Exchange City
Comments
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Terri, if you are getting gummies or textured implants, there won't be as much change in the position of the breasts as there would be with round, smooth implants. I've had textured and now I have smooth and in three weeks I'm seeing more changes in my breasts than I did in 4 months with textured implants. Either way, for the best nipple placement, it would be better to wait 2-3 months. What type of implants are you getting?
Typhoon, I hope you are feeling a little better. We all have those days. BC is exhausting, mentally and physically.
Karen, it's good to hear that your shoulder pain is "just" a torn rotor cuff.
Athena, medical bureaucracy is just one more thing to add to the list of things that make us crazy. You gotta jump the hoops even tho it doesn't make any sense.
Laura, glad to see you're feeling good. I sure hope the 50 cc get rid of those ripples for you.
Armywife, Yeaaaa that things are going to move forward for you. When does DH get home?
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Very few ladies do the one step. There is one lady I know on BCO that has. Maybe you could PM her.... monadeclan is her screen name.... she what she has to tell you about this. I think she is rather happy...
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Good evening all,
I have a question. Several of you have referred to "pocket work". What exactly is that?
Kathy
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Good evening all,
I have a question. Several of you have referred to "pocket work". What exactly is that?
Kathy
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Shoshi....if you are getting implants....this thread is for you! If you want to know about getting them, should you get them, are in the midst of getting them, are past getting them, can't stand the thought of getting them but are wondering about them, have loved ones in the process somewhere with them...are a concerned friend, lurker or just curious about them...this site is for you. How big, how small? Painful or not? Needing sisterhood, friend, confidante, advisor, b-tch fest sharer...this place is for you! Jokster, prayer warrior, hugger, whiner, you belong here too!
Just put it out there and know that the sista's have been there, will be there, and will walk the walk with you....high profile, or low-medium. silicone, saline, gummy, textured, smooth, HP, Allergan, Mentor whatever...we are the (Implant) Exchance City Ta-ta Sisterhood! Welcome!
And if someone has done the one step...you'll probably find them here, too!
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Deborah,
Have a great time, don't worry about EC and I hope you and Val can get someone to take a picture of the two of you together!
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Angel you said it so well...
we are here for everything
even just to see a : )
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Deborah and Val... enjoy eachother! Take pictures..:)..
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Shoshi:
I had one step, but I will be going back in possible for exchange to expanders to loosen the muscle more or if possible to change to the soft implants to see if that helps relieve the tightness. I only had alloderm on my rad s side. I also went from a D to a C so they had stuff to work with.
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HHHmmmm, Wonder if I am the only one to have the nipple done at the exchange? To make a long story short and to be fair it was a unilateral and it was the second exchange. He simply measured from the sternal notch and voila they are even-I'll be sure to check again later! This was done over 6 months ago. By the way-have been following before the begining of EC, the suspence keeps me coming back.
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Laura - My PS said that he will most likely put in 550 cc's in both sides, maybe 575 on the left (that's what I have in the TE right now). I'm curious as to what size cup you will be with 500 cc's. Although, you are tiny so you might look bigger, too. I was a 34D/DD before my BMX (only cuz I had fake boobs before). Now I have seriously fake boobs - LOL!!!
Karen - I'm glad they didn't find bone mets! Thank Gawd!!!
Alicia - my PS said that you can fill up to 50% more than what's in the TE. My TE are 450 and I have 550/575 as my final fill. I could do more but I'm at the size I want. Plus, I about died of pain from my last fill. Yikes!
Terry - I would wait 3+ months before having nips done. That's what my PS is going to do, esp since I'm getting smooth round implants.
By the way gals, I will be getting high profile implants with silicone. They should be much nicer than the hard spaceships I have now!!!
