Exchange City
Comments
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Hi everyone I just had reconstruction on 8/15/2018. I'm completely traumatized and freaking out. I feel like I have been waiting forever to get rid of these expanders. They have been excruciating. So come Saturday, I realize these are even more painful. They said I would have soft silicone on the bottom and my top half would be all fat and a size B. I just have these hard saline things that have ridges so hard they hurt alot worse then my abdomen or my incisions. And BTW they told me I was expanded for a size B. I am a Victoria secret DD. I hate them . Through everything I've been though this finally broke me. I almost feel suicidal. Sorry about this post. I quess I can just have them take everything out. I have no hope left.
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leilais, I'm so sorry you are going through this. It sucks that there was not better communication.
Please know that nothing is final. You can definitely change what you have if you want to in the future.
That being said, I didn't like the look of my implant until about two months after exchange. At first the implant felt hard and looked unnatural, but a couple months later the position and look had totally changed. I think the implant can sometimes take time to settle and soften.
Have you thought about going to a different ps
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Leilas, I'm so sorry you are feeling this way. Please talk to someone. The whole ordeal of having breast cancer is terribly depressing and when you just start thinking it's over with, you're back to pain again. I agree with the above. They will most likely be very different in a month or two. I was so excited to have my exchange surgery and get rid of my TE's. I was expecting that surgery to be a breeze. I thought it was very painful and I think the anesthesia made me depressed. I didn't like the size and just thought overall it was going to be different. It took some time but eventually they became part of me again and I felt normal. I think you probably just need to give it some time but please, if you're feeling that sad don't wait to talk to someone. You have been through a lot and sometimes as strong as we try to be, we just can't go on without a little help.
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Thank you so much star and nurse. That helps alot. Thank you for your time.
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I had my exchange last Sept...it does get better, even though I was a mess!!! right afterwards...
Re the sizing...I was a D and still look like a D, but to get a bra wide enough for the big implant, I actually wear a 38G...right! G = DDDD! So perhaps the bra sizing of DD vs B is in fact similar...in that the wideness makes for a strange sizing, but in clothes I am definitely "just" a D
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Leilals, I can totally sympathize. I had my exchange almost 4 weeks ago. Everyone said they would be so soft and it would feel so much better. Well I'm still finding them to be super uncomfortable. They don't look horrible, though wider set than I'd hoped. I haven't been measured yet because my PS said wait 4 weeks, but I'm betting they're bigger than the B cup I wanted since none of my old swimsuits come close to fitting. And while most of the pain is gone, I'm still very uncomfortable and justfeel like I have these heavy foreign objects hanging off me. People keep telling me it gets better. And I would say today is better than two weeks ago but it is a sloooooow process. So while I don't have a lot of reassuring words, you're definitely not alone in feeling this way.
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It takes 3 to 6 months in most cases for the implants to settle and internal healing to be done. It's truly better if you don't look to closely before then - but it's hard to do. Implants don't correlate to bra sizes, as some of you have been discovering. They will never have as much projection and will likely be wider.
Once you're past the first couple of months, do set an appointment at Nordstroms for a fitting so you can get your new size professionally sized. They have specialists who deal with measuring & fitting after breast surgery.
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Am I being lazy/naive to not know the brand/style of implant that my PS will use? I know that they are silicone textured but that's about it and I hope to be a B cup, but it sounds like it's common to be bigger since the implants are wider. And Leilals, I am so sorry you're enduring this challenge on top of everything else. Like others have said, it takes months for implants to settle in, so I hope you encounter other women who have been down this road and can encourage you.
One more thing: will I want/need to wear loose fitting tops the week after exchange surgery? I am having it done on a Tuesday and returning to work as a teacher the following Monday. How soon after surgery will I wear a bra? Maybe I need to invest in some muumuus.
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hi everyone, leilals, how are you doing? Like others said give it some time. I'm sorry you are having a hard time. Minus2, I'm 12 days out from exchange and will head to nordstroms in oct when things are more settled. Thanks for the tip. I was told to stay in a sports bra for 4 weeks but alsoI found a couple Bali bras at kohls. They are compressive but comfortable. Maggie, if you are out there I hope you are healing well!
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If I were you, yes, I would find out the type and size of implant the surgeon has planned and then study those implants. Many of us have found out too late that no matter what we've said to the PS, the surgeon has his/her own agenda.
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Question for all of you prepectoral ladies... either through experience or being told by your PS, how much “settling" of our implants should we expect? My PS said he would take a look between 4 - 7 months post exchange. Just wondering what I might expect to happen during that time?
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it took about two months for me to be happy with what I saw. I do notice rippling but I’m not sure it bothers me enough to do fat grafting
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I got more information from Nordstrom than from my first PS! They are so supportive (excuse the pun) and helpful every step of the way. I don't work for them but just was real impressed. I guess one of the owner's mother had breast cancer and they set up a whole training program through out the store. My exchange is 9/13 and my new PS says I will be wearing a compression post surgery bra that he provides for a full week.
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great advice vegGal. Simone. I was told the same. A good few months for things to settle. Star , no rippling for me yet but still too early to tell. I will go ahead with second fat graft in Dec if needed since I met my deductible. The PA I saw at my post op appt said it's not uncommon for 50% of the fat to absorb and re-vascularize. We shall see I guess. So far things look pretty good. Rachel, yep, I will make that appt at nordstrom's too. I went back to my mastectomy bra for the first week post exchange. The one they gave me this time said fits cups B-D. It didnt give me enough support. I found a few Bali brand at kohls that fit perfect. I'm in my regular tops with no problem. Hope everyone is doing well!
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ReadyAbout, If you are having a textured, it might be an anatomical implant. I am 3 1/2 years out. I was bound for one week then had to wear a sports bra 24/7 for 6 weeks minimum. I actually wore a bra for about a year because it felt better. The textured ones have to adhere to the chest wall/muscle.
