Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.

Exchange City

176777981821387

Comments

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited April 2009

    Sue I hope thing fluff for you and you get the B or C you wanted

  • YvonneB
    YvonneB Member Posts: 149
    edited April 2009

    Hang in there Sue...it might look better in a day or two when things have time to fluff a bit.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited April 2009

    Sue:

    Could you post your pictures on Timtam's pictures forum?  Did you get some photos of your expanders to compare? You have every reason to want to get a cosmetic result you are happy with.  For now, get a very good support bra - the best might be a wireless pushup bra to lift those puppies up and support the breasts properly.  Victoria's Secret makes a good one - or just buy an underwire inexpensively and remove the wires.  Let us know how you progress......

  • PaminFL
    PaminFL Member Posts: 71
    edited February 2010

    y

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited April 2009

    Is anyone using scar cream to help with the scaring ??  I know sandy is using cool whip containers (I have been using plastic wrap) but I was wondering if anyone found any that work pretty good.  (I got one pm about one which I am considering) but wanted to get a consenses.  I know I still have chemo and then exchange but I am grasping for something positive to look forward to.

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited April 2009

    Plastic wrap hmmm never thought of that : - )

    thanks for sharing

    I used palmers cocoa butter lotion and bio oil, I did also try some mederma

    Those seemed to be the popular ones when I checked about a year ago

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited April 2009

    Pam I would say a lot of us are going for C & D but a few go smaller and a few go larger

    it's up to what ever you think you look best in

    Pam I'm so sorry to hear your doctors won't at least give you a mamo when you asked

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited April 2009

    I was using the coca butter lotion and the plastic wrap but I was wondering if there was anything better.  One was recommended by a member that I PM'd and she said it was $$ but worked wonderful.  Do you think it would do me any good now or should I wait until my exchange in June ?? 

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited April 2009

    Welcome Pam... hang around and make some great new friends...

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited April 2009

    Jaimieh when they do your exchange surgery usually they only open up part of your scar.  In my case they didn't touch my scar that was close to my cleavage so I would say use it on the area but the 2-3 inches towards your arm bit they most likely will get rid of that scar tissue / skin and bring new skin together which I didn't realized they did that until after my surgery.  Ask your PS what he plans to do and work on the part of the scar he's not going to touch.  I hope this helps

    Good luck ladies... happy thoughts going out to everyone

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited April 2009

    Jaimieh....Your PS should be doing a scar revision - making it look thinner - with the exchange.  There is something called Kelocote which can be used for scars - which was the only thing my PS recommended in my documentation.  It is rather expensive though. I did buy it but have not used it yet.  I am still researching to what extent I want to use anything until I have had all of the revisions necessary with my reconstruction.

  • 2Twentyeight
    2Twentyeight Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2009

    I had a six week post exchange dr. visit last Thursday and my PS told me to use pure 100% cocoa butter twice/day.  I have been doing so but no difference yet that I can tell.

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited April 2009

    I hope she will be doing a scar revision.  I don't have my appt. until May 5 so I guess I will find out then :)  I am sure she will be using the same lines they are directly where my nippple used to be :(

  • Peggio
    Peggio Member Posts: 105
    edited April 2009

    Hello Ladies of Exchange City-

    I just had to write in total gratitude for the experience and wisdom on this thread.  I went to my PS yesterday armed with all the knowledge  and experience from the women here regarding implants (especially you, whippetmom) and I feel like I can go in to my exchange surgery with confidence that my PS knows exactly what I am aiming for.  After looking at diameters, and projection etc. I was hoping he would go with the style 20 - 475cc that has more projection than the next size larger, and he totally agreed!  I felt like I was presenting my doctoral thesis, but he is the kind of PS that said he liked input.

    So Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I actually got tears in my eyes as I was walking to the car in gratitude for having a place to go where we support each other so that we can all try and get the best result possible.

    Love and best wishes to all of you and especially those having surgery this week. I hope I can help others as I feel I have been helped!

    Peg

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited April 2009

    Peg I'm glad we all have been able to help you

    this web site is a awesome support to all of us

  • sheesh1961
    sheesh1961 Member Posts: 65
    edited April 2009

    On the scar cream, Jaimeh, if you're planning to have nipples done too, keep that in mind -- my exchange scars had not faded much at all (6 months post exchange), but I just got my nipples/areolas done, and you can only see a tiny bit of the scar on either side of my nipples. Hardly noticeable at all.

