Exchange City
Comments
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oh Anna im so sorry you're upset right now. I do feel for you as this is my fear also after i get my exchange. I think we build up such a picture of what we think (and hope) our new breasts will look like. I am preparing myself to accept my implants wont be as big as my TE's.
Did your PS explain to you that they put a smaller implant in that what your TE's were?? I know sone PS's dont but alot do as they like to allow for skin shrinkage for a better aesthetic result.
What size implant did you have? Are you bigger or smaller than your natural breasts were? Its still early days and once evrything is settled and healed,if you're not happy,go back to see your PS and tell him/her so.
Is there any medical reason you could not go bigger?like if you had rads to your chest?
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OMG, you can't miss a day on here. I feel so behind and missed everyone.
Anna - hang in there. It will get better. I promise. I felt exactly like you do right now. I am 5 weeks post exchange and happier with them every day. The first couple of weeks I was so upset and cried constantly. This process I was more emotional than any of the other 3 surgeries. They do change so much it is unbelievable. All of the women on here who have had exchanges will tell you the same thing. It's what they told me and constantly reassured me. It's okay to be emotional but please just give it some time. I felt like I was looking at mine every 5 minutes for a while. I was obsessed. I was wishing for the days to pass so they would get better. They really, really do. Deborah also reminded me that this wasn't permanent and if I wanted something different, it could be done. My PS also told me that at my 2 and 3 week post visits. You are not alone. I know exactly how you feel. It will get better.
Jaclyn - I am so glad your exchange went so well.
Candy - I can't imagine keeping the TE's. The exchange surgery is very easy and the implants feel so much better. They are much softer and look more natural.
Deborah - Your tattoos look amazing. I'm so excited to get to those next steps. Thanks for the link on placement.
Hope everyone is well. Looking forward to the long holiday weekend.
Melissa
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Anna: Over 50% of us - probably more like 75% of us - require further revisions and/or sizing up in implants after the exchange. The journey does not always come to an end at the exchange. If you are unhappy, you do not need to "settle." You also WILL see some changes over the next few months. Generally, a number of us are pretty shocked with what we see right after the exchange and you can experience some positive changes to the shape and projection of your implants over time, but it does take patience.
Deborah
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m-star, thank you for responding. My PS never said anything about putting a smaller size in, he knew that I wanted the same projection as the expander. I have 650 cc's allergan high profile implants, my expanders were filled to 600 each. I wanted a full C/D and they just don't look like they are the requested size. I called the office yesterday and his nurse said well we try to get what you requested but it is purely a guess, really made me lose confidence in my PS even though I did not talk with him. I have been through so much with the expansion process and now well, not much to say. Ugh! Anna
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Well, see Anna! Melissa posted at nearly the same time as I did and we said nearly the same thing! Hang in there. If you want to shoot me over some pictures, I can look at them and let you know what you can expect. PM me if you want my email address.
Deborah
ANNA: I found some info you posted elsewhere stating you are 5'4" and 130 pounds! Holy cow girl! 650 ccs should be pretty bodacious on your frame. I do not see any reason that this size should be other than just fine for you after you drop or fluff or whatever the non-clinical terms are, used for the changes we see after the exchange.
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Melissa and Deborah thank you for your posts! I will try to be patient, you all understand what it is like and all that we have gone through. Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart!
Anna
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See my addendum to my post above Anna!
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Deborah, thank you for the encouragement! I am hoping they drop/fluff and it all works out~Anna
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hey you're welcome.But what do i know. I've not been through it yet so i'm sure the others can give you more accurate advice. I just thought that it was best to see how things "settle" before you make any rash decisions. Its a very emotional time.
Keep that chin up!
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Anna, I am just 4 weeks out from my exchange and it is just this week that I am beginning to see some changes that look more and more natural. The first three weeks I was pretty sad. I had been told by my own GP (who had had a dmx) that she was mortified after her exchange...she cried every time she at looked at herself in the mirror. She has beautiful breasts now and is thrilled. So this is what I held on to when I felt like bursting into tears... My ps told me that the swelling from the exchange surgery presses on the implants and it can take a couple of weeks for the implants to begin to drop into place...he says the implants continue to change for up to 6 months. So try to hang on.....it really is going to get better
CS thank you for posting the link on the magic triangle
Brenda! Congratulations on your date
yippee squishies coming soon Strength and healing to all,
Laura2
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CS777 - Yes, my PS does the tattooing - and he is very particular about which hospital he does it in because he has a "favorite" tattooing machine. He showed me his work, and it looks great. It was a surprise that he recommended this option, but I'm not complaining.
