Implant Exchange (oYo) ~ Anyone go/stay SMALL?? (B cup)
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Lindsey, From what I understand, Dr Khouri's method is to remove the fat, process it, and then inject it to the site drop by drop. It's not full-on lipo because my PS will only take the amount he needs...(bummer, a tighter belly would be nice! ;-) my PS mentioned that if I wanted to see "actual results" in my mid section he'd have to remove more fat, aka lipo...BUT at a discount ;-) my husband was quick to remind me that we weren't saving up for lipo, but to move to a bigger house :-) I just joked that I could never resist a good bargain! I was never told about DIEP in my future, not an option I was told. I'm pretty small as it is so, back to the gym I go to tone up! Haha
I must add in that sorry if I sounded grumpy last night with my post, I just hate the anticipation of surgery and anethesia, I'm fortunate for the results I have had so far and I know it'll all be ok...
Glad you are having a better day, Lindsey!!!0 -
I cant keep up with the boards these days!!!
Lindsay - glad youre feeling better!
As for FGing....I guess Ill never experience that but good to know who I can talk to about it!
Megan - Ill talk to you later..
Lago - I am SO done with the band already. I didnt mind it sleeping but took it off this morning to breathe a while. It gets hot and itchy FAST! And now I worry that the other one will get pushed down further! Ugh....just drop darn it!
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fire-dancer my PS compensates for the fat loss. He puts in more assuming only 35% will "take". He doesn't do the Dr. Kouri method. That's of course if he can find enough. In my case he couldn't but I think we need to see if I really need anymore.
It took me 5 weeks to get over the heartburn from general anesthesia. about a day for the nausea. Don't remember how long for the constipation but I was doing the Metamucil.
Suebee I don't sleep in my band anymore. Just wear it an hour or 2 a day. I first put on that flimsy training bra they gave me. I have an itchy problem with even clothing tags so there was no way that band was touching my skin.
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Okay.. here's what I've learned from my PS about the FG. He only does it under General anesthesia. I've heard of "tumescent lipo" being done under twilight. But that is just dissolving the fat.. not harvesting it. My PS does the same method as Dr Khouri as well. He says you don't want to put in too much fat at once because the harvested fat cells need a chance to become viable and connect with your tissue. He says more fat cells stay viable with each session..which is why he said it usually takes 2 or 3 sessions. I just had my 2nd FG 5 weeks ago and the fat filled divet is still holding. I had my first FG at the time of exchange and although it helped my divet noticeably...it did come back slightly...not as bad as before though.
Had my one month post op last week. Everything looks great..however, since I have hit my out of pocket maximum...and I could still have a little more fullness in my upper poles...I decided to do one more FG, what the heck?
...scheduled Nov 10. I went back and forth on it... like you, Megan.. wondered whether going under again just for a little cosmetics was unpractical. Like you said... you start to feel like this is all behind you... then you have to deal with it all over again. The nice part is though... it's a very quick recovery... I stopped pain pills after the 1st day. There are no arm restrictions ~ yay! I had it done on a Thursday and was back to work on Monday. Actually was totally fine by Saturday. And here's the kicker... I DID take the extra lipo for a discount offer! Decided, what the hell...the prep is exactly the same... just as soon as he was done harvesting my fat for the grafting....he went back in and cleaned house. So I was in a lot more pain than you will be, Megan. And yes... about an hour or so sounds right. With him doing the extra lipo on me, I think it was maybe a little over 2 hours. And for some reason I don't have any problem with the anesthsia...apparently I come out of it pretty easy..and don't really notice any "after effects". I remember my BS remarking how surprisingly "alert" I looked after my mastectomy. Who knew? Maybe I should use it as a sleeping aid ala Michael Jackson. 
Also.. regarding reserving the tummy area for a future DIEP. My PS asked me SEVERAL times if I for sure wanted to do below the belly button because of this reason. If there is a recurrence in the skin...if you reject your implants..infection etc down the road....if you take fat from the "pooch" area you will almost never be able to use it for a DIEP in the future. My honest thoughts are that if something like that happens down the road... I would almost rather just be flat than have major surgery again to have boobs made from some other body part. I've seen others results and they do look fabulous... I just don't think it would be for me. I suppose if I changed my mind I could always do a lat flap or something...but I honestly think I would rather go flat at that point.
Oh.. one other thing I thought was interesting. I asked if it was okay if I lost weight before my November surgery and he said it would actually be better if I did. (I have a good 10 lbs to lose..20lbs ideally if I want to get in my "skinny jeans".
