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Exchange City

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Comments

  • firstmate
    firstmate Member Posts: 153
    edited June 2009

    To all the recipients of fat grafts -- Are you happy with your results after one graft?  Who had to have more than one graft?  If so, did the fat dissolve or did the PS just not put in enough fat the first time?    I am trying to sort this all out before I see my PS tomorrow morning.  You all are such an excellent resource to help with these tough decisions.

    Thanks -  Robin

  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 450
    edited June 2009

    Laura---Wahoooooooooo, way to go, being in the top 10% of healers.  I will check your blog, I love learning about each other all of the unique qualities we have and how much we share in common.

    Hugs,

    Karen

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited June 2009

    Elaine... I am so happy for you! I pray this is the end of the yukky for you!

    Deborah.. I would kick my dh if he got those instruction wrong...lol.. ( do not show your dh this post) I am glad to hear about your progression. My PS said fat grafting is not something he supports as "he" thinks the body absorbs it and it will have to be done over and over... grrrrrrrrrrr.. so if I need fat grafting, I will have to find another restorative PS in my area and that is no small task...

    Cheri... second opinions are so important ( I think) if you are not sure... Luck!

  • Mykidsmom
    Mykidsmom Member Posts: 448
    edited June 2009

    Wow - Lots to catch up on. I just skimmed, but thanks to Deborah I think I have updated the dates correctly. Please let me know if I missed you!

    Elaine - Great news, I will have all my fingers and toes crossed for you!

    Deborah - Whew. Those garments sound hot! But I bet you look great!!!

    Laura - Yipee. I couldn't resist putting a little smile next to 8/? for you. You have been waiting so long sister! And we started this implant trip together, I am psyched for you!

    Love ya all! - Jean

  • dani42
    dani42 Member Posts: 206
    edited June 2009

    Karen

    That was beautiful! I never understood how people could be so stingy with kindness.  What does it cost to give a stranger a smile?  I think that even in our deepest moments of despair, we can still have compassion for another human being.  Your story can offer comfort and encouragement to many.   Thanks for sharing your experience.

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited June 2009

    Thanks Jean.. I hope I did not jinx myself.... I will let you know Friday night...

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited June 2009

    aoandrews, I had exchange on a Monday and that Sat I walked 3.1 miles at our Race for the Cure so I think you will be OK to go to your canning class...I did have 2 drains but they were pulled that Friday morning..before the walk on Sat....

    Laura,   That is great news.....I am doing the happy dance for you!!!!!!!!  Check in after your PS visit and let us know if you had to give him 2 black eyes.....hehehehe.....  I go to see my PS on Tuesday the 9th.....don't know if HE will be ready to talk nipples....

    Karen, Your story is wonderful.  Thanks for sharing it with us......

  • Bukki
    Bukki Member Posts: 103
    edited June 2009

    Karen.....what a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited June 2009

    Laura.....I am not going to even tell my husband about his failure to listen to DC instructions about the bra!  We already had a little "row" about his unwillingness to listen to things on the day of surgery. 

    On the way home from the hospital, DH asked me if I needed to stop for anything before going home.  I said, "I only want one thing and that is a vanilla malt from the Stone Cold Creamery."   DH said, "hey, how about Jack in the Box?.  They have shakes."  I turned my drug-glazed eyes on him and said "Stone Cold Creamery."  So he drove to Seal Beach and parked and I said "Thank you honey.  A vanilla malt please."  He came back ten minutes later and from my position, I could see him approaching and I had this sudden revelation.  He did NOT order a vanilla M-A-L-T.  I could see the look on his face and it was that of a man on a mission to just do the deed and get it done.  Getting it done RIGHT was not something remotely within his realm of interest.  So he got into the car and I said, "That IS a malt, right".  He said, unconvincingly, "Uh, huh."  I took off the lid and tasted it.  I said, "Mike, this is not a vanilla MALT, is it?"  He said, "Malt, shake, shake, malt, what's the difference?."  No way was I backing down on this one. I was an invalid and I was on drugs.   

    Understandably, he is already stressed out, having been sole babysitter for our 2 yr old grandson while I was in surgery, and now he has another drug-sodden two year old in a 58 year old body in the car next to him.  I said, "I am NOT about to waste the thirteen thousand calories I am going to consume if it is not a MALT!"  So he got out of the car and walked/stomped back in to SCC and came back with the most delicious malt I had ever tasted.  The guys in Stone Cold took pity on him for having to endure the shrew he had waiting for him in the car, and did not charge him for the malt.  He ended up with a nice shake out of the deal.

    Of course, things that occur in our daily lives often become a comedy routine for my husband.  He stretched this out and made it into a really funny story about wimping back into SCC like a little whipped puppy, as he retold the story to his family in No. Cal last weekend. His cousin told me he had them all in stitches.  She said all of the women agreed with me though.  His cousin told me, "I tell my husband all of the time, I know EVERYTHING that is important to you and so why can't you remember ONE thing that is important to me?......My sentiments exactly!!!!

    So, you can see why I could not tell him about the bra....

