Exchange City
Comments
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Has anyone thought they wanted to go smaller then what they were naturally????? and now decided to stay the same???? I am just at my first fill (really second one was done during surgery) and feel like I want to go to my old size when all my life I wanted to be smaller.....maybe it is because even my TE's or higher and perky....compared the 43 year old low.....maybe it's the pain pills
Maybe I don't want to be able to see my stomach so well 0 -
Hope that's funny about not being able to see your stomach. Here's the route I took: Wait and see. When you feel you've had enough of fills, when you're content with the size of the TE's you say stop. Until then, keep going. At your exchange, you'll find that you're not as big as you were, because they're perky!! But they fill out the size just as well. And from my perspective, 43 is plenty young.. It's all a matter of where you're looking from. JUDY
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A-Storm ~ Thank you for sharing. Well at least I know they won't end up in under my arms....That makes me so happy:) It will be nice not having my arms bumping into them constantly. Hopefully they will come out right the 1st time..keeping my finger crossed!
cs7777 ~ Thank you so much for the reassurance, it definitely makes me feel better about it.
Judgejaclyn ~ Good luck will your exchange...600cc's...wooo that's a lot bigger than mine! Of course my breast were barely there before the surgery...I think my general surgeon said my actual breast tissue was only 120cc's....itsy bitsy....so I guess me ending up with around 350 is going to be a lot bigget then before....again. I wish you luck on wednsday...your going to look great!
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cs7777~ I found it! Thank you so much...you have put me at ease...you rock!
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Thanks all for the good wishes,,,I am so anxious to get on with my life after nine months of dealing with the cancer and numerous surgeries.
hope4future - I know exactly how you feel. I was always a 32DD on a slim athletic frame, Even now I weigh less than 110 lbs at 5'7". I abhored my large chest from puberty; BUT - when I started getting the fills I felt more like "me" and having had so much out of my control with all of the surgeries and treatment of the cancer - well I think that I needed to see "me" again. I know that my TE's are not how my implants will look - they are smaller than what my natural breasts looked like - yet my old bras fit. What is the major difference is that they sit high and perky. I like the look. It is not for everyone and many women on this forum prefer the more natural anatomiclal tear shaped implants. I'm going for the "18 year old look, look at me look". LOL
If you have not seen the t shirt yet that many on this site have - you will - it brilliantly states, "Yes they are fake, my real ones tried to kill me" That is exactly how I plan to handle any rude or unwelcome comments.
Trust your instincts and you will be fine. Good luck...
Jacllyn
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Jacklyn....You go girl!!
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Jacklyn - I loved your post. You just posted what was in my mind. I am starting to feel like a girl again....not just the person that has to worry about the next Dr. appt...and the next time I need to take pills ...and pretending I am not in pain in front of my four little kids so they are not more scared then they already are. Thank you....for making me feel normal.....and making me smile!
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MandiPandi-
I did BNSM in March. I am also 5'4", 115 lbs, rib cage of 28" so also small framed. I have my exchange on 6/29 and my PS is going to use Mentor High Profiles 375 cc's as I didn't want to go very big. There is some great info on the thread "Breast Implant Sizing 101" and whippetmom is the guru of implant sizing.
I was concerned because my TE's are spaced far apart as well. My PS said she'll try to place them as close as possible but it has to do with where your pec muscles are since the implants are going under the muscle as opposed to breast augmentation where they can put them closer together because they can go under the existing breast tissue.
Good luck with your exchange!
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Ok Brenda I'll stop cleaning house
Welcome Mandi....there are so many here with a frame similar to yours that can talk to you about your implants
The ps can do so much to correct placement during your exchange surgery. My implants were very close and almost in my armpits...my ps was able to bring them forward without too much fuss Congratulations on you upcoming exchange date on June 1st..your implants are going to feel so much better that your TEs Jaclyn, it takes so much courage to post those first photos...I look forward to seeing your journey. I hope you exchange on Wednesday goes smoothly and you have an easy and comfortable recovery. Your going to love getting rid of your TEs
I'm going to go see your photos Wow I didn't realize until reading cs7777 how many were having surgeries this coming week..so good luck to Binga, Packergirl, and again BigApple
Wishing you all a speedy recovery and beautiful outcomes Hope I haven't forgotten anyone.....It's grey and rainy here in NY....going to a friends Botanical Art opening today, should be a nice way to spend a rainy Sunday
Enjoy your day....find some peace and comfort.....
Laura2
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Hope - I'm glad you asked that question! I've been wondering how everyone decides what size they want to be. I was so sure I wanted to be smaller than I was, but after seeing how great everyone looks, I'm not sure. The perkiness factor makes a big difference. And I'm not thin, so I don't want to see my stomach either (though really I should just get rid of it!) and I don't want to go too small. I've been kind of anxious about it, but I guess I'll just wait and see how the TEs look and go from there. One of my reasons for wanting to be smaller is the jiggle factor and it's hard to imagine how the implants will move.