He said "skinny fat" is better for FG than "fat fat" because you are harvesting more cells by volume.. since fat cells don't multiply..they just grow larger. 0 -
On my way to see the ps. Pinkness and itching startung again
So bummed0 -
Susan - Great explanation of everything!!! I agree with you on the points of 'once more for cosmetics' too...I would probably do the same.
Boy if my implants failed though - phew - I think I would opt for the Deip! It sounds horrible but I am falling in love with my boobs!!! I dont want to ever part!
Fluff - OH NO!!! Please report back later!!!
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Uh oh, fluff.
... crossing my fingers it's nothing bad!0 -
Susan - wow, thanks for explaining everything. I've got to talk through some of the things you said with DH. PS said "most women are happy to lose their tummy and it is just a side benefit of FG". I am assuming i am NOT paying for lipo, but have not been quoted anything for that surgery. Hmmm, makes me wonder what the cost will be since he doesn't take ins. I am hoping to only do this once, so am getting a little worried with the mounting costs with this new PS.
Interesting about "fat" fat and skinny fat. Guess I need to get out and start walking!
That is interesting to think "what if the implants failed?" I have a blood clot disorder so every surgery is stressful as far as forming blood clots. My old ps would not consider the DIEP because he didn't think I would make it off the table. Lots to consider, but hard when we are dealing with the what ifs?0 -
Susan, thanks for the info. No wonder my doc said I did not need to pig out before my fat grafting - I have enough skinny fat to cover the areas that are ripply.
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Yeah , I thought that was interesting about the "skinny fat" too because if we never lose our fat cells...they just shrink smaller....then why are some women being told that they don't have enough fat to harvest? Maybe there is a point where they become too small? Another question for my PS next time I see him!
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Susan, I will know the answer to the "skinny fat" question in 11 days! I will report back with my findings.
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Cool!
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Saw the PS Friday. He drew off some fluid and put in a fill. Fluid is being cultured and then I had bloodwork done. Seeing an infectious disease doctor on Monday to check things out.
One part of it is splotchy and itchy so that is different from last time. Not sure if it is a reaction to something or not.
He cultured scar tissue in the pocket during surgery to replace the expanders and no pseudomonas grew, but it sure looks like that is what is coming back.
He has vowed to do everything in his power to save them. I found some info on another board about chronic seroma. I think that is what I have because right where the red area is, I think fluid is forming again.
Not sure how that impacts implants at some point. On my list to ask Tuesday when I see him again.
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New to this site and newly diagnosed. Sorry to be a techno dork, but where is TimTam's site and how do I find the Exchange City section? Thanks. I meet with my PS again on Wednesday and this looks like exactly the information that I need! Thanks for all your frankness. How wonderful!
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I am going to the experts-YOU. Yesterday I was working in our garden and think maybe I over did it. I was pruning a lot of branches. Today I have these two "lumps" on my rt breast. They are hard and I wonder if I could have strained the muscle or if it could be the edge of the TEs? I am also getting a sharp stabbing pain when I move my right arm out to reach or grab something. The pain is on my sides but also just below my breast. I have a lot of scar tissue under my arms that will be removed in two weeks. I don't understand what this scar tissue is connected to, but could it be this? My chest feels so tight that it is hard to breathe deep, but when I do this stabbing pain pulls me up short. Anyone have anything similar?
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Skinny fat--that is intersting. saw my PS and scheduled to see him mid Sept to talk about FG to fill in a ridge and help ripples on one side (other side has zero problems). He said he would just take fat from my waist...I though that was odd as that is the one place I seem to have the least amount of fat (he could have a field day on thighs and butt!)...maybe the 'skinny fat' theory explains that....?
Also--read on one of these board about banking fat...has anyone done that?...seems like it would make sense to get all the fat at once when you are under general and then maybe not have to do the whole procedure each time they fill...?
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LindseyS you might have just strained something but you need to get this checked out. I had a lump 2 weeks after exchange surgery. My onc felt it and said if my PS didn't know what it was (saw him after her) then she wanted me to see my BS. Ended up being some fat grafting BUT we can't ignore lumps.
Could someone answer Therese9 question. I'm not at home so I don't have my information handy. Terese9 I will tell you that you have to be on this site for a while before you can be part of that other forum. It's not associated with BC.org so the owners are really careful about who the let on there. I mean women are bearing it all.
