Exchange City
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Hi ladies, I am back home now from my exchange surgery. Nothing compares to the initial surgery...I never knew there could be so much pain The ps placed 550 high profile mentor silicone gel implants in. I think I will love them!
Laura, my last thought before they put me out was of you chanting to me,
go Elizabeth, go Elizabeth, go Elizabeth...........Thanks!
This surgery is not as painful! Hooray
PS Deborah, now that you know what she placed, how does that sound compared to what she removed, Would you remember? Remember the two of us have the same measurements, 5 eet 4 inches, 125 pounds, and 32 inch rib
Thanks
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Elizabeth.. you warmed my heart and the heary of my dh... I am sooooooooooo glad you chanted girl... wow..I want 550's... but my rads body might only take 450's... PS thinks 550's would make be a full C....
I am so happy to see you post sister....
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Deborah,
my ribcage measurement is 38 inches. The expanders were 550 max actually but I have 700 in there LOL. I was concerned about that but I heard from several people that some PS do that. They dont appear overly tight or anything so I dont know.
The measurements of the high profile of the 650cc is diam 14.4 cm projection 5.7cm
the moderate plus of the 600cc is diam 15.0cm projection is 4.6cm/ 700cc is diam 15.8 projection is 4.9cm------the moderate plus doesnt come in 650 unfortunately or I probably would just go ahead with that.
This is a very difficult thing. Its not like you can just slip them on, look in the mirror and go...well, no I guess Ill take the other ones. I mean I know you can have another surgery to trade them out but I really would like to get this right the first time.
Teresa
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Teresa: I know the dimensions of the implants. I need to know WHICH expander you have! It is the dimensions of your EXPANDER we need!!! Which one of these three?
http://www.mentorcorp.com/breastsurgery/reconstruction/tissue-expanders.htm
But if you are going to be getting a 600 cc implant - I think the moderate plus profile will fit your frame better. Frankly, if your PS could order Allergan, he could get a 659 cc implant in Style 15. It is a matter of impressing upon your PS what you want. You want to get it right the first time, if possible.
Elizabeth: I think you are going to be very happy with your new girls! They sound just right to me. Cannot wait to see pictures!!!
Di: Oh, I am so sorry. What craziness is this? I am going to be praying for you girl! We are anxiously awaiting whatever you learn about the CT scan...
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I have medium height...the middle one
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Hey Deb,
do you go to the pic board? I posted my pics there, dont know if that helps you. I hope you dont mind that I shortened your name.
thank you so much
Teresa
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Teresa: HOORAY!!!! Do you understand why I needed this???? I needed the width of your expanders. Yes, I do go to the picture's forum and I have seen your pictures. I think you can easily go with the Mentor high profile implant, based on the current 13.5 cm width of your TE's. . I think you would be happiest with at least 650 cc's, since you like the appearance of your expanders. Your PS has overexpanded to get what he feels is a natural droop or "modest ptosis"- but I don't think that theory works for everyone. So push for what you want.
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Teresa: This is what I said to you on June 24th on the picture's forum:
Teresa:
"You really look great. I do not see any reason though, why you cannot be exchanged to 650 or 700 cc implants. Most of us - well - I have not taken a poll - but I would wager a great percentage of us have implants which have more cc's than our expanders. My expanders were filled to 425 cc's and my implants are 550 cc's. You seem to like that perky look and maybe you do not WANT droop. A modest "droop" is what the PS is after if he is thinking of putting you in implants smaller than your expanders. My feeling is that we are going to droop naturally with gravity [especially those of us over 450 cc's] and as we age anyway and so why not enjoy perkiness for a season? Talk to your PS about these issues."
Deborah0 -
Di - I an SOOOOO sorry. I am praying for you!!!! HUGS. Georganne
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Oh Di - My goodness. Hugs are going out to you my dear!!!
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Di, I am so sorry that you are having difficulties with your lungs. Hopefully the right antibiotic is all that you will need. Try not to worry too much before you get your results. You are in my thoughts.
I lovemykids - it sounds like things went well with your exchange and you aren't suffering too much? Good to hear. I am heading to the hospital in less than two hours for my exchange. I am soooo hungry!
Good Luck to Sue today. We are going in to surgery 15 minutes apart today.
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Sue and Dani, my prayers are with you for easy exchanges and the best results! We were all Feb surgeries, imagine that!
Di, I'm so sorry about your setback, and I'm praying for you to heal fast. Please take care.
Deen
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Hi,
I had my exchange surgery yesterday. MUCH easier than the initial surgery. They did the kind of anesthesia with a mask rather than a tube, so that part of the recovery was much easier. I feel great today (and even ate dinner last night). I have some minor pain and I do have drains, so those are annoying--but very little drainage today so I hope they'll be out by Thursday.
I have the Mentor memory gel contour silicon implants (part of the clinical trial) and I think they are going to be harder than I expected, but it is difficult to tell right now since I have swelling (they did some lipo too which made me swell a bit more).
Has anyone else had these implants and can let me know how they feel a bit later on--I know the contoured ones don't 'fluff' the way round ones do, but do they change in any fashion?
But all in all, the whole process was a piece of cake compared to the initial surgery (bilat MX). Best to all of you who are about to go through the process.
Alice
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Di.... keeping you in prayer!
Alice ...congrats at being done!
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Di--My thoughts and prayers are with you. Try to take one day at a time and don't look too far ahead and scare yourself. Remember--positive thoughts!
