Exchange City
Comments
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Upset
Just took some new pics of the foobs. I have been noticing some changes and i was right. on the left i have a dimple (in dent about an inch and looks square) where skin has adheared to scar tiisue to left of left breast. it seems to be flattening accross the top of breast. there is a dimple on the right side but it is not as dramatic. they look smaller to me but my first pics were 10 days post- op. could i have swelling 10 days p-op? is that why they look bigger? really feel like crying but husband thinks im over reacting.
worrying
Kristen
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Kristen, Breath girl! 10 days feels like an eternity but it's not. It's actually VERY recent. You probably still have swelling. Did you post the updated pictures?
Julie
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Laura/jizo
Did you just notice this after a recent fill? I have mondors cords below my TEs. They look like vertical lines from the bottom of the TE about 1-2 " long. There's 3 or 4 on each side. They're thick like yarn. I hope that's all you have...
Cindy
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I took the pics tonight (4 weeks post-op). I should take them again in the day time to match the pics taken on 3/8 (when i was 10 days post-op). then there will be no shadows etc. my right side where the biggest indent is has been feeling tight since the weekend.
Kristen
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COLLEEN... LUCK and PERFECTION vibes... and prayers for you tomorrow!
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Say Jan1...nice to see you again & happy to see you are well & finally finished!!! Yipee!!!
Ok...to whom can answer this....I just saw my PS this AM & I am now scheduled to have a lift on my augmented side & fat grafted into my MX (upper pole has a dent). She agreed to wait on the nipple reconstruction...I told her I did not want to deal with the possibility that my lifted side will settle down. Not in a hurry anyway...want to do it right! I probably will wait until I take my vacation to Hawaii in July to even think about the nipple...don't want to deal with having to be careful with the new nipple. In the mean time it will give my lifted side to do it's thing. Anyway, I am having fat grafted from my tummy/hips..depending on how much she can harvest. I keep telling her there's plenty of fat but she insists I don't! WOW!!! LOL!!! She told me I would need to wear a tight girdle or bike pants for several weeks. I know we have posted about girdles somewhere but not excited about reading through all the pages....definitely a lot!!! So...if anyone can recommend which girdle to get it would be helpful to me. I need to find & get it before my surgery on April 7. Would be grateful!!!
Welcome to all the newbies!
NAE
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I bumped my thread up on the timtam site. My bff Linda54 posted it for me but Hood1980 is in the thread. Thanks for your comments...
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Soooo...for anyone who doesn't know yet...Whippetmom Deborah is a Genius !!! Trust Her !!!
On Monday, 5 weeks after my Exchange Surgery...my Mentor 750 High Profiles were exchanged for Allergan Style 45 800 ccs. Both breasts had to be pushed up..especially the prophy side which was the one with the punctured TE and all the sagging prior to the first exchange.
The Allergans with more projection plus the "push Up" of the breasts have eliminated the "step off", "drop off" or what I call a moat. Deborah was correct that I could go with narrower on my chest to achieve more upper fullness.
After my first exchange, I was sent home with no bra or instructions for one. Thanks to comments here, I am supporting these babies until I am sure they are staying put and not sliding down my chest. I was bigger than this before and never went braless...so, although I would love to go braless...if it turns out that I need them, then so be it.
I am wearing not one but two bras to make sure these puppies don't drop at all. The underneath is a 38 C Warners Light Natural Lift. And over that I am wearing a racer back zip front jogging bra from Walmart. I think I may also be able to fit into my old warners 38 D underwire bras if I get to a point of wearing underwires...I just won't fill them out quite as much as before. Within a week of my first exchange, I was wearing the wireless Warners suggested on this thread...but the prophy breast would have needed the lift no matter what. Since we were going back in anyway, it made sense to do both sides and go for it. I am so happy we did the whole thing! From what I can tell 2 days out, this is exactly what I wanted them to look like.
Thank you, Deborah! I would never have thought of the other style on my own.
I really like the way my Plastic Surgeon places the incision below the breast from arm side up middle to where nipple would go. The exchange "re-opening" incision is just a portion of the under breast part of the old incision, so the vertical part of the original incision last April is already faded.
Both exchanges have caused almost no discomfort.
For now...2 days out...I am very happy !
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jizogarden!
