Implant Exchange (oYo) ~ Anyone go/stay SMALL?? (B cup)
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Lago and Renn: you are right. The Hosp and anesthesiologist are in network. It feels hard to spend this much money out of pocket for PS, BUT less worries, great results, and fewer revisions sounds really great :-D I really hope you are rt about the operating time. I have a blood clot disorder, so there is always the fear of a blood clot going to my lungs or heart. That is why i insisted it is done in a hospital not surgery center. In addition to swapping out the expanders, he is going to grt rid of these ridges of scar tissue under my arms and reposition my nipples. My BMX was nipple/skin sparing but my nipples are very low on my breasts. He said he would rotate my breast skin so the nipples are higher. My breast surgeon was phenomenol and i have NO scars on my breasts. This new PS will cut around my nipples but sd since they are small, Ii might lose some of the aereola which he will tattoo on later. I will also need fat grafting to fill in the upper pole when he does the exchange.
I hear everyone talking about fat grafting and the ps said we will take some fat from my stomach or thighs so (deep breath), how do they get this fat out? I was taking in so much during our consultation that I didn't ask this. I assume he "withdraws" it with a needle? Is this right? Is it done during the surgery so you out? Does the site where he takes the fat have an open wound that needs to heal? And are you sore? I think it would be good to understand this process now! I feel resolved today and am grateful to have a new ps and moving forward. Thank you, thank you for your support!0 -
I had to little incisions where my PS took the fat. Healing nicely I have a feeling in time you won't even see them. He took it when I was out. Yes you are sore but not as sore as if you had a true liposuction job. Actually that will be more sore than your boobie area. I think I took a couple of Tylenol the first day or two.
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Wahooo! Expanders are back in....he cleaned out the scar tissue that I told him was attached to something causing tightness when took a deep breath on the right side. (It was acutally there during the first expanders, but I thought it was due to that.)
What a difference! I can breathe again. Well, I am inbetween pain pills, but will be back on here all the time now!
Take care,
Jill
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Fluff - YAY!!!!!!!! So glad to hear you are doing well and TE's are in!
I want to comment on all the going's-on, but I am sure I'll miss some so I'm gonna go and read back...but for now...
LindseyS - good luck with your decisions, it sounds like you've had a lot on you plate, wishing you the best!
Sue/Susan - love the DH talk! I left my DH home alone (gasp!) LOL for 4 days and he was scrambling to get the house back in order by the time I got back with the kids, ahhh, men!!! ;-)
Lago - how's it going? Hope you are adjusting and feeling good with the girls!
I have to attest to what Susan said, I am at the pont where the numbness and what I considered "wierd" the first few months post-exchange is now feeling like the new normal...I really don't notice them too much, except sometimes when I sleep on my stomach, they definitley dont have the "give" that they used to, or maybe I was so flat pre-bc that stomach-sleeping was easier?!?! ;-)
I think I'll be even happier after FG in the fall, I go in a couple weeks to discuss the surgery, I think fixing my shelf will make all the difference!
I miss you guys and have been reflecting a bit more lately...all this bc stuff started almost a year ago (8/26) with the bad mamm...it's amazing to think back on this year and what we've been thru, absolutley crazy stuff and never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined it to have unfolded like this...I've felt a little "deep" lately and just wanted to share, I couldn't have done it with out the support here!!! xoxoxo
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boobies are doing just fine. Need to upload some photos. They are getting rounder although I think they still need to drop, especially the right one. Still think the right one is smaller but it has pstosis and the left one doesn't. I'm still getting used to them. I think I'm still healing. I seem to be sleeping too much. I do that when I'm healing.
I don't think I'll ever feel like I did because I went bigger. I wonder if that's why I weight 2 extra pounds?
My one year NED is coming up on Aug. 31st (surgery date). I am so done with treatment but I will still have one more herceptin 6 days later. Then just the Anastozole for 4.5 more years.
