BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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MBJ -- no Vegas at end of September. Aw it would have been great to meet you in person!
Kittycat -- that photo of you is adorable! Has your hair grown back that much already? And I didn't realize you had CC but SO glad all went well and there was nothing bad under the microscope! Will we see you again this year in Vegas?
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Whippetmom - so thankful for you! It was fascinating to read about your journey that brought you to bco. So thankful for your ministry here! Praying for your healing from the dreaded singles. Much love to you!
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whippetmom, MBJ & Lilah: Yeah I know about Alloderm slings. Alloderm is not approved in Australia, but you can get it. I asked all 3 of them about it. One told me flat out he won't use it, and the other two said they were prepared to but it's expensive ($6000 per piece - not covered by govt or insurance because it's not approved). We can find the money if we need to, so I am not overly worried about that. I was also told that it's half as thick as an LD flap, and that it dissolves away over time. Two of the PSs were honest in saying that, because it's not approved, people here don't have much experience with it.
We are going to have another consult with the PS who was the most positive about Alloderm (although he still recommended LD flaps). I will also ask about love handles.
Anecdotally, I can say that the majority of breast reconstructions here are LD flap. I am sure my wife's thinness is an exacerbating factor, but LD flaps are the cookie cutter treatment plan.
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merovingian: I am pretty thin plus I have back problems and my main intent was to find a dr who worked with Alloderm. LD flaps are very invasive and I would only use this as a last effort. Alloderm becomes part of the breast and I have seen no evidence of it disintegrating. Maybe one of your dr's could participate in the trial where they are using the silk mesh sling which is much less expensive then Alloderm--I imagine this along with fat grafting would work beautifully.
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MBJ: I am on my way to my post-op appointment with PS today. I will ask him to clarify, but it's been my understanding all along that the surgical meshes serve to support while the body creates new collagen in those areas and it does eventually "disintegrate". Again, I will get clarification on this today.
I am the one who has written about SeriScaffold (the silk alternative to Alloderm). As part of the clinical trial my PS did a small biopsy during my exchange last week of the sling area for Allergan. I don't think I can get specific information until the end of the trial, but I'll ask again why the biopsy was done.
SeriScaffold is being used outside the US for various surgical procedures (knee replacements, for example). I think it's still pretty new so don't know how common it is.
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Merovingian -- for what it's worth, though I live in the US where Alloderm IS widely used, my PS at a major cancer hospital also said she never uses it. With that said, if I had a choice between an LD Flap and Alloderm I might rather try Alloderm first because it is less invasive. You might also ask your PS whether there are any other options for a mesh sling (like the product Tina's PS used as part of a trial -- Tina what is that stuff called again?) It's made of silk and is currently under trial here in the US and one of its advantages, other than being made from silk rather than cadaver skin, is that it is MUCH easier to work with.
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Whippetmom, What a perfect combination-your experience with the medical world and the lingo, your own personal experience and the design experience (LOL). You certainly do give a lot of your time here-and for that I think we are all greatful. It's nice during very stessful times to have someone who can answer questions matter of factly and still be supportive. Thank you. Pat
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Thank YOU Pat!
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Deborah, I wholeheartedly echo Pat's appreciation! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I have a huge favor to ask...I am in Denver right now because my sister had brain surgery earlier this week. I was wondering if you have any names of PS's in this area I might be able to see for a consult? Thank you, whether you know of any or not... BTW, I hope you're feeling much better!0 -
hi all! what is going on in vegas the end of september....? just thinking here......
Up next for fatgrafting next wednesday....nervous excited all of the above...gained 10 pounds for it (sheesh0 after losing all that weight) and it mostly landed up being flabby ass skin....PS says should be just enough for what he wants to do....
as far as advice on here....I have to say between deborah and lilah and all the others who offer their experience it is amazing. I am the world's most notorious hesitant to take advice or trust advice and have found these women essential to my MENTAL health-not to mention helping light the way as the old bod gets rebuilt. It is truly motivated by goodness of spirit..which is truly amazing....I am a researcher by trade and I will say in my experience a true expert is open to new ideas...and Deborah proves that literally every week....as do others....we are a group of women who found ourselves in unimaginable circumstances that somehow manage to let the best shine through...and HOW COOL IS THAT??????
big hugs to all
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Deborah (Whippetmom) is DA BOMB.
Annette you give good support yourself!
Vegas is the TaTa Sisterhood (named by Laura Estepp I think)... once a year we gather in Vegas. You should join us! It's never too late to join.
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Hi girls! I was all excited that I was feeling good today. Yesterday I was kind of sluggish, probably from the anesthesia. Well,today I took a shower and bravely looked at my foobs. I was more afraid at where the right one was, compared to the left normal one. The position looked really good and is almost in the same place. Just needs to drop a little in place. However... the skin on my right breast was a little red and warm, kind of like a slight sunburn. I freaked out and immediately thought infection! I don't have a fever and feel okay. I called my PS and they told me to come in tomorrow morning. UGH! I hope everything is okay. I'm kind of freaked out because the nurse couldn't get my IV started and the anesthesiologist had to do it. My first thought was that the antibiotics weren't getting into my system in advance of the surgery. I don't need any more problems! I'm so done with surgeries and this cancer crap!!!
