Exchange City
Comments
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Sulev21. . .congrats on your exchange. I had to look them up from the warranty card they gave me. The mentor high profile gel I got are actually 300 cc filed. The 350 is part of the catalog number. Here is a link:
http://www.simplybreastimplants.com/breast_implant...
I appear to be bigger than I thought I would be. I was a B before BMX and now think I may be a small C cup. I did tell PS to put in the largest she could with my expansion which stopped at 250 cc due to too much nerve pain. Guess I may be shopping for new bras after I recover, although it's not like I'll have to wear one. It's very liberating to be permanently perky.
I don't appear to have much swelling but time will tell.
Scottie
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Mykidsmom. . .thanks for the addy. EX was 7/27 though. 🌈
Scottie
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Scottiemom11 - In answer to your question about 3D tattoos - my tattoos go right over my horizontal scars - and thereby become the focal point. In other words, you see the tattoos before you notice the scars. I can PM you a picture, if that would help. And yes, it takes at least a month for all of the swelling to go down after exchange.
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Got my 3D tattoos today!!! So excited, they look great! Unbelievable!
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They do take your eye away from scar. I can you a pic
Robin
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Arizona, How long did it take you to heal after your tattoos? When I saw them before she bandaged them, I cried. such an emotional experience. you realize you are complete. I think she did a great job. It is done at my PS office in their OR on site. No pain, just vibration. She does use Laidocane/epinephrine to numb and control bleeding.
Robin
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Robin -
So happy you have your tattoos! ;-) Yay! I'm recovering well from the EX surgery...truly, the EX was no problem - it was the fat grafting that slowed me down...ouch. But I'm so glad to hear that you're happy and they look great!!
Badger
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Robin - Congratulations in finally reaching the end of your BC journey!! I can only imagine how emotional it was knowing that you're finally done. I hope you will go out and celebrate, maybe even go away and go topless on the beach. Be proud of what you've accomplishd and show those "girls" off. I hope you will continue to stay healthy for years to come.
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Leslienva, the left side is lat flap due to radiation. They do look and feel different. The right side is slight lower than the left side, but it's ok under clothes, especially with bra. I was wearing swimming suit in the pictures. As you saw, they are fine.
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Scottiemom11
Thanks. I wish I asked more questions or listened better when I first met with my PS. I have to look again on the card to see exactly what I have or better yet as the PS when I see home next wk. good luck to you! Su
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Hi everyone.
Robin, congratulations on getting your tattoos and finally over this hurdle.
I have a question. Exchange is 8/19. Dr is not prescribing any pain meds. Does that sound normal?
I've been told I can shower in 24 yours. I will wake up in a bra with no ace bandaging. Sounds very doable
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audrey - I'm not sure if it's a NS-LIJ thing, but in any of my surgeries I didn't get scripts directly from my PS. I got them all from the hospital when I was being discharged and they were written by someone else. However, at NYU they do things totally different. When I go in to see the PS a week before for pre-op she said she'll give me a script for pain, muscle relaxer and antibiotic. I can't imagine that they're not going to give you something when you're being discharged. I would either ask your PS again or make sure you don't leave the hospital without the pain med and antibiotic. You'll probably only need the pain med for a day or two but you need to have it on hand just in case and you know how important it is to take the antibiotic. I was told I can shower in 48 hours and I left the hospital in a surgical bra, no bandage.
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How long after EX did you have to wear a compression/surgical bra? I was able to shower after 48 hours and then switched to more comfortable surgical bra (from BMx) last night to sleep. Put EX bra back on today and switched again tonight. PS didn't specify except for the first 48 hrs and I have surgical glue on outside.
Aubrey I have pain meds, muscle relaxers and antibiotics prescribed by PS from EX. I still had a lot of nerve pain from BMx though so don't know if that made a difference in treatment plan. I had no ace bandage, just a tight surgical bra and padding over the two sides where PS did a bit of lipo to even things out.
Scottie
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After EX I had a surgical bra and ace bandage tightly for a week. No shower no peeking! Removed then sports bra 24/7 for 6 weeks. I have anatomicals so they need to be held in place to stay put. I had pain meds but didn't really need the
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Audrey -
My recovery was more in line with Mj...the morning of EX, my PS wrote and gave my scripts to my family and I got an antibiotic, a muscle relaxer and pain meds. I was in a surgical bra for 48 hours, then switched to a soft bra (Coobie-style). I could shower after 48 hours too. My PS said no sports bra or compression bra - just soft camisoles or a soft bra. I had no padding or ace wrap.
