Exchange City
Comments
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Well, my laser face peel is healed enough for me to go out - so I went to Victoria Secret and got measured. I had been to a little bra/masectomy store near me a couple days ago so I knew what my size should be. They were very helpful and nice and got the same measurement - 32 D, there aren't many in that size so 34 C works as well - that's just what the masectomy store had told me. They also recomended an underwire that almost makes a full half circle around the bottom of breast - anyway I told them that others were disappointed in their knowledge and service and they said as a company they have had meetings etc. and are trying to improve that. So I have 2 bras now - going to Noordstroms next week. I wonder how many I need?
SMH - I too was a 34 A or almost an A, now I'm a 32 D or 34 C and sometimes I feel too big, but I do look much better in clothes, the doctor says it is the perfect size (for me) and I'm beginning to think so to. Whippitmom over on the implant sizing thread helped determine what would look best on my body -you should ask her, but you are the one that has to be happy with them. I know another lady that was upset because she wished she had gone bigger! It's hard to know - good luck. hugs, Valerie
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Dawne, Thank you for the warm welcome...I have peeked in here from time to time, but didn't want to jinx myself..I AM so thankful that I have wonderful PS..I have to go 60 miles one way, but it is so worth it! I have had a lot of positives that I didn't know were positives until later.
I know, one more week!! YAY!!!
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Hi Colette -- welcome!
Mstar -- waaaahooooo on having the exchange at last! I bet you will come to love your new size... and I too can't wait to see the pics!
Bonnie -- ugh what an ordeal! But glad to know you are already feeling better. That's wonderful.
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Bonnie: I am so glad you are out of surgery and doing well. I hope this provides the freedom from discomfort you were seeking! Please stick around though!!!
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Here you go sweetie....regarding your friend's PS using a skin advancement flap technique....
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7100307
In answer to your question regarding why your implant migrates laterally when you are laying down..
It is likely that the one pocket was overdissected and a lateral capsulorrhapy was not performed to secure the pocket. It only will be evident when you are laying down, but because pectoral-based exercises and also the gravitational pull while you are sleeping can pull that implant laterally, I would always wear good lateral support, even when sleeping.
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K ..<--------------------------------- I just wanted to tell you that the exchange surgery is much much easier.. I have had two exchanges... no drains.. and OMGOSH was it easy. You will do fine. Girl.... you had rads... if the TE is tight now... you will need to make sure you MASSAGE the heck out of the new implants to come. No matter what anyone says..... you will need to do this for life.
PLEASE FEEL FREE to PM me anytime about rads and implants... I feel like a poster child in this matter. I too.... radiated TE and then had exchange. So far... I am a success story. If you can get to the picture forum... I am there... you should read my entire thread there. PM me if you need ANYTHING... ok ..... I am here!
COLETTE........... WELCOME TO EC!
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Colette37: Sorry to hear about your difficult experience. I've also had a difficult road and had two staph infections - one after my last lumpectomy and one a few weeks after my mastectomy which landed me in the hospital on IV antibiotics for 5 days (and another 9 days of antibiotics when I got out). It feels so good to finally feel healthy, although I still have TE discomfort and don't have all my energy back. Hang in there! You're going to feel so much better after your exchange next week. My exchange is the following week - Nov. 10.
Congrats to all the girls who had their exchanges this week!
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Estepp, thank you! I'll go look at the pic forum. Good to know about the massaging too. Will I feel this achyness forever? It really feels like I have arthritis in my breast! So nice to hear the surgery will be so easy. Were your arms limited after at all? I hated not being able to do anything for my kids after the mast.
thanks,
k
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The discussion about size has me thinking - has anyone come up with a way to try on a C or D cup or even better a CC amount in advance............and wear it around for a while? When I was looking for a bra last week I tried on some that were just B and they looked terribly large and others that were just right, so I'm not sure how to be able to judge - also there is the projection issue.
Before my mx I tried on pushup bras in VS to see what I would look like bigger, but it was just for a minute in the dressing room and very silly, especially when the sales person saw me in the largest size and told me how great I looked (I'm only 5" 1" and they were padded up to D+. I don't want to go larger then my barely B just to find out that I'm not comfortable being that large.
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Bonnie, so glad you are out of there! Heal up quickly and I'm sure you'll feel better very soon!
Mstar, welcome backk!
love to all and yippee squishees!!
xxo
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Heebie Jeebie -- I remember someone saying she measured out X number of CC's into a balloon (making water balloons) and put them in a bra to see how they felt... not EXACTLY the same but close. That is closer to saline than silicone but at least you'd get a feel for the size.
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heebee jeebie - I was barely an A cup before masectomy. I was filled to 400cc and the PS put in 450cc implants - I now wear a 32 D or 34 C - and for a week I felt maybe like it was too big, but now I love it - I look better in clothes and they just seem perfect. PS and whippitmom said this would be the right size for my body and they were right!! Oh, and I play tennis, bike ride, hike, snow shoe, gym classes and they aren't in the way or anything. I would say they look like a B or small C - we just wear bigger sizes because of the masectomy - good luck.