I'll keep you all posted!
Thanks for the well wishes! 0 -
Kittycat -- when I had surgery (exchange and MX with TE) I got a card telling me some heat/redness and even a low grade fever were normal within the first 48 hours due to having a foreign object in your body. Did they give you antibiotics to take post surgery? I had a drain after exchange so they did give me antibiotics... not sure if that's standard if you don't have a drain. Good that you called the PS. Proactive is good! Even if you do have to take antibiotics (to play it safe) that is just a smart thing to do if there is any concern. Sending healing and NO COMPLICATIONS vibes in your direction!
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Thanks Lilah! Yeah, I'm taking Keflex 3 times a day for 4 days. I hope it's nothing. It wasn't red like this when I saw the PS yesterday. Good thing his office responds quickly and always squeezes me in, when it's a big concern (he's the doc who had me rush in the same day when I felt lumps on my 2nd diagnosis of bc).
By the way, yes that's my hair. It's growing in nicely, but can be really unruly at times!
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MBJ: OK, had my post op with PS and his PA today. Turns out you are correct and I'm half correct
. Alloderm does not disintegrate - the collagen attaches to it as a framework, but it remains the "skeleton" of the sling. The SeriScaffold (silk support matrix) does not remain, but by the time it disappears the body has already created a collagen scaffold to replace it.0 -
Kittycat -- LOVE your hair! You look so adorable! And please do let us know what the PS says when you see him today. Hoping it's nothing.
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Thanks Lilah! My PS was very concerned about the redness on my right breast. He said it could be that my body is reacting to the Alloderm (which he's never seen), the blood flow to the skin isn't good because of previous radiation or I have an infection. He prescribed a 2nd antibiotic (Bactrim, which I need to take right away) and I'm to finish my first round of antibiotics (Kelfex) today. I did some reading and found that it could be a reaction to the Alloderm called red breast syndrome, which usually goes away after a couple weeks. I sent the article to my PS. I hope it goes away and I can move forward. Worst case scenario, if it's an infection that cannot be cleared up, I will have to get the implant removed. Then, I'd have to get a tissue expander put in 6 months later and start the whole process all over again. UGH!!!
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Kittycat -- OK yes I've heard of that syndrome. Here's hoping that's all it is. If you don't have a fever and it isn't hot to the touch it's likely NOT an infection. You need a break girl!
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The skin is a little warm to the touch, which concerns me, of course. I'm grateful that I have a 3 day weekend and will hopefully heal and get through this.
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kittycat: I hope the antibiotics do their thing so you can be done and just move on with your life--Really cute hair, too!!!
Tina: Good to know
Whippetmom is truly an Angel and so are all of the other ladies here who remain to help out!!! Talk about a sisterhood!
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Wow - MBJ and Lilah have so much hair! It's so nice to see everyone's hair grown in. You all look beautiful.
I took a nap this afternoon, to escape this situation and I was tired. Now I'm dreaming of when to take my antibiotics. LOL! The redness is still there. It's so strange because it's all along the bottom of my breast and goes across in a straight line. This really makes me think it's the Alloderm.
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kittycat: I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. C'mon now, we don't want any more trouble here
.I got a bra that whippetmom suggested. I don't know if it was too soon to try it on, but I did and posted my first "real" (non-surgery) bra photos on the picture forum. However, I hurt after just having it on long enough for the pictures so back in the surgical bra. Kinda scared me (yikes!)...
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TinaT - I posted on your thread. It was at least three weeks before I wore anything other than the surgical bra. "Real bras" really hurt me for weeks after the exchange (I had more pain than most post-exchange). I wouldn't be worried b/c you're so soon after your exchange. What hurts now may feel good in a week or two.
BTW - Your results are magnificent!
kittycat - I'm so sorry about your redness. It does indeed sound like an infection to the alloderm. It's rare, but not unheard of ... prayers for you! xo
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Red breast syndrome kittycat! I sure hate to have you on these heavy antibiotics if it is just RBS....your description sure sounds like it...
Tina: Jumping the "bra" gun, are you????
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kittycat: I have seen RBS before, and so you could post a pic on the pic forum or shoot me a photo via email...
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kittycat - whippetmom is the expert here ... listen to her! xo
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Also....someone on the pictures forum posted a photo of this....about a year ago....
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I had asked for permission to get on the photo forum, but never went on it. I've since deleted my old email account because it was with Yahoo and was sending viruses to people in my address book. So, I'm not able to view pics there.
I just took a pic earlier (first one ever) of my foobs. I'll PM you Whippetmom!
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The reason I posted about the bra (Warner's Elements of Bliss) is because it actually looks like it is more supportive than the surgical bra in the photos I posted. whipptemom, please take a gander if you're over on the other forum.
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