Exchange City
Comments
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Layla2525 - I definitely have ptosis, but it was something I drilled into my PS's brain every time I saw him. Told him from Day 1 that I wanted to look like "me" and I wanted to look "natural". He kept saying, "I hear you" and he did! I don't have high profile implants, I have moderate plus. I don't think they are used very often from what I read on these threads. I was also lucky that I didn't have radiated skin.0
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layla, you and blessings together are almost more than i can bear.
Keep me laughing!Yes, 4 weeks Friday. Not any major issues. Just now getting to where I'm somewhat comfortable without a bra. The feeling at top of my ribcage, bottom of the breast is unnerving, not sure why. Just wierd.
I wish I had gotten a slight overfill to help with at least a slight sag for my 45 year old self. I notice this morning that my butt looks horribly saggy after having boobs that won't move! Oh well. What do we do girls?
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TinaT - LOL my PS laughed and repeated my words into his recorder as he dictated the notes in my pre-op visit "Patient states she wants to look her age of nearly 60 not look like a 20-year-old". Like you, I have the Mentor Moderate Plus Profiles.
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I have to wonder how many frantic calls to PS's offices have been avoided by this forum. One of my post-exchange surprises was a creepy, gurgly sloshy sound when I moved a certain way. Of course, the first thing I did was to do a search on the forum and found it was something many had experienced. When I had the post op appt., the PS said it was normal and could last up to a month. Fortunately, it is already less frequent. I thought about carrying a water bottle with me when I go out so that if anyone were near I could take a quick drink and they wouldn't think it was my body giving off the sounds of ocean waves!
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I have my one month follow up with PS tomorrow. the last couple of days I have the itching nerve feeling back behind my nipple. I had NSM. I am hoping that means my nerves are regenrating to my nipple. It is only happening on my non rad side. no hope for my rad side. No feeling at all there.
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I just had exchange last friday, 600 high profile mentors. I think the look like flat pancakes. I have to say I am sad. Not sure what I expected but more than these. I don't know about drop and fluff. I see ps thurs and probably won't say much. Sometimes i feel like brat/bitch when I complain. I know what is really important here, but am feeling really let down. I am 5'10" and 140 (oh I am 50 this year!!) and had expanders filled to 650! They were huge! I really just wanted c cup. I feel like not even close! Have you had any of the drop and fluff stuff happening? I am sure it is just one more thing to get used to, i think i am still just disappointed. Love to hear your thoughts!
sara ♥
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rosetx - at least you don't have the "Rice Krispies Snap Crackle Pop" that the MO said some of her patients experienced after exchange!!!!
I think that would drive me bonkers. Ah, sarasowise.....Patience, Young Grasshopper!!! (What WAS the name of that show? Oh yeah, Kung Fu, with David Carradine...)
Your permanent squishies are VERY new - 5 days!!!! Sometimes Drop and Fluff can take 3 - 6 months.
"Pancake boobs" (or "hamburger buns") are probably the #1 complaint immediately after exchange ...mostly because of how the implants are constructed, vs how the TEs are constructed.
The TEs have a hard plastic back, so that all the saline is pushed forward under the pectoral muscle. The implants (saline or silicone) are squishy all over, and tend to form themselves against the rib cage right after exchange. There really isn't any way to make the implants have the same (hard) projection as the TEs, even if you do get high profile implants.
Over time, though, the implants slowly drop down into the pockets made by the PS, find their natural place, and "fluff" out, to look more like a natural breast.
In my case, it's been a month today. Righty is doing just fine. Lefty is being contrary.
As for cup size, you may be surprised. Because implants tend to be wider than your natural breast tissue, and you want underwires to encircle the implant, not mash on it, you may discover that you are actually larger than a C, maybe even a D cup. However, even with high profile implants, you may not fill the cup completely, unless you've had NSM, or nipple reconstruction. Some women choose a minimizer type bra, where the cups are a bit flatter than in other bras.
Hang in there!!!!
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OMG, I am totally shocked! My PS is leaving the state and they are hiring a new dr to take her place and the new dr may do my nip surg! I am so depressed by the Femara meds and the hamburger buns and all this,I was misty eyed when I got back home.
So upset. Dunno what the new dr is gonna be like,I have been with my PS since Dec and I am so upset with all this. I cant go back to the PS clinic til Nov when they expect they will have hired a new PS! I have a headache over this! Then I get home and the fan that blows out the cold air for the AC (you gotta have AC in FL unless you like 90% humidity and 90 degrees F in your home) anyways the fan stopped working and the vents smell like burnt wires. I had a bad day today. Cant get my fiance on the phone after he kept calling and textg me all morng! I could just scream. where is a valium when you really need one?
