TE/Implant OVER pectoral Can exercise, comfortable &NO RIPPLES!
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2FUN, sounds like you are quite knowledgeable on all of this - yoga, etc.. And a very rewarding career you must have! When done right, I am learning, there is that overlap and adaption to combine so many disciplines for the best results. Everyone probably can find the "thing" that works best for them!
Have a nice day as well!
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After every surgery (B mastectomy, fat grafting, TE placement, exchange TE>implant) I resumed my regular activities at 2 weeks post-op...which was a lot. That included activities in plank/low plank, push-ups, weight lifting, other core & plyometric activity such as T25/P90X, and a lot of running and hiking (and snowboarding and cycling dep on season). Some activities I could dive right back into at the same level as before surgery, others I was a little slower or didn't use as much weight for a couple of weeks, but the relative time and intensity were the same as pre-surgery. My surgeon only gave me 2 weeks of restrictions for every surgery, but I knew I had to very specifically ask what activities I could and could not do because he usually doesn't have patients so active. To me, being allowed to walk meant being allowed to hike and exert myself as much as I wanted cardiovascularly. Mind you, I did have pretty bad cording after L axillary node dissection, which was problematic for many months, but I tried to continue with everything anyway despite the pain because that is my nature (I did also see a specialist PT for the cording). And...I had a drug reaction over a year ago that affected my tendon/muscles for months and is lingering. I still competed athletically after it, and I still keep at it as much as I can even though I may never fully recover to where I'd like to be when I race. Some days it is discouraging, other days I'm so proud of how much I did during treatment and still do.
Exercise/my routine was what kept me sane through all that awful chemo and rads - even on my worst treatment days it gave me a reprieve. In general, it has always kept me feeling well and very happy! I just don't feel like myself unless I start my day with at least an hour of exercise, and sometimes I'll do more at lunch or after work. Thankful to have pre-pec implants that I can exercise comfortably with!
It says a lot that if given a choice, I'd go through chemo again vs having any orthopedic injury that keeps me from exercise.
Yoga is great! - and I recommend it to my patients - but it's just not good for me personally. It is oddly a form of mental torture for me! I keep trying different types, but none bring me joy. As Jessie said - everyone had the thing that works for them!!
Jessie - so happy to hear you are bouncing back!! and...that your nodes were clear - that is fantastic news!
You are all so fabulous and inspirational - pushing through all this crap we have to go through!! I'm so happy to have support through this site!
Happy Wednesday! - xo
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Hi All, I am so glad to hear JessieJake got such good news. I hope that you can get back to an activity that you really enjoy. I am trying to get fitter too. I walk my dog in the woods near our house for about 45 minutes on the trails, on my days off work. This has been harder lately as I had a bad cough for several weeks which made me get out of breath more easily on the hills. Finally the cough has gotten better, but I find I have a very minor asthma now, and do better if I use an Albuterol Inhaler 20 minutes before hiking on the trails. Strangely enough, I don't get out of breath on the rowing machine, only out of doors. I bought a Concept 2 Rowing Machine last September, which is the same one they have in alot of gyms. I use that every morning before work for at least 25 minutes. I really like the rowing, I just get up and start rowing with my headphones on listening to music. I have been trying to increase the intensity level to my maximum for 5 minutes, out of my entire rowing time. I know that may not sound like much, but I really work up a sweat, and feel I have been getting steadily fitter over the past few months.
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Yay Macb04! - The Concept 2 rower is fantastic and an incredible workout! Tough stuff!
I'd bet there would be a big difference in comfort rowing with implants under the pec vs over. - xo
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LOL, Andraxo, I smiled about your comment on yoga not bringing you joy. Although I rave about the benefits of yoga for me I have a little secret.... I try to limit my glances at the clock during class time to only two. Either I get a little bored or I'm tired of contorting myself into some position that I can't quite get right. My eyeballs can drift to that clock quicker than my mind can say, "no!". But, I feel so good afterwards that I continue to go....
Thanks for the good wishes on my lymph nodes!
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I have to work during all my physical activity.....to just be in the moment and not think about what I used to do or should do. I have had a number of orthopedic difficulties, as well as CA that limits me. I like the idea of finding more joy in my exercise. I think I had forgotten about that!
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You are probably right Andraxo, rowing with the Prepectoral implant is no bother at all, although I didn't go to the gym or try rowing when I had the TE under my poor pec. Just opening a bag of chips was an irritating challenge with my pectoral muscle disrupted by the TE. I am so, so very glad that I can move and flex without the implant bugging me since it is Prepectoral. I know I would never be able to stand it under my pecs, as I am just too active.