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Encouraging to read that so many are doing well with reconstruction. I am almost 55 yrs. old and my boobs are large B/small C and quite um, perky, for my age. My goal is to look as much the same as possible. I have a small frame and narrow shoulders so people often think I'm bustier than I am. My surgeon seems confident in being able to achieve that outcome. Surgery, BMX with immediate reconstruction is 9/7. Carrying on until then! -Caryn
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Well I bought 2 sports bras today. One at a store where they measured me. It's a 34C. The other at Marshalls that fits just like this other one. It's a 34D. Maybe that's why it's on sale. So I have been wearing the correct size. Before I was a 34B or A depending on the bra. I am much much fuller though.
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Thanks Slinky! I called my PS today and cancelled my revision surgery. I think I need a break. My PS never mentioned the idea of using alloderm to fill in my ripples and divets. I totally respect her as a great surgeon but I'm going to keep my eye out for a PS that I can get a second opinion from. I just wasn't comfortable going through the same surgery again (they take it all out and do the pocket work and put it all back in) if she thinks my ripples will return. And since she never mentioned the alloderm, I don't know what to think.
It's funny. My breasts used to look better naked than clothed. Now they look better clothed than naked....
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Megan ~ It is amazing what a difference a year makes! My official year will be Oct 6th...the day I got my diagnostic mammogram/ultrasound and the radiologist said she was 95% sure it was cancer. I don't even remember the holidays ~ it seems like it was all a big blur! I was trying to think "have I changed?" through all of this. Yeah I had a BMX, but I didn't do chemo and kinda breezed through the whole thing w/out much problems, SE's. I really didn't think I had changed much...but the more I think about it... I think maybe I'm more "at peace" with life in general...that crappy stuffs happens and you just have to deal with it. Don't sweat the small stuff is even easier for me now. What I went through and hearing what a lot of women go through...and having that little nagging "threat" of it recurring...all kinda paints everything in a little bit different shade of color. Not a completely different color... just a different shade.
Sandy ~ I think you are smart to get a second opinion so you can feel more comfortable with the procedure they are going to try this time.
fluff~ glad you are back to reconstruction and can breathe!
lago ~ Congrats on your sports bra purchases..does this mean you don't have to wear those bands anymore? Are they evening out or are you still % ?
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Expanders still holding ok I think. Drains have slowed considerably and they really aren't bothering me yet, other than being annoying and making it dificult to work around my clothes!
I see the PS on Tuesday and hope to have them removed and get the first fill.
Just getting Herceptin now, plus Tamoxifen, but I think the Herceptin made me achy for the first time last week. It went away today thank goodness. Hope it stays away until next infusion.
Susans Garden-I feel a little the same way as you. I didn't have terrible chemo side effects (although it annoyed me that I needed chemo because I had to have the herceptin to make it work better supposedly), and have felt pretty good generally. The reconstruction failure was disappointing, but in the big picture, I would rather be disappointed for that than a recurrence.
It is beautiful in Indianapolis today. I am heading out for some fun and Jazz on the Canal tonight! I cannot stay in and behave myself one more day,
Have a great day!
Jill
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Jill ~ Jazz on the Canal sounds delightful!! Go enjoy yourself!
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The sports bra is only for working out. I'm still wearing the band but I don't have to wear it all the time. My PS said only a few hours a day. The sports bra is only for moderate exercise so it's not at tight as the band. The boobie prizes are looking good as far as shape but are not evening out. They just don't sit evening on the bottom. Top they look fine though.
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Sandybeach, I think I am in the same position as you. My foobs look great in a bra, but not so great on their own. I really don't want another surgery. I go for my 3 month follow up in 2 weeks. We are suppose to move in the next couple of months and I am thinking I should get a second opinion in our new city.
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Hi gang. I feel so overwelmed with all of these posts and everything going on with everyone! Sorry Ive been MIA....new job, school starting, doc appts....its been very crazy.
Sorry but here's the daily headlines:
Met new PS today. I like her well enough. She is very much a go-getter, perfectionist kind of gal. "Yes you look great but I can make it better"....she laid out a revision on the table for me. I said no thank you. But if you go to my new pix, you can see why the offer was made.
I have a nipple day - or Nday....September 22. I will have no anesthesia....just numbing...and she will do an origami flap - nor grafting. Tattoo in 2 months. I can go to work the next day. She will craft a foam donut to go over it for healing.
