Exchange City
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I have the Natrelle Inspiration cohesive round high profile 325cc. It’s a silicone gel fill. The way my PS explained it is this:
Saline: if it gets a hole the saline runs out like water, if it gets cut in half it all runs out
Silicone: if it gets a hole it squirts out like jelly, if it gets cut in half it spills out slowly like jelly
Silicone gel: if it gets cut in half it sits like jello and doesn’t run out
Made sense to me. It was crazy trying to get an idea of what each felt like and what the fill was. These actually feel like my natural, dense tissue, original breasts. I can feel the implant in there if I try, so I don’t try.
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Hi ladies. I am having my exchange surgery this month. I am still having a difficult time deciding between round or teardrop shape. Pros? Cons? Thoughts?
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Are the teardrop the textured ones?
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I believe so, yes.
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I decided against those because of the very very slight risk of lymphoma. I know it's really unlikely, but I didn't feel strongly enough about one or the other, so decided to go with the round gummies.
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Good Morning Clairebear4,
I would say bring up the burning and throbbing with your PS about smaller fills if you had more to go but I think these sensations are pretty common since the expansion involves stretching muscles that affect both areas. Even after the change to implants I get an irritating itch around my side into my lower shoulder blade occasionally. I had my 3-d nipple tattoos yesterday with the sweetest woman who lost her sister to breast cancer and although the tattoos look a little like pepperoni(s) right now, her "healed" patient photos are remarkable and so lifelike. I'm expecting like results. I've met so many great women thru this process and the support and advice here has been wonderful. You brave ladies keep up the good work.
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I and my PS agreed on the teardrop shaped gummies (685 ccs) because we thought it would work best for my body type. Just make sure your PS has experience with these as from all the reading I've done, the outcome will depend upon his/her pocket work. I'm happy with mine although the right has dropped a little more than the left but I've been told that has a great deal to do with the fact that I'm right handed and naturally use that side of my body more so I'm trying to add additional exercises to my left arm to deal with this although it's not really noticeable, only my PS and the tattoo artist really see this slight difference. Good luck to everyone out there and by all means you should talk openly with your PS(s) to convey your expectations, seek their advice and ASK QUESTIONS. It's your body and their procedure, everyone wants a successful outcome but you clearly have a lot at stake as the emotional side of the success of your procedure is important too.
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Just wanted to add, when you get the go-ahead from your PS you may want to use organic coconut oil. I buy mine from the local grocery store in the organic section and use it on my skin, scars, and hair (I have naturally curly hair) and it's great for cooking as well. And, it's not expensive. Other's may have advice as well...
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LettyF, hello and I too am a gummy anatomical recipient. I am 3 1/2 years post. I am very happy with mine. But you are so right about having an experienced PS for them. Mine did a beautiful job!
I also have the 3D tattoos but had to go to a regular tattoo artist to have mine redone. The PA at my healthcare facility did mine first. They ended up looking like the Target sign! 😩 They use medical grade ink like cosmetic ink. I paid $600 for the new ones and they are amazing! Worth every penny. I hope you have better luck.
Take care all you ladies who are coming up to the big day. Just remember, follow your dr instructions to the T and it will pay off. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
Robin
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I had my last fill today and am waiting to hear back about the exact day for my exchange surgery. I'm hoping for the 25th of this month and will use the tear drop gummy implants. I am so excited to get this done but am a little nervous again. The PS said I'd have drains again but probably only for a week. I had drains after my MX and had them for 3 weeks. He also made me nervous when he mentioned the tiny risk of lymphoma with textured implants. He said he or his colleagues have never had a case but still the thought makes me nervous. I didn't ask a ton of questions because honestly at this point I'm putting it in his hands and just want it done! If anyone has any advice for me, I'd appreciate it. I work as a surgery nurse and he told me I'd only need a week off. Will I be able to work and lift after 1 week?
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And one more person really happy with Allergan 410 anatomical implants. I've had mine for 6+ years now. Letty & Robin are correct. Make sure you have a really experienced PS doing the work. "teardrops" require exact pockets & placement.
Nurse - I had drains for a week on both sides after exchange. And was told not to lift my arms above shoulder height for at least 3 weeks. I had very little pain, but wasn't allowed to lift for a month.
