Exchange City
Comments
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Hi Michele and all sisters,
I had my pre-op appointment yesterday - some of the equipment required for the fat grafting isn't available...so I am doing the exchange anyway. We will do fat grafting next time, likely I will have to have a lift on my other side. But I am happy taking baby steps right now, looking forward to sleeping on my left side! Picked up my prescriptions, lining up kid care, and putting up my tree between now and Tuesday.
Michele - fingers and pink ribbons crossed for you
, sure it will be really successful. Post as soon as you can and I will too. Go squishies!-Anne
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I had exchange in June (Gummies) and will have fat grafting in a couple of weeks to fill in some spots where skin is so thin, plump nipples, and add more around cleavage. Have any of you had fat grafting? Anything I should know or request? What was recovery like? I'm supposed to go to a wedding the next evening. Should I expect to be able to do that? Thanks!
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howard-I had a little fat grafting at the time of my exchange so that is a bit different from a recovery standpoint but i will say that the lipo area was pretty sore for 4-5 days afterwards.
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I finally posted my pics. PS says I need a revision on that one problem side.
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I got my exchange date.... I am getting my new set on the 19th
I am excited but believe it or not I am sort of attached to the TE's .... I will be very happy to be able to cross my arms, and maybe make it through small spaces without getting stuck , I know my daughter will be happy to hug me and not have her head bounce off my chest when she does it. 
All in all I am happy to have smaller softer boobs !!!! 0 -
OK everyone as whippetmom suggested i posted some pics on the forum with bras on. They don't look that bad but I still see I need to fix this somehow. the title of my thread is
6 weeks post excahnge
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Congrats tracie23!! Just before Christmas,,,,,,,, Now the countdown to squishies!!!!
AnneEM - Sending you warm thoughts and hugs as you prepare for your own squishies tomorrow...Will be thinking of you,,,,,,,,
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what is the recovery time for exchange ... implants no other surgery I can't imagine it will be very painful compaired to what I have already been through...
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tracie23 - I was sore for a few days but nothing Advil couldn't handle. General muscle soreness. I went back to work 4 days later and am now just over two weeks since my exchange & feel great. I am still not lifting over 20 lbs and avoid anything strenuous with the arms (my choice) but plan to gradually increase back to my norm..
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Hi All -- I just got my exchange date - Jan 10 we were hoping for sooner but couldn't due to holiday and OR availability. I had my last fill last Fri and I am at just under 500cc on each side. We are going with 460cc silicone implants. I cannot wait to get the rock hard TE's out and my squishies in.
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Hey gals,
TEs are now 3 weeks old, and PS appt has come and gone. He didn't fill as there is some discoloration on the lower pole of the left foob. I have pics of it on the picture forumn.
I'm a wee bit concerned becuase I very little feeling in that area and can't really tell if it hurts or not. It apprears to be bruising, but it is not going away like all the other bruising.I never got febrile with any of surgeries, the infection was just there. Plus I'm dealing with a sinus infection now and so have been febrile for several days now, and on Antiiotics. I'm hoping the ABx will deal with any thing that might be going on with the TE.
This is the mastectomy side in which I lost the implant last year due to infection.
I'm hoping that it just resolves. I though about waiting until after the holidays to have my next f/u, but in light of it being a possible infection I'm trying to book in sooner as he leaves for a 2 week period to be with his family who live in Florida (I live in BC, Canada).
I'm so wanting to get off this ride!
Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks for reading
Patti
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Pitpat - While I can't help you, you may find some good info on the TE Troubles thread. I hope it is nothing.....Hang in there~!
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thx odie
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My exchange is scheduled for Jan. 7. My PS has not mentioned anything about fat grafting and I was wondering, is that common for all who have BMX and then implants? I hear that the lipo for the fat grafting is more painful than the exchange surgery itself. Also, someone I know just went back to have the fat grafting done three months after the implants were placed. In my mind, I just want the implants placed and be done. I am also thinking about not doing nipples, but the 3D tatoos. Just want to be done.
Thanks,
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Janhart,
I only had fat grafting on one side (I had invasive on one side and DCIS on the other). I presume that they removed more tissue on the invasive side? I had a big step-off on that side ( which also had rads) and I've been told I have very thin skin. I did not need FG on the DCIS side ( although now 2 wks out from exchange, have some rippling).
So, you may not need FG. I was more sore from that than exchange, but not bad enough to keep me from doing it over, as I think I really needed it on that one side.0 -
I posted this update on the pic forum but thought I would post here as well. My thread is 6 weeks post excahnge.
OK everyone and [b]whippetmom[/b] of course.
I just got back from my PS appointment. Let me know what you all think.
I told him everything that concerned me. He was not worried. He basically said he is not unhappy with where we are it's a work in progress. I told him I knew revisions were common and he said he wants to wait before he decides what is next for sure. He assured me that we will get this as perfect as we can. Here are some of the things I discussed and his responses.
First thing I said is they seem droopy. He said maybe a bit He measured from my clavicle to the high point of the breast and said for my frame that should be 19 and it was close to that.
