Exchange City
Comments
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Anyone having exchange surgery next week that isn't listed above?
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Romey,
Have you been discharged from the hospital yet?....hope all is much better than you last experience and are comfortable and have given pain meds in case you need them. Sending healing hugs.
Di
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Thinking of you Shellshine....today is YOUR day.....for your squishy and your eyelids.
Hugs,
Di
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Shellshine,
It's your turn!! I'm sending healing wishes your way. Good lulck with the stinking drains, I hope you can get rid of them soon.
Love to you,
...Jackie
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Jackie,
how are you feeling?...other than drains?
(I didn't have drains)
hugs to you....
Di
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Sweetandspecial, yes he filled the TE's to 240cc
The part that is hard to accept is that my breasts look suctioned to the expanders. They don't 'poke' out like normal breasts do- I didn't expect that.I'm on Fentynl patches and I'm still in pain- I have an appointment today to see my PS, I hope it goes well. Will keep you updated.
Thanks again girls, for all the help!!0 -
Chantel - Wow! 240cc at TE placement sounds like a lot! Try not to obsess about the current appearance of your growing boobs. They'll most likely look like pancakes or hamburger buns for a while. Mine didn't really get much projection until we started over-expanding, and my PS knows I want high-profile implants to maintain the projection we've now achieved. Keep the lines of communication open with your PS, make sure he knows your concerns. No question is too dumb to ask. We, after all, were thrown into this process with virtually no notice or time to do our research. He/she, on the other hand, has been doing this for some time and should be willing to listen and answer questions and calm your worries. Hang in there, you're in the right place on this site for lots of support!
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Di, thanks for the hugs. I'm so happy that I don't have drains, my Juicy name is from my first mastectomy, crazy doc, left the drains in for 10, that's right, 10 weeks. I replaced that doc!! I'm actually feeling pretty good today. My boobs were kind of wrap-around and he did a lot of lipo, cutting and stitching to clean it all up so that's what's hurting me now. But if I sit real still or lay real still I'm pretty much pain free. I'm really cutting down on the pain pills and I'm a really happy squishy sister.
I'm anxious to hear from Romey, has anyone heard from her? Still thinking about her. Sending prayers and gentle hugs to you Romey!
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Sending healing prayers to all who have recently had their surgeries. Im happy with everyone else's good results. hugs
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Shellshine.... Figure with the time difference you're still in recovery? Let us know how you're doing. Thanks for the info about the drains
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My PS told me before surgery that I'd have two drains for at least a week. I ended up with three, but since I had a couple seromas after BMX/TE placement, I'm ok with that.
I took my last pain pill when I woke up this morning and haven't felt the need for another! Woot! Hope jackie, romey and shellshine are doing as well!0 -
Juicy Jackie---->
10 weeks with drains....OMG!....that is 70 days!....how could you stand it!
My drains were out post BMX at 10 days Dec 31...it was the BEST New Years Eve gift ever!
No drains with my tissue expander placement surgery in Jan, or my exhange to squishys 2 1/2 weeks ago....just a little pocket work, but my revision surgery in July is when I will have the clean up, excess skin removed and maybe lipo and fat grafting, depending on how I drop and fluff....I have "dropped" (upper poles not so big) but no fluff
....waiting.....waiting....waitingHugs,
Di
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Cathy: I'm super allergic to ANY adhesive--most tapes, surgi-strips, etc. If it is on my skin for 48 hours, I break out in horrid rashes. I just had Coban wrap (plasticy self-sticking pretend Ace bandage thing cuz I had a spot on my shin surgically removed to check for cancer. OMG!!!! My leg broke out in a severe rash...looks like I have shrapnel in my calf!!! My reg. Doc. used the Coban thinking it was better than tape...turns out NOT!
I'm now wondering If I could be allergic to LATEX? Should I be tested before my Exchange surgery? I did ok w/ BMX, but told them about my allergies to adhesive. Fortunately, I do great w/ Bactrim antibiotics.
ALSO, I just got word TODAY my Exchange Surgery will be probably the 3rd week in MAY--my insurance ok went through! YES!!!!!
The PS offfice will call me next week to give me an EXACT date! I'm soooo excited, but nervous!As far as drains go, my PS said she always uses them for teardrop implants....more cutting work, etc. IF I decide on teardrops she said I'll have a longer more painful recovery...so, I still need to DECIDE if I want rounds or teardrops. I MUST get-on-it & go look at the pic forum SOON! I have my pre-op w/ PS 2 weeks before surgery...not much time left! ACK!
