Exchange City
Comments
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Jaimieh my PS used allerderm when I had my exchange and when I had my nipple done to help with my thin skin and too help me get good projection with my nipple
Jean I'm feeling good after my 200 miles this weekend...
I actually got out again tonight and put in another 35
so since May 15 I have logged just over 700 miles
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Ditto to what Yvonne and Estepp/Laura said : - )
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Sandy, you are amazing and an inspiration to me. I know that when I get out and exercise, I feel so much better. How long did you have to wait after exchange before resuming exercises? Jan
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Jan....I agree. I don't even want to THINK about how good Sandy is going to look in a bathing suit in Vegas. I still have to go out and look for bathing suits, which is a depressing thought. I would rather have dental work without anesthesia than try on bathing suits.
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Hi Ladies,
When I had my exchange in March my ps put in Allegan, Naturalle 20-550. I have looked
through the information. Does anyone know the weight on this implant? I don not feel off balance
put was just curious as to how much of me is fat weight or implant weight. DH and I think about
4 lbs.
Thanks and Hugs to my sisters!
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Deborah........lol..... but sooooooooooooo true!
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Ladies - I have a problem. I had my nipple surgury on Wednesday. They actually look pretty darn good even at 2 days. PS said no bra for at least 2 weeks (so the blood supply will not be compromised). How do you hide nipples under summer shirts? If I had really thought about it, I may have waited until winter. Easier to hide erect nipples under bulky sweaters.
Karen
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I have used band aids, loosely applied. masking tape - the wide kind), and nipple 'flowers'...JUDY
I realized that I didn't say that is what I used Prior to surgery! If you don't want to wear a bra, or if ps says no bra, then you can use (loosely applied) band aids. And Sandy has this wonderful cool whip containers--but I'll let her tell you..
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Karen, I just had mine done on Jun 2, and I wore padded halter tops until I got the protectors off. Now I wear padded bra, they're going down some now, and that's ok, cuz they were BIG!
Good luck,
Deen
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To all the ladies with new exchanges -- I am so sorry for those that are currently unhappy with their results. The high hopes and then the diappointment at the unveiling is very traumatizing. I have experienced this 3 times (two revisions). I have deep empathy for all of you. Please take care of yourselves, physically and emotionally. I originally went into a deep depression, but now I am doing so much better. Yoga, exercise, and meditation have helped me through this process. Hang in there and be patient; but, don't give up until you get the result you want or find contentment with your current situatuion. You deserve peace of mind!
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Well.....back from fill #5...............only got 30cc each side, but am now FINALLY (barely) over 200cc's!! Believe it or not, that puts me at a 32C (I know this because I ran into Dillards and tried on a couple bras LOL!) PS said probably two more fills @ 3 week intervals, so probably looking at a September exchange (happy birthday to me!), though maybe late August......He was concerned about my skin integrity from the beginning (stretchability), so I asked, and he said it was just fine. So far so good! He said he doesn't push the fills at the end if it causes too much discomfort, but rather adjusts in surgery. I guess that means pocket revisions? My expanders are at quite different levels, so I was concerned about the IMFs, but he said that, and the wide space (2 3/4" - a lot for my narrow chest) between my TEs, will be addressed at exchange. He also mentioned that he goes mostly by dimension more than volume for the final implants. Seems like that's good - right?
Welcome, kbram!
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Jan I think I waited about 6 weeks before I started running after both my exchanges but may have started biking after 4 weeks since that's not as hard on the body.
I'm sitting here giggling because I'm wondering if Karen ever heard of the cool whip container solution
. I can admit it I'm a little nuts but yeah it works : - )Val happy to hear your PS is going to go by dim instead of CC
maybe these PS are finally hearing what Deb and I are trying to get across
Firstmate I'm really happy to hear your feeling better
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Deborah
My rib cage is 27" and I am 5'0" and 104 lbs. The allergen style 120 has a 440 cc implant 12.7 diameter and 4.6 projection. The diameter is the closest to my expanders, according to my ps. It is high profile implant. I want to remain a C cup or go a little bigger. I am filled to 330 but would have liked to have gone to 350-375. I think anything more would look too big.