Laura---I am SOOO excited for you. Only 1 more week to go? You must be on Cloud 9. Way to go sister! You are going to be all soft and comfy before you know it!
I am 3 months post exchange and feeling like my old self again. I've been so careful to wear a bra 24/7 this time, and my implants are still ON my chest, and out of my armpits. In the last two weeks, the first fat grafts have disappeared, so I have step off on both sides, which will need another fat graft. I see my PS in 2 weeks to schedule the in-office procedure. I guess this graft will even out my hips, since the first graft donor site was on my right hip. The lipo is owie, but the graft results are so worth it! If they will only hold!!! My PS said it might take 5 grafts to hold. Hell of a way to get rid of the extra fat, but at 55, I have a bit of the extra!
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Alice, Hugs and prayers are being sent to you!!!!! Georganne
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Thanks Marilyn!
Can anyone post a picture on the pic page of what a "step off" is? I am really wanting to see what you all are talking about and why you are needed the fat graph.. Ihave yet to see a picture... I keep looking...:)...
Or.. if you wanna send it to me private e-mail.. PM me here and I will give it to you.. I am just so curious to what a step off is...
Thanks friends!
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Laura: In one of my photos on the pictures forum I am pointing to my step off - I still had expanders at that point...
Marilyn: Possibly five fat grafting procedures? Are you under anesthesia for this procedure? With Kaiser, I have anesthesia. I am wondering about doing this a second time, much less five! It was more annoying a recovery process than was my original mastectomy.
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I see in your pictures Deborah...
To me.. I do not see a "step off".. more like a dent. I don't have these, but have seen those who do and was told it is from scraping more tissue out in those area's.. and it is common on the cancer side.. am I slightly correct?
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Yes, it might be more common on the cancer side, but it also occurs with women who have had a prophylactic mastectomy. I think it could result from what you described, combined or as well as expander placement, distortion during expansion of the pectoral muscle and diminished tissue coverage. It does look like a dent, but in medical journals is called a "step-off defect." I actually do not think I would have it though, had I been given low or short height TE's - like yours.
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really... that is interesting.
I got onto my PS about putting in these low TE. I told him that I would have looked better in tank tops if I had higher TE in... and asked why he put these in.. he told me they were better.. and gave a better outcome. He thought they looked good on me now... I wanted higher FOOBS in these...
He said with the HP implants.. I will have higher boobs in the end.... ( fingers and toes crossed)
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Laura - You WILL! It is a funny thing about the low height expanders - they look pretty pathetic most of the time during the expansion process, because they are not expanding the pectorals. This means when he puts in the implant, it will fill out the lower pole, where you get natural projection, and then start naturally lifting under the pectoral muscles - so they will be nice and full in the upper pole. The implants will want to naturally lift up to the upper pole so you will get nice, perky full breasts. You will thank your PS for using them when it is all over!!!
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Thanks Deborah!
I have great lower pole now... just not so good upper...:)..
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Still waiting to hear from Doc about Cat Scan. But they moved me into a appt tomorrow with another Doc. Thanks for all your help and prayers. DH is away on convention trip this week. Thanks for being there. Di
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Di... you can call them and ask.. I am sure they have your results.. and they are just waiting until tomorrows appt. to let you know. Hang in there.. with dh being gone...you must feel a little alone... but we are here....K !
Laura
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Deborah- I finally have some information about my tissue expanders. They are mentor medium profile maximum capacity 450cc. I am 5'5" 140 lbs and my chest measurement is 33.5. I like my expander size, although they are slightly widespread. I do not want to be any smaller if possible, but I believe that my PS said he uses implants smaller than expanders.He also told me months ago that he would be using mentor implants. What are your recommendations? I see my PS Monday for my preop visit. I'm anxious, but getting nervous.Thanks!!!!0
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Hey, all! I've been busy, so haven't been on the site much.
Laura-Good luck on your exchange. So glad that it is finally your turn. You've been so patient, but so faithful and helpful to all of us.
Di -I am so sorry that you are having lung problems. Hopefully, they will clear up soon and you can breathe easy.
Elizabeth - Congrats on your exchange. On more stage of this lengthy process is complete!
Dani42 -Good luck today! Hoping the procedure goes well for you!
Denise -Good luck tomorrow! Best wishes for soft and beautiful foobs.
Alice - I am glad your procedure went well. I am anxoius to see your results with the contoured implants.
Marilyn - What a drag that the fat grafts only lasted 2 weeks and you could need 5 procedures. That seems crazy to me. Is it the doctor's technique or is this common?
Sorry if I missed anyone. It is hard to keep up with the activity on this site!
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Dani!! GOOD LUCK... cannot wait to hear from you again!
Pmellon.... are you still on this thread?
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ps.. thanks Robin~
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4greatkids: Here are the dimensions of your expanders: 12.7 wide 10.8 height x 7.0 projection. Are you filled to 450 cc's? I think 500 cc's in a Mentor HP would probably be better for your frame and you would be closer to your current expander appearance. But this means he has to overfill, with his method of exchange. I personally see no reason he could not put you in implants 50 cc's more than your expander fill level right now - if you are at 450 cc's. If he uses implants with less volume than the maximum fill of your expanders, you will be smaller than your expanders. There are no two ways about it. So your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to tell your PS that you do not want to wake up from anesthesia smaller than your expanders. Tell him he might as well knock you out again if that happens. Someone posted that she said this to her PS and I think it is a mantra everyone should adopt, if they are worried about being too small with the exchange surgery.
Deborah
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