Funny story - my PS said that my skin is doing amazingly well (I didn't need rads or anything), but it supposedly looks good. I told him, "I'll have to tell my dermatologist that. Then again, she'll tell me then why are you here???" I've had breakouts for a long time until just recently. Anyway, my PS commented on how my skin is sensitive to alcohol. He said, "Your skin is a reflection of your personality.... thick skinned, but yet sensitive" I was cracking up, so was the medical student in his office. My PS told the medical student that he doesn't refer to his patients by name with the medical students. So, I told the "kid" my name was Giselle. I can't help but joke around at these TE fill visits. You have to find humor in all of this!
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terrij152 - My nipples were done as a separate procedure. My PS would not do them at the same time as the exchange, to allow time for the implants top settle.
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My sister had the nipple sparing BMX. It went okay, but one side is a little discolored in the nipple area - she calls it her calico nipple!
Her PS could only go so big with her implants because her nipples started pointing east/west. I didn't have nipple sparing - just skin sparing. High profiles are implants that have more projection and less width. If you go to to the top of this thread, you'll see some links to the implant manufacturers websites.
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Terrij135---My PS told me to expect a nipple reconstruction approx. 2 months after my exchange. Tattooing some time there after.
Hi Ladies! Can anyone give me some advice about implants??? I had my last expansion 2 wks ago and am now an "Exchange Sister in Waiting". I have a follow up appt. with my PS next month. She did advice me to think over which type of implant I would like to have...silicone or saline. I'm leaning toward silicone but I am finding out there are variations of silicone implants. My friend said she has the "gummie" type...her's were done for cosmetic reasons. I also noticed there are round ones vs. high profie? Textured vs smooth?? I am SOOO confused!!!! My PS also hinted that I could go bigger since this is considered a reconstructive procedure vs. cosmetic. Now I am trying to decide if I should take this opportunity to go bigger?? My single MX is now at 450cc...I was at 500cc at my last expansion but I was in such pain that my PS removed 50cc. Now, I feel fine and feel as though I could go bigger. I was probably about a 34C(small C) prior to this although I usually preferred to wear 36B's for comfort...never liked the "back bulge". I'm petite (5'1") and fit. My husband said do what makes me feel good for myself. He is just happy to have me! Nothing else matters he says. he's a keeper!!! I definitely look huge all ready with the TE in place. My healthy breast will undergo a lift and eventually augmented for symmetry. Now, I feel awkward having to ask my PS if I could go "just" a bit more bigger since I have heard that implants do tend to settle. I admit it would be nice to be full and "perky" again!
I would much appreciate some needed info/advice before I go in to see my PS next month.
Thanks!
NAE
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Volley Girl: 2 weeks after your last fill sees soon but I'm no expert. Mine said at least 2 months and I'm nervous that my surgery 11/6 is just shy of too month. I actually logged on this morning as I woke up questioning whether or not I'm ready. Ladies? Volley Girl: Where are you having your surgery? I'm a fellow Michiganian. I know a lot of folks North of me travel down this way for treatment.
Good Luck
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Hi ladies!
I am a newbie here in this forum, but since I am going to have my exchange December 16th, I thought I would post here. I will be 1300cc at time of exchange. Also will be doing saline implants.
I cannot wait to get these aliens out of my chest. It has been a long painful process that I have to admit if I had know before, I would not have done reconstruction. Nice to meet you all !
Dee~0 -
Welcome to our newbies and our lurkers. For those planning on one-step implants, I know that Stonebrook had them and was VERY pleased! She doesn't visit this specific thread very much, but she does post on BCO. You may find her on the LCIS thread.
As for nips after exchanges. I can say that my implants definitely settled. And did not settle in the same manner. So I am glad that my PS waited before placing the nips.
Lorraine - I am pleased that you are done w/ your surgery and all is well!!
