Exchange City
Comments
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I'm using bioCorneum twice a day, I got it from the PS. It's supposed to help fade the scars after two months. I started it a few weeks ago, so we'll see. My right scar is much worse than my left, which isn't bad at all. But they're asymmetrical, which I'm afraid will look weird when I get the 3D tattoos.
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Merry Christmas to all of my sisters! I hope you enjoy time with your family. I am so blessed to have you all as we move along our paths to recovery and renewal. 🌲
Robin
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Merry Christmas to all!
Scottie
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Merry Christmas Robin, Scottiemom and all of you brave ladies out there!
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hi ladies....I had my exchange surgery this past Monday and all went well. Had a postop visit 2 days later and all was ok. Today, postop day 5, I had a small amount of very light red/pinkish discharge from the incision on one side that wicked into my sports bra about the width of a plum. A few hours later there was a fresh nickel-sized area on the gauze. The incision itself appears closed and dry. I did absentmindedly lift a heavy fruit bowl briefly today so am not sure if I aggravated something. I don't have any redness or pain in the reconstructed breast itself and I'm already on preventive antibiotics after the surgery. I can't help worrying but can this sometimes happen and does it just subside on its own?
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Hi ladies, exchange done 12/15 and was feeling good. Christmas I started with lots of pain on right side...where pocket was stitched up internally. I can barely move. I'm thinking I ripped some internal stitches. No bruising right now. I'm assuming there isn't much to be done. I tightened my compression bra and have been taking my ibuprofen, but may need to take something more heavy duty. Anyone else experience this?? TIA
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I urge you ladies having drainage or increasing pain levels, please call your plastic surgeon. They need to know about these changes anyway. I did not have drainage post exchange, and my pain was not bad after ex but I didn't have any pocket work done. Hope this helps.
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I second Kingster. If you have any questions about pain or drainage,call your PS. Maxdog, pocket work and liposuction which I had can be very painful. I'm suprised you are only on motrin. Hang in there.
Scottie
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I am planning to call PS in am. The pain is in the same place where I had scar tissue issues with the te's, so could certainly be the same issue, just now with implants. I have also been battling an ear infection since exchange day. My hearing partially returned yesterday with less congestion in my ear, but now my sinuses are killing me. My poor body is just trying to keep up!
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Hugs maxdog. And czechmate. Take your temp and keep watching things.
And everybody remember the Mantra is there for a reason! Now, repeat after me, "Just because you CAN, DOESN'T mean you SHOULD!". Take it easy ladies.
Much love
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Maxdog, I thought we weren't supposed to take ibuprofen while healing. My PS gave me prescription meds that contained tylenol.
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No fever so that is a relief. No pain or swelling either. I went most of the day yesterday with no discharge but later in day had about a nickel-sized spot again. I will go in today just to get checked to ease my mind. Over the weekend my Dr said sometimes a small pocket of blood or fluid beneath the incision will leak out if it's pooled there and to keep an eye out for other symptoms, which I don't seem to have, but I'm going to go in anyway. Hugs to all.
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Exchange surgery completed yesterday. I've never had a bad reaction to anesthesia before but I did this time. The horrendous pounding headache and wretching took about 15 hrs to go away. Ugh. I'm not feeling the need for the pain meds today. The surgical site pain is very manageable. So the good news is that the implants look symmetrical and the nipples appear even. The bad news is I'm concerned the PS went with too small of an implant. Not sure if I just got used to the way the TEs looked or what. Since I have anatomicals I'm assuming there isn't much to "settle" like there is for the rounds. Have others noticed much change in their anatomicals in the weeks following exchange surgery? I'm assuming some of what I'm seeing is swelling and if that reduces, I may look too small for what I was after. My regulars bras fit with the TEs....not sure that will be the case with the implants. Anyone else have a similar experience? Thx.
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ms, so sorry to hear about your reaction to the anethesia.
I have the annatomicals but had TEs expanded to 420cc and got 475cc implants. You should have gotten a registration card from your PS telling you everything about your implants. I sent you pics in a PM. What were you filled to and what did you get?
Annatomicals do not settle, or drop/fluff but do get softer. I am almost 10 months post EX. I am very happy with my outcome. Annatomicals do not move like rounds do. And yes, of course you have swelling.
Hang in there, remember, this is the new normal.
Robin
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MVDB, sorry you had trouble with the anesthesia. I know how that feels. Yuck. And yes you do get used to how the TES feel big. It's a it of a shock after exchange. But give it a bit as you find it easier to move, you'll get used to the size. There nay have been a reason the PS couldn't put bigger ones in, like the width of the implants and the space in your chest. Also remember that very little holds up the implant, whereas the natural breast is held up by practically every cell.so weight is a big consideration. My PS was going to place 900's in me. In sx, he found only 750' s would fit in my chest. So he filled them to 850 (mine are saline so he could over fill them). But i fill a C cup. I can wear good bra from before.
Give your self time to adjust and sometimes accept whatever it is. Balance what you expected against what you have. Balance that against more sx with its dangers. Ask the PS about fat grafts if there are spots that need it. But most of all, take the time to heal.