To all, please be patient. I know it is hard and a shock to go through this whole thing, but it will get better. There is so much swelling, especially if you had pocket work done. Actually, I think it took a good year for them to look and feel "normal". I was blessed to have a PS that listened to me. I asked to be about the same size as I was, a B, and he did an amazing job. But they didn't look like a B at first and were kind of clunky. So follow your PS instructions to a "T", and hang in there.
Robin
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Tomorrow will be one week since my surgery. Thanks for checking up on me DebAL. I appreciate the advice from all of you, as this recovery from the exchange and fat grafting, along with PS removing the excess skin from under my arms/sides is more difficult than I initially thought. The amount of bruising and swelling was very surprising, maybe due to having so much excess skin to remove. The incision on each side goes around almost to my back. I'm glad to hear that these implants take awhile to settle in. Right now, it looks like two flattened blobs on my chest. PS does have me in a post-surgical compression type bra that fits extremely tight. I see him on Thursday so I'm hoping then I can stop wearing this bra and move on to something a bit more comfortable.
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Take care Maggie. I hope each day gets a little better for you. Hopefully you can get into a more comfortable bra at your next appointment. Hang in there! (Gentle hug!)
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robin- that advise is wonderful! Do you mind me asking what cc size your implants are? Your size is exactly where I hope to end up.
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Robin - good to see you.
SLL & Ready - because each of us is different, it is hard to compare sizes of implants. Whippetmom doesn't check in every day anymore, but if you go to Breast Sizing 101, read the header and enter your particular measurements & TE specifications, she always has good advice. Remember because or our differences, bra sizes do not correlate to implant sizes.
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Its so great when someone comes onto these forums who is about a year out and not afraid anymore.
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New to this board/site but finding it very useful and helpful! I am BRCA2 positive and underwent BM July 2 with TE. My mom has been in remission for 4 years after breast cancer and pancreatic cancer.
I hate these TE and can not wait for my exchange. Had a terrible infection two weeks post operative so am finishing up antibiotics and wanting to be cleared by infectious disease Dr. so we can schedule surgery!
I appreciate everyone's posts, as they have answered many of my questions and helped me cope tremendously!
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Dear SharnettyMomof4,
Welcome to the community. We are glad that you have been helped by the discussion boards. We do hope that your surgery can be scheduled soon. Keep us posted. The Mods
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Ready and SLL: both RobinBlessed and MinusTwo gave great advice!
I have textured anatomical implants. I was bound for one week, then had to wear their surgical (sports) bra 24/7 (ok 23.5/7, I took it off to shower) for 6 weeks. I wore it 24/7 for more than a year.
I'm a 36 B/C and I'm very happy with the size and shape of my reconstructed breasts. My PS listened to me.
We really cannot compare cc's of implants. Not only are each of us different, sometimes our own breasts are different. My native breasts were not symmetrical: Righty was at least one cup size bigger than lefty. During BMX and EX, more tissue was removed from Righty than Lefty. PS put a larger implant in Righty to compensate, and yet Lefty is now a little bit larger than Righty. I don't mind, I like my results.
Bests wishes to all.
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SLL, sure! I was filled to 420cc and have 475cc Allergan 410 FF gummies. Everyone is different because of chest circumstance, but he was so amazing letting me determine my size.
You are also an ILC gal. We are in the minority. When is your exchange? I had my EX 6 months after bmx, three months after last fill.
Robin
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Hi Minustwo! Yeah I pop in occasionally. I am dealing with MGUS now, Monoclonal Gammopathy of undertermined significance!! Say that fast 3 times! 😂
It is the pre-curser to multiple myeloma , blood plasma cancer. It may never turn into this(praying for that!), but am watched closely by hematology/oncology.
Hope you are well.
Robin
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Hi everyone I am 8 days past my surgery. I was told that I would never have to wear a bra again. So I don't plan on being fitted. I had cancer in both breasts. No nipple saving, so I quess I agree and any kind of structure really hurts where I had my lymph node dissection. As of today my left breast is still a dd. The swelling in my right has gone down to about a c. They say the radiated side takes longer to unswell. I also noticed that they put 100 cc more in my left breast and I don't know why. I wanted small sporty breasts. They told me from the get go that they could always make them smaller, but not larger. So I counted on that. If they don't get small enough I will go flat. I don't think someone else should decide what size my breasts are. I loved them before they started inflating them. I would have been about an a. I don't want big boobs. Why am I being pressured into them . At least my rt side is shrinking.
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Oh and I was told not to wear any support so they would fall and not be so high. Has any body else gone unbound? Thanks so much for again to everyone for all the kind words.
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One more question. I had a severe reaction to tamoxifen and I was supposed to take it for 10 years. Since I can't I need to be at 20% body fat. I need to lose 15 to 20 pounds will that effect my breast size. Thanks
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Hi ladies, never posted here, but I am 6 weeks out from my exchange surgery and so far I love my new boobs. But a question. What kind of bra are you ladies wearing. My PS said any kind even underwire is fine.
I got 450 CC Natrelle inspira. Allergan
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Hi Shelabela, I got 415 Cc Natrelle Inspira Allergen. I'm 4 weeks post exchange. I'm still wearing Coobie bralettes. Just find them to be the most comfortable. I'm still sore where my drains were and I had a fair amount of pocket work. My PS also said I could wear anything - even underwire - but not to get measured until I'm a month out due to swelling which is exactly today. How comfortable are you? I like the way they look but still find them to feel foreign. I also have a partial frozen shoulder so I've been in a lot of back pain. It's getting better slowly. I'm not in love with them yet I think because I just don't feel great.
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