Exchange City
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Hello my exchange friends...it has been awhile since I have been on here. I enjoy reading everyone's posts and seeing how you all are doing. Imkopy2(Michelle) when I read your post I thought to myself that is soooo true. I had my exchange Nov 1 last year and my breasts have changed sooo much over the last few months. I don't know about you but my first PS did not really inform me of anything when I had my exchange. He did not explain how much they would change/settle or really give any insight to what I should expect. I think that was why I did not like him. When I changed to my new PS who is female she took the time to really explain to me what to expect and not expect and how I will eventually look and what is normal and what is not. It really helped me understand what to expect where as before I think I thought I would look like a woman you see on the streets who has implants, all perky and full when in fact that is not usually the case for us. I had fat grafting originally with my implants but most of that is gone now so I need more. I plan to have revision surgery May 1st and do more fat grafting and add my nipples. I have a large dent where my chemo port was that just showed up a few weeks ago. I lost all volume up top as well which is why we are doing more fat grafting. I have come to realize that these are my new boobs and I just have to be happy with them. I must say I too have noticed they are getting softer and softer every day. I may be able to wear a push up bra that might be able to just move them closer so I can finally get some cleavage soon lol.
Sweet Pea I wish you the best with your upcoming surgery in April. I am not sure if you read one of my blogs but I was very upset at how much smaller I am then my original boobs were. I went from basically a D to a B. It is an adjustment when you have curves like I do. I used to look very proportionate now I do not feel like I do or I need to lose some weight in my stomach lol. It has definitely been an adjustment for me. I agree there is so much more empathy here on this blog as we all understand because we are all going through it together
Best of luck to you ladies who has surgery coming up! My revision is May 1st so I will let you all know how that goes
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Doing a bit of fat grafting during my revision for the same reason!
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@SweetPea, I would recommend staying with your friend for a couple of days. You'll feel ok soon enough, but maybe it's best for the first couple of days to have someone around. As for me, yes tomorrow morning I will see my doctor when I'll go to have the stitches removed, and definitely I'm going to ask him why this happened, although I do know why. As days go by, the difference in size and placement is more noticeable and I get even more frustrated. On retrospect, it seems so obvious: he should have used two different sizes of implants. How on earth would he expect things to look symmetrical and of same size when one pocket was successfully expanded to 700ccs and the other got a leaking at 600? He kept refilling the leaking expander every 10 days and each time it would lose 100-120ccs. Even though I'm not a doctor, I understand that the pocket of the leaking side did not expand as much as the other, so of course it was smaller. Apart from the size difference and the asymmetry the 'bad" side looks like I still have the expander in. It's still hard, not movable and sits high, plus it's painful and I get frequent muscle spasms. Gosh, I'm so, so disappointing and angry right now.
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Scrafgal when are you having your revisions?
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Dafne, how did your appt go yesterday? What did the PS say? I hope you're happier with things than the other day.
lynae23, I think I have read your posts about changing size but I'll look back and check. It sounds like we're going to be in pretty much the same situation after my surgery. In my case, once people find out I'm going to have implants, they, too, assume I'll be perky and full-busted. I have to set them straight before they, too, are disappointed. It's important for us to read that you've changed over the months, that this is a process. I'm sure adaptation must be, too. I'm already trying to get into the mindset, but... :-/
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Sweet_Pea I am happy to be able to share my journey with others s as we all do not know what to expect so reading on here is so helpful. Yes I too have had to make sure people understand that I did not get a "boob job" and I do not have those types of boobs. Just straight implants, even with fat grafting look a bit different then implants with your boobs...lol. They have definitely "settled" a lot over the last few months & settling for me means they have dropped in the pockets and are lower than before and I do not constantly notice them in my chest muscles as much as I did for the first couple of months. I am hoping I am finally getting used to that feeling that they are always there. I look great in clothes though so that is a plus and you will like that as well. Are you going to have a small implant put in your other breast so you match at some point? I believe insurance definitely covers that.
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Lynae23
I am getting my revision done at MDA at Texas Med Center with my same PS. Scheduled for May 10th.
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My exchange is scheduled for Thursday. I’m nervous. Everything I read and hear says it’s so much easier but I’m still hyped up about it. Lately my right TE is more uncomfortable so I’m kind of glad to be getting them changed out. But still...
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Tarenee
Things really are much better with this surgery. All of us can't be wrong!!! Even after you have the surgery, things still improve over several months after. Had mine on Nov 2 and can't believe how things have dropped and softened! Looking forward to my minor revision in May.
