Exchange City
Comments
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Phllly - I've had five Mohs surgeries for basal cell skin cancers - all on my face & neck. (so much for sun-tanning with baby oil in my youth.) I would not do it any other way, since the doctor actually tests the surrounding tissue to make sure they got it all before the incision is closed. If you don't have Mohs, you might not know until a week later if there were clear margins & I've had lots of friends who had to go back for more cutting when the results came in.
You should feel no pain during the surgery. Usually the anesthesia is a local. You will lie there while they test, maybe more than one time, to make sure the site is clear - maybe an hour or longer. Then they will suture, bandage & off you go. Bandages will need to be changed regularly. Since you said the site is on your back, you may need help with that. It's been my experience that basal cells can be quite deep but usually don't spread laterally like squamous cell skin cancers do, so it's easier to get a clean result. I'm not a medical employee so that's just my experience.
Good luck to you Philly, and to Robin with your Mohs surgeries.
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Philly & Robin - below is a good explanation of the procedure and the reason it's beneficial.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_surgery
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Philly, i had my first Mohs 2 1/2 years ago on my scalp at hairline. My previous BCC were just excised. Mohs is more in depth. You will be locally numbed. They will take a layer and send you out in waiting area while they do the pathology on it. They repeat this until clear margins are obtained. This recurrence was not done with Mohs method. That is why it came back. You should heal well if on your back. Plenty of skin there. Mine is behind the ear. Very little skin and tissue. It will be tight! Hope your outcome is good.
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robinblessed54: are you happy with the size of your Anatomicals? Where you happy with your tissue expander size and position prior to exchange? Are they the same size you started with prior to bmx or bigger?
I can barely find any information on people with Anatomicals. I currently have a moderate height, full projection expander in with current fill of 400. I am still debating between round and anatomical. I feel like my expanders are high on my chest, wide, and a little too far apart. If my implants look the same, I don't know if I will be happy. I would also like them to stick out a little further in clothes so am thinking I will do one more small fill (which would put me around my pre-bmx size) . I am sorry to bombard you with questions but I have been reading your posts and want to be as happy with my outcome as you have been with yours
Any thoughts or advise are appreciated! And good luck with your surgery on Thursday. I am sorry you are having to fight that battle as well!
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Eee: I LOVE my anatomicals. I got them before they were offered in the US under a research grant and they are the original Allergan 410s. There's a great thread that isn't active but has a wealth of infomation called "All About Gummies". Lots of discussion from ladies who've been there. Also I know of another anatomical thread that I followed link below - https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/...
And last but certainly not least, you should check out Breast 101. After you read the header you can post your stats and Whippetmom will add her advice. https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/...
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minus two: thank you so much for the thread link. Very helpful. Many times they keep referencing timtam's picture site. Is that the same as the picture forum now. I have requested access to that one but never heard anything back. I would love to see some of the 410s before I have to make my decision
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Eee, your TEs are always high. But mine looked good and were even. I was at 420. They always put bigger anatomicals in than fill amount. They have to be tight. Mine ar FF projection. PM me and I can send you a pi
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Eee--I had 650cc TE's placed during my BMX in February 2013. I was filled to 460 and felt I was big enough so I told the PS to stop the fills. The PS then place 500cc Mentor Moderate Profile Plus silicone smooth round implants at my first exchange in July 2013. These rounds were not right for me--they did not look right and my PS did not tighten the pockets so they slid into my armpits whenever I reclined and therefore, caused much discomfort in the form of constant pulling on my pec muscles. I sought several second opinion consults with different plastic surgeons and underwent an exchange from the rounds to Allergan FF 410 anatomical 475 gram implants in February 2015 along with lots of pocket work to keep the implants out of my armpits. I am much happier with the anatomicals, especially since my new PS has kept them from migrating laterally into my armpits.
If you gain access to the picture forum, I have a thread with the same user name as I use here with a pictorial demonstration showing the rounds and anatomicals on me. There are plenty of women who are happy with rounds, happy with anatomicals, happy with saline, happy with silicone.