Jaclyn - I LOVE that t-shirt. I think it's going to have to be my first post-exchange purchase!
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CS7777~~ SO the 250-280 grams has given you an A cup? Hoe does this size compare with your TE size? Are you quite a bit smaller than you were with the TE's filled to 500ml?
I got measured in a lingerie store today and she measured me as a 36 B right now but i couldn't quite fill out the B at the front with being so round shaped and having no nipples!! LOL But the cup size was a B due to the wideness of the expanders. Guess i'd be ok if i managed to be a full B cup after exchange. Think my PS is planning slightly narrower implants than what the TE's are though,so may end up being an A cup (if thats how it works). Pretty happy to be walking around with no bra on though in this hot weather!
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It is interesting to hear from so many sisters who are small framed. There seems to be a misconception that bc affects larger women. Maybe the statistics show that weight is a factor but it is a bit misleading for some women who may think they are safe and don't get tested regularly because they are super-health conscious and don't smoke, etc. People have asked me if I smoked when I was younger "or something" -- they seem to want a confirmation that their own lifestyle won't lead to cancer. So many of us did all the right things, and yet...
At what point do we stop dropping and fluffing? My exchange was in January so I'm assuming things are where they are going (as long as I continue to support them). I'm still pondering fat grafting versus surgical revision. PS said he can't do any more revision to the divot so there would be some fat grafting there anyway but I'm not sure how much fat grafting is going to correct my asymmetry.
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AStorm- I know what you mean about the misconception of bc and larger women because even I had it! Both my sisters got the boobs in the family and even though I knew there was bc in the family (Grandma) it never even occurred to me that I, the only thin, flat-chested, non-smoker in the family would get it.
Glad you asked the dropping and fluffing question. I was wondering that myself.
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Hey Ladies! Sorry I've been AFK ... was busy enjoying the weekend and the fact that I'm pretty much pain free and able to go out! So far so good with the 410... though yes as BigApple says: no jiggle... and my reduction side DOES jiggle which is a little odd. That said, I love the shape and the feel of the 410. The swelling on the reduction side has gone down some... hoping it goes down a lot more as the differential from L to R is still not great. PS did say 30% reduction due to the extreme bruising and swelling on the reduction side, so I am being patient. The bruises are fading (absorbing) nicely so far.
Kat -- I hope you are feeling better and agree you should call your PS. It does sound like you overdid it... and I agree with others who have posted that it's unlikely you'd get infection in both breasts at same time (or capsular contraction).
Rebecca -- yay on being home and gall bladder (i.e. pain) free. I hope the pathology is benign. I believe it's SOP to run one, especially in someone who has had BC, so I wouldn't be concerned that they are doing it. Prayers for a good report.
Big Apple -- best of luck with your surgery tomorrow!
JudgJaclyn, Binga, Packer, Artsy -- good luck to you too!
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Astorm & Kate33 - I find it interesting that there are so many small-framed women here too! I wasn't thinking of it in terms of who is more or less likely to get bc, but because I'm not small-framed and am somewhat overweight, I'm having a hard time imagining what implants will look like or what would be best for me.
If anyone here cares to share their implant info at over 5'6" and more than 160lbs, I'd appreciate it!
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Hi Mandi
I too was diagnosed with ILC and had B/L Mx.
5'5", 123 lbs,29" rib cage Mentor CPG 323 (High Profile-cohesive gel) 495cc
Photos on TimTam site, search Geneskirt
Photos are 3 days post exchange and LOTS of bulky swelling. Now I look much more petitely contoured (which I like).
I just had nipples done 3 days ago, and will try to post some new photos later this week when i get the bandages off.
I ended up right in between a 34C to 32D. I'm thinking you may want to target the higher numbers you tossed around..... i would not want to be any smaller than i am. The gels look petitely contoured (tear drop). Have a look-but remember-I am probably swollen one FULL cup size in the photos. Good Luck
xoxo
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Mandi: I agree with geneskirt. Shoot for high profile 375 ccs. You are sufficiently expanded for that amount. Perhaps even 400 ccs...We don't want you to be disappointed
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Evening all...
I guess I'm feeling better....I'm not real happy with how I'm 'dropping and fluffing. I hope this isn't like a perm...if the perm turns out perfect the day you get it it will never be a great perm...and vice versa with it being 'not at all what you envisioned' only to have exactly what you want in 3 weeks!
