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Implant Exchange (oYo) ~ Anyone go/stay SMALL?? (B cup)

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Comments

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited July 2011

    Red Im glad youre doing well.  And Im really glad you like your results so far. PHEW!  Cant wait to see them!

  • kerry32
    kerry32 Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2011

    I am now on day 5 of my exchange surgery.  I too have itchiness - he took off the tape under my arms where he had to clean up the "dogears" but it's so black and blue and itchy. That is my only physical complaint so not bad at all to tolerate.

    They do look like wide, flat hamburg buns though.  I am just trying to recall every post I read here over the past month about how they will begin to look more like breasts everday! 

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited July 2011

    Hi Redsky. Congratulations on your boobie prizes.

    I just started to have a little itchiness yesterday. I also just started to use Mederna per my PS recommendation. (He also said I could use cocoa butter too). I'm wondering if that could be causing me to be itch or if it is just healing. Odd that it should start exactly 1 month from surgery.

    What are you guys using on your scars? The scar thread has so many different recommendations it almost doesn't help. I know  last time I used vitamin E oil. It was cheap compared to Mederna. The Vitamin E oil really softened and flattened out my scars (took months to flatten my port scar) but never did anything for the redness. I'm hoping the Mederna can reduce the redness.

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited July 2011

    OK girls - I am shrinking....I think at this point I WILL end up a B....JEESH I am 6 weeks out and I am measuring a C now.  I dont fill out the bras I have been wearing and my right one is even smaller.....I feel like they are doing a disappearing act!!!  COME ON FLUFF....Please tell me that they will fluff up? 

    Lago I am not on scar maintenance yet but I am as confused as you are.  What, when and how much?

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited July 2011

    He wasn't specific. After my BMX he said nothing. It was my PT that told me about the vitamin E oil. I'm just following the directions on the package. Apply 4x a day.  It does seem to be helping my shingles scars too.

    They shrink?  Maybe stay out of the pool.

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited July 2011

    LOL - I went to a waterpark yesterday too!!!

    OK, but I'm not much laughing about the apparent shrinkage here.  Boo.  I was getting used to the D's.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited July 2011

    I know I had swelling that went down but I'm not sure I can say they shrunk. I tried on a 34C Thursday. I'm not sure if the bra was just not the right style (I'm much fuller now) or too small cup size. PS said large B small C… Hmmm maybe I need some shrinkage.

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited July 2011

    I hoping I am being sensitive because my left is starting to 'drop' but my right (mx side) is not.  To me it still looks like a wide-flat mesa.  I can totally pinch the front of the cup now where I could only just poke it in a little where my nipple should go.

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited July 2011

    Sue, I hope your boobs aren't trying to maintain the integrity of this thread and shrink down to a B! ;) so is it just the nipple area of the foob? Does the Marcia side still fit into the D cup? Maybe they can do some fat grafting when you have your nipple done? I still say you look fabulous in your pics!



    Lago ~ I'm using the silicone bandage things on my scars. They say it takes 3 months so the jury is still out.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited July 2011

    My husband says my scars look lighter than they did last weekend. I just started using the Mederma on Wednesday but right now I'm itchy on my new scars. I  hope that means I'm healing and not an irritation from the Mederma. The silicone strips seems like less of a hassle but for my shingles scars the Mederma is easier.

  • redskyatnight
    redskyatnight Member Posts: 80
    edited July 2011

    Hi Ladies,

    I just posted a couple of quick pics of day1 post-exchange on the photo forum if you want to see what the foob fairy brought-

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited July 2011

    My dermabond is still holding strong on the mx side.  But the augment side's scar is looking good already - I can tell it will really lighten up with time.. Theres no pressure on it though.

    Susan - GOD I hope not.  I got so used to the look of the D's that I would cry if they were B's now!!!!  I am definitely MEASURING a 32C.  I have been wearing 34C's because of how hard it is to find wire-free 32D's...fitting hopefully soon.  My Chantelle (32D) technically still 'fits' but its doesnt look as well fitting as it was before and the right is even flatter in the nipple area than the photo....that coupled with tighter summer shirts and I havent been wearing the Chantelle.  The 34C's I have are molded cups so unless you are poking at my right one, you cant tell its a little hollow.   I guess it will come down to the fitting.  I'm hoping someone will tell me that the magic fluff will even things out!  I sorta wish I could squeeze my right one so it sticks out as far as the left (lol)

    AND thanks for your comment about my photos....you have no idea how much I appreciate that.  Oh wait, maybe you do!!!  ;-)

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited July 2011

    Sue even in your clothed pics you look really well proportioned, so great on your frame! I'm sure the fluff will come and fill things out better. :) You say the dermabond is holding tight...is your scar itself healing up pretty well?