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Nedeza-I waited 8 months between my last fill and exchange. (Was doing chemo during that time) My PS put 700cc's in the TE and then replaced with a 435cc implant. This was to allow excess skin to eventually drop and droop to match my unaffected 45 year old-fe-4-kids-breast! LOL! It's only been 4 months and I don't see much drop. The 435ccs gave me a 36C cup. You absolutely cannot tell when I have a bra or bikini top on but standing naked in front of a mirror she looks nothing like her distant cousin! I did not have augmentation to the other breast. I worried about it too becomming numb or getting the nipple to die. I really can't stand the numbness in the reconstructed breast. It drives me nuts. It's like I came back from the dentist and the novacaine never wore off. My PS told me this will forever be the case since all nerves are severed on a MX. Is this true? Is there anyone out there who is years past this and has sensation at all? Would it have been different had I used my own tissue instead of implants? As of right now I don't want nipple or tattoo. It's kind of like the wig which I finally "ditched". I am tired of pretending that it is something it is not.
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Deborah have fun!
Alicia--my TEs were 600, we filled them to 750.
Kittycat--your PS sounds like fun. I did nipple sparring and one of my nipples looks to the east a bit, it may have before. I have to admit, I don't remember what my original girls felt like anymore!
Lorraine and Laura--glad things went well--I may have missed a post but neither of you have "unveiled " yet have you?
Welcome to the new gals and Jean thanks for the thread.
Hugs--KarenW
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Koryn, I hear you about the numbness. I had augmentation on my healthy side and the nipple is still 50% numb. My sister said it took about 2 years for full feeling to come back. On my mx side the tingling and itching is maddening! I was told it may be permanent, it is different for everyone....sheesh. I wasn't sure about getting a fipple, but reading the posts of happiness and satisfaction from the ladies that have had it done makes it seem worthwhile. I will see what the PS has to say this morning about the fipple procedure.
Dee, Welcome, 1300 cc? each?
Va Va Va Vooooooommmmm. Keep posting and just think in 6 weeks you will have new voluptuous breasts. Jan0 -
Koryn, I had a bilat mx in Feb and exchange in Sept and have recently regained some feeling on the inner and upper quadrants of my foobs. The outer and lower quadrants are still completely numb and I expect them to stay that way. I also have itching in the places where I have regained some feeling, so it's definitely a trade off.
Mykidsmom, I'm scheduled to get nips on 12/16 so please add me to list.
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Hi all,
After reading Linda54's comment about the need for a revision after too much movement.... well I have the same thought. I felt so great after my exchange that I pretty much jumped right back into things. I ended up with a major infection on my right side and had to have the implant removed (one week away from the "all clear" whistle). Was disappointed but have moved on and am looking forward to retrying in December. My question is, for anyone that may have gone through this, my left has slipped downward more than I expected and I have have a divet on top. I really want my PS to adjust that pocket when he does the implant BUT... I am scared to death that another infection will set in.
Any advise or thoughts would be helpful. I am hoping this was just a fluke and I am worried for not. I really don't want to settle for a look I am not happy with but sure don't want to lose another implant..... I am coming up on the one year mark since this all began and just can't wait to be DONE!!!
Thanks all,
Wanda
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Welcome to our new friends - dee1961, korynh, queenlurker, typhoon 55, don23, & anyone else I missed!
Had another checkup with my ps this morning. Said the foobs were healing well - except the left side which he's been concerned about for a few weeks. The big news is that he told me to schedule my nips surgery! (and he may do some revision work on the left side if it still isn't behaving by then)............ So.....NIPS FOR VAL ON 12/10! ..........and since there's been a lot of talk about nip timing, that will be just shy of 12 weeks post-exchange.........You know what's really funny? As I'm getting in the car after my appt, my phone rings and it's Deborah! Isn't it just perfect that she was the first to hear about it? (I won't tell my dh that, of course, lol!) We plan to meet tomorrow, and I promise to bring my camera!!