Do your research, make sure you trust and have confidence in your PS, make sure that your PS listens and understands your wishes, and I am sure the two of you will figure out what is best for you.
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LoriWNY: thank you for the info. I think my ps is very good and my expanders are in my armpits a bit which he said he will close the pocket on the sides to fix. I hope I will get access to the picture forum before I have to make too many decisions about fill size and implant choice and size. I would love to see your comparison. I don't know if I don't have enough posts or if I am doing something wrong. I didn't get any kind of response to my request. I appreciate you giving me your feedback. I feel like every little bit helps right now.
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Rak1 - so sorry you too are now experiencing the rippling. Unfortunately, there are way too many of us that experience this complication of reconstruction. For some of us this rollercoaster ride is longer than others but don't despair. There are options from FG to changing the implant if the pocket is too big to placing alloderm over implant to give it more coverage. I know you don't want to hear wait a few months, but wait you must and then you can discuss what options are best for you with your PS. As my friends too often remind me when I'm venting, Rome was not built in a day and neither are your boobs...lol
phillyemma and patriciahurtado - welcome to the squishy side!!! Glad all went well. Rest and heal well.
phillyemma and robinblessed - good luck with the Mohs surgery. I hope they get clear margins in the first attempt and you are not waiting long.
thinkingpositive - some people are born with a wide space between their breasts. I'm not sure if you fall within this category or maybe your implants are disproportionate for your frame. Did you post on the implants 101 thread with your dimentions before your surgery to get feedback from whippetmom?? If you are experiencing any doubt with your PS, I would seek a second opinion and possibly a third.
joni - welcome. 270 cc's seems rather small but post on the implants 101 thread to get whippetmom's feedback (a/k/a implant whisperer).
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eee3 - don't fret about not getting a response to the picture forum yet. The mods of that forum will only reply when they have accepted you. They have not forgotten you. There is no set criteria but usually, access to the picture forum is not granted to those that are new to BCO as to protect the privacy of those who have posted pictures. Some say you have to have a certain number of posts before you are granted access yet there is no specific number.
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Eee - as mjh says, it does take some time on the site & a fair amount of posts before you get access to the picture forum. But do check out Breast 101. Read the header and post your info. Whippetmom is a wonderful & amazing resource.
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thank you everyone. I did get sizing suggestions from whippetmom. She gave me both round and anatomical so i still need to choose between the two;)
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Thank you mjh1. And all my ladies that post all different experiences. Well I been really sick with the antibiotics. I had fever one time after surgery. And my PS prescribed Bactrim and some other antibiotics. Which gave me headaches and nauseas. So I stopped taking it over the weekend. I haven't had any fever but that one time. Then I figure maybe I should just finish the 10 days. My PS said just to take Baactrim. Nope I was really sick last night woke up with a huge headache and nauseas. So no I'm not taking it any more. I see him tomorrow.
Ok my ladies here is my questions...
My surgical bra will come off tomorrow? I hope so. Will my PS remove the tape tomorrow? And I was also wondering my PS did FG my right side is so bruised. I have Stitch on my belly button? I have to wear this thick surgical garnet for 6 weeks which I so hate I can't wear any pants shorts I don't fit into I was wondering if anyone of you changed the garnet to body spandex? I can't go to work with this on it looks crazy. Maybe I'll go buy one and see if he will approve it. The FG part hurts. Not bad but it's really uncomfortable. I not sure which will work better Tylenol OC or Motrin. I haven't taken anything because I was taking Bactrim. Which works better? Regarding my implants I had not much of a choice my PS said he only worked with Gummies. So far I'm happy they look nice. I really didn't want big ones cause I was a C. He said I need a little FG to give a little more shape. I also saw the rippling only on my left implant. For now I don't want to continue anything. Just recover from the Bactrim. I'm taking probiotics because of antibiotics. I was planning to take it until I finish the 100 capsules. Does any one take any?
Well my ladies thanks for the feed back !!!
I want to squish them and feel them but I have to wait...
Lol
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omg!! Chemo brain.... Sooooo I love to work out but I haven't done any just to safe my fat!!! If I start working out will my fat from my FG will I lose it???
