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Exchange City

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Comments

  • katcar0001
    katcar0001 Member Posts: 321
    edited November 2015

    Best of luck today, Leslie!

  • chinapainter
    chinapainter Member Posts: 4
    edited November 2015

    Leslie, I said a prayer for you. My exchange was done through the same cut as my bmx. I'm 3 weeks out and doesn't look bad at all.I've had very little soreness there. I hope you do even better.

    At the same time of my exchange my ps did some clean up under my arms so I had an incision about 4" long under each arm. This has been the most sore. Has anyone else had this done?

  • LoriWNY
    LoriWNY Member Posts: 178
    edited November 2015

    Chinapainter--I also had "clean up" under my right arm, however, it was done in a separate surgery after my exchange about three months after the exchange. My PS called it a right axillary excision. In my case, my TE's were very wide and lateral and my first set of implants were also very lateral--falling into my armpits when I reclined. The right side was worse because I also had lymph nodes removed on that side. After I consulted with several different plastic surgeons, I selected a new plastic surgeon who replaced my round implants with anatomical implants and moved the implants closer to my sternum. This PS advised me that there would probably be the need for the axillary excision or "clean up" surgery a few months after he placed the anatomicals. I have some excess skin on the left side, but it wasn't enough to bother me so I chose to leave it alone and only have the right side addressed. The axillary excision was in May 2015 and although the scar is still pretty red, it has flattened out and healed nicely. The bulge of skin that was removed no longer irritates the inside of my right arm which is partially numb from the lymph nodes being removed. I am glad that I had the axillary excision.

  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,072
    edited November 2015

    Leslie. . .hope you are doing well today and welcome to the squishy side.

    Chinapainter. . .I had lipo on each side with exchange. I could have had a little extra skin removed but did not want additional incisions. Lipo hurt more than Ex but my skin has settled back down.

    Scottie

  • Mayk
    Mayk Member Posts: 8
    edited November 2015

    12/28 Exchange! Very much looking forward to it.

  • Leslienva
    Leslienva Member Posts: 343
    edited November 2015

    My surgery got delayed so I was stuck on a bed in pre op with an IV in my arm for three hours. By the time I was done and in the recovery room my surgeon had left so I don't even know what implants I got! My radiated side is really sore because she had to clean out scar tissue. I also have a drain. My right side doesn't hurt at all. I can't tell what size I am since I'm bandaged up and in a surgical bra but they seem smaller than I expected. Is that common? I don't get unveiled until Monday when I go back to the surgeon

  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2015

    Welcome to the squishy side Leslienva!

  • Newgirls
    Newgirls Member Posts: 37
    edited November 2015

    hi Trailrose I'm wondering how your new Inspiras are settling. Like you had, I have mentor moderate plus implants and feeling a little hamburger bunnish. So trying to decide if I risk an exchange to Inspiras with more projection and maybe less rippling.

  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2015

    Hi Newgirls,

    I'm still happy with my outcome! I'm going to PM you.

  • cheddiecat
    cheddiecat Member Posts: 19
    edited November 2015

    Hi Newgirls! Sorry for delay in responding, but took the cruise I had planned a year ago. Felt I deserved it! ;) Anyway, the longest I've had the Pink Perfects attached was 6 days before the edges began to lift. And that's thru showers and zumba workouts, but was not back in the pool yet so that may change. It took a bit of experimenting though. I spread the adhesive on them before putting on my makeup and allow it to dry for a minute or so per instructions and just before I put them on, I spread a bit more adhesive onto the already sticky glue to sort of even it out as it tended to pool together and leave some spots without glue. Seems to work well for me. Might be worth a try. Good luck!

  • maxdog
    maxdog Member Posts: 47
    edited November 2015

    I am having my exchange surgery on 12/15. I am.so excited!!

  • Englishmummy
    Englishmummy Member Posts: 40
    edited November 2015

    Maxdog, that is awesome. I love my noobies!

    Good Luck to Katcar tomorrow too...I can't wait to hear how it goes, I'm sure it'll be a breeze.

  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 108
    edited November 2015

    O....M....G........

    I just called Vinnie Meyers for an appointment, have been putting it off for a few days now as I am busy at work. The young lady who answered says "We just had a cancellation for Friday, March 4 at 1:00pm, would you like that appointment?"

    Seriously, I got an appointment with Vinnie Meyers 3 months out!!!!!! Last week I was told it would be July/August. Happy dance!!!!!!

    I am one lucky girl.

  • Amstar15
    Amstar15 Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2015

    My wife's exchange surgery is Dec 8th and they said that she could just wear a sports bra to the surgery.