I go for a bra fitting tomorrow! Yeah! And I can wear wires! Woohoo! Pix to follow.
I have to start massaging Jan - she just isnt moving. Stuck to my chest wall like velcro, she refuses to drop. I'm going to have to kick her out of the plane without a parachute....drop girl, drop!!!
To celebrate my upcoming one year (in October), DH and I will do a BC ride next month. I hope to God its not hilly or Im doomed. Yesterday I did 34 miles on my bike - the ride is 50! Here's hoping! At least I have a goal in mind!
Sandy - good idea to wait. Its still early days after all!
Eulabt - I agree....wait until the move.
Lago - glad all is going well...I have to see if you have new pix...
Fluff - best of luck!
Susan and Megan - I will get back to you guys sooooon!
I hope I dont stay away that long again! School starts Tuesday and then I need to add new exercise times to fill the gaps. And I am thinking about Graduate School too? Um...maybe not this year.
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Suebee-without going back through all posts, I assume your other one is Marcia, so here is a quote for the Jan side! Jan Brady: Well, all day long at school I hear how great Marcia is at this or how wonderful Marcia did that! Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! LOL!
Saw the PS today. Fully expected him to leave drains in as I was not under 30 per day. He said nope, they were coming out. He would rather worry about potentially manually draining fluid than risk infection from keeping them in.
Then, he decided to do a double fill. THEN...he forcefully squished all around to make sure all excess fluid was out. Holy @#$%$%%^%! OUCH OUCH OUCH to everything.
I was so not prepared for any of that since the draiins were still going, so I had not used my emla cream, or taken a muscle relaxer (which I really didn't need).
I had to sit in the car and recover for 15 minutes, I was so tense! All is well now, though.
He is keeping me on an antibiotic as a preventative for a couple of weeks. And my foobs are looking fine! am sitting here on my bed shirtless admiring them. My husband is laughing. Still on weight and arm restrictions. Only can do aerobic stuff.
I love reading all the updates!
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SuebeeBC posted a new picture a few days ago.0
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Been MIA for 10 days. Internet was down for a week while my hubby was backpacking with the guys, so I was "disconnected," in more ways than one!
Saw the new PS again yesterday and learned that the re-do surgery will be Sept 6, exchange in Nov, and FG in Feb. I thought exchange and FG were one surgery. Originally (in May) I thought I had two surgeries total ahead of me--NSBMX and Exchange over four months, returning to work on Nov 1. Now I learn I have three MORE possibly four surgeries ahead of me.
I just posted on the depression thread and while I was typing figured out the cause of my sadness. The issue for me is letting go of control. I am fighting all of the uncertainty. Since I figured it out, I am going to send myself a $250 bill for psychotherapy! But that doesn't solve how to get out of this hole.
Jill you said the recon failure was disappointing, but in the big picture you would rather be disappointed than have a recurrence. Maybe that is it for me too. I am disappointed and angry at myself for making a mistake in selecting the first ps. Now I have to swap out these TEs for a better style and size and start again. Yep, disappointing is right.
What is the "drop" you are all talking about? Sue, you are going to kick Jan out without a parachute? LOL! How far does she have to fall? Still learning the terms and what is ahead of me. Maybe I need to pick names and be more hospitable! What is pstosis? and DH?
I really appreciate hearing from everyone and knowing the journey is similar. It helps to know I am not alone and others have come through the other side. Like Annette said "Growing boobs is like anything else"--(it takes time!)
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Fluff - Yes I think Jan is doing it for attention. She definitely doesnt get as much as Marcia!!! LOL. OWIE double fill? Yikes! Hope youre OK!!! That sounds painful!
Lago - Ill go look today!
Lindsay its 1cm...thats all....but its noticable. Ptosis is a nice way to say 'sag'...most older breasts have a natural ptosis...some its severe. DH is Dear Husband. DS is dear son etc. PS is Plastic Surgeon.
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FluffQueen: What a day you had! Yowza. My PS has "squished" the fluid out too, I know the feeling. Not fun!