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patricia - I haven't had FG yet but when I asked about my planned FG, I was told I could wear a binder or spanx. if none of the other sisters has an answer for you, try posting on the fat grafting pros and cons forum.
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I was allowed to wear Spanx or other brand of compression but it needed to be tight. If your abdominal area was the donor site for fat harvest I recommend getting a Spanx type panty with an un-snapping or un-hooking crotch. Dragging a tight compression garment over your skin hurts every time you need to use a bathroom!!! I was restricted from working out, other than walking, for 8 weeks. Yes, you risk reabsorption of the fat if you do too much exercise too soon. I would avoid ibuprofen (Advil, etc.) because it can cause bleeding, I would use Tylenol instead. Also topical Arnica cream can help the bruising dissipate faster.
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All done with Mohs surgery. Cancer is out! 10 stitches required and pressure bandage for 2 days.
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robin in glad that's behind you!!!
Mjh and specialk thank you for your input.
FG hurts!!!
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patriciahurtado - so glad you finally got to exchange - I know it was a long road for you!
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robin, so glad you are done. Hope you are not too sore!
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My PS made me wear the abdominal binder from the hospital for 4 weeks after fat grafting which was uncomfortable! When I asked about spanx instead, told me no because they weren't tight enough! You should be feeling better soon Patricia!
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Philly, hope your Mohs went well! I ended up with 10 stitches. Today it is sore but not bad. I also went tothe PS office and had consultation with PA for 3 D nipples. So excited! also had to have cortisone shot in trigger finger caused by Arimidex and Aromisi
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2nd month on arimidex and I think I'm developing trigger finger. Ugh
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Audrey, run away from Arimidex and Aromisin!! I hope this cortisone keeps me away from surgery. I NEVER had this begore those drugs. I am having luck with Femara. Robi
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hello ladies,
My surgery was cancelled yesterday because of a low white blood cell count. I was disappointed but not surprised because my white blood cell count is always on the low side. I have an appointment with my primary care doctor tomorrow to get this straightened out. My ps now is saying that if she signs off that this is normal for me that he will do my exchange on July 31. So close to getting these TE's out. I would just like a good night of sleep. I decided to quit feeling sorry for my self and get back to some cardio exercise this week. It has actually eased a lot of my discomfort and I feel my energy returning. Today I didn't feel myself noticing the TE's at all. Are there any suggestions for working back into excersises that involve the chest and arms such as down dog or plank. I was able to do some burpees yesterday and it wasn't to bad. I just don't want to do too much. I don't have my usual strength so I want to work back into it. You ladies are awesome and such a great source for information and understanding! I have been laying low because I have had a hard time with my TE's but not anymore. I am taking my life back!
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Good for you middleagedmama! Once cleared by your docs, I would just say listen to your body. I do exercise classes at the gym. Still bad with push ups, but better at planks:) Just ease back into it after you get the green light! You go girl!! Wear a really good support bra (or 2) to avoid too much stress on your tissues.
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Middleagedmama, I'm sorry your surgery was postponed. Best wishes your exchange goes as planned July 31.
I have a question. I know everyone is different, but how long after exchange surgery before you can wear regular bras? I hear everyone talk about the surgical bra being worn but was just curious about "a coming out" party. My honey has not seen my breasts since BMX, he likes the way they look in clothes and pjs though, and he has felt them. I've never been one to prance around in the nude, but I do like to wear nice frilly things. Until I get my tattoos and the scars fade a little, I don't think I will be comfortable going au naturalle (sp?). PS, he is very respectful of my need to hide my breasts for now. My scars are bad.
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AudreyB, remember that every PS is different. Mine said that after the first 24 hours I could wear any kind of bra I liked or a camisole or nothing. I found that the Genie bra was right for me.
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AudreyB I had surgical bra and ace wrap for one week. No shower no peeking! After that I was told to wear a sports bra 24/7 for 6 weeks. I have anatomicals so they needed to be kept in place so they could adhere to chest and muscle. I still wear a light sports bra at night and bralettes or camisoles most of the time. I am very happy with my foobs and so is my husband!
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