Exchange City
Comments
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Moody,
Same incision here too. Straight across the middle. I had skin sparing but not the nips. I had ILC, not as common as DCIS or IDC. Only 15% are ILC. I actually had a combination of IDC and ILC. Recovery much easier than BMX. I took 2 weeks but could have gone back in one week. I have a desk job at a school so can monitor what I do. Best of luck.
Robin
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Hi all, it's been a few years (over 7 already - hard to believe!) since I've had reconstruction surgery with the gummy implants. My question is for those who have gummy implants, do you have rippling and pain? I didn't have any problems the first 4-5 years, but it's been getting worse the last year or so. I know I need to see a PS soon, though I don't want to go back to my original doc. (He seemed very nonchalant about my problem when I last saw him.) I'm unhappy with how firm/solid the implants are and they are definitely not symmetrical. (MX on left only, gummy implant on both sides.) Unfortunately, I was never given the option of what type of implant I wanted to go with so I don't know any other option, though I think saline might be softer? Any input or feedback would be much appreciated!
Karen
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Karen - Sorry for the changes you're having. No, I have had no rippling or pain and I had my Allergan 410 anatomicals - the original gummies - in for 6 years this fall. I do know it takes an expert with lots of experience to do the anatomicals. Mine were perfectly symmetrical until I had a recurrence and had to have ALND & rads on one side. The BS was able to cut around the implant so I didn't loose it, but that side is a bit higher now as the muscles withdrew from the radiation damage. My PS said he'd be happy to make them match perfectly again.
Sounds like you need to go talk to at least two new plastic surgeons to get 2nd & 3rd opinions. There are lots of new silicone round products that are considerably softer, but since I had really firm breasts filled with fibercystic tissue, I don't mind the firmness of the 410s. And there are other companies making anatomicals now which I understand are also softer than the originals. From what I've read, saline isn't used much in reconstruction from breast cancer anymore.
When you get time, do go to My Profile and post your diagnosis & treatments so we'll be better able to answer your questions.
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Back from ultrasound on lefty...
No obvious abnormalities. Both technician and radiologist couldn't find anything. No cysts, no fat necrosis. No obvious abnormality. (I don't think ultrasound would show scar tissue.)
That's all great. But there is a hard *something* there and it hurts.
Radiologist then was asking if I had lifted anything heavy recently, been working out recently, anything out of the ordinary?
No, no, and no. (Shall we play blame the victim?)
Radiologist then pushes around some more with the wand at the marked spot and says "all I see there is the edge of the implant."
I ask, "if you see the edge of the implant where I am feeling this hard lump, could the implant have moved out of position and/or rotated? Could we compare the ultrasound with the MRI to check the position of the implant? Maybe the left implant is higher than the right?"
Radiologist noted, just looking at me, that the left breast is bigger and higher than the right, with an obvious bulge near the lump.
Back to Plastic Surgeon next Tuesday. I hope that Plastic Surgeon and Breast Surgeon are done saying the other guy. After the MRI and ultrasound show no obvious abnormality, and nothing there except the implant, I think we can say this is Plastic Surgeon's jurisdiction.
Of course, Lefty is very sore today after all that poking and pressing yesterday. It also feels like it has moved diagonally closer to the armpit.
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Farmdream. . .I had HP smooth round Mentor implants with first EX. Old PS did not want to put in UHP. New PS -changed due to insurance - put UHP in for March revision to fix CC. I really like the UHP. On my small chest it's more projection.
Moody. . .both original EX and revision EX surgeries used same incisions as BMX. I had more pocket and skin work this go round so new PS just extended the incisions under arms to remove dogears.
Scottie
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Scottiemom11- I believe he is going to start with UHP and if they just don't look right he will but in the HP. The UHP do match my TE dimension and he said my skin looks ok. Thank you
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Moodyblues, when I had my exchange, the PS went under my breast to insert the implants and didn't go back in through the original scars. I think that's pretty common, tho. I wasn't happy about getting more scars, but at least you can't really see them.
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Sorry for the lapse in response time...
My BS removed 16 lymph nodes during my BMX because he said they appeared rubbery. He didn't feel comfortable only taking the first one or two and leaving the rest that had that same atypical appearance/feel. In hindsight, he said they probably were just still recovering from the initial lumpectomy I had a month and a half before. I've had issues with that side since - frozen shoulder...ouch.
A word of caution for those of you who just had or are getting ready to have your tissue exchange: Limit your activity and movement. In a previous post I stated to listen to your doctor, but I also said I was a good judge for my own body and was also using that to determine my activity. Now, I still have significant swelling in my upper chest (starting an inch or two below my clavicle) that I'm dealing with. My PS and his physician's assistant feel it's because I'm being too active and not limiting movement enough...and they are right. The BMX was uncomfortable enough to remind me of my limitations, and the TE just doesn't hurt that much. I'm taking it easy now; hence, getting on the computer rather than trying to clean my kitchen. Bad choices in activity have made me miss another week of work. I'm doing now what I should have done the first few days after surgery. My PS said to limit weight to nothing more than a cup of coffee for another two weeks and to limit lifting my arms higher than shoulder height. I now plan to do that so that I can allow myself to heal properly.
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Yes Kacop, just because you can doesn't mean you should!! Our mantra here! Please take care of yourself.