    Redsky, I will make sure I travel over to the pic site!

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited July 2011

    Susan the dermabond on the augmented incision sluffed off this week - probably because its been so hot and Ive been so sweaty.  The incision looks GREAT over there....only one very small lump and the rest is smooth.  On the MX side, the incision is straight across and the dermabond is about 95% still there - starting to crack in spots.  According to the PS, there is trapped blood underneath that is visible (you can see it in my photos - makes my incision look like its not healing) but he said by this point, the incision is completely healed underneath....but to still leave the derma bond alone.  I laugh to think that it will be there until Christmas!  J/K

    And I think I will always wish for 'just a little more' but with how thin my skin is on Jan, and how much rippling I have when I flex, move or bend over, I know I SHOULDNT be bigger.  Plus I wouldnt be 'bigger' - just 'wider'!!!  I'm still comparing myself to the neighborhood and need to remember that I am probably several inches smaller around than the rest of them!!!

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited July 2011
    And BTW, the (oY-) also serves as a reminder of which one is which!!!  Left is Marcia, right is Jan.  Wink
  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited July 2011

    Glad to hear your incision made it through this time! :). Speaking of flexing...curious George here again....so one thing I'm not too fond of is the way my foobs look when I flex my pecs in certain ways..just kindy creepy. I asked my ps if FG would help with that and he said no. So I will always have this lovely party trick! ;) ..... So I'm wondering ...since Marcia's "little helper" is sub muscular, can you notice anything when you flex that side?

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited July 2011

    I totally have the same flexing tricks!  But with my left, it only moves a little - no strange bulges, squaring off or ripples at all.  Marcia is still the prettiest - even when doing her tricks.

    There is definitely a difference in the upper pole of my girls.  Of course Marcias slope is so natural and Jans sort of puffs up toward the center even though its more natural looking toward my arm.  I hope thats part of the drop process?  I'm putting money down that I wont get FG.  I bet my hospital doesnt even do it.  My PS was so firm about me not getting it (saying quickly 'you wont need it')...and my insurance doesnt state it on the list of coverage.  I plan to call soon for my consult with the new PS. I will be at 6 weeks on Monday already - Im supposed to wait until 2 months before meeting new PS.  Im being the dutiful patient. 

  • kerry32
    kerry32 Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2011

    So I have a ? for you experienced ladies...did in the beginning (i'm 5 days out) anyone hear the swishing sound as you moved?  On one side especially when i move my arm I can hear this sound - uggh!  I am trying to follow all advice - be patient - don't stare at them and get anxious but mind don't look too good and they sound worse. 

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited July 2011

    Yes Kerry its normal too.....its swelling around the implant.  Mine if I scratched it, it sounded like I was scratching a water balloon.  I didnt have this on my augmented side.  It was gone in a week.   Just fluids inside that the body will reabsorb.

  • kerry32
    kerry32 Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2011

    Thanks SuebeeBC for that reply...I was beginning to think I was going to have a neat trick at cocktail parties!!

  • LinSea
    LinSea Member Posts: 127
    edited July 2011

    I just had bilateral mastectomy on June 27, 2011. Got the drains out last week. I am rather confused about cup size and ccs. At the completion of surgery the PS filled my expanders with 350cc on the left and 300cc on the right. The pain and tightness is terrible. It feels like my skin could pop. My breasts feels like rocks and it looks like I can see the stretching of the aloderm across my arm pits.  The numbness on the backs of my arms is also painful.  I really want to stay a full B-cup, but feel the PS is thinking something bigger. We see the PS again tomorrow and I will find out what type of expander I have and learn more about future fills.  Everyone keeps mentioning a photo forum.  How do I access that?  I think it would be helpful to see some pictures so I better understand the world of ccs.  After reading everyone's posts I am not looking forward to the fill.  Since I am already at 350cc maybe I won't need much more.  I am glad someone recommended this site to me.  It is validating to hear the pain is real!