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Val61
I have the same problem with the wide width in between the expanders. My left one shifted so I need some repair work there. He is also going to lift more muscle away in the center of my chest to move the expander closer to the center and then stitch the outside. The fact that I want smaller dimension implants than tissue expanders probably is not very helpful. You can't pinch the skin in between my foobs so that makes the repair work even more difficult. He said not having alot of body fat adds to the challenge. Too bad the expanders weren't on my behind, there is plenty of flesh there!
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Dani the style 120 is a textured implant, is that something you really want (I'm not saying this to put it down I just don't know much about them)
I just noticed that the style 20 would give you better projection than the style 120
You have a small frame so I would guess you don't want your implant to be very wide
style 20 425cc would be 12 wide by 5.2 projection
Did you already share the dim of your TE?
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I just read where you feel your TE are too wide
so make sure your implants are not as wide as your TE
with your small frame of only 27" I could see you wanting a implant between 10.8 - 12cm
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(((Sandy and Deborah))) You both look amazing! What beautiful women you are inside and out. Deborah, go get a hot looking swimsuit, and walk and strut your stuff. I know you will look Mahvalous!
((Sandy)) I know Pilates is out for 6 weeks, but I will ask my Dr. about recreational bicycling, not racing like you. Kayaking is out, walking and leg work is all that there is to burn off the nervous energy that I have right now. I walk 2 to 5 miles, not running, but do about 4 miles an hour.
This forum is my saving grace. If it wasn't for all of the ladies here being open about the emotions, the loss, the pain, fears, tears, support, our DH'sand SO's, the kindnesses extended, cool whip bowls, bra's spandex, and the fact that size does matter and most importantly that this forum gives us a voice to compare notes, information is power.
Quick question, I am having nerve type pain on the natural (augmented) breast near the top of the breast at the armpit (4 days post exchange). It feels like sharp pain that radiates down the inside of my upper arm. Yikes! This is nowhere near the incision, any clues ladies? Advil doesn't touch it, I see the PS on Monday. Just thought I would go to the best source first! You ladies are a wealth of personal experience. Have a great week-end. ((Karen)) how is work going?
Jan
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Jan, it sure sounds like nerves reconnecting. I had this BIGTIME! As many women do not get feeling back after mast.. I sure did with a vengeance! Nerves were reconnecting like crazy.. I am just now not dealing with that. Some parts of my arm and armpit are still 70% numb.. but the rest is back to normal.
I bet this is happening to you...
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Whippetmom. No we have not discussed my size or the size of exchanges. My journey started October 1999. I saw my GP about a pain in my right Breast this Surgeon sent me for a Mamogram, then a needle bioptsy, then she did a lumpectomy, the results came back the area was still cancerous. Then to a PS and the date of November 27, 1999 was set for a mx. no cancer in the nodes so no Kemo or Rad. A friend had a MX the year before and she said it was very painful. I have had a Bladder repair done not fun so I decided to have sailine fills. He filled to 1300 cc. Then he left the Province to another PS November 2000, He did an exchange still to saline 1100 cc with a Breast augmentation on the Left. Then he left. Finally the third PS he exchanged the saline to 900cc smaller but still to full. It still came high up to my chin but not as high. Tried to see another PS in 2004 the year my daughter got married, no deal wouldn"t touch me because I was #3 patient. Waited another 3(2007) years to get an appointment with #3 and had to wait until May 2009 for my surgery. All I asked when I went into the OR was how did I keep the Implant from going back under my arm, he said use a pack to keep it in place. Well when I woke up I discovered that he had cut away some of the skin that I had been living with for the past nine years. Instead to dropping and fluffing it has grown up again to my chin, it doesn't even fit the skin that he left. I am not sure how to but a picture on this board or have access to the picture forum you talk about I tried to PM Timtam but her site said not available
Style: 410LX REF:27-lx155-625
SN: 14131254 LOT: 1703642
Those are the numbers on the Gel implant that he exchanged
I have no idea of the type of TE Saline implants that were used in my previous exchanges
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Jan I think Laura knows what she is talking about
when I had my lift and small implant on my heralthy side I had that for about 2 weeks
for me it was right in the nipple area and felt like I saw getting shocked
not a good feeling but glad to say it ended
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from the info Sam59 gave I think her implants are 15.5 wide by 13 tall by 7.1 projection
I hope things work out for you
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Sandy,
I didn't know they were textured, thanks for pointing that out. He never gave me the dimensions of my expanders, just that they were mentors. He actually didn't have them in his notes so he said he was going to have to get them from the hospital records. He just said the allergan 440 were close to the dimensions.