  • Mykidsmom
    Mykidsmom Member Posts: 448
    edited June 2009
    Deborah - I have had a heck of a week w/ lots of travelling for work (good) and a lots of hassel from my ex-business partner (horrible, what a JERK) - so your story brought a welcome smile. Thanks. Stay true to your cold stone ice cream my dear! Wink
  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Member Posts: 185
    edited June 2009

    Deborah!!!  I love the story and I can just see it now!!!  I am with you - I don't want the calories if it is something I DO NOT want!!!  I am sorry for your girdle- YUCK but I'm sure the results will be worth it!  Don't get me started on my husband!!!  He is getting better though and is actually taking part now in helping me with these new TE's!!!  I am shocked!  

    Bukki- my thoughts are with you!  What a pain! 

  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 673
    edited June 2009

    Laura, good for you, you had a break coming to you with this whole rads business

    whippetmom:  Your DH must be pretty funny because your version of the story had me in stitches.  I think you need to go post it on the road to hell...laughter thread.  I'm with you, not wasting that many calories on something not perfect 

  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 450
    edited June 2009

    Deborah-- I love your story, so well told, and so very important to get the calories you want, I was laughing out loud as I read it.  I find my two wonderful sons cannot hear beyond 2 sentences.  So I chose my words carefully and use an econmy of words.

    Jean--I'm glad this person is no longer your biz partner, I hope this resolves soon.

    Elaine--Thank you, and hang in there, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it goes well and on schedule.

    Dani42--Thanks, I hope we can all spread a little sunshine.

    Yvonne--Are you back yet?

    Thinking of you Deen.

    Karen

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited June 2009

    LOL... I feel you did the right thing  Deborah....Laughing

  • Baxter
    Baxter Member Posts: 91
    edited June 2009

    Hi All,

    Just thought I would update. I saw my PS yesterday and I have an exchange date for July 2nd. I'm a little bummed because he isn't going to make me as big as he was the first time around before I got the infection. He thinks my skin is tight right now but looks good and he wonders if the initial overexpansion may have contributed to the infection.

    I know I have a little bit of boob greed, but I was small going into this and I wanted to make the most of it. But I remind myself that the important thing in this is that I am cancer free now!

    Chowrad183 - I'm glad all went well. My exchange surgery is exactly one month from yours. I hope I will have the same positive result. Since they didn't discover my infection until the date of what was supposed to be my first exchange, I'm going to be holding my breath until they tell me in recovery that it really happened this time.

    Rockwell/Sandy - How cool about the article..can I have your autograph?! I am so impressed with all you athletic women. I am an enthusiastic onlooker! My favorite thing is to go down to Rockport Mass in the summer and have a glass of wine on the deck of "My Place By The Sea" and watch the kayakers go by! Not much of an aspiration is it!

    Estepp - Congrats! What great news for you! Let me second your wahooooo!

    Elaine - Your story gave me shivers..what an ordeal!

    Dawn, Cheri2, Kew - What you say about how differently people respond to  our getting cancer is so true. I found that some people took the initiative to be so "there" for me because they felt so helpless and wanted to show their love in any way they could. I was also surprised by the folks that were noticably absent for me. I hold no anamosity toward them, but I think mentally I moved them from the "friend" column into the "aquaintence" column. Kew - your article was beautiful, your life has been such a triumph over such great obstacles.

    Good luck to all this week!

    Candi

  • choward183
    choward183 Member Posts: 8
    edited June 2009

    Baxter...I hope all goes well with you. The exchange isn't bad at all.  I am not having any pain, but I am having a little bleeding at the incision line.  I called my PS and left a message with his assistant for him to call me.  I started back with my vitamin routine which includes 430mg of vitamin "E".  I have an appointment with my PS on Monday,so that he can examine the incision.  I am going to take it easy for the next few days.

    Blessings,

    Carolyn

  • firstmate
    firstmate Member Posts: 153
    edited June 2009

    Laura - Thanks for your comment about your PS not believing in fat grafts due to reabsorption. I have heard that as well.  Those of you that have had fat grafts - was the fat graft reabsorbed by the body?  If so, how long before this happened?

    Thanks for the info!  Robin

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited June 2009

    Well, I woke up this morning and it appeared most of my fat has been absorbed.  I do not think this was a successful procedure for me.  It lasted one week.  I will discuss further options with my PS.  She had scheduled me to return in six months to see how I was doing...

  • Bukki
    Bukki Member Posts: 103
    edited June 2009

    Deborah.......so sorry you went thru all that pain and have lost the "grafted"fat....(((((((HUG))))))))

    Carolyn........healing vibes going out to you. Take it easy with that incision and try not to stress it.

  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 450
    edited June 2009

    Deborah,  I'm sorry it appears not to have worked, maybe it does take several tries.

    Karen

  • MooreTennis
    MooreTennis Member Posts: 90
    edited June 2009

    I am not sure if this is the correct place to post this but since the sizing of implants vs. tissue expanders are discussed so much, thought I would give it a try.