Ladies, please be careful. Your ultimate outcome depends on you as much as the PS.
Hugs, Robin
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12 days after exchange and lift surgery, and I think my plastic surgeon is a genius. The anatomical implant matches my healthy breast well. I still have some bruising and I know some swelling will go down, but overall I'm happy. Hang in there that first week, and maybe even first month (or three).
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Hi all -just had my exchange surgery on 5/12 to Natrelle Inspira smooth round cohesive gel silicone implants..so much relief after expanders! Came home from surgery in a tight surgical bra. Had my first follow-up with the PS on 5/19 - she told me she wants me to wear a bra for the next 6-8 weeks as this will help shape the implants as swelling goes down and implants settle. She did not have a specific bra recommendation for me - just said no underwire. Does anyone have any bra recommendations you can share with me for this part of the healing process? Thanks!
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memyself - I often wore a Warner's bra, linked below, as my original PS did not want underwire after exchange either. One thing to keep in mind is that this particular bra does not have adjustable straps, but there are several Warner's bras that are similar, wire-free, that do have adjustable straps.
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I wore Fruit of the Loom or Danskin bras from WalMart - usually front hooks or zips at first then transitioning to sports bras.
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This is an old thread that isn't very active, but there are so many good bra recommendations I wanted to pass it along. It will require some reading, but great ideas. BRAS 101
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics...
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Yep, Fruit of the Loom front closure at Wal Mart! Inexpensive and worked great. I had to wear one for 6 weeks too, but wore much longer. No underwire! Don't rush the process, it is worth it.
Robin
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I wore the front-closure surgical bras for about 6 weeks, then I switched to this Bali wire-free, product #3372.
It is very comfortable and very supportive.
http://www.barenecessities.com/bali-double-support-wire-free-bra-3372_product.htm?pf_id=Bali3372
Everyone is different. Also, bras feel differently as the swelling goes down and we heal. Be patient with yourself.
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I just took the wires out of my already favorite bras, so now I can wear them all comfortably. All u need is a seam ripper;)
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kingster that's so clever. Ima try that. I was going to have to throw these bras away anyway.
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I have Natrelle FX-410560, which is 560 cc's. I am very happy with their size and shape and they are definitely twins. I think my PS did a great job. Have battled infection in lefty so really hoping infection does not return as I am happy with my results. There was an article published about the textured gummies and rare instance of blood cancer BIA-ALCL, but I found a recent article on Allure.com that kind of questions the data. Anyway, it is VERY rare. Just FYI for those out there considering smooth versus textured And certainly not trying to scare anyone. Knowledge is power!
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Back from Plastic surgeon.
The hard lump that I'm feeling is the implant that is surrounded by capsular contraction (scar tissue forms around the implant). All implants have some scar tissue, it helps to hold the implant in place. The problem is when too much scar tissue forms and moves the implant.
The fix is to remove the scar tissue and reposition the implant. Same day surgery.
I've scheduled it for after everyone is done with school. Don't need the added stress of me having surgery near finals and two graduations. We're not even mentioning the surgery to the children until after my daughter's graduation.0 -
what kind of implants do you have?
Robin
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Mominator, that's sooo much better than recurrence!!
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GOOD news, Mominator.
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Great news, Mominator! I was pretty sure it was something like that and not a recurrence.
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I bought two fruit of the loom front closure at Walmart as well. Very comfy. One on and one in the wash. The I switched to my light cotton sports bras. Best wishes all.
Scottie
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Thank you everyone! I'm keeping you all in my pocket.
Thank you for the kind thoughts and prayers on the lump being benign. I was very lucky in that my BMX was prophylactic. I am BRCA2 positive. I had my BMX at age 54, which was 8 years before the age of my mother's first cancer diagnosis (age 62, and age 79 for her second). Post-BMX pathology showed extensive hyperplasia in both breasts, but not yet atypical hyperplasia. Breast surgeon thinks we got the breasts out a few years before they had a chance to go bad.
Robin: my implants are Natrelle 410 FX Highly Cohesive Anatomically Shaped Silicone: Left: 450 cc, Right 495 cc
Revision Surgery (fix capsular contraction and reposition implant) is scheduled for June 30.
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Had my exchange surgery last Wednesday and all went well I had Mentor high profile 800 cc's and I will say that I had no pain a little bit of discomfort because they liposuctioned under my arms and a little bit towards my back and that was the only area that was a bit of a pain. I will say that my implants and I realize it's only one week are a little bit squarish and my plastic surgeon said that happens sometimes because the tissue expanders push our chest walls backwards so it takes a little time for everything to come forward so I will just have to be patient and stay away from the mirror. Hope everyone else has Pleasant outcomes and thanks for all of the information on this thread!
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Happy Friday and Long Weekend
Thank you to all who responded to my question about bra suggestions post-exchange. I did get a few and am quite happy. Fruit of the Loom and Genie are so comfortable. My exchange surgery was 2 weeks ago today - feeling good. I have Natrelle cohesive silicone gel implant (SCF) - they are such a relief after expanders but are still firm and don't move much - hoping that changes with the "drop & fluff" that I'm waiting for. 0 -
Memyself, there is no drop and fluff with gummies. They are more static. But I love mine. It takes awhile for them to feel like your own.
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