Exchange City
Comments
-
I am sorry that our recent exchange sisters are not thrilled. I suggest you give it a little time. They will "grow" on you!
I had my pre-nip surgical discussion yesterday. My PS tells me that she makes incisions on all four sides around the mastectomy scars and then lifts it up like a four legged stool. Then she takes skin from my c/s scar to build up the area around it. I am psyched. Though I won't have the surgery until October.
Sandy - I will be thinking of you this week for your test. I am sending healthy vibes your way!
Deborah - I will be away on vacation next week. Can you please keep a list of all dates and surgeries and PM me when I get back? Thanks. - Jean
0 -
Ladies,
I noticed that several of you who recently had exchanges are looking a bit flat. I too had my exchange on 6/26 and got allergan style 15 616cc silicone implants which at first looked flat. Now almost 4 weeks out, I am noticing some drop and fluff. It really happens, the longer I wait, the better it's getting! I had previously been a 36 D and really wanted to be a 36 c. Well now I fit perfectly in a victoria's secret ipex wireless full coverage 36 c! I hope each of you will find that time will improve your results too.
Those of you that are having that nips discussion, please share what you learn and how your procedure will be done as well as the recovery time. As always, I'm learning from and with you.
Ladies I continue to pray for all of you every day. I'm certain God is helping us. HUGS!!!! Georganne
0 -
Well, Alloderm has nothing to do with it, although the need for Alloderm would be less likely with complete submusculars. Many women have partials and do not get Alloderm - either because the PS does not like to use it, the patient does not need it, or because insurance will not cover it. It is very expensive.
If your implants are completely submuscular, that muscle is firmly compressing the silicone implant and flattening it. The expander was, as you know, rock hard and held up against the compression, but the implant cannot, until the muscle relaxes. Sometimes the muscle and skin have relaxed enough with the TE's to not be so terribly compressed after the exchange, but that seems more the exception than the rule. If you have ever cooked abalone, you will know that you need to pound that muscle and pound it, pound it until it all of a sudden releases. Well, your implants are now much the same - so it will take time for the muscle to relax and release. You could ask your PS when [after the incision is healed] you could start massaging exercises or implant displacement exercises, as this might help move things along.
0 -
JEAN - You bet!!! I'm on it!!!
0 -
"Fluffing" is projection? So much to learn and do
Geena
0 -
I am a fan of the TV show So You Think You Can Dance (I absolutely LOVE to dance). One of the male choreographers tonight created a contemporary dance about a woman struggling with breast cancer. I hope some of you watched the show as the dance was magnificent. I know this post doesn't have to do anything about exchanges, dropping or fluffing, but as I sat here watching the dance with tears running down my face, all I could think about was how we have beaten this beast.
Go BC Sisters!!!!
0 -
Thank you everyone for your input on fluffing. Patience..,,not always easy!
MooreTennis,
I caught the very end, missed the dance, where the woman was crying her eyes out. Did the female dancer have breast cancer? I saw she wore a scarf and many people in the audience were crying. I hope we have the opportunity to see it again. i wonder if it will end up on youtube!
0 -
Ok ladies... here is our pep rally....
" Drop and Fluff.. Drop and Fluff.... Drop and Fluff... Drop and Fluff.... Drop and Fluff......"
0 -
Hi--Laura, great mantra. Mine look different all the time and I love them more each week, the scars are nearly gone, and with the revision in November, all will be well. I'm sorry for the sisters who are not pleased with your exchanges, please give them a little time, at least a month or two before you really judge how they look.
I'm sorry I've been lurking. I think of you all each day, I'm totally swamped with work, actually got away for two days last weekend with the boys and did a 14 mile hike near Mt. Hood. Nice. I was notified last week by my landlord that she is planning on selling the house I'm in. I'm trying to qualify to buy it, but don't think I can--because of the money I borrowed to pay medical bills..., so with everything going on I need to find another place to live and move, meanwhile keeping this place perfect enough to be shown, with two sloppy boys in the house. Well, I guess this is life and I'm embracing it, but a nice two week vacation would be great! I have to keep reminding coworkers time off for BLM and hyster/ooph, does not a vacation make.
If we want to add my revision date we can November 17th: breast lift (both), repositioning nipples, and fat graft.
Hugs,
Karen
0 -
Based on everyone's feedback, I'm withholding judgement on these burger buns until further notice. It's good to hear that everyone says wait and be patient. I will use Laura's mantra to drop and fluff - although I think I need need lift and fluff. Now, has anyone had problems with the surgical bra? I have spots growing under the elastic that are bright red, hurting, itching and even oozing. I almost feel like I'm allergic. I waiting to hear from the surgeon to see if there is a different bra I could try.
