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Exchange City

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Comments

  • pch
    pch Member Posts: 185
    edited December 2015

    Wow Robin, that's intense. Hope you're doing ok. I lived in Long Beach (Belmont Shore) and Venice for twenty years, so I know just where you are. (I was there for the LA riots if you remember, and the OJ trial. And the Northridge earthquake.I can only imagine how bad the hype and hysteria are these days.) I'm in the Midwest now (and missing my ocean!).

    Unfortunately my TEs are so high and wide (and immovable) that I can't tell from trying on clothes. They're distributed totally differently than my normal boobs (in a bra), which is what's making the guessing game so hard. I can say that I thought I wanted to go much smaller than I was, but then my whole body looks out of proportion. So curvy will be back. Just braless. :)

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited December 2015

    Hey, how old are you PCH? I am 61 and was around for all of the above! I grew up in Whittier. Yes, the riots, the earthquakes etc. Sorry you had to move from SoCal. Robin

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

    PCH - any choice you make will NOT look like what you were before. There is no nipple complex to provide projection, and nothing left underneath to provide backing. Also implants are almost always wider than a normal breast. It would be unusual if you can still wear the same bras once you're finished. I'm not trying to be "debbie downer", but I do know it's often hard to adjust to a new look. Some of my loose clothes fit. The "fitted" things, not so much. The bras - none at all except stretchy sports bras.

    And your implants will change over a 6 month period after surgery. That's why people keep saying not to get fitted too soon or buy too many bras up front. It's such a temptation. I knew better from these boards but bought 3 expensive bras while I still had the TEs. They went directly to Salvation Army after exchange.

    Like Robin, I have Allergan 410 anatomicals (true gummies) and am very happy with them. I wanted to be smaller - and yes there have been a lot of women on BCO who feel that way, we just don't post as much. And you really have to be forceful to get smaller. Good luck w/your choices.

  • LoriWNY
    LoriWNY Member Posts: 178
    edited December 2015

    pch--I, too, wanted smaller and had to fight with first PS who would not listen. I had a revision by different PS who understood my desire to be smaller and am thrilled with the results!

  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 915
    edited December 2015



    Suzy, Love your story!

  • lvbugs
    lvbugs Member Posts: 35
    edited December 2015

    I to was one who wanted smaller and my PS listened. After having large pendulous breasts I'm not missing tucking my shirt in the fold for me to wash my face at night

  • Lharry
    Lharry Member Posts: 37
    edited December 2015

    I just had my exchange surgery this past Thursday My PS told me I could take off the compression garment around my stomach, where he did fat grafting, and my surgical bra for sleeping, but to wear them when I'm up. I've been afraid to take them off so far though. I'm going to take my first shower today. I don't know why I'm afraid to remove these things. They certainly aren't comfortable so you'd think I'd be glad to have them off.

    Oh well, gotta do it I guess!

  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 915
    edited December 2015


    I understand. I think there is a sense of security there. But, take off them off and take a shower. I was afraid to take my first shower too. Silly me!

  • katcar0001
    katcar0001 Member Posts: 321
    edited December 2015

    Just wondering--is there a way to fake an areola complex later? I am having nipple recon in about 6 months, but since we're on the topic, I'd like to know more. Can the surgeon not put in fat or something like allograft to build up the complex? I had a unilateral, and while I am pretty symmetrical and have good projection, I'd like the foob to have a little bit more of the cone shape like the native side.

    Also want to note something I find interesting--my foob is warm and has never been cold. I wonder if has to do with my brand of implant, which is Motiva?


  • bikefam
    bikefam Member Posts: 98
    edited December 2015

    I've been reading various forums but this is my first post. After a mastectomy on one side in March, 2015 and TE placement in September, I just had my exchange last week. I had a 350 cc silicone implant in the cancer side and 100 cc in the non-cancer side. I'm sorry I don't know exactly what kind of implants since I haven't been back to the doctor since my surgery, but I know he said he was not going to use anatomicals. I am shocked at how different my two breasts look. I realize they can't match them exactly, but right now, there is no way I could wear anything but bulky blouses or scarves to hide the difference. The cancer side is very flat and square. It is shaped exactly how my TE was, and for 3 1/2 months, I had to keep my top covered up. I hear that they "drop and fluff", but mine have a long way to drop-at least an inch. Should I be concerned or just wait. I can send pictures if anyone would like.

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited December 2015

    bikefam

    Annatomicals don't drop and fluff but will get softer. You might have had pocket work done and that can take awhile to settle. I can't say about one side because I had both. You also have swelling. Give it time. You can send me a PM with pics.

    Robin


  • kingster
    kingster Member Posts: 289
    edited December 2015

    Bikefam, you gotta give it at least 4-6 months before making a judgement after exchange. Initially, I looked as if someone turned a normal breast upside down, then put it on my chest. I was super full up top, and flat as a pancake on the bottom. I really had my doubts about whether or not my ps knew what he was doing. Anyway, try your best to be patient. I have mentor memory gels smooth rounds. Things are more even now...not perfect...but better. I had 1 fat graft 7 months after exchange.

  • bikefam
    bikefam Member Posts: 98
    edited December 2015

    Thanks, kingster. I am impatient because for 3 months that I had the TE, I had to hide my top because it was so mis-shapen. My implant is exactly the same as the TE in shape. I was looking forward to wearing normal clothes.