After I view some of the photos, I might have a zillion ?'s for many of you ladies--espec. those who are petite like me...I'm only filled to 330cc's in a 200 cc TE's in 12 width...low height. WhippetMom suggested either Sientra round base/370 cc/11.9 width 5.7 projection or Allergan smooth round Style 20 in 425cc's /12.0 width/5.2 cm projection.
I WISH I could've been filled more--wanted to be a C! BUT, my PS was afraid another fill would go to my side boobs & my L Foob MX scar is super-duper THIN. I'm certian I'm only a B right now...
. Damn! But, it's hard for me to tell exactly how BIG I'll be, as my TE's fullness is ALL in the low part cuz of low height TE's...not sure what they'll look like when the top part of my foobs is more filled out. ??? Can you comment on this, Whippetmom?So, WHO has pics up on the forum that has stats similar to mine? My PS also uses the 410 Gummies...not sure if she has the extra-extra projection ones: FX/MX/LX...decisions/decisions.
Congrats to all who just got exchanges!
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Discharged and at my friend's house, everything went smooth as silk. Even with mild pain, THEY FEEL SO GOOD! They look cute, too tired to put my glasses on and take a really good look, will report back later. Thank you so much for all your kind words and support.
ROMEY - where are you???!!!!
~ Michelle0 -
Shellshine: I know my PS worked at a teaching hospital & she inferred she could get whatever she wanted as far as implants...I'll have to ask her if she can get the 410 Gummie maximum projections...hmmm...
Praying you are doing well in recovery...:)
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Violet,
I'm not petite, but I had the short height expanders too. My implants are quite a bit larger than my expanders were filled to. Talk to your PS to see if that is a possibility. I'm sure the integrity of your skin/scars is a huge factor in what you are able to have, but it's worth asking.
You don't want them under your armpits! :-)0 -
Violet, I had 275 cc 10.7 width medium height expanders filled to only 300 cc's. At 5'6, I am not petite, but I have a narrower chest, and my rib cage is 30. I weigh125 lbs. I have stated before that I am larger now than my TEs were. I have Mentor Ultra High Profile Smooth Round Silicone 480 cc's, 11.4 width, and 5.8 projection and wear a 34 DD bra. I am more than happy with my results and am on the picture forum if you have access. I hope this in some way helps you decide what is best for you and what to ask your PS for. My PS put in the largest that would fit my TEs' footprint, which is what I asked for and the exact size Whippetmom thought I would be happy with after listening to my desires and taking my measurements into consideration. I wish you the best and for you to be as happy as I am with my results. Every lady deserves that after all she has been through with this reconstruction process!!
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Stewbie, ha, ha, about my implants making a slight noise when I stretch... I went for my six-week check up this week, and my PS said it was probably scar tissue making that noise around the implant, not the implant itself. I am not too concerned since I haven't been able to make it happen again. Everything looks good, and he wants me to keep massaging, massaging, massaging, as he believes this prevents capsular contracture and I am still a little tight in one side. So, I have upped my time doing massage the last couple of days and DH likes helping me with that (wink).
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Thanks, Cheryl!!! I WILL get to the pic forum SOON--gonna be gone most of the weekend!
OMG! I'm getting soooo excited about my upcoming exchange!!!
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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Just a quick note to let you know that I am alive and well. PS had to do a lot of pocket work for the anatomicals, more sore than I expected, so need to take the oxycodone which is a drag down feeling. The breasts are really pretty, some unexpected, natural upper pole shaping that I've never had before, looks and feels nice. No side boob, and the shape is good, not too big, not too small. I'm sure it will change over time, but it sure is nice to have soft breasts that look so natural, even if my armpits and pecs feel like they were in a rope pulling contest that my side lost....and my new eyes look and feel like frankenwoman!
Oh, and Violet, don't worry about the low height TE's. I read that my low height TE's could accomodate higher height.... wound up with full height full projection 410's - just looked at the card - 535 ccs - wow! My TEs were Allergan Natrelle 133SV-14, short height filled to 410 ccs.
OK - back to bed
~ Michelle
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I'm on the other side!! I made it! Everything I had worried about never came to pass. I woke up sore, but not in pain (yea, I think there is a difference). No drains, not a lot of pocket work, and they look and feel wonderful!