I have had it both ways, so I really know what it's like. So many poor women discover the unfortunate truth of how much Subpectoral implants limit their strength and comfort only after they have had their pecs disrupted by surgery.
I can really tell the difference when I haven't had a good night's sleep, my endurence really flags then, and I just can't get to my top potential rowing speed.
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Hello ladies! Hope everyone is doing well. I am 3 weeks out from exchange, and wondering how long you all were advised.to wear a bra 24/7? Also, if you wear a bra, what brands do you like? Any that are particularly comfortable for sleeping? Also, and this is weird, but I feel like mine are too close together. Will they change over.time? What are your experiences? Thanks!
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Hey Jen!
I only had a few days of 24/7 bra, but my initial implants were only approx 300cc. Being bigger may affect how long your surgeon wants you supported. If mine were bigger, I know I'd feel the need for more support (can actually feel the weight difference between the two since they are 60cc different). I also felt like my expanders, and now the implants are too close together and that's even after he went with implants 1cm narrower than initially planned because I thought the expanders were too wide. When I'm standing and looking in the mirror I don't really think they are too close, but they don't behave like real breasts and they easily create cleavage (!) in side-lying and if I adduct my arms/shoulders even a little. Cleavage is not anything I want. I don't think any of that changes over time. Sure they may settle a little in height (from what I've read), but the footprint stays the same. Do they feel close together all the time, or just in certain positions?
Exchanging out my L310 for likely a 250 next Friday - Yay! I have more rippling now. I imagine that's because all the swelling is gone. My nipples also seem to be in different time zones, like those little plastic googly eyes. I'm also still getting used to the fact that they don't compress and feel very strange when they are between me and something firm (such as carrying a box against my chest). Overall though, they feel great with exercise, and they look great in clothes...just not naked.
xo
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Hi littleblueflowers, Congrats on being 3 weeks out! I know I was advised to wear an underwire for several weeks after sugary (after 1 week in the surgical bra - if I remember correctly!). My PS had tried to raise up one side and hoped the underwire might hold it in place while it healed. I'm guessing it was probably 4-5 weeks of that, but to be honest, I still wear a bra almost always.
I wear soft cup bras at night and when I'm doing something at home or being active. I also still use underwires when trying to look nice and they hide my rippling by pushing up some on my implants. (Andraxo - I have rippling and am choosing to live with it. Not horrible, but noticeable when I slouch or am braless).
My comfy bras are simply Bali flex fit, no wire. I actually kinda love those things - soft, and ez to wear. I do also have a few other bralette type things but those Bali ones are my fav. I see lots of talk on here about the coobie bras. They do look nice.
For "real" bras I'm hooked on natori brand. These are underwire and I found fit is so important as I need to make sure the wire goes around the edge of my implants. Some that are too small in the cup will put the wire on the side of the implant.
As to how close the implants are. I can't say much unfortunately. I thought mine might be too wide, but I've been assured they are not and they look good now that's i've had several months getting used to them. I do have to say that how I looked for maybe up to a month after exchange is different than now. I thought I was pretty big but now I think that was swelling. I'm very "settled" now but not sure what really settled except for swelling to go away.
Andraxo, I have 290cc! It seems not too many people have this small of implants on here. When you say you can create cleavage, do you mean that they are completely together? I can't do that, but not ever having cleavage before I'm not sure what the real definition is. I actually asked my hubby the other day if my nipples were pointing the right way! I don't know why this stuck out too me 8 months after surgery. I thought they changed for some reason. They haven't and I've been seen several times to my PS office so I'm sure they would have said something. Anyway, just an odd moment. I do have one nipple that is more "on" than the other due to complications from BMX surgery. Just a funny side note
Good luck next Friday. Hope all goes well.
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Hi littleblueflowers, maybe the too close together thing is related to the post surgery swelling and tight bra? I really like Bali Bras, I wear a 36 C. What size do you need? That will determine which bra is a good, comfortable fit. Try Bromelain for post surgery swelling. Take it between meals.
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Jessie - I can definitely push my small implants together to make them touch above my sternum. It's weird! I can't recall if I could do that with my real breasts...they were even smaller. I went to a potluck/art show at a friend's house on Wednesday night and wore a form fitting Tshirt (with another long sleeve T underneath) without a bra. It was nice. The pattern on the shirt camouflaged my wayward nipples. A friend asked me about my implants since she knew I was having surgery again next week, and asked if she could touch them. I'm amazed how many of my friends want to know what they feel like. It always makes me laugh! They feel strange even to me - rubbery.
