Exchange City
Comments
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Can anyone tell me how long they kept their steri-tape on their incision line. I have it underneath my breast. I am 6 days post implant exchange. The nurse says wait till it falls off, and it's still sticking on very tactfully. My post op is in 2 days and I hope I don't get infection because I didn't air it out. I wish they gave more clear instructions for aftercare...
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Can anyone tell me how long they kept their steri-tape on their incision line. I have it underneath my breast. I am 6 days post implant exchange. The nurse says wait till it falls off, and it's still sticking on very tactfully. My post op is in 2 days and I hope I don't get infection because I didn't air it out. I wish they gave more clear instructions for aftercare...
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tlew- Mine stayed on until my 2nd post-op visit when the PS removed it. Leave it be. It will not cause an infection.
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tlew: I received same instructions--to leave it on until it fell off (they said about 2 weeks). Then I'm to put paper tape on in small segments, not overlapping for the next 3 months to flatten the scar. I am to change it every 8 days or so, taking it off in the shower w/conditioner or baby oil as it starts to lift. Tomorrow will be my 14th day post exchange and the original tape is still on. I've already had my post op appt.
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tlew: I received same instructions--to leave it on until it fell off (they said about 2 weeks). Then I'm to put paper tape on in small segments, not overlapping for the next 3 months to flatten the scar. I am to change it every 8 days or so, taking it off in the shower w/conditioner or baby oil as it starts to lift. Tomorrow will be my 14th day post exchange and the original tape is still on. I've already had my post op appt.
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Oh thank you ladies for responding! I had plans to remove it tonight in the shower. Good, I can wait for my post op.
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skibunny I had implants placed almost a year ago and I am pretty satisfied. I think a lot of us had very high expectations, looking to the implants as the silver lining at the end of all of this. Well, it's not the same as augmentation. It's very hard to get them to look natural but a good PS will be able to get a very nice natural looking implant. A lot of women post right after surgery unhappy with how things look at first but them about two months later things really improve quite a bit. I was very upset at first but 2 months later I was way happier. I had really beautiful 36DD breasts and for 45 they only sagged a little. But shopping for clothes when your a size 14 top and an 8 bottom was always difficult.
so now they have done what we call drop and fluff and have a very natural slope, great cleavage, and very natural ptosis (droop). They are now a D and very perky. I can even go braless if I want. They look great in my clothes. Defintely better than my TEs which were totally lopsided.
Oct 30th I get my nipples done and some lipo maybe some fat grafting.
I can't speak about anything other than implants perhaps someone on those baords can tell you more.
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Skibunny...I have implants after expanders. I didnt have any expander issues. My dh thinks the implants look great. I did not have nipple recon though and look forward to tattoos. They are definitely softer but still firm. I think a fifty cc overfill would've helped instead of same ccs for implants as expanders. I'm four weeks post surgery. It's still improving.
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Skibunny...I have implants after expanders. I didnt have any expander issues. My dh thinks the implants look great. I did not have nipple recon though and look forward to tattoos. They are definitely softer but still firm. I think a fifty cc overfill would've helped instead of same ccs for implants as expanders. I'm four weeks post surgery. It's still improving.
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Dragonfly ... great news! Four weeks post on Friday...at the beach today! They look like bricks to me but dh says you cant tell. The cleavage...or lack thereof because of the pectoral bothers me visually a bit.
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Skibunny- I am also young (for this disease) and married for a few years and have a little toddler. It's been a really rough couple of months. I also debated about diep and implants. I ended up going with implants because I didn't want to go thru all that extra surgeries in other parts of the body. But my friend who braved it out and did the diep had awesome results and her boobs are hers to keep. Unlike implants which may need additional surgery later on because they would need to be replaced at some point.
The unnatural effect of the TE is normal. Mine looked fine under clothing and even certain bikinis. I'm only 6 days post exchange so I can't comment on results yet. But while I was doing my fills, my very realistic PS had already told me to don't expect my results to look like augmented breast because we no longer have breast tissue. So I
went into this not with very high hopes of looking perfect. But I wanted it to look as good as it can be so long as the cancer is out of me.0 -
skibunny,if you follow your PS advice your implants should be soft and squishy and silky. I dont remember my skin being so silky but guess after the coconuts,then pancake,then hamburger buns and now I am definitely getting a curved shape and fit perfectly in the Danskin sport bra 36B so hope to fluff to a C in 3-6 mths. Excited,just wish the left would drop down to match the right,feel a little lopsided but excited to find a cheap bra for this in between time to fit so well and be dirt cheap. Gonna get a little lingerie for vacay or I could keep the same stuff and take out the underwire. Gonna glue on my fake nips,hopefully have some fun and destress.
Rosie looks like I will need shorts for Delano and a jacket for the BART in San Fran,back to Juicy Couture shop and $20 coffees and will need a sweater for San Diego,its 88 and humid here in FL. Beach is good til end of Oct. San Fran was 50 degree this morn per the Weather Channel.
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Hi , Well I am feeling much more positive about the new implants. Not really sure if they have changed much (only been 10 days!) or I am just getting used to them. I wear cami with shelf bra, pretty much all the time. I still have steri strip tape (I have incision under breasts) and was told just let it fall off, the longer it stays the better for less scarring. Anyway, still have soreness on left (radiated and snd) side. Getting comfortable at night still needs work, but then I remember how uncomfortable tes were!!