Those who have just had their exchange, do know that everything does look better over time. Plus, you get used the "new you" and find all sorts of things to like in the mirror. It's almost like we should take down our mirrors for the first 1-2 months, and then gradually put them back up again.
Kristen
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Hi Anna, To the experience of the others above I'll add, try not to look at them a whole bunch of times a day. They're just not going to change that fast, and it's only going to refresh your upset instead giving them time to settle in and you time to rest. Also, note that the same implant on different bodies can give very different cup sizes, so indeed there is guesstimation involved, so your PS isn't the only one who'd say what the nurse did. Perhaps don't lose faith in them based on just that. Just an extra .02. (((((Hugs))))) to you!!!
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Ha Kristen - I was also thinking "cover the mirrors". In my case I just put on the big bras and they're so annoying to take on/off I just don't look much.
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Kat, Paula, and all others:
The news about sunshine....
Did some research and here's what I found out. Exposure to the sun has nothing at all to do with implants....it has nothing to do with them. The reason for avoiding the sun after implant exchange has to do with changes to the skin after any surgery. Because everything has been disrupted under the skin (vessels, nerve endings, tissues, etc.), and because the skin has been stretched, it's characteristics are changed and the skin will be much more sensitive to sun exposure. You might be more likely to burn. You should be cautious in the sun (use at least 30 SPF) for a minimum of 3 months.
The implants will not melt or explode! Obviously anyone who has gone through radiation will have an even greater sensitivity to the sun and those going through chemo or on certain medications that react in the sun should be cautious as well.
So, bottom line is we ALL need to be careful in the sun! We need to be more careful after exchange surgery. But, don't panic -- we can all enjoy the sunshine with a good sunscreen!
Marianne
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Yeah Marianne!! Great news. I will still be careful.
Anna: giving you a cyber hug right now. It is so hard to go through all of this and we build up to the exchange. Deborah has a good handle on normal. Normal is not immediate satisfaction. Please dont rush to any decsions till youhave some time to drop and fluff. I am glad you are here to voice your feelings. that is so important.
Kristen
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Anna,
Sorry to hear you are disappointed - I'm worried about the same thing as I am just starting the process. Deborah - really 50%-75% need a revision after? - that scares me. The nurse at my PS office told me that he can pretty well predict what cup size will be with the number of ccs. Do you think that is possible?
Valerie
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Anna just wanted to send a big ((((((((hug))))))) your way. I am sorry you are feeling bad about your exchange. I can't offer any advice the others haven't already said. Maybe in a few days you will feel better about things. Sometimes just the trauma of surgery, pain meds, anesthesia, etc can make you feel down. Like Deborah said this doesn't have to be the end result. If you are not happy, you can change it. Of course I understand wanting them to be the way you requested now. My exchange is next week and I am scared to death. Excited, but scared. Hang in there and know we are all here if you just need somewhere to go and vent, or cry.
Susan
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Thanks so much everyone for your kind words and being here to listen. Dealing with BC is quite an ordeal and the journey to the implant exchange as I am finding is also a learning. Thank the lord above I have found you all! Susan, best of luck to you, I bet it will be great for you! I just have to practice some patience right now, I guess that is something we have had to deal with from day 1 and that was so hard, now once again the control is in someone elses hands for the outcome~ Hugs back to each of you! Anna
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Laura 2, please keep us posted on your progress, I so appreciate your sharing your experience with me. I know that I am not alone thanks to all the posts I have received today. ly all! Anna
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Valerie - Hmm...so tell me what cup size he predicts you will be with what volume and I will tell you if he is a good prognosticator. I think predicting for augmentation patients is pretty simple, but predicting for breast reconstruction patients...well that is just a whole 'nuther ball 'a wax.
Well, included in that 50+% are also women who may not necessarily "need" a revision, but desire a revision for one reason or another. I mean, for the most part, those of us who have undergone revisions after the exchange have done so because we wanted a little more perfecting of the result. So it is a rather subjective decision. My own sister decided she was not going to go back in for revisions, even though she acknowledged some things could be changed. The same things I opted to change. We are all just different in the way we see things and I think that this is what makes us all so very interesting and unique!
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Hi Ladies...
My goodness yes this thread moves fast!
I'm anxiously awaiting my Kelo-cote...and I hoping it comes in tomorrow or Saturday or I won't have it all until after the holiday. My PS recommends AGAINST Maderma.
Thanks Marianne for your earnest research on sun exposure! I think the moral of this story is to not stay in the same spot for too long and to frequently check the temperature of your breast skin (discretely of course) and not wear black bikinis! It makes sense that the skin has been altered and puts you and your implants at greater risk.
Kristen, did you find out what your raised area on your incision is? If it's a keloid will your new nips cover it? I hope so!