Lindsey: I'm glad to hear that you have all those dates to look forward to! (Crazy how "dates" takes on such a different meaning in the BC realm!) I also hear you on the feelings you're experiencing over all these surgeries. It feels overwhelming sometimes to thing about it in a big picture way. That's why I try and stay focused on my toes, one foot in front of the other. Keeps me out of trouble. I get into enough as it is with these crazy TEs!
Suebee, love your ptosis description. I have got some good "sag" going on in my lefty TE!
OK So I just got out of the shower and finally hit on why I am always so aware of my TEs all the time. Even in the shower, I never feel naked. I have not felt "naked" since my BMX. I don't know why it has taken me 6 1/2 months to finally put a label on this feeling, but there it is. Anyone else feel this way? And does it get ANY better after exchange?
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Renn, that is exactly how I feel. Like I have another layer to shed, but I am already down to skin. I've just been wearing a tshirt around the house and I would never have gone braless before, but the TEs don't feel like me and if they show through, it doesn't feel like it is ME that is exposed.
You are right a second time that I need to reel in my 12-month timeline and just look at a week at a time. I am sure my feeling of being overwhelmed would go away.
Sue, if the implants are going to sag, then I don't understand why everyone keeps saying to me you will have 18 year old perky breasts. I assumed they would be at attention when I am dead and in my coffin! Would you explain a little more? Do the implants sag and is that the same as drop? How quickly does this happen after the exchange. I am wondering if this is why the FG is not for several months-to allow for all of this.
I am glad DH is dear husband. Makes it quicker to write. . . and he is!
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Lindsay - no, no - not OLD LADY sag!!! But at the same time you want them to stang out naturally and have enough give and swing so you dont look like you stuffed yourself.....you want them to look like they are breasts and not like tennis balls sewn on your chest.
If you google ptosis - you can see that over time the breast tissue separates from the skin as the ducts shrink...so your VOLUME goes down naturally as the breast tissue weighs down the skin....which stretches. Some women get this severely - like the baseball in the sock image.
After exchange, you wont be having any issues like THAT but you DO want a little NATURAL ptosis so they look and move right. I have no ptosis going on right now - because I didnt much of anything before and had to seriously stretch my skin to get where I am. Some women who have had skin-sparing MX procedures will have more skin to work with and will get a little more of a natural sort of look. I dont look like a stripper - but if I went larger I wouldve risked that.
How's THAT, Renn?
Yeah with the TE I was a little more....maybe embarrased out of the shower? It was the obvious uneven-ness I had going on. And yes, it gets better. They feel like more a part of me all of the time even though I still dont feel anything on the right side.
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Rennasus ~ A lightbulb just went off when you said that about never feeling naked! I wonder if the combination of the "tightness" making it feel like you have a bra on a little... and the combination of loss of sensation in some areas? I definitely think it is getting better (I'm 4 months out now)... honestly, I wasn't sure if I would ever "not notice" or feel like they are part of my body again. I'm still not 100% sure... but now I am more convinced that it could actually happen. I think a lot of it will depend on whether my pecs start to relax more? That was one of my fears of going too big... was that I would always have that tight feeling in my pecs?
Speaking of ptosis. Remember the pencil "bra test" ..something about if you could place a pencil under your breast..and it stayed..you needed a bra? I never "passed" that test before...I wonder if I do now?
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Susan I never could do the pencil test before either. Now only one of my boobie prizes can… and that's the one that sits higher.
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Okay.. had to try the test. If I'm standing up really really straight ~ still not passing. However, can hold it up there if slightly relaxed....more so on one side than the other...which seems to be mostly because of my uneven ribcage (never noticed it until PS pointed it out to me!)
How are those boobie prizes doing anyway, lago? Did you ever talk to your PS again about them being unlevel? Assuming they are still unlevel? Sounds like that can be a pretty common problem..but mostly unnoticeable in a wired bra?
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I see my PS at the end of the month. Last time he said they will change and it's too early. They haven't dropped yet. Yes he said "dropped". I just wish the lower one was higher. Hopefully next time he can explain what's going on.
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Hi ladies!
I got an appt today...9/12 for my fat grafting. I get the anethesiologist appt call next week, pre-op right after labor day...WHY AM I FREAKING OUT?!?!?! I was so excited for the FG, but now that it's here I don't want to "go under" again...feeling in a way like it's a step back after I have been out from exchange since late March. I am still excited for it, but for a weird reason it is bothering me anyway.