He did say he was concerned about reducing the diameter too much because he was concerned about movement. He didn't want them to shift when I lay down, creating a hollow in the center of my chest.
I know that there have been many conversations here about the style 20 but I wasn't at that point yet so nothing stuck. What are the benefits of style 20 over other implants?
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Jan1
After my mastectomy I took Gabba and mangnesium and it helped the nerve pain.
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Hi ladies. I think I may need some advice/help.
I'm 5'2", 110lbs, athletic build (wide ribcage for my height at 31.5"). I had a bilateral mx with tissue expander placement three weeks ago. I saw my PS yesterday - three weeks after surgery - and it is too soon for a fill as my right breast (radiated in 2006) incision still needs to heal. The other breast (no prior radiation) is healing well. I chose expander/implant over tissue flap surgery cause I didn't want to lose a muscle and my insurance does not cover microsurgery. I chose my PS because she is in my insurance network and comes highly recommended by a surgeon who I highly trust and regard - and this PS reportedly does a very "natural" breast.
So at surgery I was filled to 250cc on both sides (got the actual numbers yesterday) and my PS said she did this to "preserve the space" in my skin-sparing mastectomies. Lots of pain, but this is improving. I have been VERY clear with her that I want to go smaller. I was a "C" and want to be a true "B". She used expanders PMT 650cc 3611ES-200-2i. Her plan is to fill me to 600cc!!!!!!!! and then put a Mentor Round of 300cc in at exchange. I do not know the profile (now I know to ask). She says this is to have a bit of natural "droop" and also so the skin does not contract onto the implant. First, I am not sure I can tolerate that expansion and second, no where in these posts have I read such a difference between expander size and implant size. I feel SURE that I will be too big with 300cc as I am already too big and wide (to my mind) with 250cc.
I want to trust her, but sooooo afraid to. I do NOT want to wake up any bigger than a B. I brought pictures which she said to "hang on to for us to look at later". I DO get a sense that PS's promote a "larger" look. I even asked her about being an "A" and she said the problem is that the smaller the implant, the smaller the base diameter, and on my wider ribcage it would look wrong.
Opinions? Thoughts?
And DEBORAH! I got the "Breast Reconstruction Guidebook" that you suggested - I sooooo wish I had that book before any of this. It is gold.
Peace and thanks,
Geena in Providence
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Thanks Sandy, Dani42, and Laura. This pain is maddening, it is not near the incision around the bottom of the nipple. It starts at the top of the breast and radiates down the inside of my arm. It has to be nerve pain, but I am trying to figure out what is being pushed in there. I had a 275cc implant in there to even out the mastectomy side. Thanks for reminding me that this will go away. I caved in last night and took a percocet. I am going to buy a bra today. I think I am a nice B, maybe a C. The surgical bra has to go and the stretchy ones don't fit well. I am modest, but will try to get a good fitting by asking for help.