I think I know what you are talking about - even when my TE were full I had some wrinkly skin on the underside of my boobs. I wondered when it would fill out. I think that is where my AlloDerm is because my new implants are sitting nicely now and I do not look like I have extra skin there...
If you want I can e mail you some picts that might show what I am talking about... they are not posted on the pict forum.
E Mail me anytime you need to!
Kimberly
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Thanks for the support girls!! I have my surgery scheduled for April 16, bilateral mascectomy with expander reconstruction. I am extremely nervous about the surgery, about complications and/or death. I have never gone through a major surgery before. Also a question, I had my biopsy a little over two weeks ago and my breast is still sore. Has anyone else experienced this? Of course during the biopsy the surgeon hit a spot that was not numb and boy of boy did that hurt, so not sure if that has somethin to do with it. Well good luck and best wishes to everyone here!
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jenweg - My biopsy site was sore for a while and when I had my next period: OMG! I thought I would not be able to shower it was so tender due to the premenstrual swelling. Just water running over my breast was killer - not even the spray hitting it - it was just running over the skin. Each month it was painful for 3 days or more. Luckily that all ended with the mastectomy.
Good luck with your surgery - the waiting is the hardest part!
Kimberly
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To everyone who is having or had surgery this week, best wishes for beautiful results and zippy recoveries!
Luna5 &Texas357 YEE HAW!!!
Cnmeth, FairportLady55 & CDB (and anyone who may not be on the list) everyone on this thread is sending good thoughts and prayers for you!
Betty
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Kristinka: My PS uses the "origami" method of nipple reconstruction, and she simply took more skin above the new nipple area when she did the cutting. She pinched the skin during pre-op to make sure it would work.
I have to wear the surgical bra and about 1/2" of 4 x 4 gauze pads for 3 weeks.
Facecrafter: How long will I have to wait after tattoos if I plan to swim in my pool?
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Kimberly,
Thanks for the info. I am nervous about everything of course haha. Yeah my period was due around the weekend I found about having cancer, and still haven't gotten it! I guess it is my nerves, it will probably appear around the time I have my surgery haha. Can't win. Well best of luck
Jenni
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Good for Texas..... Hope everything turns out great!
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Jenni,
I had my BMX on 1/27 and I was really scared about the surgery also but it went fine and although I won't say the recovery will be easy with the TEs- it is doable. I don't know if you are a Christian but I am and will say that while I was alone in the pre-op room I just prayed and a peace came over me and I knew everything would be fine no matter what.
I posted Tues that my exchange date was 4/26 but got a call this am and they are able to move it up to 4/19. I am HAPPY- soft and squishy one week earlier plus this gives me an extra week of recovery before returning to work.
Becky
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bump
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Becky,
I am catholic, and I know prayer will do wonders for me! I actually found a site that I put my name on, where the group will pray for you each week. What a wonderful thing, for strangers to pray for you. Thanks for the words of wisdom, I am a tough cookie so I know i can get through this. It is still hard, but we can do it!!!
Jenni
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Jenni,
You will do fine with the MX and it will get rid of the biopsy tenderness. After my biopsy, I made my husband buy one of those low-flow showerheads with a "rain" setting. He kind of hates it, but I love how softly the water hits me. I had lots of post-biopsy pain, too, and the MX took care of that (tho you do have a different kind of pain post MX).
My periods also got wrecked with my cancer diagnosis. After the diagnosis, I had a period that just never ended, so then my ob/gyn had to check me for uterine cancer... All was clear, but our nerves can really mess us up. I had my period during the MX - embarrassing, but I told the nurses and they helped me when I needed it. And now my periods are fine... (such fun to be a woman, huh?!?)
Don't worry, you'll do fine with the MX (the drugs they give you are great) and it will be over before you know it-
Kristen
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Thanks Kristen,
One thing I sure can't wait for, is to offer my advice and words of wisdom to others after I am through this, as you are all doing now!! How AWESOME!
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Hi Brenda, Kimberly and all,
Thanks so much for the feedback. I think what I am seeing are little bumps created by the skin being pulled a little to the side.... I looked up Mondor's Cords (sounds like it's out of Lord of the Rings
... that is not what I'm seeing.....I have not had any radiation and my healing has gone well......I know how lucky I am....my heart breaks for those that have had infections and problems with healing...