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Susan - you're rsponse was just a wealth of info!!! You rock and thanks for being so clear on your explanation, I had my hub read over my shoulder to get the details, too. I was out this wknd and saw friends/fam (ladies only party) and they were shocked that I was having FG, I explained you don't lose inches from FG, but your explanation of 'skinny fat' kinda helps. I definitley have some "extra love" around the hip-area, but I am still a size 4 on most days, so they thought I was crazy. PS was confident to be able to gather the fat, so I trusted him, but your explanation of that rationale is helpful - thanks, girlfriend!!!'
BTW, at the same party, (it was a birthday brunch for a sis-in-law)...a mutual friend, whom I have met over the years, but completely don't know well, she had the balls to come up to me, hug me AND THEN COP A FEEL!!! I wanted to die, or wring her neck! I never in a million years imagined ANYONE having the audacity to do that...I had to keep my cool because I was literally entering a party and there was a room of ladies (who didn't notice the feel, and I didn't want to bring any more attraction to it)...the woman was lucky I didn't knock her out...I'm pretty easy-going about chatting about the boobs and bc-stuff, but seriously?!?!? I'm not a pregnant-belly you can touch, geesh, I was never a fan of that but man, this woman was so forward it was bizarre! It was even more wierd since this was a room pretty much full of people who haven't seen me post-bc, so I assume you know what I mean when I say I always take a deep breath when entering a room of "newbies to the foobies" ;-)...yes, I know y'all wanna look, so just do it and let's get it over with! I was floored, not distraught, but floored by the set of balls it took to 'cop a feel' of my BMX foobs! CRAZYYYY
Fluff - I am soooo sending good thoughts your way, keep us posted!!!
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Wow Megan that did take balls! I don't usually react fast enough when something like that happens, but I wanted to slap her. Talk about invading sacred space!
Sorry to ask for help again, but Iam up against a wall.
Recap: I am having surgery in two weeks to swap out the cuarrent expanders which two ps thinks are too tall. My preop is tomorrow morning, but today on the phone I leavend that my new ps does this in three surgeries--swap out the current TE, exchange to implants in Nov, then FG from full on lipo to the belly next March. He doesn't take insurance and for the FG procedure he wants to use a surgical ctr that does not take insurance. So I am looking at $5K now, $5K for exchange, and 8K for lipo and FG. WAy beyond what we can afford but I am two weeks away from surgery. This ps uses a half TE like a half moon from the nipple down, then fills in the top for cleavage with fat.
Has anyone had onlyTEs then implants and NOT needed fat grafting afterwards? I don't know how to make this pre op go well if we can afford surgery #3, but are so far along now, I don't want to miss this opportunity since he is so good. I am wondering if a medium expander would create a big enough pocket so the implant could fill the space without FG.
Please if anyone can give me some suggestions or what you did, I would love to have some alternatives to take into him tomorrow morning. Thanks! Lindsey
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Lindsey, I would also post your question on the Exchange City thread here and also Breast Implant Sizing 101 here. Lots of ladies over there who can also help you!
You know my story, I'm still in the TE phase, so I'm not the best person to answer your questions but someone will come along to help! Good luck my dear!
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Thanks Renn. I added my question to the Exchange City thread. My DH said "you are really obessing over this. Let's see what the PS says tomorrow." I guess I want to have enough information so that I could call off the surgery if I think we are headed in the wrong direction.
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Lindsay - I dont need FG. My left is augmented and my right is a 475 implant. The right side has quite a slope to it (it hasnt dropped) so wont need any fluffing at all. My implants are wide and full (my right doesnt have the projection of the left because of the lack of breast tissue). My old PS said I wouldnt need FG and my new one said I still look great and dont have any noticable issues that FG could fix.
That being said, we are all built differently and even Firedancer and I who are pretty close in body size and implant size look different and have different needs.
Firedancer - OMG what a story! I wouldve shot my mouth off for sure. I can't believe she had the nerve! And I am SO glad you didnt deck ME!
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Lindsey just because he doesn't take insurance doesn't mean you can't file when you get the bill. You will need to get a pre-approval to see how much they might cover.
I had some fat grafting done at exchange. The nurse I saw a few days later said he couldn't find enough and plans on doing a little more at nipple reconstruction. Not sure if that will still happen but I might find out next week since it will be 9.5 weeks when I see him. I have some slight rippling on the outer sides and some on the top when I bend over.
