Exchange City
Comments
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I had a UMX on left side in 2013 with an implant put in, and did nothing on the right. They did sever all my nerves on the left. It has been almost 4 weeks ago now, I finally got the right non-cancer breast operated on (breast lift no implant), fat grafting from other parts of my body to fix the cavity formed above the left implant, and also a nipple sharing procedure from the right nipple to create a nipple on the left side. Yes I'm still in a bit of pain. My right side is still a bit swollen, and yes it hurts still. The PS told me it would take 4-6 weeks for the swelling to go down. The PS commented several times on how he was glad I waited to get the symmetry done. I am happy to see a 'perky' breast on the left!
Trying to find someone else who had a nipple sharing procedure, my right nipple still has a stitch in the middle so it makes it a bit painful! Anyone here have that done? In any case, I hope your swelling goes away soon!
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I'm now a month away from exchange and next week have pre op with PS, at which time we will discuss implants. I read on BCO that the the silicone implants can feel cool, while the saline are warmer. I would love to hear from some of you about the temperature of your implants and if it plays a role in your comfort level. Particularly with silicone, is the coolness something you get used to over time? I'm leaning towards silicone, but not 100% convinced. I've always been on the cool side and now even with occasional hot flashes, tend to be mostly cool so I don't know how much I should consider this aspect when thinking about my options. Thank you!
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Wildtulip - I've heard that silicone implants can be cold as well. I've had my gummies (highly cohesive silicone) for 7 1/2 wks. now & I have yet to feel any sensation of cold. However, I live is So. Cal. so it doesn't get very cold here. So far my implants feel warmish, like regular body temp. Congrats on being a month from exchange!
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Wildtulip, I'm coming up on one year since BMX, and 10 months since EX, and I have never experienced a sensation of coolness, either for implants or TEs. I have often felt there is something under my muscles, especially in the beginning with the TEs.
Fall has come, and much cooler temperatures as well.If I get a shiver, I'm reminded that there is something under the muscle. But the shiver is because I'm cold from the external temperature, not from the implants.
Best wishes on your surgery.
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MrsB88 and Mominator, Thank you! You made me feel better about considering silicone. I hate being cold!
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Ok, I am going to be the fly in the ointment. I have the gummy implants and they are definitely cold to the touch, BUT don't make me cold. I too live in So Cal where it doesn't get too cold. Kingster lives in Pittsburgh PA and I know her regular silicone rounds are cold. Maybe she can weigh in.
Robin
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Robin, Thank you! Kingster, I would love to have your input on if your silicone rounds make you feel cold. If you could, would you change your decision? I'm a Minnesota gal, so lots of cold months ahead, and I'm considering Mentor Memory gel implants.
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Wildtulip-I live in Central Canada....or like I sometimes like to call the frozen wasteland(beautiful in the summer, not so much in the winterI do not find the silicone implants cold. The worst part was when I had my expanders in and I would shiver my pecs would tense up over top of those rocks. It would hurt. I remember walking across a cold parking lot holding my rocket boobs because I couldn't stand it. The cohesive gel(gummy bear) implants are a million times better.
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Wild tulip my EX is scheduled for Friday and I am getting the Mentor Memory gel high profile. I asked my PS if they are gummy bear type. He said yes. But they are round. I don't know if he understood what I was asking or not. What he showed me was round but not textured. I guess I'll know before long if they are cold or not. All summer I thought my TEs felt like warm plastic wrap on my insides. Cool might be a little better as long as they are not cold
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Wildtulip, my silicone rounds are cold to the touch sometimes but I can't feel them being cold from the inside, so it doesn't affect my comfort.