Sam 59, good heavens, you have been through more than was necessary and still not getting what you are wanting. I can't believe that 3 different reconstructive surgeons could not give you a similance of what you asked for. It seems to me that a PS should be able to tell you what the dimensions and probable outcome of the surgery would be so that you get what you want. Sandy and Deborah are so knowledgable and will give you great suggestions to steer you in a direction that may give you peace and possible resolution. Jan
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dani: Actually, when you said "440 cc's" I did not even think to look at the Biocell textured implants because I just have not come across the use of textured implants for breast reconstruction. I would tell your doctor that you would really prefer the Style 20 - as Sandy said - better projection - and more widely used for breast reconstruction patients. I am concerned about the amount of rippling you would likely get with the textured implants. Also...some other issues.
http://www.breastconsult.com/smooth-vs-textured-breast-implants.html
I do not know if it is conclusive that textured implants lower the risk of capsular contracture, which is presumably the reason your PS is thinking about using textured. Personally - speaking for myself - I would shy away from textured implants. To address that issue of implants displacing laterally and leaving a hollow when you sleep, just wear a good sleep bra. I always wear one now...
Deborah
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dani42 - Amen about "tush fat! - or thighs, for that matter!" I, too, have absolutely no extra skin between the foobs. Sounds like this is not going to be a fun post-op for either of us..... I did recently discover that my ps specializes in "reconstruction for the thin patient," so I feel even better about my choice of docs. Good luck with the graduation and college visit. I'll be doing that with #2 son this time next year!
I realized yesterday as I was at the ps's office that it was my 6-mo dx "anniversary." Hard to believe.... On the up-side, though, I most definitely felt both the lidocaine and butterfly stick on my right (non-bc) side this time. A blessing and a curse, as the ps said........
rockwellgirl - I'm glad you approve! You and Deb provide wonderful guidance and education to us. I think my ps was quite impressed when I asked about "inframammary folds!"
Valerie
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Hi Guys,
SInce we have such great experts here, can I jump in for advice?
First, I feel clueless as I don't know all these numbers and brands of implants like the rest of you. I've told my story a couple of times before, but basically I had mast with TE in October. I was filled to 480 cc's. On my exchange date in December they found an infection and took out the TE.
In April I had a second expander place and my PS only to filled me to 380 cc' s this time. Both times I had a 350 cc' TE. He doesn't know how I got the infection as it was discoverd under the expander so he wanted to be cautious this time and not overfil or ask the skin to stretch too far.
So....I have my pre-op this week. I am 5' 7 1/2" about 135. I have a funny rib cage ( there's a medical term for it) that comes up high right under my breasts. If I''m doing it right I think I measure about 34".
My PS is awesome and I trust him completely. I haven't asked him much tecnical stuff, but what should I be asking at my pre-op? I know he is going to use a high profile mentor implant on mast. side and a smaller one on the healthy side. I believe he is going to bring in a couple different implants into surgery to see what looks best. I don't know what the differences are between them.
I was a pretty small B before and since I had to go through all this I wanted to be bigger than I was originally. Hey...we should get SOME benefits out of all this right?! I know I will be bigger than I was, but not as big as I would of been had the December exchanged been successful. Any idea what cup size this might make me?
I know that I have been in this reconstruction stage for too long...I have had too much time to think about everything this time around and read too many stories and it's freaking me out. Especially the thought of cutting into the healthy side. All I can imagine is something happening to the good side and then having both breasts messed up...yikes!
A pep talk would be great! Thanks guys!
Paranoidly yours,
Candi
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((((((((hugs))))))))) and great healing to all my fellow sisters going thru surgeries this coming week.....I am sooooooo nervous this time and I was never this way before.....I guess I just dread the chance it won't work out "again"......but the 4th times a charm.....right?
I hope all you girls get your foobs that you want and that everything works out.....our experts on this thread (Deborah and Sandy) have been a godsend answering all our questions and giving us great advice on what questions to ask at our PS appts.........THANK YOU
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Candi,
I am guessing your "funny rib cage" is what is called a pectus carinatum (pigeon chest). This occurs when the sternum (the bone in the center front of the chest) is overdeveloped resulting in a protrusion of the front of the chest. A good PS will not have any problem making you look awesome even if your chest is a little different.
I am in the middle of reconstruction so I will let the experts here answer your questions and offer reassurance since I haven't even had my exchange yet.
Good luck,
Julie
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