TE/Implant OVER pectoral Can exercise, comfortable &NO RIPPLES!
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Hi Shoregirl, thanks for the good wishes. It is just lovely how much kindness and support is given out on this thread.
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Aww, you're welcome macb04! I know, this community is awesome and has helped me so much. I live in a very rural area so this online network of kind, compassionate ladies means everything to me. I pray you get peace over your decision to move forward w/revision or not and relief from those UTIs!! You mentioned the dangers of antibiotic overuse and I agree with you. One thing I wanted to say for those who don't know, when on AB therapy, it is imperative to be taking oral Probiotics. The AB kill ALL bacteria, not just the bad bugs but also our healthy gut flora. So we need to put the beneficial bacteria back in. My father is a holistic Dr, specializes in treating Lyme disease. He says if you take regular probiotics, they must be taken in between doses of AB. If taken at the same time they will cancel out and be of no benefit unless you take the Probiotic Pearls which have a special coating, they can be taken at the same time as the AB.
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Thanks for the info on the Probiotics, shoregirl. When I was on abx for 3-4 months I was indeed taking a probiotic recommended by my naturopath but usually took it at the same time. Gah! Will remember that for the future!
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Mac, I have beautiful under the muscle implants after nipple sparing double mastectomy. However, I hate the way my breast look when my muscles contract. I am considering moving them on top of the pecs. What do you mean about implant sizing is different over vs under? Also, what about rippling?
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Welcome Bird-of-light, glad you stopped by. When I say over Pectoral needs a bit bigger implants than Subpectoral, that's a subjective view on my part. What i noticed is that the amount of Projection of your breast can be an important factor in how realistic your breast looks with an implant. I had a moderate profile implant initally, and it looked wrong, I don't know how else to describe it. It looked kind of like a man breast, or maybe a hamburger bun. It looked wider and flatter than most breasts naturally are. I then got a larger anatomic implant that was High Profile. It still wasn't quite big enough, but my PS took away too much skin the first time, so he couldn't go any bigger, sad to say, and I don't want to do another 6 months of TE to create more skin for a bigger implant. What I did like much more with my 2nd implant was that because it is High Profile, it looks much more realistic to me and looks a closer match to my other remaining breast. See, subjective , like I said, although I have seen other women unhappy to have a moob (man boob). As far as rippling goes, I don't have any of that, although some women do, and they have been able to fix that to some degree, or even completely like me through Fat Grafting. I did the Fat Grafting before I ever did the Prepectoral TE/Implant Reconstruction. I think surgeons get a little nervous of poking your Prepectoral implant with the needle when Fat Grafting, so I do tend to think Fat Grafting first can be a benefit that way.
Others will hopefully respond as well with their experiences.
Shoregirl, thanks for posting about the best way to use Probiotics with Antibiotics. Also important to have enough Prebiotics WITH your Probiotics. Prebiotics are foods that give the helpful, "good" bacteria a home/food source.
https://www.prebiotin.com/foods-containing-prebiotics/
A List of Prebiotic Foods
- Raw Chicory Root
- Raw Jerusalem Artichokes
- Raw Dadelion Greens
- Raw Garlic
- Raw Onions
- Cooked Onion
- Raw Asparagus
- Raw Leeks
- Raw Wheat Bran
- Baked Wheat Flour, ( vs All Purpose low fiber wheat flour)
- Raw Banana
Probiotic Food Sources
Foods high in probiotics are fermented dairy products, (and other fermented foods). These foods naturally contain both prebiotics and probiotics, making them synbiotic. Some of the most common fermented dairy products include:
- Yogurt
- Cheeses
- Kefir (actually higher amounts of Probiotic Bacteria than Yogurt)
- Sour cream
- Fermented Foods like Kimchee
- Kombucha
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Mac, thanks for explaining.
Has anyone else herehad a nipple sparing mx who moved from subpectoral to over pectoral?
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Hi, ladies! Catching up after a short trip to Disney last week for their Food & Wine festival
Bird-of-light I feel like I read a post on another thread that would answer that question but not sure what keywords would help find it? If I notice it on any of the other topics I follow I'll come back and post a link.
Shoregirl Thank you for the probiotic information! I didn't pay a lot of attention to when I took them but pretty sure some days it was with the AB and some days it wasn't. Good to know here on out!
