Exchange City
Comments
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Deborah ~ When you say you are researching something you are not kidding!! Got halfway though the Fatty Liver/Tamoxifen post and my mind was boggled. Will be very interested in what your Onc says since I am enjoying 10 lbs of Tamoxifen body fat right now.
Missed you today ~ Peg is delightful!!! Next time.
Colleen
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I hope someone can help.
I met with the surgeon today about my exchange is this coming Wed
I am 5'9, weigh 155. My rib cage is 33 inches. I have 133MV-13 Naturelle Allergan expanders in. Their capacity is 400cc
I am filled to 620cc.
ok.. here is where the problem is. The surgeon was talking about putting 350 or 375cc in moderate or high profile. The nurse mentioned to her I was filled to 620 and she seemed confused and said ok well then bring to surgery 350 on up to 550cc to surgery.
I was hoping to be a big C and have some projection. I told this to the surgeon and she told me that I would be a C.
How can I be a C with these CC's that she is thinking of. These are smaller than I am expaqnded to. UGH.. Help I am so upset.
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Oh Colleen - That's right! You met with my Peg! I just love that girl!
I am emailing my PS today. I will let you know...I want a baseline liver panel....
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sunnyhou: You do not have to go through with the surgery until you get everyone on the same page about size. You have to show her the dimensions of your TEs versus the dimensions of the implants. What did I recommend? 600 cc's probably...but you want at LEAST 550 cc's. At the very minimum 550 cc's. Tell your PS you know you will not be happy with under 550 cc's and you would prefer 600 cc's. Tell her that you do not want to have to do this a second time and this is very important to you!
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Colleen ~ I had a fabulous time today. Can't wait to do it again.
Deborah ~ I just love you too...and I missed you today.
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Peg ~ Let's get on that Avatar ~~ everyone needs to see your beautiful face and smile!!!
Colleen
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Good luck getting her to post a photo Colleen. She has photophobia.
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Colleen ~ I told you Deborah was going to laugh about getting my photo! Maybe if it were laying by the pool in Maui with sunglasses.....Oh someone already has that avatar!
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Laura - I may just show up for LV this year. If I do, can I be one of your roomies??
Ladies - Thanks for your kind thoughts and all prayers for my mom are appreciated. Things seem to go from bad to worse, but we are hanging in there.
Love to you all - Jean
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Jean,
I am sorry to hear that things are not going well with your mom. Yes, hang in there!
Laura, my sister and niece were both told they have fibromyalgia. My sister also has pretty severe arthritis so I am not sure how she distinguishes between the two. I don't know if she has tried the fibro meds yet but has been on pretty strong meds for arthritis.
Val, hope your pain has begun to subside some. I am five weeks out from the revision and feel pretty good. I am even exercising again but avoiding anything involving the chest until I get the ok.
Facecrafters, is it possible once the scars have healed to white to get tattoos that are flesh colored that improve the appearance of scarring? I have a long way to go to get to that point but thought perhaps it could be an option?
Dianne
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Sure, it is an option, but very few people do scar concealment work. It is a highly technical skill.
But first, have you had the nips and areolas done yet? Often when they are done, the scars minimize considerably.
I would wait at least six months to a year for the scars to heal. That is because it is easy to 'over-correct' a scar and then it winds up not exactly matching. Living in NY, you have access to one of the best at scar concealment, or you could always come to me and have a little warmth along with your procedure!! Just kidding, unless you are willing to make several trips. It is not a one step procedure. at least when I do it, I add color a little at a time until we match- usually two to three times.
You need to be aware that if your scar heals to a red color it CANNOT be camouflaged. You can't make a dark color lighter by adding color. Often poorly trained people use white or a color with a lot of white in it to 'cover' a scar. In the long run, this does not work, and leaves you looking like someone went over the scar with Elmer's glue.
This is a long answer, but I thought others would like to know as well.
Are you coming to Las Vegas for the 2nd reunion? I could see it then. In short, the answer is yes, (if it is not red) when and if you are ready. JUDY
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Val--So happy for you!!
Geena--Good luck tomorrow, you are an inspiration of poise and grace.
Laura--I wish I had a magic wand and could make your pain go away...
Jean--Prayers for you mom.
Bonnie--A good underwire or push up bra will probably help, but I think you are too close to surgery too use either. Our PS didn't say it was ok for my to underwire until I was about 5 months out. You might want to email him.
Welcome to so many newbies. I hope you feel the love.
I know this is off topic, but I just read "After Breast Cancer" by Hester Hill-Schnipper, she is a oncology social worker and has had bc twice--and married to an oncologist. I liked it, and found some of it very comforting.
Hugs--Karen
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Margot -- thanks for the update re: LuluLemon bras!