Well, I am looking forward to feeling even better about my foobs after, some of you might recall I really am not a fan of the shelf/divot ;-)...but I had really put a lot of this stuff away and it's now back at the fore-front...hmmmm, think it has to do with my 1-yr coming up in a week or so?!?!? ;-)
I miss being involved in this thread, it's not out of not wanting to be around, but my fam and I have taken our camper out and about quite a bit this summer, so more often than not I have been away from wifi...I have checked in on my iphone, but that thing is a pain to keep up with like I used too!
Susan - I know you have had a couple FG sessions, how did you know you were done? You knew ahead of time you needed more than one, right? I was told my session would be 1 1/2 hrs, does this sound about right? argh! I sound all crazy after not being around, I think I need to do some reading/checking up on the FG threads so I can calm my nerves :-) ...although I do think it's got a lot to do with not having thought I'd be back at the surgery-thing again...
Well, I'm glad the thread is still active and I'm getting new internet/laptop at the house, so I might be in/out for a bit, but I'm still HERE!!! xoxo be well, ladies!!!
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Fire-dancer are you getting general or local anesthesia for FG. I got general for my exchange with FG but I thought in the future I would only getting local if I needed more FG. I hate general. Makes me ill. Local no problems at all.
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Lago - I'm going full-on under - anesthesia...that concept is starting to wear on me, Anesthesia takes a toll on me, albeit not the end of the world, (I totally recognize that I am fortunate to not ever had to undergo treatment) but I just started to get back to myself again (physically & mentally), I could live without the side effects I get from it: hair color that won't even touch my grays, my nails look like crap for 6 months after, feeling spacey and constipated for a couple weeks...blah, blah, blah!!! ...and YES, I totally get that these are "small potatoes" in the scheme of things, but for FG sometimes it seems a bit much...I think we can all agree anethesia is a pain in the ass... ;-)
On the phone with the surgical coordinator today she said I was 1st surgery in, and it would be 1&1/2 hrs max. No twilight, after she mentioned the anesthesiologist call I felt like I was propelled back to the winter months and thoughts of surgery, even though this is an easier recovery it just seems to be bringing back all those crappy worries I have been living (quite happily) without lately...
I should mention that my Dr is doing Dr Khouri's type of FG, not sure if that makes a difference in how long you are under or not, but seems to mean that you don't need as many sessions? Am I mistaken in this? My PS never mentioned follow-up FG-ing, but I haven't had my pre-op with him yet...
...just wait till I tell my PS I turned down full-on lipo at a "discount"...my husband had to talk me down from that deal, I can never resist a good sale!
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I am feeling so much better today. :-D Did a relaxation tape this morning and lunch with a girlfriend!
Sue - I was too small before--never passed tha pencil test--and never worried about old lady sag, but working in a convalescent home as a teenager gave me an eyeful of the aging process. :-0
Thank you for explaining this. I don't want tennis balls, so I understand now that ptosis is the thing to give me a more natural look.
My old PS called today and said "I heard you are not coming back, why?" He had not gotten the letter I sent him four days ago. Boy, he was so nice and kept explaining what he was trying to do, and even told me two things I did not know. He said the BS had left a lot of fat in the upper pole, so he thinks I probably wouldn't need much FG, and recommended that I not allow the fat to be taken from below my belly button. He said he only goes above, just in case the implants don't work out and at some point in the next 20 years I would need the DIEP. Anyone have thoughts about that?
I guess if I am going to have to do this, I thought getting rid of the little extra stuff around my tummy would be lovely! I have an appt with my BS next week, so I want to ask her about both of these.
Susan - I think you are on to something about the tightness. I feel like I am wearing a bra about five sizes to small, so maybe that is why I don't feel naked when I am naked!
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Megan, what is Dr. Khouri's method of FG if not lipo? And how can FG be done with a local? My PS said full on lipo and general anesthesia. OMG, just when life is back to normal and you are feeling good. . . I am sure going back in sucks. I will be anxious to hear how all of this goes. I am abouat six months behind you and appreciate you sharing your journey!
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