Exchange City
Comments
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Hey Judy.....quick question....can you help camouflage a cafe au lait birthmark with tattooing? You can see mine in a number of my photos on the forum - it is at the outer aspect of my right breast. Laser surgery is the treatment recommended, but I don't really want to do it now that I have implants. Why is it that we don't start thinking of all of these things we want to do with our bodies until AFTER we have breast reconstruction? Amazing....
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Whippetmom: I cannot thank you enough for your information and deductions regarding the choice of Allergan Style 45 versus Style 20. I was unaware that the Style 45 would have a greater height than the Style 20. In keeping with this line of thought as well as wanting to remain in a full C to D cup size, I tend to agree with you regarding the Style 20 being a better fit for my needs.
I can relate to your researching both styles to ad nauseum. Are you aware if the height of the Style 20 in either the 600cc, 650cc, or 700cc is comprable to the height of the Style 133Mv-14 Expander - that is, 13cm height?
As far as your inquiry of partial submuscular versus complete submuscular placement, I believe it is partial submuscular. I will find out for sure and get back to you if that has great bearing on my choice.
Presently, I am awaiting a response for my access to the picture forum. I will most certainly check the stats on those that you suggested.
Again, thank you for your invaluable information.
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Angel....you ARE an Angel! Striations....heavens, we can ALL live with striations - little insignificant imperfections. It sounds like your PS did some beautiful work. And thank you SO MUCH for your comment on the nipples vs. 3-D. I truly have been feeling like I am so DONE with surgery....do I REALLY need nipples? Of course, my DH would just throttle me if he heard me say this....you would think he was awaiting his second child...he is so excited about the nipples....0
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11/10 - kjbell - silicone implant on the right and an implant and lift to the left
11/10 - Judy56 - nips
Ladies...hope things went well today...
11/11 - Volleygirl - Exchange surgery! Good luck tomorrow! Life will get better in short order!
God Bless!
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Deborah...I never thought nips were important to me...and I really don't like the way they are so " proud" today...but they almost brought tears to my eyes! Who knew?? It was a real difference that shocked me!
I was always thinking that I wanted to go braless and not worry about protrusion...but at this point, I am so much more comfortable with a bra on than without, that I feel like I might as well have the real deal with nips. I was not expecting that response...but there it is! My PS (and others) were right about doing this!
Bless you!
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Shoshi: I honestly don't know what you want to know. I gave you the details for how to get to our forum in the PM the other day, you registered yourself and I validated your account. The next PM I received from you was about the 5-posts per a day limit on this BCO forum so I told you I didn't know what to do about it. Like I said, our forum has nothing to do with this site so there is no limit to how many times you can post on our forum. I have never told you to wait. If you have trouble logging in on our forum, read the instructions in the first PM I sent you. If it doesn't work or it's not what you want to know, feel free to PM me.
Hugs,
Fumi
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Volleygirl..... Tomorrow is your day.... Wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
( hugs and luck and prayers!)
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Deborah..
Good support for bed.. under wire though....
At Walmart.... Hanes.... Comfort plus...
It comes in white.. black and pink.
It is jersey material.. with under wire for more support than the sports bra. I can wear it to sleep.. it is very, very comfy. In all honesty, it is the most comfortable under wire bra I have ever worn.
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Deborah: That is a great question. To repeat it- Can you cover a cafe au lait (dark colored) mark with tattooing? .NO!!! .. Inexperienced or arrogant tattoo artists will try to cover up these marks with light colored pigment. It does not work. After a while- sometimes 6 months, sometimes a year or two- it looks like toothpaste. The color in the pigment fades and the white in the pigment remains. this cannot be done, not on any hyper-pigmented area. You cannot use color to eliminate color. This used to be called beiging-out, and today, good artists know this cannot be done. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people willing to do it...
To get rid of a hyperpigmented area in the skin, lasers are used. Not laser "surgery", just lasers.
The expert in this area, especially birthmarks and port wine hemangiomas is Dr. Geronimous in NYC. He was the first to use lasers for this purpose. They are very effective in the right hands and won't interfere with your implants, as they only go skin deep... If, however, your skin is very thin or otherwise compromised, I would not do it.Thanks for giving me the opportunity to answer this...Lots of people want to know. JUDY
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Firni & don23 ~ Thanks for your input on my softening TE. A friend of mine who had implants done for cosmetic reasons said the same thing about the muscles/skin stretching & softening & if anything it is settling in. She thinks everything is starting to relax. I have my appt. w/ PS in about 2 wks. I will address my concerns then & in the mean time monitor my TE.