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sarasowise- Blessings is right, you will be amazed at the difference that those 3-6 months make. I have just over 400 in moderate profile plus, same weight but 5 inches shorter. I went up a full cup size after exchange and the months went by and am easily a C now.0
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Blessings, that was an apt description of why implants look different than TEs! Thank you!
Rosetx: I had the swishing sound on my left side post exchange after my drains were removed. It only lasted a week; when the swelling went down, the sound went away.
sarasowise and layla: I too felt disappointed in my hamburger bun look. It's been 2 weeks today, and they are changing, so I'm not getting tied to how they look right now. I just want my incisions to heal — and stay healed.
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Hi ladies- I had my exchange on 9/5 (so 2 weeks ago today). I was expecting that I wouldn't "feel" the implants as much as I do. Those of you that have had the implants for a few months--does this feeling go away? Or am I the only one that feels like this to start with???
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No, I know for me it took a lot longer than I was expecting to not have a constant awareness of the implants. I still sometimes feel them more than I otherwise would because I take a strength training group class twice a week. I try and modify the movements that put a lot of strain or hurt my pectoral muscles. Even vacuuming or sweeping was painful for quite a while but at 10 months out it's now fine.
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jillj - I'm one month out from exchange today. I have to say, the implants ARE softer than the TEs, but I am very aware of them whenever I move my pecs.
The PS had to do a ton of pocket work, so I'm not surprised. I just figure my brain will get used to it eventually. I think it was SpecialK who said it may take a while, but it gets better.
Summer2recover - I don't think I'll EVER have the strength to vacuum again!!! LOL
(We got a cleaning crew after my BMX....they still come twice a month!!!)0 -
Blessings my big mistake was getting picked up at lunch time after my implant surg. The bmx they kept me til the 3rd day cause I asked them to,so worried to go home but I ended up with a home nurse from the insurance coming every day. No housemaid tho. Fiance takes care of the dog and brings food,makes mess,he stayed in my room then and I slept in the recliner in the tv room and he had put a dresser in for himself to put his clothes in.
He moved out after I stopped the home nurse, he was getting on my nerves trying to make me wear orthopedic shoes and stay covered with a blanket. No honey they operated on my boobs not my shoes.
Now I cant get any help unless I beg twice.
The PS says he better darn well help me with the luggage on the vacay!!0 -
Was just noticing how so many of us were disappointed right after exchanges. It'll be 4 weeks Friday for me and I'm still a little unhappy. Have any of you spoke with your PS and expressed your unhappiness? What was the response? I felt let down even more after my first post op (and second post op) my ps pretty much said it is what it is. Now I feel like yes the point of it all, the cancer is gone, but these ripples and dips and being able to see and feel the implant sticking out is just something I'm stuck looking at daily. My ps even said to me when I pointed all these things out....well you know I have seen worse...... not whet I wanted to hear. Now I just feel like an ungrateful person! Anyone else in a similar situation?
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LILBLUXOXO - Grrrrrr! Why should the "success" of your reconstruction depend on how you look compared to someone else? Four weeks is awfully early to fall in love or fall in hate with the new implants. Try to hang in there!0
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Rose, waterbottle...you are too much.
Sherry, regeneration would be fabulous! To feel anything would be fabulous, except like blessings said, my pec muscle moving with every move i make. I can't even write without feeling it.
sara, I'm four weeks tomorrow. It does get "better". I'm documenting with weekly pics just to see and appreciate the improvement.
Blessings, minimizer is a good idea. I'm not filling an underwire cup either. BTW, you should write a book! I would buy it!
Oh Layla, soooo sorry! Maybe you will love the new PS! ...AND I'm certain those orthpedic shoes will take care of everything.
Summer, do you find that working out makes them harder by strengthening that muscle? That's my fear.
lilblue, definitely! I am so very thankful it wasn't worse but they shouldn't say that to you. We are definitely left with the after effects. The surgeries are gone, the docs are gone, the adrenaline to deal with the situation is gone...and here we sit with....something....not what we know as our normal self.... I do believe it will get better. We hope for that anyway.
Have a blessed day dear ladies.