    For those who have been through it, what can I go out and buy to help fit her comfortably in the upcoming weeks. I have seen on the board a few places about various bras and names... but honestly as a guy, not real up on brands/styles if that makes sense

    Also today one the PS nurses mentioned a few weeks after surgery she can start to use some type of medicine off the shelf to help with the scars (the name of it started with a M) or we could buy something they had at the PS office which were almost like silicone strips to put over the scaring at night and the strips will help even out/smooth the scar.. anyone have any experience with helping with the scaring?

    thanks ladies

  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,072
    edited November 2015

    Woo hook Audrey.

    Scottie

  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 108
    edited November 2015

    Amstar15, after my mastectomy I got great playtex bras at target. Look for something with no underwire and stretchy material. I wore mine all through fills and after exchange too. There is no form to them, they are seamless and they have a regular bra closure at the back which I liked rather than the struggle of getting into a sports bra. Of course the name is not on the bra, I just checked. And I just checked the playtex website too but no luck. I paid about $15 for them. I still put them on once in a while as they are so comfy.

    I'm not sure about the scar treatments. I'm sure other ladies will be along soon to help.

    Most of all, wish your wife the best of luck with her exchange.

    Audrey

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,359
    edited November 2015

    Amstar - check out WalMart too. You wife won't want to raise her arms above her shoulders for awhile, so look for something with a front zipper or hooks. Otherwise, she'll need to step into the bra & pull it up.

  • bbwithbc45
    bbwithbc45 Member Posts: 367
    edited November 2015

    Amstar, my PS told me to use silicone strips too. You can buy them OTC at a pharmacy. The ones I found were called ScarAway

  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 1,467
    edited November 2015

    AudreyB - WOO HOO! March is right around the corner! You're going to love them....

  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 108
    edited November 2015

    OMG I can't wait. I'm getting my Vinnies (•) (•)

  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 915
    edited November 2015


    YEA!!!!! Go girl! ThumbsUp

  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 915
    edited November 2015


    I had my 6 week follow up today. All was really good, incisions healed and I can go swimming!

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited November 2015

    Anstar

    I went to Wal Mart and got the two pack of Fruit of the Loom front hook and eye soft bras. Easy to put on and gave the right amount of support my PS required 24/7 for 6 weeks.

    Hope this helps, Robin


  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2015

    AudreyB- I'm so excited for you!

  • mjh1
    mjh1 Member Posts: 263
    edited November 2015

    audrey ..woo hoo!!! Time for a happy dance indeed!!!!

  • Leslienva
    Leslienva Member Posts: 343
    edited November 2015

    I've had a lot of pain (and a drain) on the radiated side, but my prophylactic side feels fine. I should get the drain out tomorrow, but my implants are a lot smaller than i wanted. I was up to 460 ccs with the tissue expanders but only 360 ccs with the Inspiras. I know my surgeon was concerned about my radiated side not holding an implant, but if it held the TE, it should be able to hold an implant that's the same size, right? I'm pretty disappointed right now...

  • Eee3
    Eee3 Member Posts: 20
    edited November 2015

    amstar15: it was probably mederma. OTC scar treatment. It works great.

  • hummingbirdlover
    hummingbirdlover Member Posts: 78
    edited November 2015

    Leslienva, I'm sorry you're having a hard time. The fact that the implants seem smaller seems to be a common thread on this board. I thought the same thing at first. I was filled to 320 and ended up with 375 implants and they totally seem smaller than the TEs. They are growing on me though and the silver lining is that I haven't had to wear a bra at all, and I'm loving that.

    As a side note, for those of you who are considering it. I got my 3-D tattoos done last Friday and I absolutely, positively LOVE them. I had them done in my PS office by a former BC patient who said when she went through this there was nobody around our area who did 3D so she went to school and learned how to do them. OMG, it's amazing how real they look. I opted out of nipples but the tattoos give the most real looking illusion that there is a nipple there. I'm SO happy with them. I had my one year follow up with my BS yesterday and he'd never seen the 3D kind and was so impressed he paraded his staff through the exam room so they could all see how awesome they looked. I admit, I've lost all modesty.

    The tattoos have helped take some of my disappointment about the implants away. They don't seem as uneven now, the scars are fading into the background and I'm happy.....finally.

  • Leslienva
    Leslienva Member Posts: 343
    edited November 2015

    Hummingbird, I'm glad you're happy with the 3D tattoos, I'm definitely planning on getting them down the road!

  • AudreyB
    AudreyB Member Posts: 108
    edited November 2015

    Hummingbird, I'm so happy for you. I can't wait to get mine. Its the last step in putting this whole mess behind me.

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