Firedancer I think I would have copped a feel back and said "wow you have mushy ones. Do they droop a lot when you don't wear a bra?"
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Holy moly! What a story Megan! ... The only people that I could imagine doing that to me... (that I wouldn't punch out) are my two sisters! Heck, they've done that BEFORE I had BC (yes.. we are pretty much all crazy in my family
And totally get the going into a room of people that haven't seen you since BC, but know. You've got the ones that try so hard NOT to look at your breasts that it's painfully obvious...or the ones that keep trying to sneak a glance when you arent' looking. Like you said, Megan, I much rather have them just stare at them for awhile and get it over with! lol!
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Thanks Sue and Lago. Had a terrific visit with PS. He is going to be awesome. We told him we couldn't afford the FG surgery, and he sd there are too many unknowns right now. He first needs to swap out the TEs for a shorter TE and see what is actually going on from the last surgery. He sd "let's not jump too quick and just take it one step at a time.". I think he is a perfectionist, which is good, so he likes to use FG to reach "perfection!". I don't need perfection, but geez if we have to go through all of this I want to look dang good! :-)
He said anything the insurance pays, he will apply towards my exchange in Nov, so I was glad to hear that. Oh, I asked him how long it would take for them to drop and he said "I don't like things to drop. I want them to stay where I put them." I am picturing him walking into the exchange surgery in Nov with a big staple gun! What a journey this is. Glad I could journey it with all of you. :-)
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Lindsey - so glad to hear you are feeling better about your plan! As far as FG goes, I think you have a point, it isn't always "necessary"...in my case I am going for it, but I could absolutely live normal life without getting FG, it's just more of a preference for me now to walk away from the BMX and be (hopefully;-) satisfied with my results for the next 10..12...or (maybe?!?!) 15 years that this set of implants will last me...who knows after that - I'm sure we will all be watching to see where recon goes in the future...
And yeah, I was relatively floored (to say the least) about the woman who felt me up! I am totally cool with a little show and tell...like you said Susan, sisters - no problem! I've shown (and let em touch if they wanted;-) a couple close, local friends, and of course Sue!!! ;-)
Well, I did my anethesia appointment over the phone today and I have pre-op on a week or so...I can't wait for the appt to get some questions answered, I would like to leave the office knowing if this is a one-shot deal...
I'm off to prep my house for the impending hurricane, I think some severe weather is unavoidable and I need to move all the outdoor furniture, plants etc into the sheds...I keep looking up at my beautiful - but VERRRY tall trees that shade our entire house and yard...I'm giving them a "peptalk" to stay strong and tall, I cannot even think of what would happen if they fell...these trees are taller than our house and range from within 10 -25 feet of our back door, hanging over the house...must. keep. a. positive. outlook...ugh...
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Lindsey ~ your line about picturing your PS with a staple gun made me laugh!! Interesting that he doesn't "believe" in the drop? Maybe they just consider it being the pec muscle relaxing?
Megan ~ I can't believe you FG is already coming up! I don't know how noticeable your divet is.. but it really helped mine and mine was VERY noticeable (not in pics but definitely in person). And since you have "skinny fat" it should work even better!
Living in the Pac NW, I can't even imagine what it's like to live with the threat of hurricanes. We have tall trees too and I cringe when there is just an average windstorm here! I hope your trees paid close attention to your pep talk!
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Lindsey-we have friends who made a run down to their place and back to get it all locked up before anything hits. Good luck.
An update on me....nothing has cultured, which is good. I saw the infectious disease doc on Monday. He put me on an iv antibiotic to be safe, but also has me slathering my foobs with yeast infection cream. I mentioned to him that I get a yeast infection everytime I take an antibiotic. When he looked at this, he said he was going to treat it as such because you can get skin yeast infections when your immune system is compromised from antibiotics, chemo, steroids, etc.
TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY IT LOOKS BETTER!!!!!
I think I have Foob yeast infection! BAHAHAHA!
I've also been using coconut oil inbetween which surprisingly is also supposed to be really good for yeast infections. Didn't tell the docs about that yet. Might not either!
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fluffqueen ~ I foob yeast infection? Whoda thunk it!
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Megan - what day is your surgery? My TE revision is on Sept 6. I was thinking we may be on the same day since I am doing pre-op too! I am I L.A. But keep watching the storm news. I hope by the time it reaches you it has petered out to a good rain with no winds.
I have a card I've framed that says "the strength of a tree lies in it's ability to bend.". May your trees be strong!0