    Sheila

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited April 2009

    My new nipples should cover some of my scaring but I know that for my drain scar, snb scar, port scar I need something :)  Heck I look like a zipper these days..lol.... 

  • sheesh1961
    sheesh1961 Member Posts: 65
    edited April 2009

    LOL Jaimeh, I hear you! Weirdly, my SNB scar is almost invisible, but my drain scars are still these big dark pink marks. And my mx scars faded really well, but in the center where they reopened it for the exchange didn't.

  • sam1991
    sam1991 Member Posts: 137
    edited April 2009

    PS appointment today. 6/17 new nips!!!!!!! Skate flap procedure and a little more fat grafting. 62 days but who's counting!!

     Jean...hope you're healing. Can't wait to hear.

    xxoo Kathie 

  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 925
    edited April 2009

    My drain scars are huge which I guess is what I get when I am high on pain killers and kept pulling on the drain thinking it was the TV remote...lolll......  My skin still seems red and angry at the MS scar but I am sure it will get better.

    Kathie~ Count away that is the day of my exchange :)

  • sam1991
    sam1991 Member Posts: 137
    edited April 2009

    Jaimieh,

    We'll count together!!! My PS revised my drain scars at exchange. They were red and stuck out...bothersome too. My PS pulled them back through from the inside during my exchange, Check it out with your PS. Maybe he will be able to do that too. My skin was the same as you described at the drain scar sites. It's now flat and "just a scar" I've been putting the cocoa butter on them daily.

    Good luck, Kathie 

  • dani42
    dani42 Member Posts: 206
    edited April 2009

    Yeah Kathie!  Glad you have a date for the new nips.  What is a skate flap procedure?  Is that a long recovery?  Hope you are feeling well.

    Its funny that you are all talking about the drain scars.  Mine are red and raised too.  I didn't realize that they could be fixed. 

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited April 2009

    Peg:  Your post made ME cry!  How exciting!  I cannot wait to see your 20-475's!  I think the dimensions are great.  Not too wide and nice projection.  You go girl!!  You have a May exchange date which Jean will add when she can get to her computer....

    Jean:  Praying for you today girl!  Hoping we hear from you soon!!!  XXOOOOXX

    Oh those drain scars!  Mine are strategically located to look like bullet holes when I wear a tank top this summer.  It will look like I was arrested and when I surrendered and raised my arms, they shot me under both armpits.  So I am going to start working on those battle scars with the Kelocote. I wish I had thought to inform my PS that I wanted them revised as well at the time of exchange. 

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited April 2009

    Hi ladies.. happy healing!

    I just got home from work and I am not seeing where Jean posted... EKKK.. she wrote me a little note saying she was off to surgery this morning.. I hope you are doing good Jean. Rest... and let us know when you can...

    Baxter.. are you still with us? How did you do sister....

    Peg... I TOTALLY get what you are saying.... I can see myself tearing up over the knowledge I have now and would never EVER have had if it were not for these threads!

  • YvonneB
    YvonneB Member Posts: 149
    edited April 2009

    Too funny Deborah!  But a good analogy!!! I've got a nasty raised drain scar too. 

    Kathie - That is great news!!!!  Nips in time to let them shine through tank tops!!! LOL

    Jean...where are you????  And Baxer?????

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited April 2009

    Thinking of Jean also but I remember she said this:

    I have a friend flying into take care of me post surgery, so don't worry if I don't post. I may be too busy talking!!

    I'm sure she will let us know something by tomorrow.  At least I hope so...

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited April 2009

    Oooooo thank Sandy for reminding us... I feel better......

  • YvonneB
    YvonneB Member Posts: 149
    edited April 2009

    I forgot that too...Thanks Sandy!  Do we ever put the pressure on hey???  We don't even give a girl time to get settled!  LOL 

  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 517
    edited April 2009

    I'm glad I was able to make you guys feel better

    It's cool to see how much we all care about each other

    I love you ladies

    This web site has been such a gift

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited April 2009

    Amen!