I see my PS tomorrow morning and I'm hoping he says that this is nothing to worry about and it will all be fine when it's time for my exchange....cross fingers
Kimberly I cannot get a good picture to send to you...it's doesn't really photograph very well...or at least with my photo taking ability
The best way I can describe what I'm seeing is that the skin looks pulled tight and I can see tiny bumps of fat cells under the skin.......I think I'm going to stop freaking out and just wait for my PS to take a look at it.
Hope all this weeks exchanges are going well and everyone enjoys healing and strength with each passing day.
Laura
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Texas: I like to wait at least 7-10 days longer if you are not healing well- before going into the petri dish they call a swimming pool. I have a pool, and with choloine and all, I still think it is petri dish!! Basically, wait until the skin is closed up- dry and healing, until going into a pool or the ocean. JUDY
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Kathy, here we go! Wishing you a great surgery, quick recovery and wonderful 'Yippee Squishees'!! Can't wait to compare notes with you, esp. about size. It's so nice you have your DD there with you.
Facecrafter, Baxter and everyone else having procedures and tests next week, Wishing you all the best!!
Cindy
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Yippee!! I can't believe anyone is wishing me the best!! IT took soooooooo looooong...thanks, JUDY
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Praying for all having surgeries that yours go as well as mine did. Hopefully all the people who prayed for me and sent healing energy and vibes will continue because they sure helped me. As I thought about all the prayers and well wishes prior to my (hopefully) last trip down that surgical hallway...I was at peace. I know your prayers and good thoughts truly helped me. Thank you, again.
I will continue to pray for all of you!
And Judy, because it has been sooooooo looooooong...you get extra prayers! I can really relate to the sooooooo looooooong. But, you even beat my 11 months from BMX to Exchange.
I finally know how it feels to be almost completely finished!
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It will be 20 months since my Dx and I will have had the expanders in for nearly a year...ugh..Thank Goodness it's almost over!! And thank you Luna for the good words..
As I look back on all this time, I know I have found a group of strong wonderful women on these boards. I have learned so much, and hopefully, have helped some too. It's been remarkable. JUDY
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Help, I have orange tattoos! I had tattoos done on Monday and had an unveiling today. The tattoos were done by my PS. We picked out the colors and it was a nice pink. They look really peachy/orangy. They are still weeping a bit and that is a yellow color. Is that what is causing the orange look ... or am I destined to have pumpkin colored areolas?
Judy, I'm so glad for you. I too was on the extended plan for TEs. Since I had to have the left one removed for 7 months, I had the right one for a whopping 18 months!
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the orange color will likely go away. Be patient. You don't really know the color until 2-3 weeks have past. The weepyness can cause the color to look different. The color doesn't really change. The color is put into the second layer of the skin. In order to get there, you have to go thru the first layer. The first layer will exfoliate (slough off) Also the skin is reddened (inflamed) by the procedure. The redness makes the color look different, darker.
So, one layer of skin comes off, and the skin gets rid of the redness. In the end, the whole thing gets lighter. Meanwhile, the layers that will come off may turn yellow, orange, red, or white from the chemicals in the skin, or the environment- shampoos, soaps, etc. Don't worry about it. Like everything else, wait and see. If it is still the wrong color, either the PS (if he knows how) or a permanent amkeup artist, can make it right. JUDY
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{{{LUNA}}}}.....Thank you for your kudos! I am so glad you are happy and that this style worked out for you!
NAE: Find a girdle with a trap door, if you get my drift....because you will not want to be yanking that compression girdle up and down every time you need to relieve yourself...Frankly, if you could find a body SLIP....it might be the most comfortable. Nancy Gantz makes them....but it would need to have enough compression in the abdomen. Otherwise, here is what you need....you need a high waist...the leg coverage is in the event she needs to lipo your thighs...
http://www.bella-jane.com/short_girdle_high_waist_3023_580_prd1.htm
Deborah
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Hi all, my exchange date was changed from March 19 to March 29, this coming Monday. I will be getting new implant (silicone) and augmentation on other side (lift) with breast implant under tissue. I see that the list says I am completed. Due to change of date no yet completed.
I am already for my big day, have my prescriptions already and can't wait to post when it is done. I asked the PS if my insurance will cover the augmentation (lift). He said yes.
My nipple procedure and tatooing is for another time. I only had one fill due to some problems with thin skin but I still expanded, so I am kind of anxious on the outcome.
Will stay in touch.
Thank you/
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