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited July 2011

    Lindsey- all of the things you are feeling are completely normal and should get better.  Your arm pain could be nerve damage from the surgery....I still have some residual pain after 6 months but its very dull and barely noticable if I move at all.

    Fills arent so bad.  Everyone has a different threshold.  I got a LOT of fill at a time (80ccs) but there are many women who will get only 20 or 30 at a time because they want to go more slowly.  I got my fills every other week and had a quick turnaround to exchange, others go weekly and maybe wait 6 weeks after last fill for exchange.  There is no wrong answer. Its subjective.

    As for size.  Youre far better off going to the thread Implant Sizing 101 and pose the question there.  Your ribcage size will be part of the equation with the implant size to determine cup.  For example, I am thin.  350ccs would probably make me a B.  Someone who is 30 pounds heavier than me, 350ccs may make them a small A.  Someone thinner than me 350ccs may make them a C.  Its because when you measure for a bra, cup size is determined as the difference between the measurement across your chest and across your ribcage.  Does that make sense?  I would hop over to the other thread and that will help you more. 

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited July 2011

    For my friends who have passed before me....how dramatic was your 'drop'?  My augmented side has dropped in a dramatic fashion and my MX side still sits in the spot she was given 6 weeks ago.

    My photos are up.  I swear it doesnt look this bad in real life - the photo makes it look worse.  But I really would love it if Jan would catch up to Marcia here!!!!

    What about fluff?  Did you fluff much or was it subtle???

    Thanks!

  • fire-dancer
    fire-dancer Member Posts: 444
    edited July 2011

    I am so behind I don't know where to begin...I hope everyone is well!

    Sue - don't start fretting too much that you are where you will "end up" size-wise.  Definitley give it the full 3 months...mine changed alot and it was realllly hard to not judge them too soon, but I promised myself to wait the 3 months and then talked with my PS (hence, the FG in the fall) I think you look amazing and perfect for your frame...I totally get what you are saying, but whatever the end size you are after having seen you in "real life" your proportions are fab! :-)

    Susan - did I see you had another round of FG? How's it going now?  How long was the procedure? Did the anesthesia wreak havok on you or did you fair well? I'm scheduled to see my PS the end of Aug and will probably schedule for late Sept.  The big question? How does it look? You went the "extra mile"  Wink and got a little extra, right? I have no doubt you look GREAT!!! ...I'm pretty psyched to have my FG done :-)

    I've been crazy-busy with family in town from Fla.  We are leaving on vacay tomorrow, my hub and I are heading out camping while the kids are with my parents...it's our 11th anniversay and we are camping down on the RI shore, nothing fancy, but just some time away :-)  Then it's straight to the Cape again for a visit with my sister and parents...crazy summer and lots of fun, but I'm thinking I over-scheduled us to be away alot, not complaining in the least, but it's hindering my online time!!! ;-)

    I miss you guys and really miss checking in and chatting Frown - I'll get back on when I get home!

  • LinSea
    LinSea Member Posts: 127
    edited July 2011

    Thanks Sue, I am glad to hear the numbness in arm will probably go away.  I had accupunture today, mainly massage, and feel much better tonight and have added mobility in both arms!  My PS is still very non-commital about what outcome I can expect.  We showed him pictures of the size I would like, asked about high profile implants, and if I needed any fills. He will use the HP but it doesn't sound like that will necessarily give me what I am looking for.  He said a natural breast is cone shape, and an implant is round, so I can't expect to fill out a bra like before. We will do a fill on Aug. 19. He said it is hard to know where the fluid will go, so if it settles high in the TE and looks like cleavage, he will take it out.  He is hoping it settles lower. Right now I have in 350 ccs and 300 ccs, but looking down I look flat or smashed.  During the exchange the PS puts in the same cc implant as the cc in the TE.  This surprised me since my breast surgeon said I would be expanded 30-40% more than the acctual cc of the implant.  I would like to hear others experince with this. Was your implant smaller than the ccs  in your TE?  I keep reading about shrinkage too.  What does this mean? I will go on the Implant Sizing 101 thread and try to figure out the ccs.  I really want to be a full B-cup. Thanks so much for your input.  Wish I had been on this site and could have asked all these questions when we were shopping for a PS. 

  • aug242007
    aug242007 Member Posts: 186
    edited July 2011

    I am thinking about recon after 4 years.  Where are pictures posted?