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Thanks ladies. I guess I will wait for my brain to catch up to my new body. Yet another "new normal". I'm not unhappy with how they look at all--actually for the first time in my 47 years I have a little cleavage! Just was expecting/hoping I wouldn't feel them laying under there like I did the TE's. Definitely more comfy, but not un-noticeable...yet (I hope). 0
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Thanks ladies. I guess I will wait for my brain to catch up to my new body. Yet another "new normal". I'm not unhappy with how they look at all--actually for the first time in my 47 years I have a little cleavage! Just was expecting/hoping I wouldn't feel them laying under there like I did the TE's. Definitely more comfy, but not un-noticeable...yet (I hope). 0
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I'm 8 days out after exchange and everything just feels so tight. Is that normal?
Blessings, you are so funny, can you move in next door?
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Rosie24355 I had/have the same thing. My PS said up to 6 weeks until that resolves. Sigh.0
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well thanks for all the positive thoughts! I will try to be more patient, I have post op today and don't want to go, but I will see what the doc has to say! I don't really have a lot of tightness but definitely feel implants and still have trouble getting to comfortable sleeping position. My radiated side feels more sore too, most likely from more pocket work.
Layla hope your AC gets working!
Oh and I want Blessings to move next door to me!!
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well thanks for all the positive thoughts! I will try to be more patient, I have post op today and don't want to go, but I will see what the doc has to say! I don't really have a lot of tightness but definitely feel implants and still have trouble getting to comfortable sleeping position. My radiated side feels more sore too, most likely from more pocket work.
Layla hope your AC gets working!
Oh and I want Blessings to move next door to me!!
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OMG!!! You guys are making me cry here!!!! I mean, in a GOOD way!!! (Not the Oprah "Ugly Cry")....
My mom was a BC survivor. She always used to say "I can laugh, or I can cry, but laughing sure damn well feels better!"
So I try to stay positive. And if there is something funny, well, I guess I'll find it eventually.....
In a way, I DO feel like I live next door to everyone. And it's weird...on forums like these, you will find the best friends you never met.
Anyway, thank you. Y'all inspire me!!!!
xoxoxoxo
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My exchange is set for November 12th, and I can't believe this, but I think I'm kind of nervous about it. Is there a list somewhere of questions I'm supposed to ask my plastic surgeon, when I meet with him on November 1st?
(I'm really really good at sticking up for the world, not so good at doing this for myself, so I'm a bit clueless as to what to ask).
Thank you.
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Cmartin- Yes, I do think that working out does probably have some kind of impact on the firmness. Even though I really limit or skip the pec work so many other movements seem to involve the pecs. I totally skip tricep dips & push ups, and only do very light chest presses on an angle (which I learned about on this forum somewhere
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Oh well, there is a fine line between the pec and the arms so flabby wings while waving it will have to be??!
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I went for my 4 week follow up today. PS was thrilled with how soft my implants have become. He had told me to massage when I was in the shower which is twice a day because i shower before bed and again in the morning after I work out and get ready for work. I asked today how often and he said oh you only need to massage once a day and now I don't have to do quite as much as what i was doing. He was surprised at how soft my radiated side was. I guess I massaged more than he had told me too. He said most of my dropping as already happened (which he was surprised about) so I should not see much difference from here on out. They took pictures and he told me I don't have to go back for 6 months. I have a small amount of rippling under my armpit on one side but I have to be bending forward for it to show and DH said it is not enough to worry about. PS again he did not feel we should do anything and does not think it will get any worse. Of course if it does I'll go back and we will discuss fat grafting but at this point i have been dealing with breast cancer for two years and I am ready to be done.
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I went for my 4 week follow up today. PS was thrilled with how soft my implants have become. He had told me to massage when I was in the shower which is twice a day because i shower before bed and again in the morning after I work out and get ready for work. I asked today how often and he said oh you only need to massage once a day and now I don't have to do quite as much as what i was doing. He was surprised at how soft my radiated side was. I guess I massaged more than he had told me too. He said most of my dropping as already happened (which he was surprised about) so I should not see much difference from here on out. They took pictures and he told me I don't have to go back for 6 months. I have a small amount of rippling under my armpit on one side but I have to be bending forward for it to show and DH said it is not enough to worry about. PS again he did not feel we should do anything and does not think it will get any worse. Of course if it does I'll go back and we will discuss fat grafting but at this point i have been dealing with breast cancer for two years and I am ready to be done.
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CMartin - that's what I'm worried about too. Saw a photo of myself and cringed at my arms. Need to find out what I can do about that!
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