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Nurse -- my surgeon said I wouldn't be able to lift any weight for a month, but that I could expect to go back to my day job (desk work only) in around 10 days to two weeks. I think it depends on what, if any, symmetry surgery you have, too.
Good luck!
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My PS seems so lax about restrictions. I lift patients, heavy equipment, etc and he knows that since I'm a nurse who works in surgery. He just always says to use my common sense. Well, what does that mean?! My coworkers are all nice to me and watch out for me but I'll still be lifting or moving my arms above my head on day 8 when I come back to work.
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Nurse, that just doesn’t make any sense at all! If you are getting gummies and having any pocket work, you need to let those babies settle in and adhere to the pocket. I would really get another opinion on restrictions. I went back to work at 2 weeks but could have gone back in a week, but I have a desk job. I had 10 pounds weight restrictions and no arms above elbow for about a month.
Good luck, 😊 Robin
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In less than 2 weeks I’m going in for my revision surgery and I have to say, I’m excited, nervous, anxious...well you know. Ian December when I went to see my new PS we discussed revision options and I took some time to figure it out, Nip recon and fat grafting. Since he has a busy case load I scheduled it for April 25th. His assistant gave me an appointment last week so we’re could discuss our game plan. Last Tuesday he said he wasn’t thrilled with my implants he felt they were too wide for my chest so he swapping out my implants and doing a bunch of fat grafting. He said the stem cells will help heal the damage rads caused. THANK YOU WHIPPETMOM! Nip recon is on hold and I’m doing another exchange. I’m hapoy with my results but I don’t love them, I want to love them and I feel like this surgeon will get me there.
Any ladies who are looking for a PS who may be near the Chicago area I def recommend Dr. Kim. While I haven’t had surgery yet, he is on the cutting edge of breast reconstruction and is highly skilled and knows his stuff. Here’s his website...
My advice to anyone going through this process is take your time and find the surgeon that is right not only for you but is also right for your case. Everyone’s story is different and everyone needs someone who has the skills to give you the results you want. While my first surgeon was wonderful and skilled in his practice my case needed a little extra once I finished rads. Good luck ladies who are undergoing surgery soon and to the ladies still deciding do your research.
Nurse- you’ll def need to take time off and heal, don’t let anyone push you back to work too soon. Like Robin said, just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
Hugs,
Michelle
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Nurse, can you take more time off? It's not even like you have a desk job, which I could see as more feasible. It's tough when your PS says things like, "use your common sense." Mine is a bit like that, but the practice has pretty concrete instructions for people when they go through the exchange process -- they hand out a booklet and they gave me a sheet of exercises to do after my mastectomy. It's a little like a breast surgery factory in there sometimes, so many women in and out. On the other hand, that gives me a sense of security in that I know they do tons of these procedures and have seen a ton of stuff (also, they have their procedures down pat for post-op, for instance).
Is anyone else nervous? I wish I weren't, it's certainly not helping me, but I feel it! I think it's about how much I'll be limited afterward and not knowing how I'll "turn out" more than the actual surgery itself.
OH! @Nurse, re lymphoma with gummies...my doctor's practice (I mean the whole team of surgeons in the PS practice, there are 8, I think) all use anatomical gummies for reconstruction and feel that the risk spoken of a lot in the US is far less than most other risks of things we might go through. As he said, I have a much higher risk of breast cancer again than that lymphoma. He's right. I think each woman needs to make her own choice, but I'm comfortable with mine to have the gummies and not worried about being one of those very few...and may everything go well with our surgeries and no complications! ;-)
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I'm nervous, but it's minor. I am mostly nervous about the very tiny chance of something going wrong in the surgery and my not being alive to raise my children. I know it's highly unlikely anything would go so badly, but the fear is there.
During my mastectomy in the fall, the surgery was smooth and was fine when recovering. The drains were annoying/uncomfortable, but it's a known that I think I can handle. I was pregnant during my mastectomy in the fall, so a lot of my discomfort was due to being in the third trimester, having few clothes that fit, having trouble getting around, etc. I am hoping it'll be a little easier this time around.
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Sweet Pea, I don’t even have my exchange surgery scheduled yet and I’m starting to get super nervous. I have my last chemo in 3 weeks and then I meet with my PS to discuss and schedule, likely for late June. I am so ready to get these TE’s out but I too am nervous about what it will be like after, and I’m just nervous about another surgery because my mastectomy was harder on me than I expected (although I know this is supposed to be much better). Know you’re not alone in feeling nervous! Good luck!!
