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

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Comments

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited March 2011

    I am having a biopsy done today on my bc breast that if it turns positive, I will have a double mx.  I currently am a 38C, and if I get reconstruction, my husband and I discussed at length that I would like to be a 34C or even a bit smaller.  I don't like being big breasted, and especially after surgeries, and rads, I am so uncomfortable in any bra at all that the minute I get home, off it comes, so if I have to do it, I would gladly go smaller to be more comfortable.

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited March 2011

    Chelev ~ Crossing my fingers for a negative biopsy for you. :)

    Lago ~ Sounds like you make jokes at the dr's offices too!  I'm sure you find that sometimes they just don't know how to react to that.  I found that some of them start out so serious and look at you with those big sad eyes and don't expect you to be "happy" and making jokes.   It's not like I think it's a blast to have cancer...It's just my personality to infuse humor into most situations (sometimes inappropriately! ).  Undecided

    I'm fortunate that my Onc and PS (once they knew my personality) have a great sense of humor and feel more comfortable "joking" with me now.  My BS, not so much, she's a pretty serious lady so I tone it down a bit for her. Wink  

  • MarieK
    MarieK Member Posts: 467
    edited March 2011

    Chevlev sorry to hear that you are still having to deal with the "threat" of BC!  I hope your biopsy comes back negetive and you can move on.  Would you consider a DMX regardless of the results today?

    Something good about going smaller - I bought a MEDIUM sized top for the first time in years!  I have been buying Large just for the bust area (always hung off the shoulders) but now I can wear the smaller Med size and it fits pretty good! 

    It's still a tiny bit snug in the bust area but it looks so much nicer than the large size.  I guess what I really need is something like an Extra-Medium (you know like Extra-Large). 

    My ONC has a very weird sense of humour and it took me a while to get used to it.  The last time I saw him (3 weeks post exchange) he said to me "so you're having some renovations".  I told him I was a work in progress.  He said "just like the phoenix" and then he pulled my hair. 

    YES!! He has been pulling my hair the last 3 visits!  He said "it's coming in thick and strong!"  It's always an "experience" going to see him. 

    Sadly he is retiring in June and I'm going to see Dr Sasha (very dreamy young ONC) so easy on the eyes but I hope he knows what he's doing!

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

    Susan They seem to be OK with it. My PS is quite personable actually. He's become more relaxed now that he knows my personality. He actually cracked up I told him my dad was about to move my entire family to New Zealand in 1973 after Nixon got in for a 2nd term. He said "wow, now there's someone who takes their politics seriously." (His nurse is from New Zealand).

    My onc is pretty serious but has also warmed up a lot over time. Nice to see her personality come through.

    Now my LE MD is super serious.  When I met him I told him my arms are so tight I lost my Hadassah wave. (expression my Jewish grandmother used when middle age women wave their arms and the flab starts waving too. You know, flabby wings). He didn't crack a smile. I still haven't been able to loosen him up yet.

    My BS is so busy I don't I think his head is spinning. He too is a really nice guy but I actually don't see him all that much. 3 visits so far including the one before my biopsy and after surgery.

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited March 2011

    My PS is very straight forward and doesnt really get my sense of humor yet but Ill keep working on him!  Maybe they just dont know how to react to us crazy gals!

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited March 2011

    "Maybe they just don't know how to react to us crazy gals!"  ~

    I think you are right, Sue!!  I get that alot! :)

    Marie ~ He pulls your hair!!?!?? That's kinda funny...and disturbing at the same time! lol!  ~ oh and congrats on your new Medium size!!! :)

    Lago ~ The LE MD not cracking a smile on the Hadassah wave joke ~ too funny! I think it's kinda funny when I get the blank stare. Tongue out 

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited March 2011
    Susan the worst part of if is his last name is Feldman so I always think of Marty Feldman when I hear his name. (Not that his first name is Marty). I go in there with this image in my head that's all wrong Tongue out
  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited March 2011

    LOL!  Now I'm gonna have a hard time getting Marty F's image outta MY head! 