Macb04 Thanks for the food lists! I made kimchee for the first time a few weeks ago using one of the Nom Nom Paleo recipes and really liked it! Also have been trying to drink more kombucha though I'm hit or miss with finding a flavor I can handle without the added sugar/other crap.
My next fill is this Wednesday but had to call surgeon from Florida last Thursday when I noticed my left side expander is smaller than the right. It's been pretty symmetrical up until now though my left side is the one that took whole breast radiation so hoping it's just a weird settling of the expanders and not a leak!. No fever or redness though I did take a hit to my left side from someone's backpack in the crowd at Epcot one of the days but not enough to cause a bruise or anything so can't think of a reason for a sudden leak/rupture. Going to assume the best until we're told otherwise!0 -
Bird-of-light, I had NSBMX in 3/16, sub-pec implants 6/16 and revision of implants to pre-pectoral 9/17. Feel free to ask questions.
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VegGal, why did you make the switch? Are you glad you did? Did you have any fat grafting, if so, when? My breasts look great until I flex which is often as I teach yoga and lift weights. I hate the look and tightness I feel. I want to switch to pre-pec but I’m aftaid of the unknown.
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I had pre pec to start with. It's not perfect. It's been almost 3 months, and I can tell the inflamation is going away, as I have much more of a hollow at midline. The overall silhouette of my implant is pretty close to my native side ( I suspect when he lifted the left side he made it look like the implant...but pretty close to what I remember ) but I definitely feel a pull or drag on the pre pec side without a bra, and now without the inflammation it looks like it is being pulled with gravity. PS said I can do fat grafting, and God knows I have plenty of fat, but I had a rough year with lots of surgeries and complications, and I really don't want to deal with that right now. But, I am So glad I have pre pecs. I am glad my PS was able to do it.
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Bird, I hated my subpectoral from the moment I woke up in recovery. They weren't done with adequate....finesse. Eventually they also got capsular contracture and I wanted to get rid of the textured implants because of ALCL risk. The animation deformity when flexing was also bothersome. The FG was done at the time of revision.
I'm happy to send you photos privately. The unknown can be scary but nothing ventured, nothing gained!
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I'm guessing/hoping questions similar to mine have been answered but this thread is so long, which is wonderful, but a lot to read. I had recon in 2009 under the pec. I now have a rupture in one implant and need to have it replaced. My PS mentioned that there are now over pec procedures being done but I didn't ask for more information while I was there. Has anyone heard of moving the implant over the pec after several years? I'm wondering if it's possible and if my muscles would go back to normal!
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It's possible, and it's a trend that's gaining momentum. I had it done 15 months after subpectoral and my muscles went right back. Definitely something for you to consider. There are also some really nice implants out there. You'll be a new woman!
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Thank you VegGal! May I ask what size your implants are? I have 475cc and I'm wondering if they need muscle to support them?
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Mine are over 600! I do have an Alloderm sling that the PS put in at the time of my BMX that provides support. Many surgeons will add that at the time of revision or wrap the implant in a supportive material before putting it in the pocket.
I worried about the implants feeling heavy or pulling down the skin. I'm only five weeks out but they seem really well supported and not at all heavy. I do plan to take good care of them and not run around braless, as that just seems to make sense in general.
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mine are 695. It doesfeel a bit heavy, esp.when I am bra less (only in shower). I am a bit bummed that it is uncomfortable to be bra less. I never ran around braless but I would like to be able to sleep without a bra like I used to. 500 seems like it would be fine
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Wow, thank you both! I'm really excited to talk to the PS about this option.