I did approx. 25 push ups twice this week. The implants are comfortable, but my radiated L pec muscle doesn't like it. That single round of fat grafting last summer certainly helped my radiated skin and subcutaneous tissue, but my pec muscle will likely never recover.
have a greet weekend everyone! - xo
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Thanks Jessie and Mac for the bra input! I wound up finding some comfy ones on sale- kind of a coobie knock off type. My PS is chortleingly pleased with his work on my chest at this point- he said it was a hard surgery to get them even close to level, because of the radiation damage to my left side. They have settled a bit and aren't as tight together. I've joined a group for breast augmentation, just to see how women who do this on purpose turn out, and some of their breasts are very close together like mine, and others are further apart. I guess I kind of got the porn star look. Hey, I guess as long as they are even and there is no symmastia, its ok. Sigh. I don't love them, and I don't hate them. The irony that they could give me cancer is not lost on me, but I made my BS order an MRI for next year. fingers crossed it gets approved mby my evil insurance. Hope you all are doing well and looking sassy!
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Hi all,
i am considering pre pec implants over going flat.. i cannot wear a bra as it aggravates my bad reflux and gastroparesis ( food just sits therr in the stomach for a long ng time) never worn a bra in years.. could have have a pre pec implants and then just wear a camisole with a built in bra? i can tolerate that. plus has any of you did an immediate pre pec implants after mastectomy? many thanks!
kae
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kae_md99, I'm not real knowledgeable in all of this but will tell you that my PS was going to do immediate reconstruction pre pec so I know it can be done. That said, I think you have to find a PS that will do it. As it turned out my diseased breast skin was too thin to do the procedure (I think from the combination of a steriotactic biopsy that left my breast black and blue for a month, followed by lumpectomy w/ fluid build up, and then the MX- just too much). My PS did warn he wouldn't know for sure if he could do the procedure until actually in surgery. Incisions are inframitory, so I've been only in camisoles and recently found coobies which are wonderful!
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kae_md99, I'm not real knowledgeable in all of this but will tell you that my PS was going to do immediate reconstruction pre pec so I know it can be done. That said, I think you have to find a PS that will do it. As it turned out my diseased breast skin was too thin to do the procedure (I think from the combination of a steriotactic biopsy that left my breast black and blue for a month, followed by lumpectomy w/ fluid build up, and then the MX- just too much). My PS did warn he wouldn't know for sure if he could do the procedure until actually in surgery. Incisions are inframitory, so I've been only in camisoles and recently found coobies which are wonderful!
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thanks Sitti
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kae - aside from needing compression immediately post-op (for at least a few days), if you are going with small implants, I think you could easily get away with camisoles or tanks with built-it shelf bra for everything. That's what I wear most of the time.
I am home about an hour now after exchanging out my L implant for a less projection. I'm a little lightheaded but otherwise feeling great. Yay A+ cup!! Swelling hasn't set in yet and I peeked and can see the difference and that it is significantly smaller (flatter) than the one from the initial TE>implant exchange. I'll need compression a little longer because of the risk of rotation since the pcket it likely a little loose. I dropped from a 310cc to a 250cc. Now I have the same implant bilaterally - 250cc, low projection, anatomic (gummy gear), pre-pec. Can't believe it took 3 surgeries instead of one, but I'm happy I spoke up after the first surgery that the larger size was not acceptable, and that my insurance covered it. Hoping I won't need any more surgeries for a long time. Fat grafting may happen down the line, but I'm OK with the rippling now (and maybe forever).
Jen - How are you doing? healing well? are your restrictions lifted and you can finally be more active?
have a great weekend everyone! - xo
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thanks andraxo,is 250 cc the least we could go. as long as i have" mounds" i am good. i am originally 36 A.5'6.13o-132 lbs..thanks!
ka
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Hi All.
Had a Gorgeous day here in the Great Pacific Northwest. It was so beautiful walking my dog in the woods today. I am working 12 hour days (in a room with no windows) for the next 3 days, so I tried to maximize my exposure today.
Andraxo great to hear that you got your implant size down to what you wanted. I know you will be back to your regular exercise regimen soon.
Hi Kae. Welcome! I think that Prepectoral could be a good fit for what you want, and like Andraxo said, camisoles work well for the smaller size implants.
I had my chest lasered today to decrease the hyperpigmentation and Petitchae(spelling?, broken blood vessels), on my chest from rads damage. I did it before and it really improved the appearance of my chest. Takes more than one time to get the best effect, and I didn't have money to pay for it till I was back to work.
I just added another PS to the list. We are now up to 34, and I think there are actually more that are not on the list, but hopefully people will keep PMing me with the names. .
Well, Night All.