Jean -- prayers for your Mom... sorry that she is still suffering.
Laura -- I really hope it's not Fibro.
Karen -- Thanks for the book recommendation. Sounds very worthwhile!
And I second Karen's lovely welcome to all the newbies... this truly is a wonderful bunch of women.
Lilah
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Margot: I am glad the Lululemon bra will work for you! I have the Lululemon "Lift and Separate" bra and boy does it ever spread out those puppies!
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Sunnyhou, I have dimensions close to yours. I'm 5'9 150 lbs and have a 31 inch ribcage. My first PS put in HP Mentor 400cc. I was larger than a B but didn't come close to a C. My second PS got 550 HP mentor implants in and I'm a full C now. Deborah is right. Absolutely no smaller than 550cc but 600 would be preferable. 350cc's would just disappear on your chest.
Laura, I'm so sorry to hear that you have fibromyalgia. I worked with a woman who had it and she really watched what she ate and walked, walked, walked. The walking helped her more than anything. I hope you can get it under control.
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sunnyhou: Why don't you PM Firni above and she will send you the link to her plastic surgeon's website. Her reconstruction turned out so well, she is in his pictures gallery. You could share her vital statistics - which mirror yours - with your PS and show her Firni's photographs. And I think you would be happy with 550 cc's like Firni's. But you have to drive this point home to your PS, who is all over the map volume-wise.
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Buddy48 - Hope yu are doing well.
Katey - Get lots of rest and let us know how you are doing.
Ladies - LuLu Lemon bra??? Where does one find these and purchase them? What a name! I must be getting old. Can someone enlighten me about these? Thanks - Chris
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Chris --
They have a bra called the TaTa Tamer
Alas, I'm afraid to get the 38DD (my size) because people report that these bras run small (and that is their largest size). Bummed out. Maybe after exchange (when I am smaller).
Lilah
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Judy,
I actually had nipple, areola sparring surgery so they are battered, a tad scarred but intact. I had lumpectomys years ago and they healed as thin white lines that look perfectly fine to me. I dont' know that the mastectomy scars will do so well.
I am glad you gave such a detailed response, I love having all the info that is available. If I win the lottery, I would love to come to you multiple times for the best results! A little beach time and a nice tan too! But if that doesn't happen, I would like to know who the person is that you are referring to from NY. I would wait at least a year before making a decision though. I think my previous surgeries took at least 2 years to heal nicely.
thanks for all the info!
Dianne
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Thanks ladies for the nipple protector tips. The swim goggles sound really interesting! You also get to check status without removing them. (I think I peak under my bandage 20 times a day.) I am going to try the nursing pads and look for some cheap googles... and also get a bigger bra for the near term. The bras that I have tend to flatten anything I put over the nips.
I posted pics of my new nips (and the new foobies they sit atop!) on Timtam's site. The pics were made 8 days after the exchange and nipple construction surgery. I still have some major league dropping and fluffing to do. My screenname there is Sandollars and the title is something like Exchange to Natrelle 45s.
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Dani: I'll PM you.
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reeltcher~
Lululemon is a chain of stores. The bra is called the Tata Tamer bra. I think I will check this out since there's a store nearby me.
Still thinking & praying for all of you as I continue to "lurk" through the pages!
Welcome to all those who have jumped on board...to all who are recovering or are pending surgeries! Thoughts go out to you!!!
NAE
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Jean, I am sorry about your mom! I was praying she was getting better...
Get to the Ta Ta 2nd Reunion thread.. and PM Tracey that you would like to be in my room..
I am not in charge of this.. but I will take you as a roomy ANYTIME!!! I sure hope you can go... Some rooms might hold 8 I am hearing... now, if you like sleep... I have a feeling my room... won;t get any...LOL ROFLOL..... Only due to these gals who talk ALL NIGHT.... ... and add a few cocktails to that... OMGOSH... ..... I welcome you !!! ((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))0 -
Mykidsmom - sending prayers up for your mom, you, and your family.
Geena - hoping and praying all goes well for you!! Sending lots of positive energy and good thoughts.
Also thanks to everyone for advice on the nips, scars, exchanges, etc - it helps so much to read everyone's experiences. I'm already getting nervous for my exchange, when it was scheduled it seemed so far away, now it feels like it's right around the corner! I am really not looking forward to another recovery - I have a frozen right shoulder from the PBM, and am very apprehensive that I"ll be able to get back to a "near" normal.Hearing your success stories (Yay Val!) helps me a lot.