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Sarasowise,
Do they feel better than the expanders because I'm due to have my exchange on October 23rd0 -
Sarasowise,
Do they feel better than the expanders because I'm due to have my exchange on October 23rd0 -
Sarasowise,
Do they feel better than the expanders because I'm due to have my exchange on October 23..0 -
Reporting for surgery tomorrow morning at 8am; the nurse called today to remind me to wash with antibacterial soap tonight and again in the morning. Isn't all soap antibacterial? I did not find any liquid or bar soaps in the store that advertised antibacterial properties. Suggestions anyone?
While I am nervous about the tissue exchange for implants, I am also looking forward to having the procedure behind me. I have a friend to bring me to and from the hospital, otherwise, I am home alone. Does any one have experience going solo first night of this outpatient procedure? Or should I have some one spend the night for a few days?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts....0 -
sherry- yes they feel way better than te!!! Not like "bolt ons". Still feel them when I sleep on side (not suppose to sleep on stomach!). I had expanders for more than a year, and I was a bit shocked with new implants, however I am good with them now and hoping they round out a bit. Plus once i get the nips done that will really finish off the look!!!! haha
Pingpong-I think it totally depends on you. I would have been fine home alone. Nothing like bmx to me. I had ace bandage 3 days, then allowed to shower. Every person and PS are different. I don't know about soap! Good luck!!
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Pingpong it is actually hard to find soap that is not anti-bacterial these days. My mother stayed with me for a couple of days, but that was only so she could drive me to school. She did not think I should drive 2 days after the exchange. I certainly could have. So, I can say for myself, I did not need anyone after the exchange. There were no drains and no bloody bandages to change. I just swapped out one pad (he used abdominal pads which reminded me of feminine pads lol) for another and pulled the compression bra closed. I had a little pain the next day, but nothing to speak of. You'll do great.
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Pingpong, my hubby took the day off to take me to and from the exchange surgery. The next day I was home alone and it was fine. I even cooked for myself and napped for most of the day. Nothing like the BMX. I could barely walk after the BMX.
good luck!0 -
Thanks for the reassurances, did anyone else have redness and bruising for the duration of tissue expander occupation? I am bruised splotchy and red from rib cage to collar bone on left side since BMX in january
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Thanks for the reassurances, did anyone else have redness and bruising for the duration of tissue expander occupation? I am bruised splotchy and red from rib cage to collar bone on left side since BMX in january
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Ask your PS about your blothyness,my PS told me as long as the TE blanch when lightly pushed with finger,I should not worry but I did anyhow and went in right away whenever mine turned red but my skin turns red from warm water so go figure?
Implants much better,not supposed to be alone after surg,someone needs to chk your temp and bld prz etc and make sure you dont fall or take another pill before 4 hrs so someone should stay with you just to be on safe side,my PS said first 24 hrs,they had to sign hosp forms so I could be released but my fiance did go into the office,I slept in recliner and then he got back and i could text or call him and I live like literally 1 mile from the nearest hospital altho thats not the one where I had my surg. Odd the dr gave me a hard time getting pain meds after the bmx but after implants when I had no pain they give me a jar of pills???I took 2 pills but then realized i didnt need them and took some Tylenol once or twice but just achy and tightness but not pain. Nervous about sleeping,got the snug sports bras. 3 wks since surg and the 36B fits perfectly so hope to fluff to my C I wanted prior to the surg and hope the left drops,the right one was the cancer side and it already dropped and in a bra looks just like a natural. Of course I will have the line at the bottom where the incision was and have no nip so considering what to do with regards to tht. Good luck and hope your surg goes smoothly and you are happy with the recon surg results.
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Happy to be home from the surgery. The tissue expanders are gone forever! A bit groggy from the meds.
I am certainly experiencing less pain today, although I am not excited about no lifting for six weeks, I am delighted to have the surgery behind me.
The ride home was easier than I expected, although I neglected to keep in mindthat I had two JP drains and one tangled in the seat belt which meant that when I went to get up the tug was a hard pull and and ouch, sit right back down!
Ready for dinner and a nap. It is a good day to be thankful and take a nap.
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Hi Ladies,
Scheduled for exchange at end of November. Two questions. 1) Did you have to do pre surgical testing again? and 2) How long until you were able to exercise again?
I just started back to the gym 6 weeks after the bmx. I hope to resume quickly
Thank you very much!
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I did not have testing again, and I was back at the gym after 5 weeks, but only lower body. Waiting for the all clear from my PS hopefully on Monday.
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I had to do pre-op test again which my primary care doctor didn't feel was needed. But it's the hospital's protocols.
My PS surgery says no exercise for probably 5 weeks. You want to make sure you heal properly.0 -
I did have to do the pre-surgery lab work, but did the physical part was done by phone interview! Fortunately, it was one of my favorite docs who called me.
Today I am five weeks out from exchange. The PS had to do a lot of pocket work, so my restrictions, which he initially said would be for two weeks, got extended to a month.
I'm still not cleared for my water aerobics class, as I have a small area in one incision that has not quite closed, so a few more weeks for that.
Other than that, I'm good to go.
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Shabby...hosp requires preop every two weeks...part of that being a pregnancy test. I could have gone back to the gym right away but didn't ...just no chest or arm work for four weeks. Definitely not as long a wait as the bmx.
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Shabby...hosp requires preop every two weeks...part of that being a pregnancy test. I could have gone back to the gym right away but didn't ...just no chest or arm work for four weeks. Definitely not as long a wait as the bmx.
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