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Tarenne, mine was done2 weeks from tomorrow and I’m doing well. This surgery is so much easier than our first one - you can’t even compare it. I get being nervous because I was too, but this one is a breeze and I was discharged a few hours after surgery. You’ll be happy to have this over and done with. You’ve got this! 😊
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Pre-op today. Surgery tomorrow. Eeeeeekkkkkkk
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TaRenee! I had mine done Monday all is good! Know exactly how you feel, and kept reading all these reassurances even as I waited to be taken to OR! Easy peasy my PS said, and so far it has been! Honestly, day 2 I’d say for me, I’m getting off ALL pain killers! The constipation they cause is worse than the pain! -sorry for that bluntness! Haha. I actually got sent home with a drain which had had nearly no output. Just another precaution from my PS to avoid infection. Again, only one drain, cause I was single MX. The other side got an implant. No lift at this point. Pros and cons of it were back and forth. I had wanted to avoid any other surgery for revision, but this one went so smoothly, I’m not as scared to do another surgery! Yay!
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TaRenee hope your surgery went smoothly. All my wishes for a speedy recovery and waiting to hear your news and outcome.
Sweet_Pea, in my post op appt my PS had to admit that the outcome was bad and unacceptable (his own words). He proposed a revision surgery in about six months time from now.
I also told him that the "bad" one hurts, as the skin stretches a lot, and it's not soft or pliable, plus I can't really close my arm or move it freely, for example I can't cross my arm and touch my other arm, it's like the implant gets in the way, same thing as when I had the expanders in. He did not dismiss that, or said it was in my mind. Good for him, but I'm in pain and discomfort everyday and it's really bad at night.
I told him it might be a good idea to remove the implant that sits higher due to the smaller pocket and replace it with a smaller one to even out the difference. He did not agree. He said, if going that route, at the end, there would still be visible difference between the two. His proposal was to remove the implant, put in an expander, fill it to the maximum volume, leave it for 45 minutes and then put the implant back in. I was skeptical about this approach and asked him how it was possible to achieve a satisfying amount of expansion during these 45 minutes when actually expanders need months to work, but he said that is doable and possible and all we need is a little more expansion and that things will work out this way. He also said he will probably do some more pocket work .
I didn't ask more but I'm still skeptical about the method he proposed.
Anyone else here with a similar experience?
Can't afford to go for second opinions or change doctors right now, as I m with no health insurance (lost my job a little while before got diagnosed) and I have to stick with him for better or worse.
I'm also trying to come up with some clever idea about how to mask the difference in clothes. It's not the volume or projection that is an issue, but rather the placement, as one sits higher than the other. It's almost 2 inches difference in the upper part of the foobs. One starts almost under my collarbone (it's as if I still have the expander in), and the other is where a normal breast would be.
With spring and summer approaching fast here, it's gonna be an issue, and I'm not talking about bathing suits.
Yesterday I was trying on some tshirts and dresses and summer outfits, and it's really obvious in clothes. Maybe a push up bra would be a good choice, since the "good" one is pliable and could be pushed up a little, but my PS told me absolutely no underwire bras.
A padded bra makes no difference at all
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I’m scheduled for exchange and prophylactic mastectomy in mid April. I have a TE in place of trhnaffected breast and will get a prophylactic mastectomy on the other side at the same time as the exchange. I’m really nerovus
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Dafne- my TE on one side had migrated up my chest during expansion and sat an inch or two higher than the other side. The PS rebuilt my inframammary fold to bring the high side down so that my implants are now even. From what I understand of the procedure, she undercut the skin below the TE and pulled up skin from below to tack into place, forming a new fold for the implant o fall into. I'm not a doctor, but I agree with you that expanding you more might not be enough to lower the implant. Has your PS done this before and can show you pictures of this procedure that have been been successful?
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Lynae we learn so much from one bother about this whole process it’s truly amazing. I go see my PS to discuss my surgery in 3 weeks...I’m excited, scared nervous....will let everyone know how that goes. Anyone hear from TaRenee hoping she is doing well along with our other sisters out there
Michelle
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I had my exchange surgery today. I had signed off on 700cc silicone with fat transfer (lipo from abdomen). My other option was 800 cc saline, overfilled to 1000 cc no fat transfer. Final decision was made in operating room and since I love and trust my PS it was fine. He wound up with the Saline overfill route and my surgery was 2 hours and I was home 2pm. I will get another surgery in August to put on nipples. At that time he will tweak if necessary with the lipo fat transfer option.