  • soccermomofthree
    soccermomofthree Member Posts: 70
    edited March 2011

    What the heck who wants to buy a size large shirt just to accomodate their breasts? lol

    When I had my TE my mediums were too tight.  I thought I was going to have to change my shirt size after all these years.  My implants do not require a size large I am very happy to report.  :)

  • satisfied_survivor
    satisfied_survivor Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2011

    I'm just happy to have two breasts the same size!!!  Because I wanted to do simultaneous reconstruction I went with a nice B cup size which is what my larger breast was.  I am extremely happy with the result.  They are perkier than the real girls were and all my clothes still fit.  When I was 30 I might have wanted to go bigger, but mostly I just wanted to move beyond cancer as quickly as possible and get back to normal.  I was done except for nipple reconstruction and tatooing and back at work in 4 weeks!  It's a personal choice, but on my small frame it would have been obvious that I had implants.  As it is, if you didn't know I had cancer, no one would ever suspect.

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

    Hi girls!  I just caught up a bit and gotta say again, just love this thread!

    I cannot read my PS, he is a real relaxed guy, very intelligent, but not into too much small talk - his office is great, though - the nurses are always checking out the TE's and giving me excellent advice.  I can't seem to really crack his code yet - hmmm, maybe it had to do with the wacky-unsolicited "hug" I gave him as he was leaning down to mark my chest up for surgery (BMX).  ooops, my bad!!! I was all hopped up on some pre-op drugs just reached up and pulled him in for a hug...oh dear!   I must say, it was a BIT of an awkward moment ;-) !!!!

    My BS is great.  I have developed my 1st girl crush on her ;-) She really is the whole package  - beauty, brains & sophistication...I met her and it was love at 1st sight ;-) !!!  Just such a warm & compassionate woman.  I have only seen her a few times, (post-op visit is in a couple weeks)  I of course did my research on her (as well as my PS) and I knew she was the "one"

    ...a week after my BMX, I came across a Boston tv news interview and I learned that my BS was the surgeon that discovered  Elizabeth Edwards' BC & performed the lumpectomy.  I had followed Elizabeth Edwards' battle with BC and after I realized we shared the same BS, I don't know - I just felt even MORE reassured that I made the right choice.  It wasn't the "fame factor" but just how well my BS spoke about Elizabeth Edwards and the respect she showed on air.  ...a real class-act!

    ...as far as buying new clothes to fit the "girls" - I did have to buy a bunch of new stuff - I was an A and wore slim-fitting clothing.  I can still fit into some, but I look a "tad" busty! ;-) ...so I opted to go for medium-sized stuff to keep from looking like a loose mamma!!! ;-)

    I know I will be bigger than I started after exchange, but I will still be able to go between clothes.  I can say I will have to retire my bikini tops from last summer, I had the tiniest boobs and wore no wire or padding  ;-)  I've tried them on with TE's and it's hysterical... geesh, me and my 5 & 7 yr old daughters on the beach - I'd be a bit if an embarrasment hanging out all over the place!!!

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited March 2011

    Megan Im a little worried about clothes too.  I havent had a fill yet - hopefully friday! - so I havent been clothing shopping at all.  I too was very small but I didnt wear really fitting clothes - now I am noticing how big my clothes really are on me without boobs.  I will need all new summer clothes because I lost 2 sizes since last summer and my clothes are rediculous now.  My BFF cant wait to take me out and suit me up.  LOL  I have a sweater that I havent even worn yet because of my lack of cleavage so that is my guide clothing item....cant wait to see the girls grow.

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

    I'm finding for the first time in my life my shirts are pulling/tight in the boob area. I still have 3 more expansions to go! and I hear I'm going to have to live with these gals this size for at least a month.

    Forget clothes shopping. I have 6-8 lbs to lose on the lower half and it appears my upper half is an growing target that will eventually go back to normal after the exchange.

    new name: lady lago porn star Tongue out

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited March 2011

    Megan ~ Too funny about your spontaneous hug with the PS!  

    Looks like both Megan and Sue will be having some fun shopping soon!!  I'm pretty much my same size (since most my bras had some padding) ..but I'm planning on losing 10 more lbs.  Still not sure if I'll make it (EVER!) back to a bikini confidence though!.....but I do look forward to buying some pretty (UNpadded) bras!!! :) 

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited March 2011

    Lady Lago Porn Star Kiss

    I guess I'm "lucky" that my PS's method is to NOT overfill...he will exchange for the "same" size.  He also requires a minimum of 2 months wait from the last fill ~ so that would have been hard to be "oversized" for that long!