I will say that I have not needed to take any pain meds after the EX. Just muscle relaxers.
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Thanks all for the responses.
mjh1, for my 3 previous surgeries I was given pain med scripts prior to surgery by my BS so I could get them filled and have them home ready.
This is the first surgery with PS alone (just realized this now, my brain is not functioning properly at all) and his nurse told me yesterday I won't need any pain meds. I am hoping she is right, just can't imagine having no pain at all. Maybe OTC pain meds will be enough? I am not adverse to no pain meds as they do a number on my system anyway.
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Thanks all. I have a followup with PS on Monday so will just keep using surgical bra till then. It zips up and is easy to sleep in. I'm still having pain but that may be from the pocket work and lipo on the sides.
Scottie
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I will given all my scripts one week before at my appt with PS. Gave me enough time to have them filled and available to me when I got home from the hospital. Had a followup appt with the PS the next day where he took off the bandages and binder bra...and put on my sports bra. 2 1/2 months later I am still in my sports bra. Still having that issue on my right side where I just had reconstruction and implant to lift so that it would match my mx side. Feels like the implant is on the side of my boob. MY MO confirmed it for me yesterday, he said he felt what I was feeling and said he thought it was the implant as well... but didn't know if it was that it had moved or was supposed to be there. Have to bring it up the next time I visit PS. Can't imagine any reason why the implant would need to be on the side of my boob.. PS told me he needed to do work on that side to make it look like my MX side... so now I wonder if its possible its supposed to be there??
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Audrey, I had my exchange yesterday. My ps did prescribe pain meds but said that I wouldn't need muscle relaxers anymore because my muscles were already stretched. First of all what a huge relief to have the expanders removed! I did have lipo in my stomach for some fat grafting to fill in around the implants. The surgery was easy and took about 2 hours. I was up and walking around with not much pain. So much easier than the first surgery. I am on oxy with acetaminophen in it and I did take it yesterday because they said to stay ahead of the pain. This morning I have very little pain in the chest area but the lipo area is quite sore. I would say my pain level is about a five compared to an eleven plus after my BMX. I am able to shower today and can take off my stomach binder after tomorrow. I have mentor high profile round memory gel implants. They put me me in a sports type bra and ps said I can change it to supportive bra with no underwire for the next four weeks. I would say that if I didn't have lipo that Tylenol would probably be sufficient. I wish you luck Audrey and can't wait to welcome you to the squishy side!
Tis
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I am following all of you because I am 2 weeks out from my last chemo and meet with my Plastic Surgeon on August 19 to discuss exchange. I need 2 or 3 more fills. I did not get any during chemo. How do they do the fat transfer? Did you discuss thst with your PS prior to surgery? I am nervous already. Chemo has been so awful and my BMX was pretty painful.....now I have to face this. It is good to hear exchange is not as painful. Also hsve to start Arimidex and am scared of that too.
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thank you middleagedmama. I am counting the days, I cannot wait for my exchange surgery. I am not doing fat grafting, just straight exchange. I am so happy for you and wish you continued healing.
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I concur with middleagemama, I think most of my pain is from lipo. PS did put larger implants (mentor high profile round) than we thought she could and I have very tight pecks so that's probably why I'm still on muscle relaxers and pain meds. In any case, the iron bra is history and all in all I'm doing well. Post-op check is tomorrow.
Best wishes to all with EX comingbup.
Scottie
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my sunshine,
You should find this far less painful. Today my chest has little to no pain. My stomach is still sore but it is like having done too many sit-ups so not bad. My PS told me prior to surgery that he would do the fat grafting for fill in around the implant. I asked him to use my stomach because I had some I could lose there. I had a c-section years ago so he pulled the fat From the old scar area. He injected the fat into a small hole in the middle of my breasts by the sternum and then one at the top of each breast near the arm pit. I wish lots of luck and will pray for less pain for you! I think the worst is behind you. Stay strong😊
Audrey, thank you for the well wishes. I will be praying for you to have an easy exchange. I know you will do great you have a wonderful attitude and that is half of the battle!😉
My sunshine, I am glad to hear your exchange went well. I have my post op check tomorrow also. It has been nice to know that we are not alone in this journey!