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Good morning ladies,
I am home and resting. I had my revision from what I can see seems to be successful. I am bruised and wrapped up like a mummy and am in a considerable amount of pain. This pain is mostly due to the work on the pockets. I had a lot of fat grafting done to be honest I am liking how my belly is looking so far.
Thank you all for your positive thoughts. I will post pics as soon as I feel a little better.
Mstar congrats on your exchange I hope you are happy with your results.
Rebecca
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Going to PS later this morning to get bandages and drain removed. Can't wait, but don't know if I'm ready to look at my new, flat chest on one side. EEEK....
Rebecca -- glad you are at home and hope you feel better real soon.
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Rebecca: Gentle hugs and glad to hear from you! Love the fat grafting!!! Can't wait to see your pictures.
Bonnie: Thank goodness you are getting the drains out, as it is my least favorite part of any surgery. Just know that this is temporary, this was not the right surgery for you, and you have other choices down the line when you are healed and long past this day. ((((Hugs)))) Hope that this ends your pain.
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vmudrow - Its interesting how we had similar "before MX sizes" and about the same cc implants ( I know they are different size implants and profiles because of the cc#) and yet I'm a full C, small D. I realize there is a whole art to this sizing thing and I'll have to ask whippetmom. However, I do have another question for you,...my breast seem to being getting bigger as they drop and fluff,..was that the same for you?
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vmudrow - glad to hear they don't stop you from sports as I am really active also. I should be at 350 after the next fill. Then he wants me to see how much more I'm comfortable with or if it gets too uncomfortable. He says I have thin skin. Do you have a small frame?
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Whippetmom-thanks for the information for my friend. She is nervous because it will require a lot more recovery. Why is it that most Dr's don't this. What is the major advantage of this. She looks great in with her TE and she doesn't understand why she has to have her surgery this way. It could however look better?
My situation. I'm not really thrilled right now. I really see a ton of ripples, a ton! I think your right too about the lateral thing. They are much closer together then the TE, but he didn't do any pocket work. He said he stitched the pockets though. I am seeing him a week, any suggestions what I should ask about these two issues?
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sweetie: I have the ripples on my MX side, too
. I don't plan on doing nipples anytime soon, and my PS still says fat grafting then, but it doesn't always stick around. I am curious to see what your friend looks like after surgery. Think she might join BCO and the picture forum?0 -
MBJ-I wouldn't mind a few ripples but I'm like ripple city! I really think a larger implant may have been better, just my thought I could be wrong. My friend is not a member of BC.org but there is another member here who has the same Dr and she looks fantastic.
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How many weeks out are you? I hear it can take 3-5 months of drop & fluff before we see their final shape. That's why I am waiting (and hoping) for the nips.
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MBJ-i'm three weeks out, but I don't see any swelling and I can't imagine where they would drop too. I'm not sure about the fluffing. I don't get that, does that mean they can "fill" out more? BTW I think you look great, been following your pics and you really have an incrediable result. I'd be happy with that!
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Thank you, Sweetie! Since I am a uni, I saw how the augmented side dropped and then fluffed (exactly how it sounds--they just become more "natural" looking)--there was a huge before and after, though it may not be obvious to you in my pictures. I notice that my right side is fuller all around compared to the MX side but my MX side has dropped a bit just not fluffed so much. Did you have rounds or gummies (sorry, chemopause has made my brain not function)?
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I just went and looked again at the picture forum--They look really natural and I bet some fat grafting would help. Anything bigger might be too much and from what I understand you would still get the rippling. I find the right bra does wonders, too!!! My DH loves them and could care less about any ripples, as long as they are his to play with LOL!
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sweetie - I noticed ripples about two weeks out and I was disappointed, devasted really. I think for me, the main issue is because I have really thin skin. And you know what? I'm three months out and I don't even notice it anymore. I think they have gotten better but I also think I've gotten used to them. Give it some time. If they're still there in six months - year, then there are things that could be done to help.
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Saw the PS today and he said I'm doing great. He didn't remove the drain because it's still producing too much fluid, but at least the bandages are off! I took a good look at my new, flat left side and was shocked that it actually looks better now than it did with that awful contracted implant. Woo Hoo! So happy to have bandages gone and hoping drain can be pulled on Monday.
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Bonnie -- that is so great to hear! It's an affirmation of how right this decision was for you.
SHM -- that's the "fluff" factor (looking fuller) if I understand the drop and fluff right.
Sweetie -- you're still SO early... you need to give your implants time to fluff.
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BonnieK sorry the drain is still in but it is probably for the better.
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Rebecca -- forgot to comment: wahooo on being done and hope you heal up soon!
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Bonnie: So happy that it looks better without. Gentle hugs to you and have a lovely weekend healing up. The drains will come out when they are ready.
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