doing too much around the house, like unloading the dishwasher, carrying grocery bags, caring for my 3 small children, etc...so my advice would be don't overdo it and watch the weight of things you pick up.
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I just had an even swap out, no pocket work. Back to work at 2 weeks, no restrictions. Felt great when I was off, but that 1st week back was rough. Very tired and sore. I have smooth rounds. I just felt flat on bottom, but that is filling out more. Hoping to not need fat grafting. I have a scar free abdomen at present, and would love to keep it that way:) I have great upper pole fullness, which I never had with my natural boobs. I am also wearing a bra day and night, as it feels better supported. I would like to be able to go braless someday. I am 6 weeks post exchange.
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Hi all and thanks for well wishes...I had my exchange this past Monday...5 days ago. I complained about arm pain but after 2 days that was gone. On Thursday I had my bandages removed and I must say I liked what I saw I got Mentor 535cc memory gel rounds I chose rounds because I was told that implants can shift and turn and with the rounds if they shifted or turned they would still be the same.. but the anatomicals will be noticeably different and may have to be surgically repositioned. And I can say that I don't look like a stripper/pornstar lol thanks to my PS he went smaller than my 700cc TEs to give a more natural look when everything settles. I have a nice C cup and I'm impressed. I'm not in a bra or bandage but I do have Drains that will be coming out Monday! Next step is nip reconstruction and I'm anxious to see the outcome!
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Hi All,
I haven't been online in forever because I have been in and out of hospitals since my revision. Too long and discouraging a story to post because i know I am in the minority who this happens to with an exchange. I don't want to scare people.
I do want to say that the size, shape and everything Whippetmom suggested turned out fantastic but my body was not so favorable to hosting an implant. The rippling was unavoidable and continues to be pervasive but can be fixed with fat grafting in time. The pocket work I had done held up pretty good on my right, but the left has drifted back under my arm. More pocket work in the future.
The AWS cording has not been resolved and my arm can no longr physically extend to normal at this time. In the 8 weeks since my exchange, I have had many relentless seromas that would not resolve on its own or with an aspiration. During this last inpatient stay (I'm in the hospital now), it was decided that the implant needs to be removed for 3-4weeks and try again. Iam beyond upset. My employer is done with me because how much more time am I going to lose from work to mess with my boobs.
My right boob did drop and fluff and looks quite normal. I do have some rippling but not as bad as the left side.
I have so many incision and scar marks now that I don't know if the silicone strips or bio oil is helping. I did read that there is a safe laser treatment that can be done to help minimize the appearance.
I hope you are all doing well and reading all these successful stories have given me hope that maybe in the near future this will be resolved.
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I had my exchange on Thursday, just a straight exchange. So far I have only been taking Tylenol since leaving the hospital. My headaches were actually worse than my breast pain. I do not have a surgical bra just bandages which I can take off today to shower. So far they look much more natural than TEs. Ut I'm more nervous with these losing shape cause they're so much softer. My PS says I can sleep on my side, anyone else?
Also my PS gave me a full month off work because my job is pretty physical working with behavior kids. But I feel a but guilty to take so much time.
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Roadrash--I am so sorry that you have had such complications! Please know that we are all behind you. You may want to look into the Family Medical Leave Act which should protect your job should your employer attempt to terminate you because of your medical issues.
With regard to your AWS cording issues, you should press for additional physical therapy as soon as your surgeon clears you to do so. The longer scar tissue lingers, the more difficult it will be to resolve your cording issues.
Is your surgeon going to replace the side where the implant is being removed with a TE?
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