Volloygirl ~ Remember me? I think you said we are similar with our time line (dx/Mx surgery). Lucky you!!! I am still waiting for my next step (lift then exchange) At first everything seemed to be going so quickly now it's at a snails pace! Good luck to you tomorrow! Let me know how it went.
Shoshi ~ I had no probs. with logging on to the picture form once I was given authorization. Just follow the prompts.....
NAE
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Ladies ~ I know someone posted this before about cleaning services that provide once a month free cleaning for breast cancer patients under going post treatment. It was televised on my local news broadcast (Calif..) tonight.. It said to link to "Cleaning For A Reason" & it will direct you to cleaning services in your area that provide free service for 4 months.
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HI Laura,
I saw your post regarding a friend whose TE is poking through the skin. My first TE was inserted under the muscle completely filled when I had my unimx. It began to poke through the skin and did become infected within a month of my first surgery. I was admitted for emergency surgery to remove and replace the TE. That second surgery was so much easier than the first. I went under anesthesia. They removed the TE, flushed the pocket with antibiotics and inserted a new TE all in the same surgery. When I awoke the second TE was only partially filled and I had only lost a couple of mm of skin from the incison site (PS told me, I couldn't tell). I had fills each week over the next 6 weeks each week. When the TE was filled to capacity (or so I thought) everything went fine after that.
I did have rads afterwards, but that is another story. If you need any more information, just let me know. I had a final fill of 70ccs two weeks ago. My last fill was Feb 08. Yes, I still have my TE awaiting recon. I am scheduled for a DIEP in Dec. finally. And that is another story....
C
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Hello All,
Just catching up on all postings and just wanted to say I am thinking of all of you.
Has anyone had hives since bc I finally went to the Allergist and he said I have no Allergies to anything I have never had Allergies but ever since bc I seem to have them and I am becoming concerned that cancer has something to do with it any suggestions?
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Volleygirl: Prayers for you today. I hope your surgery is as uneventful as mine.
All: Thank you so much for all the wisdom you share here. I wish I would have found you before I made some of my decisions. I'm not unhappy with my outcome but I do feel I was a little ill informed. I left so much in the hands of my PS who I do adore and trust so I guess it isn't all bad.
From the comments of many I am leaning toward nipples. Still not sure about the contouring with fat grafting. I definitely want to research that more. Although the idea of small saddle bags is inviting!!!
Love and prayers and gratitude to you all.
Jane
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C
Thank you so much for that information. I will copy anc paste it to my friend..... Oh I hope she has this choice...
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Janloy and Athena- Glad to hear your surgeries went well.
Laura - Sorry to hear you had a melt down but remember you have been through a tough year and a half and this is to be expected I have been reading on and I see you are back to your self ( helpful and funny) glad to see it.
Deborah I am so happy for you that everything went well and you are recovering quickly.
I just would like to say to Deborah, Laura and Val you guys have been soooo helpful for so many of us women and it takes alot of your time to address most of our concerns and you have been there every time when I and others have needed answers etc I just would like to say Thanks and you really do make a difference in our lives.....
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Thanks Carolyn...:)..... You are right.. I am beginning to feel MUCH better...:).... I am glad it shows.....Wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... Are you getting excited for exchange??
Meltdowns are good to have..... I feel, almost needed once a year! Amen!
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Oh ya I am ready to remove this TE and hope the rad side holds up.
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Everyone,
I just posted pics in the forum under"pics of old rad breat wtih TEs", typhoon55. I need opinions because the old rad breast is smaller than the other side. Both have 360ccs. PS has me scheduled for exchange for 12/11 but I'm concerned with the size diffence. The old rad side has been extremely painful being filled and is hard most of the time. Last fill I thought a rib may have been cracked as I couldn't take a deep breath or even more with extreme pain. And I hardly took any meds after the BMX so I can take pain, but that fill was unbelievable. I do have appt with PS in 2 weeks and I may ask him to fill the smaller one a little then.
How do you all feell about the size. I am 5'3", 119 pounds with Allergan 133mx-12 TE's. Only prob with the TEs is it goes under the armpit and is irritating the nerve onside which already has a problem. So I need an implant with a smaller diameter. Any suggestions?
Thanks all,
Janet
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Janet: What is your ribcage circumference - measuring around just under the TEs?
Bonnie: I have some information regarding capsular contracture I want to share with you....I am PM'ing you....