Good luck to those who have exchanges coming up. You will instantly feel relief from the expanders that we have all come to love and hate
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NIPPLES - who has done what and how do they feel about it and how do their significant others feel??? Question - with fake breasts, aereola and nipples, do they only use their hands or do they use their mouths also. Do I need to add that to the equation? I see the PS tomorrow, second exchange the 27th, (long story one TE deflated and muscle clamped back, so couldn't put implant in on that side) so I'm curious about what my conversation should be. Sorry if the question was TMI. BTW if I can find a thread on nipples, I will post there too.
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Knmtwins, my honey has not seen my breasts with scars, no nipples, and TEs. He loves the way I look in clothes though. And he has felt them to feel the hardness. We are waiting until my exchange for him to have a look, and a feel (tee hee). I've had a pretty easy time, SX 5/6 and exchange 8/19 so it hasn't been too long a wait.
I have ordered Pink Perfect nipples from the Cure Diva website, and plan on nipple tattoos in May with Vinnie Myers. So Robs first look will be with my high profile implants and fake nipples, which I've been told distract from the scars. I'll leave it up to him what he wants to do with them. I do know he's afraid of hurting me so we will learn together I guess.
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knmtwins. . .Dh actually saw my BMx scars before I did, since I was allowed to shower after 2 days and he had to help me. I was not ready to look for several days. This go round we looked together when he helped me take off surgical bra and bandages and we both thought they look pretty good. Bigger and fuller than expected given my limited fills. He's curious about 3D tattoos but I'm undecided. They have to be for me because I want them and not just for him. He did say the implants are gently squishier. He said the TEs felt like hard elbows. He pegged that right.
Scottie
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Hello Trailrose, I have been enjoying some epic Alpine hikes here in Switzerland. I have seen a doctor for an initial appt. As soon as I get my policy number, I am getting an ultra sound follow up. I also have an appt. with the plastic surgeon who will evaluate my revisions. The fat graph has been completely absorbed and I am having constant pain because the implant moves from side to side where it should be stable. They will wait longer to revise the reconstruction than they would in the states. It is unfortunate that we have to continue to have surgeries. I am taking advantage of this time to get into some serious workouts though. How are you doing?0
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This is the only thread I actively avoid because I have an aversion to anything surgery related. I just want no more of them for myself or my family members. My surgeon never tells me what the plan is - good surgeon but not great communicator. I am readying for what I hope will be my last breast surgery in September and have questions: (1) can one have fat grafting (for my bony top pole) and nip work in one "sitting"? (2) how does nip work compare to BMX? (3) Where can I post a pic of my breasts for feedback on what you would do? I am satisfied with my current breasts although one is slightly higher than the other by half an inch. It's been 8+ months since last surgery and things seem to still be setting in place. Not sure if it is me getting used to it or if indeed my breasts continue to fall into the right place. I also don't know if I should ask for more correction for perfect symmetry or just let go and be content. Your feedback is always appreciated. And Good Luck to those undergoing surgeries
this week. Hugs, Nisa0 -
Nisa. . . I can't speak for the nipple surgery because I will have the 3D tattoos or nothing. I do have a wonderful PS who answers all of my questions though. The best answer she gave me before BMx was that she could not guarantee twin girls, just sisters. In other words no guaranteed match but closely related. I'm only a week out from exchange but so far they are pretty close.
On another note. I started getting some bruising on one side and PS asked about it. Does that mean I'm trying to do too much. She asked about my range of motion and I said it's pretty limited. It hurts to reach past my elbows. Guess I'm stuck with Trex for a while longer and not yet weaned off the pain meds/muscle relaxer. I have a referral for PT but she said I would have to wait for a few more weeks. After I return to work apparently.
Scottie
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hi folks! I am 3 + years post op silicone implants. Lately my left side (the good side) has been feeling achy and when I move it or lay down it almost feels like something is moving (crawling)from across it to side. I don't have pain just a nagging achy pull feeling mid breast to side and under arm. Should I be worried???
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