I only took pain meds while I was in the hospital. I was advised to stay overnight due to a long commute. Since I have been home I have only been using Tylenol. I do have to take the shots which stop potential blood clots and I have a large blood blister where I injected yesterday. I took them with my MX and never had any problems with them. So not sure what that's about? I have a total of 4 to take. Thanks for all the well wishes from everyone, it was so helpful having support from all of you who have been there.-Shell, hope you are resting and healing well
-Hugs to you all, Romey
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Romey!!
Yeaaaaaa.....welcome to the "other side".....I am so happy you had a better experience this time around and are doing well, and not much pain. Take care....
gentle hugs,
Di
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Shellshine---->
I want "frankenwoman" eyes, too!
Glad to read you are to doing okay with your double surgery recuperation with your peepers and your foobs. Take it easy....rest....let your friend take care of you.
I had nice upper poles, but the strap I have been wearing (since 2 weeks post op) made 'em disappear, along with one of my foobs's crease has decreased significantly.....the other is not better at all.
Now tell me how bad is the eye surgery?
I request all my medical record from my former ophthalmologist, just need to sign the release and mail it back....I'm on a roll. (That will show that it was needed 2.5 years ago), and I don't know anyone that eyes get better with age.....ummmmm.... that's only for wine....Or "WHINE" in my case.
Take care and very gentle hugs to you....
Di
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Di - I have eye advice for you but am too gorked out to give it now - if I don't get to it to you on this thread PM me a reminder in a few days - K?
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Violet,I am petite 5" 1.5", but "not tiny" in size (M or L tops, 36 DD++ bra pre BMX, size 4P in jeans since bypass)....fought obesity all my life and almost 12 years ago I had gastric bypass surgery.....lost 129lbs...so I by no mean am I tiny....but much smaller.
I had 450cc expanders, filled to 600cc and now have 600 mentor High profile round memory gels (he also had 650's in the O.R., but PS went with the 600's)....I think I am about a C+ now....I feel bigger in the top now, my old tops are very lose, but my blouses feel snug, but they are NOT saggy like my real breast were, just wearing stretchy bras for now (with lightly padded forms, to conceal the wrinkling flaws in my foobs) ...will wait until post revision to be fitted.
I never ask whippetmom for advise....as I don't know her credentials....is she a PS? A medical sales rep/AKA: "Pharma Barbie"?
I have complete trust with my PS.... he also teaches doctors at teaching University, plastic surgery specialty.
I had NO drains post exchange, and I have very thin skin on my cancer side and have a crease STILL, just not a gouge ...that may need fat grafting at revision.
I also have allergies to almost every kind of tape, and tagaderm....I just put gauze pads or gauze wrap on when I use coban, so it doesn't touch my skin and actually I use vetwrap, instead of coban, from dog suppy online stores as it is very cheap and the exact same thing.
Good luck on your decisions....
hugs,
Di
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gotcha Shellshine!....now go to sleep!....I will PM if I don't hear from you
Di
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Shellshine - please post here....I think we'd all love to hear your advice!
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Hi Ladies,
Yesterday, I access my medical online and found that during my exchange surgery I had a "specimen" taken for pathology, a microscopic intermediate complexity...didn't know anything about this....now I worry until I find out from my PS....
(Mondays are his surgery day so he could be in office surgical suite or at the hospital)I know during my tissue expander placement surgery (separate surgery from my BMX) a biopsy was taken because my breast surgeon lost my stereotatic core site as she wanted a biobsy to make sure no cells were left behind, afer I was swabbed with Betadine she couldn't find it, so she, my breast surgeon, made arrangement with my PS at tissue expander placement surgery to have it removed. (it turned out okay)
Oh I hate to wait!
Di
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Di, I am sure they are just being extra cautious with you, and perhaps it's scar tissue or something they just want to make sure is all good? I know you are worried, as we all are when waiting on pathology reports, but I am praying all cells will turn out perfectly clear and for you to have peace as you wait.
Cheryl
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Hi all,
Wondering if any of you can give me some idea about how adding fat grafting to an exchange surgery affects recovery? I'm having my exchange this Thursday (can't wait!!!), and my PS says he'll likely also do some fat grafting from my abdomen at the same time to fill in some "divots" from breast tissue and port removal.
I'm told that this surgery, in general, is much easier all around, and from a recovery standpoint. I just don't know what to expect with the fat grafting. Happy to redistribute some flab to the places that need it more, I just am not feeling very prepared in terms of knowing what to expect. Any advice is welcome!
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