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having double mastectomy 5/
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I’m having my exchange surgery this coming Monday. The decision was made very quickly to proceed to stage 2. My right expander is not doing well, there has been ongoing complications for months now. My left is filled to 750 cc. This side was radiated 13 years ago, but it’s holding up. She is doing a lat flap on the right to re-enforce the skin. It is very thin skin and was opening up during the fills. We are using gummy bear implants, she feels this will give me the best results with chance of a better outcome. I have learned that nothing is written in stone when it comes to breast reconstruction. Complications can arise at any time. I am just hoping for the best and very nervous about another surgery. My original bmx was May 2017. This has been a long road and I hope this exchange goes well. Wish me luck🤞.
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@dp1 Good luck tomorrow! I am finishing up the tissue expansion with my last fill this week. My exchange will take place in a few more weeks. I am also choosing the gummy bear--my PS felt that was a good choice as well. I would have to agree with your statement that nothing is written in stone when it comes to breast reconstruction. I had a breast reduction in my 20s which complicated this reconstruction in my late 40s. My skin is so thin-- and expansion every week is very painful. Burning in my chest and throbbing in my shoulder blades. Is this typical of the expansion process?
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clairebear, I had some left over oil recommended for stretching pregnant bellies and I applied that to the mastectomy site once I had completely healed. I had no pain at all when expanding. I'm not sure if the oil had anything to do with it. I also didn't start expanding until 3-4 months after surgery, so the incision site was healed
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star2017, I love the oil idea--have many essential oils in my cabinet, just need to research on which is best for stretched skin. My incisions are healed but will talk to my PS at my next expansion on Tuesday. Thank you!
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clairebear, let me know how it goes!
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clairbear, I have the gummies and I am very happy with them. 3 1/2 years post EX. They get better with age! Let us know how it goes and remember “just because you can doesn’t mean you should “! Be careful and follow instructions to the T. It takes a while for them to look good. I wore a a bralette the first year, even at night.
Robin
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Hi everyone. Surgery went well. I think they look good. We will see how they settle.
My issue is that I have had a case of the runs since Saturday. I can’t keep anything down. So I’m not taking any meds, not even antibiotics. I’m calling my doctor as soon as they open.
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well, I am home from my exchange/lat flap surgery. I decided to come home yesterday and slept in my recliner. I am very sore, especially the right side were they did a lat flap. I am still taking my pain meds and I have to squat for the toilet. But I am glad to be able to recover at home. I do have three drains to deal with. They are a pain, but I know they are a necessity. The doctor did put in the gummy bear implants and she says they look good. I can't see because I am heavily bandaged. I see her on Thursday so hopefully all is well till then. I wish everyone luck moving forward. Surgery is never fun, but I am relieved this is now behind me. Good luck to all and to a speedy recovery
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Hi All,
I am 1 yr past chemo, 10 months past BMX and 6 months past radiation. I currently have tissue expanders (hate them) and based on all conversations and choices made with my PS at time of BMX, I fully anticipated that my next step was exchange for implants. Met with PS to discuss and schedule the exchange and he is now suggesting DIEP instead of implants (I don't need to create breast pockets since I've already got those, just use tummy fat to fill the pockets). Have any of you been in this situation and decided on implants? or DIEP? I've had such a bad experience with the TEs that DIEP sounds enticing, but that's a lot of surgery and recovery time, and it just wasn't in my head that I'd even have this new option.
PS - would also love to hear from anyone having experience at OHSU in PDX - you can message privately if more comfortable doing that.
Thanks, Lanne
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TaRenee, so glad surgery went well! Re your runs situation...good to call the doctor ASAP especially because of the antibiotics. Let us know what he/she says. Here in Spain sometimes we take a "stomach protector" medicine with the antibiotics, but I don't even know if it's commercialized in the US. I have to take it with Augmentin or I just throw the antibiotic up. So I'm anticipating that for my exchange surgery on April 24th.
@dp1, sounds like everything went well. I'm having gummies too, so we'll see if I'm bandaged up, too. It's good you're done with the surgery, I'm jealous!
We have an April Exchange Surgery thread going, so please join if you like!
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Finally feeling better. I have my post op appt with my PS in the morning. Hoping for no sign of infection since I couldn’t take antibiotics last week.
I must say... they feel just as real as my natural boobs. It is a really good match for me.
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Tarenee, so glad things are going well. Which style/brand did you pick?
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