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Hi Seedsally - Some clarification on the Mentor implants. The Mentor Memory Gel implants are somewhat different than gummy bear implants. Memory Gel is a cohesive silicone gel implant that comes in both textured or smooth surface round shape implants with 4 projection heights. The Mentor Memory Shape implants (referred to as gummy bears) are anatomical (teardrop) shaped implants that are highly cohesive silicone gel and only come in a textured surface. They also come in 4 projection heights. Highly cohesive gel is referred to as gummy bear because when you cut one of the implants open the inside silicone gel stays in place & looks like the texture of a gummy bear. You can go to the Mentor Worldwide website & look up Memory Gel & Memory Shape implants & it shows all the specs for both types of Mentor implants. Hope this helps. I'll be thinking of you on Friday & will be sending healing thoughts & an excellent outcome your way!
Nancy (aka Mrs.B88)
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I had my exchange 5 days ago, to gummy bears. They don't feel cold to me.
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Thank you so much MrsB88. That helps a lot. It's what I thought. He said mine would be 800 ccs and the ultra high profile memory gel. I believe he didn't quite hear what I said and showed me samples of the implants that he said were similar to mine. They were round
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Seed - You're welcome. The Mentor anatomical gummies don't come in larger than a 685cc implant if you go with the most projection. That's what I have & they suit my body frame just fine but they are not as large as my native breasts were. I'm sure your doc wants you to get the most projection you can with the ultra high profiles but at a higher 800cc volume. I think you will be very pleased with them!
Nancy
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Wildtulip, I have mentor memory gel 700ml. Round high profile silicone. All silicone is cohesive gel now days. They are not anatomical or highly cohesive. My PS said the "saline is not good for reconstruction". So I really didn't have a choice in the matter since my ps only uses mentor because they are made in the USA. They get cold when I swim or if it's cold because they are not tissue. They don't really make me feel cold...my hypothyroidism does that:/ Anyway, they are soft and I like that I can shift them around a little to adjust in a bra. I feel that I always need to wear some sort of bra to support the weight. They feel like they pull too much without at least a genie bra on. My hubby calls them "vampire boobs". I think saline is more firm like the te because they were saline. They also were cold to me. So, just find out what your ps prefers. My ps prefers the mentor memory gels. No risk of rotation, soft, good upper pole fullness, and made in Texas. They are cool, but don't make me feel cold. I think tissue reconstruction would be the only type that would actually feel warm. I didn't pursue that due to the donor site issue and the long surgical time and recovery. I work full time and had to get back asap. Hope this helps.
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Also, I had fat grafting all over on both, and did seem to help warm them up a little. I have had problems with autoimmune thyroid and pituitary after a year post implants. Docs say not related, but I'm not so sure. I would like to see if I would have felt better with no reconstruction, but I like looking normal in clothes. Not sure if I would pick reconstruction again due to all the extra surgeries and stress both physically and mentally. I have a nice result, but am not feeling well. Headaches, fatigue, etc. I guess I have a love hate relationship with my foobs. No reconstruction feels like natural God made breasts in my opinion. I look at them as an internal prosthetic. I'm glad they are not adhered to my chest and that they do have a little movement. Some of what I am going through now may be just normal turning age 50 menopause type stuff and have nothing to do with my implants at all, who knows. Happy to still be alive and cancer free;)
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Thank you SO much everyone for weighing in on the temperature of silicone's. It's really helped give me some perspective. I've had my TE's for 5 months and haven't noticed any temperature difference with them, like some of you, so that's good.
Seesally, Good luck on Friday!!
Kinster, Our PS's are very similar! Mine also only uses the Mentor brand (memory gel) and said that his reasoning is that they are made in the US. A nurse once told me that most of their patients go with the rounds, so I'm sure that's what the Dr prefers. He also once told me that silicone would be best for me, since I like to be active. So, although I know what my surgeon prefers, I wanted to do my due diligence and ask questions so I don't feel like I'm just going along and not knowing what I'm getting into. My PS doesn't do FG right away, so we haven't talked about that yet. I SO appreciate your, and everyone else's input! I did have an LD flap on one side, because of radiation. I had delayed reconstruction and went flat for a while and used a prosthesis for a while, for me, neither of those felt natural. I'm hoping to not have to wear a bra at some point, but we'll see. I'm going smaller then you...maybe in the 400's. I'm sorry you're not feeling well. The thyroid issues can definitely be the cause of the fatigue. I hope you have a good endocrinologist. I'm just a few years behind you, but bc forced me into menopause...it's a bumpy road! Take care.