  • noonrider
    noonrider Member Posts: 203
    edited December 2015

    PCH, my TE's were all.over.the.place!!! One was way up high touching my collar bone, the other more under my arm. I could lay my palm completely flat between them. I tried clothes a couple of times and just could not get anything that looked right. When my exchange was done my PS did a lot of work on the upper poles and they look normal again.My underarms too. My right (cancer) side needed more pocket work and my PS told me it will take a bit longer for it to drop. My left has a very nice shape already, just two weeks out. So far, for me, I like these better than my original breasts. Maybe because I don't even remember them? My recon process took 15 months and I guess really all I remember is horrible ugliness after various steps in the process, and the rock hard expanders. Now that my exchange is done and I look pretty normal (even pretty good?) in clothes, I'm anxious to lose some weight and show off my new shape. At 48 I no longer have boobs that nurse a lot of babies! Ok granted I don't have nipples either, but still....lol


  • ZukiCat
    ZukiCat Member Posts: 18
    edited December 2015

    hello Ladies,

    So I had my exchange on Friday, December 11 th. I still don't feel 100% from the anaesthetic though. I had two drains put in but things are slowing down and both will be removed tomorrow. My TEs were brutal and one was twisted a bit and stuck out the right side and would rub my arm. And they were so far apart! They were over filled to 290 ml. My PS did extensive pocket work, moving them closer together and lowering them a bit, hence the drains. But he was only able to fit in 225 anatomicals since he had to narrow the pockets. I wonder how this will look in a few weeks? I also have a divot under my left breast from lowering it. But man, did I feel soooooo sick for days after the surgery that I swear I won't be put under again!!!

    Just wanted to check in, and say I am relieved the exchange is finished. So far my newly installed boobs don't feel that small, and I am hoping it's not due to swelling lol!

    Hope you're all well, I am off to try and get some wrapping done before I lie back down - Christmas is almost here!!!

    ZukiCat






  • sknitter
    sknitter Member Posts: 16
    edited December 2015

    Hi. I am scheduled for my exchange surgery on January 28th. I didn't think I would need to be out of work as long as my PS is saying. I was initially planning to take one week as a sick week and then work from home for the next week and then back in the office on the third week. Am I being overly optimistic? Thanks!

  • Lkscolo
    Lkscolo Member Posts: 40
    edited December 2015

    Zukicat- congrats! I hated the anesthesia funk too. Took me about a week to rid that. Give it some time to see results. You had a lot of work done and swelling will hide the implants for awhile.

    Sknitter- that's totally doable and you might be pleasantly surprised how good you feel after a week home. You may go back to work sooner. :)

  • Queen_Celeste
    Queen_Celeste Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2015

    sknitter:  I think your plan sounds quite reasonable!  My exchange surgery was October 6 and I returned to work October 13 - exactly one week later.  I felt pretty good, no problems.  My surgeon had said to take off "a long weekend."  I had weight lifting restrictions for a while.  Of course, it could be different for each of us, especially those with more physical jobs.

  • MsVeryDenseBreasts
    MsVeryDenseBreasts Member Posts: 20
    edited December 2015

    12/18 Exchange

  • sknitter
    sknitter Member Posts: 16
    edited December 2015

    thanks Queen. I hate to take off more work time.

  • macb04
    macb04 Member Posts: 756
    edited December 2015

    Hi all,

    On Thurs I will be 2 weeks out from nipple reconstruction. I had my implant put Over my pectoral muscle in August. In Sept I had a breast lift for symmetry on my R side. Itlooks prettygood except my inframammary fold, is not as good a match as my real R. I have really great upper pole fullness and great cleavage.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25455288

    I am planning to get Vinnie tattoo to create a 3d areola this summer.

  • maxdog
    maxdog Member Posts: 47
    edited December 2015

    Hi ladies,

    I had by exchange surgery yesterday afternoon. Everything went well...after a bout of vomiting bile just before I went to OR. I am nauseous all the time from my Femara and don't think my tummy was happy being empty. I am sore-especially on my right side where more pocket work was needed. Wow! What a difference squishies make! I feel like they are part of me, not foreign invaders like the TE's.

  • NJsurfer
    NJsurfer Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2015

    maxdog that is so great to hear! So glad you are more comfortable. My exchange is in January and I can't wait to get rid of my "tennis balls"!!! :)


  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 915
    edited December 2015


    sknitter, I was doing really well one week after my exchange. I did not have to return to work, but could have. Just......be careful and no lifting.

  • deeratz
    deeratz Member Posts: 318
    edited December 2015

    I am so excited, I finally got my date for my exchange. Feb 11/16

  • Leslienva
    Leslienva Member Posts: 343
    edited December 2015

    ZukiCat, I went down from 460 cc expanders to 360 cc Inspira implants due to the scar tissue and issues I've had with my radiated side. It's been over a month and I think the right side looks smaller than my radiated side, but I heard you have to wait several months to see how they will end up looking. My PS also mentioned fat grafting in five to six months but I'm not thinking about it now. It would be June and I don't want to spend part of the summer recovering from that.

  • Mayk
    Mayk Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2015

    12/28 Exchange. Se excited the get this done.

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited December 2015

    Mayk, congratulations! You will love the squshy side. Remember "just because you can, doesn't mean you should ".

  • robinblessed54
    robinblessed54 Member Posts: 485
    edited December 2015

    Has anyone used Scar Away silicone strips to lesson scar color and flatten them? I ordered them and I am excited to start using them. I am over 9 months post EX. I gave one area of one scar that is raised and purple.

    Thanks, Robin


  • bbwithbc45
    bbwithbc45 Member Posts: 367
    edited December 2015

    Hi Robin,

    My PS told me to use ScarAway and I did for a while, but I developed a rash and had to stop. My skin is very prone to rashes

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