I think I have some boob greed too....Someone asked up thread (forgive me for fogetting who) if anyone wanted to be smaller than they were then changed their minds? I was that person! I wanted to be a little B...but boy that changed around the time when I was that little B and couldn't fill out any of my clothes! I had a few fills and was really liking the shape and perkiness. Keep going Mandi...listen to Deborah....you don't want to be disappointed! I'm pretty happy with the size I am (600cc ) and they are smaller than I used to be...but then again, I'm smaller too so it's all proportioned.
Hey Lilah...glad to hear you're doing well and you like your reconstruction. Also glad your swelling is going down and your brusing is fading...that's makes such a difference!
Good luck tomorrow Big Apple! over at Team January (January Mastectomies) we have a couple of gals who underwent the DIEP...one in January and one just last week...They're both doing fabulous! We're all praying for you're successful surgery as well!
Sweet Dreams EC!
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Sending out best wishes for positive surgical experiences and smooth recoveries for those having surgery this week--Bigapple09, judgejaclyn, Binga, Artzy, and Packergirl!!! One step closer to being done!
TCK
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Kat: Post some photos and let us see what is going on....
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Geneskirt/Jerusha: You two should talk so that geneskirt, YOU can tell Jerusha how you feel about your gummy bear implants. Jerusha's comments are a page back I believe. Now YOU have the Mentor CPGs, which I have heard are a little softer than the Allergan 410's, but it might help Jerusha with her decision about which way to go.0
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So I am getting my tattoos tomorrow and I happened to be finalizing my plans on areola diameter. I came across a link to Dr. Grant Stevens' website where he has a little test you can take to see if you can correctly choose the most popular size and style of nipple/areola complex. For all of you bilaterals out there....click on the photo you think is the best and then scroll down and click "cast your vote".
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Hey Whippetmom, Thanks for thinking about me! I will talk to Geneskirt; get her thoughts on the look and feel of the Mentor cohesive. Don't know if my PS does those, though. Do you happen to know if they offer the same benefits as the 410's in terms of longevity of the device and decreased incidence of capsular contraction? Any better/worse with the negative outcome of twisting around in the surgical pocket leading to need for surgical re-do? Good luck tomorrow with your own procedure. Hope you get just what you want!
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Jerusha: The CPGs are identical in every way to the 410's. Mentor came behind Allergan in the true cohesive gel gravy train and heard some of the initial complaints about the 410s being "too firm" and so decided to make theirs a bit softer than Allergan's version....
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Thx Whippetmom. Just looked at the mentor website. They don't use the initials, so are the CPGs the cohesive III's that only come in the "contour profile family"? You mean identical in terms of the same pros/cons I'd mentioned? Being less firm, I gather they feel nicer, but does the reconstructed breast have a different look as well? Whats all the hype, then about the 410's. Why are people saying they are the latest and the greatest, and why are they in trial and the mentors approved? BTW, what's the story with the mentor cohesive I's and II's?
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m-star, my ~250 gram implant is most definitely smaller than the 500 ml-filled TE (recall I only had one). I say I'm ~A-cup now because that's what my natural size was before, and the implant approximates my other still natural ~A breast, so, voila, A-cup now. I have no idea what cup size the TE might have been considered, as it was so odd-shaped & odd-placed compared to my other breast that I never tried to put a real bra on it. LOL! I have some stretchy pullover bras w/o real cups that I wore a few times so they just stretched over it.0
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Deborah: Best of luck to you on your procedure tomorrow. You have been such an angel and I cannot thank you enough for all of your help. I looked up your pictures on TimTam's site and I have boob envy!!! If I hadn't found you on this site I could have ended up very dissappointed with my end results. Thanks to you I can now go in to my exchange surgery knowing what it is going to take to get it right! I think that my PS was also going to rush things as he said I would be done by July but now I can't imagine having my exchange until August. I will be sending you good thoughts tomorrow!
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Hi Ladies,
This is my first post on this site. I've been reading for a while, though. Thank you to M-star for telling me about this board.
I've had six fills so far and the last one was the most painful. I felt like I had knives poking me in the left side. I've had the fills every two weeks since my bi-lateral on Feb. 25th. My question is this: I'm still store from the last fill and am scheduled to have another one this coming Tuesday. I'm thinking about cancelling it. Have any of you ever done that? I'm near the end ... right now I'm the size that I want to be, but I need one more fill to overstretch before I can have the implant surgery. Ugh. Not sure I'm going to make it. Have any of you ever postponed a fill b/c of the pain?
Thank you for your response!
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Good luck with tattoos Deborah!
Kat -- I am hoping that whatever the trouble is that you are having, it's temporary. I have to say I thought your photos looked incredible... and I was so happy for you. Do you call your PS tomorrow to find out what is going on?
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Ok, I posted some pics. I won't be able to see what anyone says until after work today.
I"m sure they're fine. I see the PS tomorrow (scheduled) so I'll be anxious to see what's next.Have a great day all!
Kat0
