Exchange City

Holy cow it would take a LOT of fat grafting to make a new one for me!

Hi Ladies,

I had my exchange six weeks ago today.  I posted some pics on the picture forum.  I'd appreciate your honest thoughts.  Thank you!

Jan, so many of us were where you are now... Time and patients is what you need right now... as Deborah said....

I just wanted to extend a great big ((((((((((((hug)))))))))))) to you. Tears from a BC survivor, pinches at my soul. Bless you! Time will tell... AND you can ALWAY change them out. I did this... and only took one more week off work. It is ok sweety.. it really is. ((((((hug))))))

YES.., I was FULLY expanded to 420cc in 5-6 weeks. BEFORE rads started. ALSO a little knowledge for you. SOME rads docs will tell you to start rads 4-6 weeks after chemo.. or surgery.. or however you fall.

THE RADS WINDOW IS 8 weeks. You can start rads up to 8 weeks AFTER chemo stops. I did rads at the 7 week mark I believe. I ALSO HAD TO TELL my rads onco.. that I KNEW I had this window.. and he said... " well, you have done your research. "

SOME protocol's say you have a 10week window before you need to start rads.

Laura -- there is a new address -- you should have gotten an email from Timtam... if its not your regular email address, check that one...you can't use the old address.  I sent you the info in a PM in case you can't find the mail that Timtam sent you.

Hi ladies...havent posted here in a while but try to keep up!

Just had to respond to Joansf: I am SO SORRY that happened to you and amazingly it happened to me too. I could so relate to that feeling of violation and neglect. I was so upset too. I found out the same way: got my card from Natrell. I had planned on 300 cc and the card said 260!!!! My PS takes the approach of overfilling the expanders so I was especially upset because I found the expansion process very painful and so went through more than I had to because he put in smaller implants. My rib measurement is 29, Im 5' 3" and 110 lbs. Exchange was in March. Time has passed, they dropped and fluffed, I am happy with the size and feel in the end like I was restored to what I was born to be size-wise. But you know, it still pisses me off so much that after all the many many conversations we had they put in a different size. So now sometimes I wonder: if a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? If my size today looks and feels just right for me, does it matter that it happened? I guess to me it does, just on the principle of the thing. I keep thinking I should post pictures but I never took any "before" or "during" pics  for comparison. Anyway ((((HUGS)))) to you it sucks, I know. I cried my eyes out when it happened. 

I've been complaining about my implants for months and I've gotten a lot of support and encouragement to have a revision from my bc sisters so I wanted to share this with you. I went to the PS yesterday, 2 days post-op, and they are BEAUTIFUL! I've had quite a time with my reconstruction... trouble getting fills, fired a PS, lumpy assymetrical results, rippling, a divot, waiting, waiting, found a new PS... but if they end up looking as good as I think they will it will all have been worth it! My former PS wanted to give me fat grafts all over to cover ripples and a divot. This would have involved several procedures (which he assured me the insurance would not pay for) and I would still have two different size breasts on different planes. My new PS started over with silicone (instead of saline) in a larger, high profile size and moved them into more symmetrical position, then cleaned up the dogears. I just got a peek yesterday while changing bandages but they are perfect! Can't wait for the swelling to go down so I can post pics on the forum. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for your encouragement -- especially you, Deborah! 

Bonnie - I think the new term is "delayed immediate". I had my bmx a year ago (8/22) and just had my implants replaced and a complete revision. I'm as sore and tired as I was after the bmx -- this revision was a 5 1/2 hr procedure. Sorry you are having so much trouble with the implants. I think this process is a lot more challenging than we realize. We're so focussed on getting rid of the cancer, we don't really think about the rest of it.

JenC - good luck with your fills!

Sunny - congratulations on getting the drain out. You'll feel so much better.

sunnycoconut:  It's the small things in life that are important!  I felt the same way and you had to wait much longer then I did.  Yay for you!

astorm:  I am so, so very happy for you!  What a difference a day makes--that is such wonderful news.  Can't wait for you to share!

Yikes!  I have been busily getting my classroom ready the past 2 weeks, so I did not have time to read or post.

Gail:  I can't wait to read about your journey and see your new photos!

Brenda

Hi All, thanks for the all the well wishes.  Surgery went fine, dozed off and on yesterday.  I have the cauliflower-looking little sponges on my nips so no news there, but even the sponges look kinda cute because you get the impression of a nipple.  Promises of things to come...

Fat grafts look good so far,  top divot much better but my PS says the fat shrinks by 50% so we'll see.  All in all when I stand back from the mirror, I think things look good.

Oh, lots of brusing on abdomen, only a little sore.  BUT I am hugely sore in my upper, I said upper thighs at the donor site for the areolas.  I need one of those cushions women use after delivery! lol  I actuallyI think PS took the skin in a way that will never show in a bathing suit since I asked about that. Wishing all a nice long holiday weekend, deekaay.  

I just posted my pics of my expanders thus far.  Those who have access to the pic forum, have a look.  I am getting my exchange in December and my expanders are at 380cc with 2 more fills to go (500 cc expander).  Thanks in advance for any comments or feedback!

Thank you all who've responded to my pics.  Who else can we show?    It helps to have you all here who know.  Thank you.  I'm much encouraged after hearing your feedback. 

Hello ladies,

 Catching up on the posts and wow this forum moves so fast!  Deborah you are amazing!

I have a question on exchange surgery.  Do you end up with more drains when they do the exchange?  I will also be having the non mx side (lifted and equalized to the mx side) does anyone know if drains are required for augmentation breasts?  Just curious as to what i have to look forward to.  Thanks everyone.  Hope you are all having a good weekend.

Jen

JenC- What I've seen on these boards is the majority of PS don't use drains with exchange. Most of the exceptions I've seen are if they use Alloderm or, as MBJ said, if they need to do a lot of pocket work.  

jenC~ my PS said i would have drains in after my exchange =(