    All my clothes still fit (even the form fitting blazers) ... but the difference is that I'm not even wearing a bra and it still fills out the same!   I see my PS this afternoon, actually, to have a follow up since it's been 2 months now since my last fill.  I'm looking forward to it ~ I miss him & the office gals!!  Now I have to try and remember all the new questions I have for him! Tongue out

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

    My PS said a minimum of 1 month. He said that since I had 3 fills prior to chemo I don't have to wait months. I'm not sure if it will only be a month but we'll see. They seem to be really pleased with how my incision continues to heal. My drain holes seem to be disappearing before my eyes since chemo ended.

    Megan what is this with the hug. New Englanders don't hug people unless they share blood or have married into the family Wink Didn't they teach you this? Or are you not from New England originally?

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited March 2011

    Lago ~ My PS said the wait time was for the muscles, not the incision.  He wants the pec muscles to get relaxed in that new position.  I do have to say that my chest feels so much better now that I often don't even notice a "pull" anymore and forget the TE's are there... I'm excited to see how the implants will feel!

    Maybe your PS feels the pecs have relaxed enough with having the 3 fills in there during all that time through chemo?  Do you still feel really tight in the chest area? 

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

    Lago - hahaha!!!!! you are sooo right!!! New Englander's are a tough bunch, I consider myself a NE'er after being here 18 yrs...but, born & raised in NJ, geez, you'd think with that upbringing I'd know better than to be a hugger Wink

    I guess it's that little bit o' hippie I got in me - Smile ...I tend to be touchie-feely...but what the heck was going thru my mind then, I have NO idea, he leaned down and I just immediately thought "hug"...won't be making that mistake again, damn drugs!!! ...my PS is young enough and clean-cut enough where you just don't "hug" him without feeling awkward after!

    I had to wait 6 weeks from final fill...and yes, he is a wee-bit of an over-filler, only by 60 cc's. or so...which is getting to be a drag, I just bumped one of these suckers right into the car door when shutting it today, Surprised I won't miss that!!!

    About drain holes - mine are still sore to the touch, (under the skin), not bad but noticable - anyone else?  they are healed up and I am moisturizing them to reduce scarring, but inside is still sore, and it's been 3 months...

    Susan - it's nice you still fit in your clothes, I feel like I have a "loaner boobage"...that's what I've begun telling friends when the comment on my "growth"... I remind them in a matter of days I'll be a proud owner of a whole other set! Tongue out

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited March 2011
    fire-dancer I have loosened up living here in the midwest off and on since the early 80's.  I'm also a creative. (Try to get through art school not touching people. Can't be done). Granted I was still caught off guard when my Onc. hugged me at my last chemo. I was not expecting that. Yup still got some Boston left in me.
  • fire-dancer
    fire-dancer Member Posts: 444
    edited March 2011

    Lago - about 9 yrs ago, my hub & I spent a couple months just traveling the country, staying at hostels, camping at national parks (insert previous hippie comment here!Tongue out)  Once we left the east coast, we were LOVING how nice and chatty everyone was!  People are in such a rush here - don't get me wrong, I've got it in my blood ;-) but it's refreshing to see how people slow down...buuut, I couldn't part with coastal living for anything, RI is still a itty-bitty place with some quiet beaches, there's alot of that New England charm I love now :-)  Boston is one fabulous city - I am there for my Dr's at MGH.

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

    I grew up on the south shore (SE of Boston) so not far from RI. My parents live down the cape so I always fly into Providence.

    OK now back to exchange talk.

    SusansGarden yes I know it's about the muscle but I would assume the skin too.

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited March 2011

    Sorry to hop back to it but Im a Boston Girl!  (Lago, I grew up in Dedham).  I lived there until I married DH and went on a whirlwind of cultures (Japan, Hawaii, Belgium now Ohio)....so I totally get the whole hugging thing.  My family didnt even hug- just the obligatory kiss on the cheek.  I go stiff when someone hugs me before we are pretty darn close.  My BFF is from MO though and she had to carefully convert me - she so darn touchy!  LOL!  Japan and Belgium doesn hug either.  Its weird for me here to have cashiers SPEAK to you let alone be nice!!  But its all in upbringning.  I didnt notice how much I didnt hug or show affection until I got here.