Fumi: We are so thrilled you visited Exchange City! We will try to help Shoshi with entrance to the pictures forum and just know that we ALL love you and we are ever so grateful for the portal you have provided for us via the pictures forum, which has been so instrumental in our recovery process!!!!
Deborah
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Deborah
Sorry rib cage is 29"
Janet
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thank u all again for all ur answers & responses. It appears this is /was a misunderstanding abt the pix site..i am working on that ..but i forgot my PW (i think) or something b/c i cant log on. No biggie, i wrote to Tumi & asked her.
I have been reading your post since last night ...every one here has been so helpful... i cannot wait to Fri.
When i saw the PS he did not examine me, but told me i am a candidate for the 1 step... i was so happy to hear this, but my BS said that when he examines me & sees the scars i have from the reduction & from biopsies & stuff, he probably will not be able to do this. So, i want to be prepared for whatever is decided on Fri. I want to tell (suggest) to him what i want...if he cannot do the 1 step. I have read w/ the 1 step that if u have had surgeries u may not be a canadaite....so we shall c. I just want these things off so i do not have to worry as much.
a few months ago i felt a tiny lump in my rt breast but only felt it lying down, It is hard & does NOT move (like a cyst would) & i have never felt it b4. i waited a month to c if it would go away & didnt. I had a mamo & US & they said it was the site where i had my biopsy & it has not changed....now i can feel this lump even if i am NOT lying down. they say its a cyst & it may be....but the worrying i did until i found out what the mamo said...i cannot deal with this anymore...every 6 months ...if i already am High risk, cut em off now b4 i get a result back that i would not b happy w/. so this is my story..LOL
Have a great day all & thank u again for all ur input!!
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Shoshi: I'm sorry....a PS who does not examine you and tells you that you are a candidate for a one step? What is he, clairvoyant? That is total malarkey. Your BS has so much more sense about this. With your history, you might well be a better candidate for donor flap surgery....you need to see another PS for a second opinion. Call your BS and ask if she knows of another PS who does microsurgery - who does flap procedures such as a latissimus dorsi or you might want to consider a DIEP or other autologous donor site procedures. Don't worry about what the abbreviations mean for now....just see someone who does other than just implant-based procedures. There are some other threads for you to visit....just look under the forums list to see forums which discuss DIEP or surgical procedures at NOLA...etc. I am PM'ing you also about getting into the pictures forum. I think Fumi has given you enough help in this regard....0
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typhoon: I left some information over on the pictures forum for you....In short, no more expansion, don't worry about the width - you are fine - just need some tweaking on one side...maybe both sides to be brought closer to the sternum. There are a number of gals here with your ribcage dimensions who have your almost identical frame who have 12.0 cm and a little plus width with their implants and just love them.
Deborah
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Janet - I have a ribacage size similar to yours - mine is 28 1/2" - and my TE's were somewhat similar to yours - Siltex Low-Height 250cc (11.4 width, 8.1 height, 6.1 projection). My implants - Style 20's 425cc's - have a width of 12.0cm and projection of 5.2cm. I think that width is perfect size for my ribcage.......
(((((Carolyn)))))
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I survived my exchange! (Silicone on mast side, small implant and lift on left)I can't believe how soft the mast side is after rads and getting the t/e out. I am very sore, but I don't consider it pain. I will take vicodin tonite though, so I can sleep. I have nothing on my chest except a rectangular dressing that I take off tomorrow. And I can shower tomorrow too. Good luck and good outcomes to all the upcoming ladies.
Hood-Thanks for posting sweet Bettelou68's address.
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Karen: We are so happy to hear that YOU are happy with the results....and they sound like they are BOOTIFUL! Cannot wait to see them in Vegas next year!!!!
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Laura - That Hanes bra sounds nice, but does it truly separate the girls? I don't want them fighting while I am trying to sleep....
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Mykidsmom, thanks so much for adding me to your list. January 25 seems a long time away but when I remember that it has been 16 months since I started this journey ... What's another 70 days?
Thanks Whippetmom and Dani42 for your replies about the textured vs. smooth silicones. I will work on my PS and insist on the smooth. In addition to hearing that all of you prefer the smooth, I just don't think I'll be happy with the projection that I can get with the textured.
I have another question for all you experts. My PS does nips (the twist method) at the same time as exchange. Is this odd? I don't hear of many of you who have had nip surgery at the same time. Since this will be my 5th surgery I kind of like the idea.
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The nips may come out uneven when they settle..Personally, I would not do them at the same time. JUDY
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