    I am not a small woman (ribcage = 40 inches) and I have been concerned that the 800cc implants would not get me to my previous D size. Deborah has been so helpful with all my questions - thanks (and so sorry to hear about the grafts not working).

    I had my 4th fill today and I am now at 750cc's. When I put my old bra on this past week - I got a little freaked out because I didn't even fill half of the cup. So, during my appt with my PS today I mentioned this to him. He said that he is beginning to agree with me that based on my measurements the 800cc implants might not get me to my previous size. So he mentioned that he could order custom silicone implants? Has anyone heard of this? We didn't get to spend a lot of time on the details because he was running very behind today and I had to rush off to another appt. He said we would talk about it more at my next visit (6/18).

    Thanks,

    Denise

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited June 2009

    Denise:  I have heard of custom silicone breast implants.  Only certain physicians have access to ordering them.  They are expensive, not sure about insurance coverage issues, not sure about whether they fall under the umbrella of FDA approval, but they are used.  They are commonly used in the "entertainment" industry....and so most of the PS' who use them are in California, New York, Nevada....

    So I would not hesitate to get further information from your PS about this because it sounds as though you will not be happy with what is commercially available and having some semblance of happiness with our reconstructive outcome is pretty important to a great number of us...

    If your KC PS is savvy enough to know about it and mention it, I think it is wonderful he is providing you with some viable options.  But you need to know as much as possible about them....

  • MooreTennis
    MooreTennis Member Posts: 90
    edited June 2009

    Thanks Deborah. The girls definitely don't need to look like I am in the "entertainment industry" since the rest of my body wouldn't fit that image, but do want to get as close to my original size as possible. One of my concerns is the quality and durability of the implant since they aren't commercially available. Secondly, insurance coverage would definitely play a big part in my decision. There isn't too much information on the internet. After my next appointment, I will share the details.

    Denise

  • firstmate
    firstmate Member Posts: 153
    edited June 2009

    Deborah - one week?  Oh, that is so.... sad!   Now I really don't know what to do.  I was supposed to meet with my PS today, but my appt was delayed 6 weeks due to a family emergency for the PS.  So, at least I have time to research this some more.  I had a tissue graft in March that also absorbed, so I am not sure if there are any other options.  Do we just have to live with these divots (indentations)?

    Robin

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited June 2009

    Robin:  I will try it again.  I am not giving up.  I do not want to accept ripples and divots for the rest of my days.  Frankly, I think that the skill of the surgeon has much to do with the success of the procedure.  I love my PS but I am thinking I might see if I can sneak into Kaiser San Diego where one of the experts in fat grafting - the one who headed up some clinical trials in this procedure - happens to practice.  I do not want to hurt her feelings....I will have a long relationship with her.   I may be doing some volunteer work with her - helping reconstruction patients through Kaiser.  So this is sort of a delicate situation. 

    Now my take on this is that my fat has settled within the ripples.  They are not as pronounced as they were previously.  I read where one PS talked about "layering fat grafts one upon another" - stacking the grafts in the area of defect.  Did my PS follow this technique?  I do not know.

    So don't throw the baby out with the bath water.....find out how your PS performs this procedure.  If you need a tummy tuck and you do not have an HMO, you could get one courtesy of this procedure. 

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited June 2009

    Deborah.. That stinks. I am sorry.. My PS is not for Fat Graphs at all.. he would rather put in a bigger Implant... I hope you get everything you want in this .. as I wish that for all of us!

    MooreTennis... If Dr. P says he can get it.. he can! You and I ( IMO) are with some of the best PS around. Do ask him if Insurance will cover the rather expensive implant. I am sure.. If he offered it... you will get it , and it will be covered! You are with a great young mind ( Dr. P) at St. Lukes! Go get those DD's girl.... ( hehehehehehehehehe)

    Ladies.. I go see my PS tomorrow.. I ask you say a little prayer that he lets me have my exchange in August... thank you!

    Candi! I am glad you have a date at least girl!

    KAREN> LOVE LOVE LOVE to see your Beautiful face!

    Laura

    Heal well all!

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited June 2009

    Sandy or Deborah..

    Could either of you post the Mentor and Allergen site.. I need to write the measurements down for tomorrow, and I just got home a little while ago from work.. I am trying to put together my educated guess on what I want done with my boobs for tomorrows meeting..hehe.. If I do not see you post .. I will go searching this thread for the sites again. I am on another PC that I did not save the sites too... sorry...

    Jean... it might be a GREAT idea to post these sites ( Mentor and Allergen) in the original posting here.. that way all ladies can get the sites at the top of every page....

    Be back soon...

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited June 2009

    just read this I will go look for it

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited June 2009

    here's is one mentor web site

    http://www.justbreastimplants.com/implants/mentor_specs.htm

    this is the mentor one I used to usually use

    http://www.mentorcorp.com/breastsurgery/reconstruction/breast-implants.htm

    I don't think these web sites show the new ultra high profile that just came out...

    now I will have to look for the other web site

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited June 2009

    http://www.allergan.com/assets/pdf/natrelle_catalog.pdf

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