    Back to boobs - Im not looking to be a porn star - and I dont know if I will EVER feel comfortable in a bikini - but Im so darn proud of myself for finally getting to size 4 that once I have boobs on top of that, I think Im going to be horrible! I was already confidently wiggling in the front of my Zumba class - now Im going to be obnoxious, I can sense it already! LOL!!!

  • Anniemomofthree
    Anniemomofthree Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2011

    Minnesota girl - everyone here is NORDIC, including me.  Not a lot of hugging.  In fact, my  PS asked me if I liked to hug...in order to determine silicone or saline.  Silicone, by the way, if you like to hug!

    Anyway, had an oh-so-productive meeting with the PS.  Translated, was a PITA with almost one hour of questions.  He was so patient, as usual.  I learned so much about the breast fold, the suturing below and laterally, as well as the whole sizing issue. Recall that I was measured at a 34DD. Talked all about that.  He was adamant that you look at projection at this point and not width (which is driving me to the DD).

    I actually now have a tentative date. He was shooting for 8 weeks after chemo, but due to healing he is open to moving it up  to five weeks.  YEEHAW!  He does not do drains and said this does not compare, in recovery, to  BMX.  So happy about that.

    Most of all, he assured me that based on the technique of working within the natural breast fold (I did not know I had one!) that there is no concern of a FOOB FALL. Running, exercising, etc. will not gradually erode this fold.  This was my worry after seeing pics online.

    Talked about all the emotional healing along with the physical.  

    Thinking I am in love with him....nah, just really like that he reassured me!

    Annie 

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

    ok, I won't make this long, but - Lago, my parents live on the Cape - mid cape (harwich/chatham) area...we are out there a ton!

    Sue - wow, sounds like you've seen it all...exciting travels!!! ...btw...you deserve to feel confident & proud!!!   ...flaunt it fearlessly and zumba it up, girlfriend!!! Cool

    Annie - yay for 5 weeks and NO drains!!!!

  • Anniemomofthree
    Anniemomofthree Member Posts: 370
    edited March 2011

    Sue - can you youtube your zumba class for us?  Would love to see you shaking your little size 4 body with your foobs!!!!!

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited March 2011

    Ok I just fell over laughing!!!!  That was awesome ladies, THANKS!!!  Anniemomofthree, Ill have to ask my BFF to film me...I wont stop laughing though!! And honestly its her feeding this - she keeps trying to get the husbands to come to class - and she relentlessly tells my DH how great my butt looks while Im wiggling around.  Maybe I SHOULD look at it on video to put myself back in check!  LOL!!!

  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited March 2011

    Boy! I need to recruit some West Coast Gals over here ~ I'm feeling lonely! Tongue out

    Lago ~ I had a skin sparing, so I sometimes forget about the skin needing to stretch too!

    Sue~ I would be damn proud of yourself too!! You sure will be one hot(ter) Zumba momma after your exchange!  You are inspiring me to keep going for those last 10 pounds!!

    Annie ~ Interesting about silicone being better for hugging! I'm definitely a hugger (though I haven't hugged my PS while he's marking me (yet)  ;) ..so I'm glad I'm getting silicone!  That's great that it sounds like you can have your surgery sooner than you thought, and that he reassured you about the foob fall! I'm so jealous of you girls that don't have to have drains for the exchange.  My PS does them. :(

    Megan~ Not too much longer now for you!!!!  

    I saw my PS yesterday for a follow up...says things look really good, will discuss final implant size when he takes my measurements at preop appt (2 wks prior to surgery).  I'm excited but also nervous.  I don't want to have too high of expectations ~ I mean, I know they won't look as good as real breasts...it's just everybody's outcome is so individual...I'm dying to know how it's going to look on me, you know? Undecided

    It's so hard because I'm actually choosing to delay it a month (because of son's schedule)...but I'm sure April 21st will be here before I know it! :) 

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited March 2011
    SusansGarden I too had skin sparing. I have a feeling my BS took plenty of skin from my former A+/B- breasts… Still not sure why they need to stretch out this much but I do trust my PS.
  • SusansGarden
    SusansGarden Member Posts: 754
    edited March 2011

    It is very fascinating how so many of them do things so differently, isn't it!?

  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 545
    edited March 2011

    Susan those 10 will be easy once youre back to it.  Actually a friend sent a large box of chocolates and cookies from Germany today.....maybe Ill soon be trying to lose the 10 I will gain while healing!  LOL

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