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Wildtulip, thanks. I am overall happy with my soft silicone rounds. My friend had a LD flap due to radiation as well, and was very soft. I have more scar tissue on the left due to my te coiling up inside which led to a te replacement at 6 weeks post bmx. No doubt the stress of all this has taken its toll on my body, so that's probably why things have been acting up. I didn't need chemo or rads, so I haven't stopped my cycle yet. Don't worry about the implants making you cold. They are just cool to the touch sometimes from the outside, not the inside. And mentor has a lifetime guarantee. My ps just must have a good relationship and service from mentor. My friend got inspira implants and they looked very nice. She is much smaller than me though. I look perfectly normal in a bra and clothes, so it will be much better than the external prosthetic for sure. And my 3D Vinnie tattoos is right around the corner on the 22nd!!!!! Yay;)
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kingster - My PS also favors Mentor but will use Allergan if a patient requests it. Congrats on your upcoming 3D Vinnie tattoos! Let us know how you like the finishing touches!!
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MrsB88 - thank you for posting on the May surgery thread! I had the biopsy yesterday. My BS looked at the images from the ultrasound and said they were "indeterminant". The radiologist was also scratching her head. I hope the pathology report will be back tomorrow- it's nerve wracking waiting for results!
Meanwhile I'm healing well after my exchange surgery 2 weeks ago. I also had the Mentor memory gel and so far they are very comfortable and they don't feel cold at all. I see a little rippling on my right side. My PS does fat grafting after things settle, so will see what she says when I see her in December.0 -
Kingster, Congrats on your upcoming tats! Thanks for your input.
Grandma, Good to hear you are recovering well. Best wishes with the pathology results!!
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It was benign!! Fat necrosis and muscle tissue...
thank you all for your well wishes! I don't think I could take any more bad news today...
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Hi Grandma - Great to hear back from you! Hoping you get great news today re your biopsy! I'm glad to hear you are healing well. I have Mentor Memory Shape implants & saw my first ripple on left side about 5 wks. out & now one on the right side at 7 wks. I read the textured surface implants can "stick" in place & cause ripples on occasion so I've been lightly smoothing out the skin at the sites & its helped diminish the ripples at least temporarily. Saw my PS today & she thought everything looked really good. I forgot to mention the on & off rippling issue. I'll be thinking of you & hope to hear excellent news from you soon!
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grandma - Was typing my above note to you & saw your post just now. I am so thrilled for you! What a relief!! Now you can continue on with your exchange healing & peace of mind. YAAAAH!!!!
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grandma3x, I'm so relieved and happy for your benign results!!!
I hope you're relaxing and celebrating now.
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Grandma3x so glad to hear about you BX results. I'm counting down to my Friday EX! Won't be long now.
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Seedsally - Just think - only 2 more nights of sleeping with those TE's! I'm counting down with you!!
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Congratulations Grandma #3x - so happy to hear it was benign.
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I'll weigh in on the cold factor... went through exchange 10/26 same day as Grandma. I have mentor memory shape. They do not feel cold to the touch. Only 2 weeks out but I like them. Only thing is I guess there will be no shifting them around like a real boob or saline.
Good luck Seedsally!!!!!
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Lady - Glad you like your implants as I have the same kind & am happy with them. You bring up an issue that begs the question - does anyone have implants that can be shifted around? My first set in 2010 were regular silicone rounds, not cohesive gel & I couldn't shift those either.
Seed - I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Best wishes for a smooth recovery & a great outcome!!
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