Thanks to all for all the support and wonderful info!
Patty
0 -
Karen.. so sorry you are probably having to move... things only get more fun in life....:)... Be easy on yourself ok!
Patty.. the red and oozy stuff.... does not sound too good... I am glad you called the PS. I am in a front zip sports bra I brought to the hospital myself. This is what I was told. My PS said I will be in this a week.. then after the first week I can wear other bras... We'll see... we are all told so many different things... Some ladies here said they would have worn the sports bra for weeks and weeks... not sure why....
Let us know what youPS says.... ok....
0 -
Wow, so much going on since I last checked. ((Denise)) we watch "So you think you can dance" everyweek. The dance was amazing and I so enjoyed it, what got me was the judges and audience response that made me cry. It seems that a lot of people are impacted by BC and the reactions by the judges made me cry, brought back a lot of memories.
I will say that my implants look so natural according to the DH, not like knobs sitting in the front. I was concerned that they tend to fall to the side some, then my friends tell me "duh" thats what boobs do! I was so small before, with dense breast tissue that this wasn't an issue. I now am dropping and the shape gets better each week.
The bra thing cracks me up. At my 1 week check up my PS told me to throw them away and go without one whenever possible to help the muscle relax and for healing. I am a C cup if that makes any difference, but have to find the right bras that fit. The Warners bra's at Macy's seem to fit me the best, the ones without underwires. Jan
0 -
OK Ladies I have the specifics on my process.
Currently have allergan 133 SV TE, expanded to 350cc and will be exchanged to
allergan style 115 mid range textured silicone sizes 507/547 exchange size.
I will have the nipple done at the same time using a graft from the extra skin and scars from my mastectomy.
0 -
Well, good news yesterday at the onco. He said I'm doing so well with chemo and blood counts he'd clear me for my implant exchange 6 weeks after last treatment, so 9 weeks from yesterday! That means end of September, yippe, if the PS operates in the hospital that week. Can't wait. Onco said I am doing so well he would have no qualms about me calling the PS right now to schedule. Yippee! I was TOTALLY doing the happy dance.
0 -
That is great news Lynn!!! I'm doing a happy dance for you too!!!!
0 -
AWESOME Lynn!!!!! Happy Dance!!! Wahooooooooooooooooo
0 -
It just seems to typical for so many of us to lose projection with the exchange. My expanders were a nice C cup. My implants are a nice B cup. The width of the implants would be a C. But not the projection. Too much empty space in a C now. So instead of a 36B where I started, I'm a 38B coz the cup is wider in the 38.
PMellon and Dani42, give it a few weeks and see where you're fluffing takes you. I was surprised at the difference in mine after just a few weeks.
4greatkids, it sounds like your PS has already decided what he wants to use. Period. I can't imagine that he wouldn't use sizers and see what works best. If you're feeling any angst, make the appt. and ask your questions and let him know what your expectations are. Even if you don't come out of surgery with exactly what you wanted, it's better to know ahead of time instead of waking up and being surprised. And who knows? You could even change PS's mind about what he wants to use. Be like Laura. Leave no doubt in his mind as to what you want. (I don't say much, but you always crack me up, Laura.)
Isn't it funny how PS's haven't heard the term "hamburger buns"?
It's been 3 months since my exchange and now the incision on my left side has developed a tiny hole. The entire incision line hurts if I put pressure on it or try to move that skin around. It feels like there is some scar tissue stuck or something. I see PS tomorrow for pre-op and I'll ask about the hole and pain. Monday 7-27 is the revision on my right side. I'm looking forward to some IMF fullness on that side.
0 -
happy for you, Lynn!
Wonderful & Wise Exchanged Ladies, is it normal to feel like i still have the expanders in? not as rigid, certainly not the "turtle shell bra", but still, that there are foreign objects inside? especially when i flex. is this a "duh" question?
trying to be patient and not worry and not email my PS. 's only been 2 weeks. besides, he's never had implants, how's he supposed to know ...lol?
0 -
I do not feel like I have something foreign... but they seem heavier.
When can I put them in a push up bra? ANd... will they move around like a real breast?
I want to try on my 34C.. or 36 C.. but I do not wanna mess them up...
0 -
misty - talk to Dani about her textured implants. They are typically more inclined to ripple than the smooth silicone implants. I am just not certain why some plastic surgeons [very few though, as you and Dani are the only two textureds we have on the 156 pages of this thread] even want to use the textured implants - especially with breast recon patients. So please ask your PS further why he feels he needs to use them. I do not think Dani has experienced rippling , but she might have some other information to share with you.