I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day Weekend! For the past almost 10 years, our small town (population 6,000) hosts the famous annual 'Summer Camp' and it's a bit like Woodstock. Seriously...thousands of people in a huge field...Now, I like a good hippie as much as the next guy but being a 'townie' with 15,000 people swarming in and out of your grocery store, gas stations...it gets positively filthy by Monday when they all leave. The music is good though and we can hear it from our porch...last year they had Willie Nelson. You wouldn't believe the amount of cops! It's good revenue for us all the way around...it's just better when it's over. I'm not a huge fan but I know a lot of folks that go to it.
Well...be safe!
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WOW! Cannot possibly keep up with all of you. Gone for 15 days and there are 25 pages to catch up on.
Laura2, beautiful photo reminds me of Georgia O'Keefe.
Going over to the pic site to catch up on everyone's procedures. Gave up reading on page 474. Y'all are too fast for me. Ha! It sucks when work interferes with my personal life.
xo Colleen
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If you want more projection.......talk to Deborah/Whippetmom about Allergan style 45
She helped me in my decision to switch from Mentor High Profile 750 cc to Allergan style 45 800 cc which is a little narrower than the Mentor High Profile which then causes more projection....I think it is 6.1 cm projection
I have plenty of projection. Can still wear my old Maidenform 36 D underwire Demi style 7959 bras. but of course I don't have any upper breast tissue so there is not as much upper flesh as there was before Bi-Lat Masts. PS is suggesting some fat grafting for the step off....but I'm waiting to see if these things stay where they should be or slide down my chest before I make any further decisions. I may need another lift....I'm just waiting to see since if I do fat grafting.....I would want to do it at the same time as the lift if I need it.
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Paula, thanks for the shaving input. I'll be patient!
Brenda, Woo Hoo! Make sure to get your date up on the top so we can all keep track and root for you as you get closer. This thread moves fast and I don't know about everyone else, but I have to look at the top every day for who is having surgery.
Anna, hang in there. It wasn't too long ago Paula was saying the exact same thing and now she is happy. I've been reading this thread for a few months now and one thing I've learned is that it takes time for the "drop and fluff" to happen. Laura and Deborah are right...you can always go back later if you aren't happy. Try to not get discouraged though..
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Hi gals!!! I am in NYC right now! I've been having a great time! The onco I saw at Sloan today told me that my bc is a new primary, not a recurrence, My new onco at home told me the same thing. Both recommended ACT and radiation. Apparently, the reason for my new dx was that not all the breast tissue was removed. I guess this can happen. Just sucks that whatever was left grew into cancer. What are the chances?? I'm not betting in Vegas anytime soon since I am not good with odds!!
I get to see a nutritionist tomorrow. I am really excited about that!!!
Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement, Wahoo's and hugs!
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If I don't check in with this thread 3 x a day I get lost!
Elastic edge pants--I just bought a pair of "legging jeans" do these count? They are the only pair I own with elastic, I swear LOL!
In two weeks I get what may be my last fill to what I now call my UniBomber. Right now I am at 355 and hopefully next fill will put me around 450. So, I have started to get greedy! After looking at all of the amazing work done out there I am worried about ending up too small. When I started out I was all about looking natural and being a C cup. My PS likes to overstretch and then put in a smaller implant and I am so afraid I am going to be much smaller then I would like. Even with my expander to where it is, to me I still look smaller then with my old padded, push up bras. So, Deborah, what do you think? Will I need to go bigger with my implants? I don't exactly want a Pamela Anderson look but I definetly want to throw out all my padded, push up bras!
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Kittycat: Wow, you sound so up and positive! That great attitude of yours is going to get you through this! I have two other friends going through the exact same thing as you--They are young, beautiful and they are fighters. I will be sending you many good thoughts and vibes and may this be the last time you have to go through this.
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KittyCat: It's a crapshoot, isn't it? My 2 new tumors were also considered new primaries. That was after a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. The good thing about getting a new primary is that it is not considered a recurrence, technically, and the stage of your bc remains early. Glad to hear from you. You sound very upbeat!
Brenda
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Kiitykat~~ sorry you gotta go through this again.
Can i ask......did you find the new lump yourself?I mean...was it at the surface somewhere so it was palpable? This is something i worry about in case they missed some breast tissue when they removed my breasts,and now i won't be getting mammo's or MRI's as screening,i will have to rely on my own 'feeling around' to detect any lumps. I just want to know where to feel for any remaining tissue/lumps.
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MJB~~ yup! 'jeggins' still count as elasti-pants!! LOL
The only pair of elastic waist pants i own,are the bottom half of my Dobok (my tae kwondo uniform). oh...and my underwear! =D
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