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Hi All, I haven't been here since after BMX in March of 2015. I got my switch from expanders to sub pec implants in July 2015. Anatomical Cohesive Gel. I play lots of tennis and other sports and have such tightness and discomfort. I'm narrow chested to begin with. The implants have migrated up and into the armpit areas. When I reach down to put on a shoe or shave my left leg the left pec muscles cramp down so hard and painfully. Passes in a minute, but wow! I was in a shoe shop last week when it happened and people asked if I was having a heart attack!! Ugh! I am getting over the pec- pre-pec? this Wednesday. Although dreading the first few sickening days after surgery, I'm really excited to get this done. Still going with anatomical gummies and I'm requesting a higher profile. (Originals are Mod 340cc Sientra and barely made a bump. I was a natural D cup before, thanks Mum.) The sub pec placement never took the anotomical shape. In fact, they look quite upside down, not much better than the expander potatoes. In a tshirt I look like a freak with little flat mounds just below my collarbones and I'm 58!! Nothing can be up that high, lol. Hoping to get a natural slope to where boob are supposed to rest. Anyhoo, I will check back in to read more of this topic for sure! Thanks
Question: Did anyone stay overnight in the hospital after this procedure? They told me maybe. 0 -
hi, I went through with my surgery to replace under the muscle implants with over the muscle. Its only been 4 days post op and already, I can say I am so grateful for your post. I went with Dr. Hakim Said at the UW in Seattle. He is a perfectionist. I still have 2 tubes in and some minor swelling as he did the implants and fat grafting all in one 4 hour surgery, so I have a ways to go before being back to normal, but omg what a difference! It is so much more comfortable and so much better looking... night and day. So very happy... I have my body back!!! I never thiught I would be able to say that. Thank you!
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Hi nlosgatos, welcome to the Prepectoral thread. I had the surgeries done oupatient only, in an Outpt Surgery Center. I never had an overnight stay. Someone else will chime in with their experiences. It sounds like it would be good thing for you to switch. I always thought it sounded completely cracked to stuff some big silicone blob under your Pectoral muscle, like we were a Cornish Game Hen, or something. Men would never in a million years put up with something that destroyed their comfort and strength.
Hi Huntlee. Good for you! I am glad this thread was able to inspire your positive step forward. Makes me feel I made a little tiny bit of lemonade from all the miserable lemons. I hope you continue to heal well. There is helpful information about beneficial things for healing. Let us know how you are doing.
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Just catching back up for last 10 days.
PET scan clear - yay! Overall I'm doing great all things cancer and surgery related (yay! - love these pre-pecs in terms of comfort), just struggling with lower extremity orthopedic woes that are keeping me from running and hiking. Stuck with mountain biking, and I tend to fall/crash a lot....causing other injuries.
Macb04 - reading your Oct 7th post made me laugh at the hamburger bun comment, but then I realized that MY implants look a bit hamburger bun-ish.
They are only 250 ml, the lowest profile possible in cohesive gels, and you can see the entire edge all around. Due to the way bras are shaped though, they do look more teardrop and completely natural through clothes. I think I still may refer to them as my hamburger buns from now on. If I don't make light of them, I'll just be more sad about them naked. Huntlee - so happy to hear/read you are doing well and much more comfortable already after this surgery!
- xo
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Andaraxo, yay for a clean scan!!!
Welcome to those of you who are seeking pre-pec replacements. I never had sub-pec but except for my original BMX and one other surgery for infection all subsequent surgeries were done on an out-patient basis. My implants are both over 600cc and very comfortable. I often do not wear a bra at home but, of course, must wear one when I leave the house because of my non-symmetrical result. The final implants are WAY more comfortable than the TEs, that's for darned sure.
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I hope you guys don't mind but I couldn't really find a thread specific to unacceptable reconstruction results (maybe I'll have to start one) so thought I'd just dump here. I'm really struggling to be "happy" with what I ended up with and it just isn't happening. My neighbors are on vacation with his sister who has an amazing reconstruction result, and I do mean amazing - she looks like a freaking supermodel - and they keep posting all these great pictures of her in these amazing, low-cut outfits and I'm over here all "And here I am with my clown boobs. Meet Bozo and Buttons!" It's extremely frustrating. BUT THEN..........
I keep reminding myself about how, in the overall scheme of things, how lucky I've been. Other than radiation 9 years ago (which is the whole reason for these ridiculous clown boobs) I never needed any other adjuvant therapy - no chemo, no awful side-effects, no hair loss. So then I feel guilty for even having the nerve to complain. And my husband has been an absolute dream and so supportive, so I'm lucky in that regard as well. But am I not entitled to my feelings?? It's all such a Catch-22.
I at least finally got my PS to prescribe the pentoxifyllene cream - I pick up the rx on Wednesday. And I'm still fighting with him to get the oral prescribed as well. I just sent him another e-mail demanding to know why he won't prescribe it and begging him just to do it so I don't have to start over and retell this stupid story to my ob-gyn, or primary care doctor, or naturopath. Just give me a break, already.