Question - has anyone gotten into yoga after getting implants? I'm just thinking that (after PS clears me physically), that the strength moves would almost have to help,yes? Any thoughts and experience, again, are greatly appreciated. xo, E
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Grakenmom, yoga and pilates seemed to help me a lot with my shoulders(I had the same problem with my right shoulder after bmx, and the pain has moved to both of my upper arms, so I think it's my shoulders) Just as it gets better, I do something strenuous and mess it up again. As you do the yoga or pilates, you will feel how good it stretches and loosens those areas. Good luck on your exchange.
Geena, sending good thoughts and healing vibes your way.
Mykidsmom, praying now for your mother and your family.
I have had a problem with my implants feeling too heavy and too low. I have Mentor 600s, I am 5'2", 120 lbs. Last Friday I went to a different PS and she said my PS did fabulous work. She said that they may just be too heavy for me, and the area where my straps are impinging on top of my shoulders causing permanent dents could in time cause nerve damage. The things she could do for me were: 1. Swap them out for smaller implants which would allow her to 2. Give me another higher lift, using the same incision and 3. Do some major fat grafting for my upper poles.
I have been thinking about it for awhile and I will talk to my DH about it tonight. I don't think I can live with this and although I don't want another surgery, I think I need to do this. I will admit that I had foob greed and am sorry for it now. I am just too active for these!
So, Deborah, do you think that going 50cc less each is worth it? This PS uses Allergan implants, and assumed that my other PS used HP for my build, but I remember him telling me he uses moderate. I like the way they look, just wanted them higher on my chest. The new PS says I can only get a lift if I go smaller, which is fine with me.
My pics are on the pic forum under same ID name.
Reading back on this, I think I sound like a real flake. Wonder if the PSs think that, too!
Thanks for any advice,
Deen
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3/8- Exchange surgery.
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Hi beauties!
I'm just checking in post surgery yesterday - thyroidectomy. I'm going to have the most FABULOUS scar. Looks about 3 inches long, right to left, on my neck. All these scars on me! Ah well, it will give me a period of time where I'll just wear scarves. I was just looking at the tops I wore while TE's were expanding - happy to be done with them - but now onto scarves! What was interesting though - with all this thyroid stuff - I forgot about the foobs! What a nice relief for my brain!
Questions for those who have gone before:
How soon did you start massaging your foobs?
What have you used to lessen the appearance of scars?
How soon did you exercise? I saw Grakenmom's question about yoga - I've wondered the same - how does one do the pose downward dog without hurting your pecs?
By the way, I'm loving that more and more people are posting their pics on Timtam's site. Very important.
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Hello Ladies,
I have not been on the boards for a while now just catching up on page 313 hope everyone is doing well talk soon............ the only thing i did was post my pic so far (lol)
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Deen: What? Why do you feel like a flake? Are you kidding me? Put that notion out of you noggin girl! In answer to your question: I don't think 50 cc's will feel much different. I think that it is the lift which will change the dynamics of things for you. Changing the center of gravity. However, if she is going to do all of this work and remove the implants, why not go down to 550 cc's? It would be a good size for you.
Added: I just went back to look at your photos. You look so good. Dang! To have to go through revisions... I understand how you feel about where they are sitting on the chest wall. I have the same issue....I see a lift in my future. I posted some additional comments on your thread so go take a look. I wanted to bump up your thread b/c I am talking with someone else who has the same issue...same size implants as you. I also wonder about the Style 45 - extra full projection....sits higher on the chest wall - a taller implant - narrower than what you have? Ask your PS about this. PM me with her name, b/c I like the way she thinks..
Deborah
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Warm thoughts to everyone who's currently recovering from recent procedures!
Grakenmom: I've done yoga for many years so I can only comment on doing it after SMX/recon (still in TE) having already known a lot. Bottom line is, it has been invaluable to do a number of arm stretches and chest stretches that are parts of yoga poses to get my range of motion back and keep my chest from feeling like a hard contracted knot. I stretch every day, and do some gentle massage like my PT showed me. Because you'd be new to yoga, I'd suggest you find an experienced teacher who understands the "injuries" to your chest that you're trying to rehab and can work with you safely. If you go to a class and the teacher just says "do however much you can do" after hearing your situation, I'd run away! I practice "Iyengar yoga" which is very focused on precision and alignment, which is extremely useful for rehab like we're needing. FYI I'm familiar with some senior teachers in a number of cities so if you (or anyone) want to PM me with where you live I might be able to refer you to an experienced teacher in your area.
I'll also share a advice from my PT re: stretching and rebuilding strength, which is to not fully stretch AND load the chest muscles at the same time. E.g., if you're doing a stretch, don't have weight on your ams; if you're doing an exercise (or housework, etc) that bears weight, make sure your chest/arm isn't at full stretch. Eventually you can put them together, but not for some months.
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