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LittleBlue, glad you found some bras that work. There are, I think, a fair amount of coobie style ones that you can find for not too much money. I can see how it would help to talk with other women and kind of compare. We are all so different body wise, I guess it's no surprise that our outcomes from this would also be unique. It at least helps to know that!
Andraxo, glad to hear you are liking your 250 low projection, etc... Hope you are feeling good and healing well.
Hey macb04, sounds lovely where you are and your walk in the woods. Hope the layering works quickly!
Happy Saturday! Almost 70 and sunny here in MN, beautiful day!!!
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for TE implant over pectoral, how would you examine for recurrence on the pectoral muscle since you cant feel it? MRI's? would insuranc eapprove it?
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Kae, I have wondered the same thing and nobody will look me in the eye and admit that yearly MRI is the only sure way to check for chest wall recurrence when the implant is over the muscle. They act like no further surveillance is necessary (at least for me: DCIS).
I think the real truth is they know insurance companies won't pay for annual MRI for us, so they don't want to get caught in the middle of the battle.
It may take some time, with further studies, to force insurers to cover annual MRI in our situation. Especially if DCIS was your only diagnosis-there remains a really good chance of complete cute despite recurrence, IF caught early. Without chest wall surveillance, it would be impossible to catch a recurrence early.
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i have both DCIS and IDC.so i will ask that to my PS. do you always need to wear a bra/camisole even when sleeping if implant is over the pectoral muscles?
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My Saturday has been spent reading this whole thread. Lots of new and exciting stuff is happening for sure!
My new PS wants to exchange my sub-pec 410 FF 595 cc's for pre-pec Inspira SCX 600-700 cc. I have hated my flat, burger bun implants since I woke up from the exchange last June. There are also symmetry issues, redundant skin, and rotation of Righty that needs to be corrected.
I am tall (5' 11") with a BMI of 18.8. I am concerned about having enough fat to pad around the implant and contour the upper pole as the PS mentioned using 200 cc's of fat per side. I also don't want the donor sites be disfigured from the lipo.
My other worry is about sagging with such large implants. I've noticed most here have implants on the small size. I already had/have significant ptosis before the NSBMX and my skin is thin, especially since I have used steroids long term for another disease.
Anyway, I have some time and one more appt before I decide which way to go. Oddly enough, I am comfortable with the sub-pecs and the animation doesn't really bother me. I really like my new PS, but have "trust issues" from the original PS who did me few favors.
BTW, Andraxo and 2FUN, I am an OT!
Thanks in advance for any input any of you would like to offer.
C
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In response to questions about monitoring for chest wall recurrence- yes! An MRI is the best way to monitor the chest wall, which is why it is so important to talk to your care team and get all your questions answered before you decide on a type of recon. For me, even though my stats are grim, In exaustive consultation with my MO, BS, and PS, and taking into account my particular.pathology and tumor location, they said pre-pec would.he a.safe option. In my case, reocurrance to the axilla and skin is far more likely th an to the chest wall. Therefore, pre pec implants provide some.protection for.me by keeping my skin away from my chest wall. Everyone is so different. Talk, talk, talk to your team until you have all the info you need! Xoxoxox
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kae, I don't need to wear a bra or camisole or anything -- ever. I choose to wear bralettes or camisoles if I'm wearing a thin tshirt or the like (to prevent nipple show-thru), but my PS told me I could go braless day and night about 10 days after surgery. She also cleared me to side sleep and tobasically resume all normal activities at that appointment, but I found it uncomfortable to side sleep until about week 3 or 4.
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thanks candles. did you do immediate recon? or dis you do TE's. how often do tou fill up Te's anyways? i plan to go low 250 perhaps. also did you do fat grafting? inreally really appreciate it!
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kae, I had my implants placed right at surgery. One step. Direct to implant over the muscle. It was a very easy recovery. I went home and took the dog for a long walk, and had very few restrictions right from the get go. In fact, I pretty much had full range of motion when I left the hospital.
I'm told that my surgery can't be done on everyone; I was very lucky. My skin was in great condition; my DCIS was contained and accounted for (having had a lumpectomy before with unclear margins), and so I was eligible for a very nice and uncomplicated cosmetic outcome. I know this is not an option for many, and I'm very grateful I had this option.
Havingundisturbed muscles has been wonderful. BUT I do have some visible rippling on one side. I have the option to cover it with fat grafting and after considering it for a couple months now, I think I will go forward with the fat grafting. I'm very thin (BMI 18.5) so I do worry about where the fat will be be sourced from.
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thanks candles, if i can have that i will do it or maybe just go flat.is your skin fairly thick and does not bruise easily? my PS did tel me the one time i went to him but cautioned that it cant be done in all cases...thanks again.
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