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I feel the nervousness as well. I'm so excited to get it all over with and am hoping it is easier as people say. Weird, but I think I'm actually getting used to the TE's. Sleeping with them stink but other than that I feel fine and healed up so going back to a recovery stage doesn't sound fun. I'm only planning on the 1 week off for now but if I'm not ready or able to go back after that, so be it. I'll just have to take more time off. The first few weeks after my MX were rough but I had no arm limitations. I think since I never had any lymph nodes removed, I didn't have to do the Trex arm thing. I also never had any real weight restrictions after a week. Time will tell I guess on how this second one will go. My biggest fear is always an infection.
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Girls, let me just tell you one thing. Post exchange will change your life! I had a really rough recovery (some stomach bug or issues from anesthesia or antibiotics) but surgery was smooth. My boobs feel real again. I feel like a different person. I was nervous and anxious before, but I am so happy with my results so far. It DOES get better.
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My exchange surgery with fat grafting is scheduled for this Wednesday 4/18 and I cannot wait!! Has anyone on this thread had both procedures performed at the same time, and if so what was your experience?
Thanks,
Jada
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My exchange + prophylactic mastectomy and implant are scheduled for this Wednesday. I'm nervous but sort of excited to be almost done with another stage of this whole long process. It's been over seven months since I was diagnosed, and almost exactly six months since my first mastectomy.
These days I have a little bit of the crazy irrational paranoia about something going horribly wrong in surgery and resulting in death. But other than that I'm focused on preparing for the recovery period. Since I had a mastectomy before, I am going by what bothered me the first time around. I bought a couple inexpensive front open bras and am organizing my button down tops and comfy pants for those first weeks after the surgery. I also am trying to get my house organized. I remember how stressed I was seeing household chores piling up that I could not address in those first few days after surgery. Just trying to limit some of that post-surgery discomfort and anxiety.
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Wishing you the best tomorrow-Jada and Star!
Jada- I had fat grafting with my exchange in February. I had some bruising on my chest and a lot on my butt - they used what were my love handles for the fat harvest. I had to wear compression garments for 6-8 weeks. I still wear spandex because the compression feels good. My new boobs were swollen and very soft. Such a relief! I wore coobie bras - very thin stretchy and soft. I will need another fat graft in 6 months - one boob did not keep as much fat as the other. All in all, I would do the same thing again.
Star- I totally relate to getting chores out of the way before surgery. As things piled up, an old friend who could not visit told me to stop paying attention and focus on healing. She walked me through the process of how I had to stop myself from trying to clean up or fix things by just stopping and telling myself my healing is more important. I was doing laundry and taking out recycling too soon. Its so hard to just let things pile up, but as they say here in many forums “just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” I ended up hiring an affordable house keeper to come a few times, and also the pet sitter to help with cleaning kitty litter. Healing from mastectomy requires that you treat yourself very gingerly.
Sending you both healing thoughts and hoping for the best of all outcomes.
Ceci0 -
I was not aware that 3d temporary nipple tattoos were available. I'm so excited that I can try these before I commit to a permanent tattoo. I just wanted to share in case others did not know also.
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Mucki. I used those before I got my tattoos and it was so helpful. I love my tattoos. I didn’t want to do nipple recon just didn’t want to chance scar tissue and besides, I was over big nipples you had to hide.
Take care, Robin
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at the hospital. Prophylactic mastectomy and exchange today.
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Go STAR! We're rooting for you. Please do let us know how it goes.
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Thank you. They did the right exchange and left prophylactic mastectomy but had to place a tissue expander on the left rather than the implant unfortunately. Hopefully we can expand and do the left exchange after radiation ends in July.
I don’t feel any pain on the right exchange side but the left mastectomy side definitely hurts more than expected, so I’ve been asking for meds.
I experienced a little nausea and lightheadedness, but I feel generally better now
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I just had my exchange surgery yesterday. It was a huge relief. It is 10000x easier than the mastectomy + tissue expander. It also looks great, just like it was before all these surgeries. I only got my right side done and it is totally matching with my left side
Hang in there ladies!!!
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