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited July 2011

    Lindsay ~ If you haven't already, please visit the sizing 101 thread..lots of great info.  As far as your questions about TE size vs. implant size. It appears all PS are quite different.  Mine goes for same size as TE...others like to overfill the TE, and some put in significantly MORE cc's than the TE. It's all quite confusing.

    Aug242007~ The picture site is completely separate from this forum.  A member , Timtam, started the site on her own.  Because very personal photos are being posted ~ you usually have to be on here posting for a little while before you will be allowed to obtain the information/password ~ which it appears you have been.  You can private message MBJ, whippetmom (sorry, I forget the others!) to obtain the information.

    Sue ~ regarding the drop part. Gosh, I don't know. Sometimes it seems obvious ~ other days they don't appear to be that much different.  I wish I would have taken better (more precise) pics. Then with the FG things swell and change again. So I'm not  a very good person to ask!

    Megan ~ Nice to see you!  I miss chatting with you ladies too!  Sometimes I try to wean myself off of here because I too easily click on some "active topics" and read things I shouldn't.  Sounds like you are having quite the active summer!  I feel so boring ~ but then again I'm stuck at work 5 days a week, boo!  

    So far the FG seems to be holding.  Though it's barely been 2 weeks so that's not saying much. I was looking at them just this morning and thinking that they do look pretty darn good, if I say so myself!  Without the divet and the obvious rippling now, they look pretty darn "real" ~ like the old me only better :).  In fact, I was at the beach on Sunday and saw a woman there with her kids.  She couldn't have been much over 35, if that, and she was larger chested...probably a D..but had no "bra" on with a tank sundress type of thing and I was discreetly ( I hope!) checking her out ..and she's "hanging" a bit... absolutely no upper pole.  But I'm sure she looks fabulous in a bra!  So I'm thinking.. here I am undergoing surgery to get rid of a little divet or ripple and my foobs prob look 10 times better than hers.  It's tough because if this last round of FG doesn't "take" I can still do more ~ especially this year since I've reached "out of pocket" ~ but part of me doesn't want to go through it all over again.  Then again I'm only 2 weeks out of surgery.. plus had the extra lipo.. so I'm still a little sore... bummed I can't fully exercise yet.. still a little swollen so not seeing the full results of the lipo yet..so not exactly in the best of "pro-surgery" spirits! Tongue out

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited July 2011

    Hey Megan - it IS good to 'see' you out here!!  Thanks for the input.  I can take it especially close to heart from you since you've seen them up close and personal!!  I'm just floored how much the BA side dropped and how the mx side is still so high....it was SO much softer from the beginning!  The BA side went from tight cone to plunk!!!  LOL

    Lindsey - my implant was about 75ccs smaller than my TE.  I was unique in that I augmented my natural side with a 350.  I had selected that side by samplling implants in a sports bra.   We over-expanded my TE so there would be some extra room to work with.  Many PSs do this.  He brought in various sizes and matched the augmented side - I ended up with a 475 implant.

    Susan - Thanks.  I know its because I had two different surgeries that they look different right now.  I get it. But of course I wouldnt be a woman if I didnt obsess!!!  I'm glad the FG is holding so far and youre happy!  ooops..theres the door.  Write more later!

  • Rennasus
    Rennasus Member Posts: 642
    edited July 2011

    Lindsey, welcome, you have had an interesting journey beginning in '04. Interesting being a relative term here! I too was filled to 350ccs on the table. But, just had m right TE removed due to delayed healing.

    I am still numb under my arm on the lymph node removal (righty) side. Am afraid to stretch that side too much as I can't *really* feel how tight it is.

  • LinSea
    LinSea Member Posts: 127
    edited July 2011

    Renn, I can't believe you had to remove the TE after 5 mos! What a difficult thing that wld be! I'm so sorry. I would say my journey since 2004 has been a roller coaster. I was referred to an oncologist 5 days before my wedding. He sd "go on yr honeymoon, and when you come back we will operate." Every 4 mos I have some type of test: Mamo, ultrasound, MRI. I just can't do it any more. Now that my milk ducts are collapsing and making these radial scars, my oncologist says he needs a biopsy and lumpectomy on every one! Time to do the NSM! This was much more painful than I knew, but hopefull in a year I will be free of the roller coaster and that will be a good thing!