I told him I want more bubble on top or more i guess you call it upper pole and he said he might be able to do what is called capsulorraphy to fix that. Not sure what that is I will have to google it but he showed me how it would look. He is concernd about the bottom of my left foob where you see a fold has extra skin. It is getting better since I saw him last but there is still swelling where he did lipo there so hard to tell yet how that is going to look. He may have to go in a remove a wedge of that tissue.
He def will do lip on the sides to get rid of those flaps under my arms.
I asked him if he thought i needed larger implants. He said well maybe but he wants to do everything to see how these work all the way up to nipples and if I still want them larger he said that is an easy surgery to do.
He ended the visit by saying we will get this as perfect as possible no matter what but that he does not want me to nail him down to what we say today as what we will do next. He feels he still needs to give it more time before he decides.
I don't know why I thought I was almost done. I am resigning to the idea that I still have a way to go but nothing major to be done so that is good.
And my weight is up. So I intend to lose 20 pounds so that should help a bit. He offered to do lipo elsewhere but mediciad wont cover that. I asked him about fat grafting and he laughed and said now your thinking, we will see.
So no definite answers yet. I now need to get underwire bras and wear a sports bra to bed. So happy to be rid of the strap and surgical bra.
I also now have appointment for a second opinion with Dr. Raft. He will do a fee consultation for me which is awesome.
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Carrol I think you are totally doing the right thing gathering information.... I'm sorry it's taking longer than thought. My problems are not TOO bad but then again if the asymmetry can be corrected, I may not be done either.... Well, hang in there!!!! I hope the plan becomes clear so you can just deal with it!
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LMichele I had no idea there was still so much more to do and that it was such a long process. But I am dealing with it.
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I am 15 weeks post exchange. Still have issues with which to deal, but overall things are going well! I just updated my thread on the picture forum...
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Exchange tomorrow!
Question: who had IMF incision vs using the same mastectomy incision?
My PS told me that he uses IMF incision and I didn't want to have 2 scars for each boob so I convinced him to use the same mastectomy scar.... but he told me there is an increase chance of poor healing, possibly infection, and ultimately implant failure. I think I am going to take a chance and use the same incision site.... any thoughts...... wish me luck! I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep tonight. I want these TE's OUT!!!
Lisa
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Lisa,
I will be thinking of you tomorrow. I don't think it is possible for good sleep until after you are done. The exchange was a breeze for me. My PS used the original incisions and they are fading, I think that normally the original incisions are used, I agree with you, why create another scar. Say goodbye to the TEs!!
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yay! thank you! that's what I think too. If I put my fingers over my original scars, my boobs look pretty good. I don't want to see another scar.... I cannot wait for squishies!
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yay! thank you! that's what I think too. If I put my fingers over my original scars, my boobs look pretty good. I don't want to see another scar.... I cannot wait for squishies!
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Dream about those squishies tonight! I am getting my tattoos on friday (got nipples about 2 1/2 months ago), I am looking great in bras and even without in tanks and tees.
BTW, your little people in your picture are adorable! I am sure they will be happy not to be bouncing off your rock hard TEs anymore.
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Radmonkey - What a sweet picture. Looks like you have your hands full (literally)! The good news about exchange surgery is that the recovery should be so much easier than the first go-round. Bad news is it's harder to remember to follow your restrictions and to not overdo it. I hope you have some help with those cuties!
BTW - my MX and exchange incisions were both IMF. I am under the same impression as Christine as I think that it's the norm to use the same incision site.
Best of luck tomorrow!!!
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Hi Ladies,
Thanks for all of the help you have given me in your postings. Just had my TE exchange for silicone implants and I cannot believe that I have a soft chest again!! Scars are still pretty big, and the girls are bigger than I expected. I really didn't want to be too big - I think I am a very very full C. Do they change as time goes on? I am not feeling as exuberant as I thought I would feel. I was actually very used to those hard TEs! Anyway, thanks again for your wisdom and kind words!
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Carol..... please let me know the date you are going to see my Dr. Rast. I really look forward to seeing what he says... You'll like him. He really only has "us" in his mind.
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Congrats to all who just exchanged and best wishes for all who just are now scheduled. Surgery is so much easier than BMX but as someone else said the temptation to over due is great so please try to take it easy even if you are feeling well. It is still major surgery and your body needs time to heal and recover.
I am almost 7 weeks out and feeling good and overall pleased. I have a question for those longer out from exchange. Do any of you still feel tighteness in chest when driving for extended periods of time, or when stressed. My chest muscles see m to tense up and really hold onto the implant and while not real pain clearly more discomfort. I have been under some stree at work and I have a 2nd commute to work one way so driving is stressful also. By the time I get home my chest is throbbing. Does this ever stop
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Best of luck tomorrow Three17. Will be thinking of you.
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Lisa -- Good luck with the exchange today...
My PS is talking to me about doing an IMF incision rather then using the BMX incision for the same reasons your PS told you. I am going back and forth on on what I wanted him to do, but I am leaning towards the IMF (today
). My BMX incisions have healed really nicely and the skin in the area is very thin so I hate to have him cut there again and maybe not heal as well. Like you I really do not want 2 more scars, but if I can have 4 barely noticeable scars I might go that way. I still have time to make my decision since my surgery isn't till Jan 10.0