Much love
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Thanks for the quick responses all. RobinBlessed, yes I recall the pics. Thx! My TEs were expanded to 300cc and the implants are 350. I have a narrow chest. The TEs looked plenty big on me and yep I even hoped the anatomicals would look slightly smaller and more natural. They do look more natural. The size just has me a little concerned. Oh well. I feel like my life has been entirely too boob focused for months now. I need to move on!
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I had my implant exchange on 11/12, but the Inspira's don't feel all that different from my TEs. And I still have trouble shaving under my arms because they seem to still hang too close to my underarms. Plus, they're smaller than I wanted (due to problems on my radiated side). All in all, not that happy, but I'm hoping they'll feel and look better in a few months.
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I have a question regarding airport security and my TE's. Will the magnets in the fill ports of my TE's set off the alarm when I go through the preboarding screening? I have the card from my PS that I carry in my wallet. Am I going to have to show them this? I haven't flown since I have had my rocket boobs
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Deeratz,
Mine have set them off once. I had my card with me but they still insisted on palming my chest area and it was 6 days after surgery! Since then I have traveled 6 or 7 times and it hasn't happened again.
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I'd recommend requesting the agent to let you go thru the 360 degree body scanner instead of the usual x-ray machine. I always use that now because I have a hip implant. When I passed thru with the TE's and viewed my image on the screen, 2 green rectangles showed up on my chest + one for my hip with a yellow one on my wrist requiring the agent to check my bracelets/watch. In airports where that machine isn't available, a pat down is always done (my hip sets it off). The cards the Dr's provide are meaningless to the TSA agents; found that out with my hip. Good luck.
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i flew in October with a pacemaker, two implants, a port and a knee replacement. With a cane. They took my cane, gave me a wooden one and sent me through the 360. Other than taking off my shoes cause I wasn't 65 yet, no problem. LOL
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I flew with my expanders in once and handed my card to the TSA lady and she didn't even know what it meant. She told me "just go through the body scanner."
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Happy New Year Everyone! May 2016 treat you well.
Much love
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wishing all my boobie sisters a healthy new year and acceptance of our new normal!!!!
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Happy new year everybody;) What are your thoughts on nipple reconstruction vs. 3D tattoos? My ps said that nipple reconstruction flatten out often and leave scar tissue, making the tattooing process more difficult. My insurance will not pay for a tattoo artist because they are not "qualified providers" according to them. Thanks and appreciate any thoughts.
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Inkster some tattoo artists , like Vinnie, (once a month)that work through a medical center are covered. Otherwise PS do them. But I've heard they don't last as long. I want 3D tats. I don't need my headlights on High beam all the time! LOL but everyone has to do what will work for them.
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I haven't done all of my research on this topic, but I am leaning toward 3d tattoos. My original nipples would very rarely show.through a top and I don't want constant headlights now! But, I do hear many people who love their nipples.
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kingster: I recently had nipples created by origami method along with grafting of areolas and a little fat grafting to the divots that formed on my chest above my settled Inspira round high profile implants. Had discussions with PS about the "finishing touches" at exchange post-op appointment and was on the fence about whether to proceed or take a trip North to Vinnies, but knew I would do something permanent after wearing the Pink Perfect prostheses. Have the "modest" style with just a little nip that barely shows thru with stretchy-cup bras and felt good wearing them, but they DO come off (once spent 20 mins searching for one). Circumstances aligned 3 weeks ago for me to have the surgery (or else I was going to wait until June/July) and I went ahead and did it without doing as much research as I normally would (scary). While all the stitches still haven't dissolved, I can tell you that it changes the shape of the breast from being a mound to more like a natural breast. The areola tissue darkened a bit compared to the adjoining breast skin so tattooing probably won't be needed later. Nipples are large, but was told to expect that initially as they will shrink ~60%, and they are already getting smaller. At this point, I'm very pleased with the results and expect the appearance to improve over time as I heal. My vertical MX incisions have faded a lot already. Sooooo glad this phase is over (hopefully) and can move forward with my life.
Wishing everyone a Happy and HEALTHY 2016!!
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Hi cheddie-I recently met with my ps to figure out my next step for tattos or origami with tattos or grafting and origami. Can you share where you had the graft taken from and how the healing went with that? I am so on the fence but I too have a Pink a Perfect and like the finished look. Laughing at your line about spending 20 minutes looking for one. Same here -trying on bathing suits at Marshall's.... Lost one. Thought I was going to have to have it announced..... Attention Marahalls shoppers...can you keep an eye out for a lost nipple! Can you imagine!
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Yeah, those prosthetic pink perfect nips are very expensive! Almost like losing a diamond earring. Thanks for the input. My insurance will pay for nipple/areolar recon, but not for tattoos done by a non medical person like the tattoo artist. I want things to look as realistic as possible...if that's possible.
Cheddiecat, how long was your recovery off of work? And could you explain how long was the surgery, was it general anesthesia, and where was your skin graft donor site? And...how painful was it? Thanks:)
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