Sorry, just feeling really low right now. Thanks for listening.
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Raven - I'm so sorry you have to deal with all of this. Your feelings are totally valid! It absolutely sucks (for lack of a better word right now) to be constantly reminded of all of *this* by breast appearance.
I seem to tie my self worth to how well I participate in life. If I'm injured and I can't run/hike etc I feel awful about myself as a person and even wonder why my spouse is even married to me. After going through cancer crap, I think getting hit with these other issues are simply not fair. Sure, I should be thankful for being alive and feeling otherwise well (and I am!), and husband is awesome too, but I want more for me. Every day I wonder why I can't have something so simple. Haven't I paid enough with cancer? It will never be or feel the same as before cancer, but I at least want to keep participating in the things I love. When I can't, I feel worthless.
I hope you continue to have the energy to fight for what you want for yourself Raven! Don't ever hesitate to vent here. You, how you feel about yourself, and your well being are so worth fighting for!!
-xo
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Hey Raven, I can totally emphathize, as I don't have the look I was going for either. We all deserve to have a decent looking, symmetrical result. It is NOT too much to ask after all the miserable events. I am sometimes jealous of the women who wind up just picture perfect. Why couldn't that have worked for us too? Unfortunately, it seems to a completely random situation, good outcome, a horrible mess, or somewhere in between. Vent away, you and anyone else who feels the need.
Adraxo, good to hear from you. Sorry you have hamburger buns, but I am glad in clothes it looks good. I am very encouraged, always, to hear about your amazing athleticism. I am not in your not in your league, not by a long shot, but I still enjoy hiking and swimming a good bit. Now if my feet would stop swelling, I would enjoy it even more.
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veg gal, I would appreciate pictures. Thank you for offering. I am very lucky because my sub pec implants do look great. It is the discomfort and animation I hate, especially when working out. I think I am mostly nervous about not getting results that look as good as what I have got. However, my surgeon has proven that she is skilled.
Raven, I’m sorry for your sorrow and frustration. Life is not fair. We are all so much more than what we have on our chests.
Huntlee, I’m looking forward to hearing more about your results. Did you keep the same size of implants or change? If you changed, why? I’m wondering if going pre-pec effects the sizing.
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Hi NizD,
This is really late. I haven't been on much but stumbled on this today...
If I recall correctly, my PS did fat transfer to the upper pole and sides. The goal was to mask the edges of the implant from being so visible. The first time it was all about padding/camouflaging. The second time I had fat grafting it was to help with the rippling that had started to appear (and more padding if possible). I didn't have drains either time. I don't have any visible scars from the fat transfer. The incisions were so tiny to begin with and they healed well.
Overall, I can't say the fat did a ton. My PS said at my last appointment that for sure some had "taken" or my implants would be much more visible. I most definitely have at least moderate rippling, but a good bra hides a lot. I have my one year follow in a few weeks. I'm quite curious to see what she thinks.
My fat was taken from my butt and thighs. I'm left with a flat old lady butt now. Not so pretty. I didn't have an awesome butt or thighs by any stretch, but these surgeries didn't help at all. I also can get uncomfortable sitting for too long because my padding is gone. I'm guessing abdomen may be better.....??
Hope this helps if you get this reply...
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Hi Bird, wow, tough call in some ways. I hope you can get a good result and comfort too. It is the least every one of us deserves, and rarely seem to get. I had Fat grafting, which worked just enough to cover my implant edges. I wish I could get volume on the bottom of my implant, to make it a better match for my right breast.
Hey Jessie Jake. That's a shame your grafted fat didn't stick around more, and really is messed up that they over did your liposuction from your butt. That happened to me too, the grafted fat not lasting. I only got some improvement after multiple fat grafting sessions. They did my butt too, but I guess I had a good bit of padding initially, so that what's left seems ok enough.
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too bad real fat doesn't "dissolve" as quickly as grafred fat! I have been thinking about getting fat grafting, but I wonder if it's worth the effort.
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It's a very individual decision to get fat grafting, because the outcomes can be so uncertain. I will say that the more experiened the PS, the better liklihood of greater fat grafting sucess. I had some sucess, and I had a very inexperienced doctor. I couldn't afford to go somewhere else to see a more experienced doctor. For me, like many others, my result was tied to my pocketbook, which is just shitty and unfair. ............
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