One thing we've learned here is that there are as many different reconstruction philosophies/practices as there are plastic surgeons who do them. Some are conservative, some not so. Some say to resume activity within a week or two, some limit us for weeks. Some advise a bra post-op, some don't. Some say absolutely underwire, some absolutely not. Being one of the patients of a very conservative (and perfectionistic) ps, I had very tight activity restrictions after both my bilat. mast and my exchange, and I am in a very tight unpadded underwire bra 24/7 for a minimum of three months. Although it's not particularly comfortable, it made sense to me when my ps explained why. He said there's very little holding our implants in place except expanded - and probably very thin - skin, so the implants will tend to migrate without support. This actually happened to me on one side because I was unable to get in the underwire bra quickly enough post-exchange because I had my JP drains for eight days. So.......who knows what is the absolute correct thing to do........we all just do our best, I think.........
Enjoy your weekend and Happy Halloween! We're getting ready for our - no kidding - 1200+ little trick-or-treaters!
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NAE
it will be helpful if you give us some info about your Tissue expander ( as in which style so we can figure out teh appox dim when it's filled)
my take on implants is that some of us feel that silicone implants are softer ( I actually had both, my saline was really hard almost as hard as tissue expander) If you go with saline just make sure they don't fill it to the max
I think that's what made mine hard.
Also it would help us if you told us the size of your rib cage ( how many inches below your breast and also what bra size you usually wore)
I would guess if your bra size was a 32 - 36 you can go for high profile implants which are narrow and give the most projection. But for some of the full figured gals they may need mod plus implant to have it a little wider. But also if you go with larger CC you can still have good projection. I myself feel 5cm is a nice amount of projection but that just depends on what everyone wants.
Also for you rside getting the lift and implant I went with a expandable implant which they can add or take saline out to make a good match. I beleive they are shown in the 2nd link above.
heading out to a wedding reception tonight...hope everyone has a GREAT weekend
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Koryn -- I haven't had surgery yet (still doing chemo, which my oncologist decided to do first after two lumpectomies)... but my PS told me that whether you do something like a TRAM (that uses your own tissue) or an implant, you don't have feeling. I assume this is because in both cases, before the reconstruction begins (whether TRAM or implant or whatever) the breast tissue is removed in the mastectomy. I have seen some women on this site report some feeling on the skin, but yeah as I understand it that's the way it is: numb.
Lilah
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Oh btw... I guess this is me de-lurking on this thread
I haven't had a chance to read all the pages (way too many)! But have read quite a bit and feel (already) fond of so many of you! I've posted elsewhere on BCO forums... but am grateful to you all for your advice, insight, reports of experience, etc here on this thread. I had two lumpectomies and then started chemo in August. I'll be done Nov 9! (Can't wait). Surgery (right breast MX with immediate reconstruction; planning silicone implant) is scheduled for December 9. I'm very nervous and scared but have no choice. More later (no doubt) -- I'm off to Altantic City!Cheers,
Lilah
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Estepp/Laura: How are you feeling and healing???0
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I am doing ok..
...This time is harder than last time for me. But not the breast.. MY EYES... OUCH... I really don't want to take anymore pain meds.. but my eyeballs feel so bruised and OUCH OUCH OUCH... but... boobs are good. I have had two showers.. I do not have ripples (yet) and the boobs are a great size (so far)Now.. if I do not shrink... I will be happy..LOL...
it hurts my stupid eyes to read here.. so I am limited.. but hope all are well...:)
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But... my eyes look amazing this time..wahooooo.. no bags for me.. EVER AGAIN!
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Koryn - I am another numb sister. I told my PS the other day that the numbness is the part I am most unhappy about. The rest has been easier than I expected.
Karen (KEW)- You are welcome my dear! It was actually Laura's idea (Estepp).
You know, we are 247 pages into this thread. And I have felt such closeness and fondness for so many sisters since we started it. We are all joined by at least two things. We had (or are scheduled to have) a Mx and we had (or are scheduled to have) implants. Many of us don't know too many others that we have shared such a significant event w/. I want to send a big hug and special thanks out to all of you!
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