Lynn - Wonderful news! Let me know when you get a date and we will include it on the list above.
Firni: Hmmm. Wonder if it is a suture which did not dissolve? We will be praying it is NOTHING AT ALL and also looking forward to your enhanced IMF!!!
Lisa - Oh yes, the dancing boobies? I could easily give up icecream, b/c the scooping motion just feels so annoying and looks so bizarre. Well, that never goes away....
0 -
Firni... I hope it is a non dissolved suture too.... after three months,.. I am sure it is something like this,,, Blessings!
0 -
Laura - My PS instructed me to wear a push up bra and said I could do so at my one week follow-up. Wireless push up, of course. I tried on a number of push up bras at VS but the one which worked best for me was the Angel's wireless - not classified as a push up but it actually lifts more than any the other 20 or so bras I tried on during that three hour visit to the VS store.
0 -
Thanks Deborah... when you put "them" in a push up... did it hurt to push them around? Mine are to achy to push anywhere now....:)
0 -
Firni - I had a little hole and bump on my right incision and it turned out to be an undissolved suture. I worked it a little like a pimple and it came out. Then I used neosporin and it all cleared up. I talked with my PS and she confirmed that's what it was and that I handled it properly. Just my experience.
I've enjoyed reading this thread the last couple of days. I had my exchange last November before chemo and then had the nipples done in March after chemo. I have to say at the time of the exchange I was little shocked at the size and shape but they have now settled in beautifully and look very natural. At first, they were rather hambuger bunnish flattish and high. I guess now they are more fluffed as I've seen this term used - that is what I would call them. Mine are completely intramuscular with no Alloderm. They are 500cc - a full C cup. My PS said I don't have to wear a bra at all if I don't want to and I don't because I never did. I wear a camisole when I want more coverage. She said they won't sag and that the pocket was well formed and stable. She did say that I must massage the entire breast every day to combat contracture and I find that I can do this when driving to work, in the shower, lying in bed in the morning and has now become a routine. I haven't gotten any honks on the highway yet but maybe soon
) "A semi bald woman massaging her foobs was spotted on I-78 this morning..." The massaging actually helps them to feel more like they belong to me even though the sensation is changed now. Having the nipples tattooed was also a help visually. Good luck to everyone still waiting for the bid day.Bobbi
0 -
Well, it was about day 10 for me when I bought and started wearing the VS bra and I was really not terribly uncomfortable. It actually felt better to have my breasts so supported and lifted as they felt so heavy otherwise.
0 -
Deb, the VS Angels wireless bra is the purdiest bra ever! i only could dream of wearing something so dainty n' lovely when i was an DDD-cup! (I finally got my breast reduction the hard way!) I am so trying one on the next time I'm near a VS!
I'm in love with my Warner's Elements of Bliss Lightly Padded Contour Bra & Elements of Bliss Two-Ply Wire-free Bras.
Yeah, so I just emailed my PS about still feeling like I've got expanders & also the massaging. Patience is not one of my virtues.
0 -
Misty,
I have the Allergan Natrelle Style 115 and am glad to hear I will have company. I had so many fears before the surgery. I was afraid that they would be too wide for my frame. My tissue expanders seemed wide and the implants were a bit wider. Well, I was very surprised but the diameter is actually very good, Before the exchange I had a huge gap in between my foobs because the left had shifted so much and the implants actually filled that space without being too wde on the outer edges by my arms.
Deborah mentioned that the textured tend to ripple but I haven't experienced that so far. I also heard that the incision has to be longer to accomodate the textured. Well, I had my post op yesterday and when the tape came off I got up and looked in the mirror and was amazed. It didn't look like I had surgery at all. They were not only completely healed (in appearance) but they looked better then before the exchange surgery, He followed the old incision but not completely but then again it is hard to see where the fresh cut even is.
The only problem I am having is that there isn't the projection that I'd hope for. From what everyone is saying here, it is common no matter what implants you get. If I fluff before your surgery, I will let you know!
Dianne
0 -
Bobbie......ROFLOL
0 -
Bobbie......ROFLOL
0 -
Okay I am scheduled to have my exchange 8-7-09-but I am really sceptically of my PS, my expanders look horrible, they are not round like most peoples and my left one has moved a little under my arm. the top of my expanders are up too high and the bottoms are flat, I think the expanders he put in are too large. everytime I question him about something I get the run around. I really hope he does not screw me up next month. My mothers friend had expanders and they looked nice and rounded. Mine also are very uncomfortable, it feels like I have an underwire sticking me.
0
