Exchange City

There is area between my arm pit and the TE.where the skin dips in so it looks as if flesh got hollowed out below the skin.  It has been there since the mastectomy/TE surgery. The plastic surgeon described it as a "pucker" (although it looks worse than a pucker to me) and commented that it may work itself out. Well it hasn't. I am done with my fills and my exchange surgery will be in January. Has anyone else had this problem? Was the plastic surgeon able to correct it at the exchange surgery? and how was it done?

Hi everyone,  You know, I waited so patiently to get access to the picture forum and I was determined to post my pics asap.  Well, now I feel guilty because I have had access for a month now and I am too embarrassed to post a single picture.  I looked at some of the pics others have posted and my exchange doesn't look like anyone else's.  I'm starting to wonder if I should get another PS's opinion.  My scars are not a nice little line straight across like everyone else.  My scars are about 3 inches across and then they turn down for about an inch and a half.  Then to make it even worse there is a bunch of skin in a ball at the end of the downward part of the scar.  When I asked him about the nipple he created, he said it was not a nipple but that it is hard for a PS to throw away perfectly good skin.  He also said maybe my implants would settle downward enough so he could make the extra skin into a nipple.  I said I doubt I would settle that low.  They are very low.  I never had a low sitting natural nipple, so these look very foreign to me.  My natural nipple was a little above the equator, these silly things are well below the equator.  I have an appointment on Thursday to discuss nipples.  I want to post my pics but I don't want to feel worse than I already do.  I am so happy for everyone else's results but I want to be happy too!  I read on someone's post that it is rude to not post a comment if you have looked at their pics but I got so depressed looking at everyone's good results, I found myself not coming up with anything to say.  So I apologize that I probably looked at 15 different threads and maybe commented on 2 or 3.  Thank you all for posting your pics!!!  I think I am going to cry now (sitting at work).  Ugh!

Don't cry !!! Everything is going to be ok. !!!!!!!  Get those silly below the equator things off.  Have them go back and get rid of the 'bunch of skin in a ball'.  It will smooth out nicely, as I had it done also and my ps said the same thing. If the breast skin doesn't  heal, they would use that 'ball'.  We are finding out that it often takes more than one trip to get things looking good, unfortunately.  You are NOT bound to any dr or implant.  Take it slow, get info and do what you need to do to be happy with your new boobs. 

I know its a pain in the ass, but this whole event is, so try to jump this bump with as little emotional distress as possible.  Your job now is to take charge and I know you can do it.

 hugs,

R 

Di....I did respond to your private message, but I am also concerned about that inframammary fold and wonder what was going on in your plastic surgeon's head about doing something like that?  I think that will be my question, followed by "what do you plan to do to fix it?"  And ask him to describe exactly what his method of  repair will be and write it all down and then PM me with the details.  If he thinks it looks fine to him, or if you do not feel confident about his ability to repair this, you obviously need to find someone else and I can help you with that next step.

Deborah

Di- I am so sorry- what was he thinking? 

Sunny: Sounds fixable.  But your surgeon may not be the one to fix it.  If not, go to Moffitt.

Sling:  Lots of things are fixable at the time of the exchange..Deborah can help.

Luna:  Thanks for the good works-  I have had too many surgeries to count..But I'm glad it's over and all is finally well..Good for you too!

JUDY

Di -- I'm so sorry about your exchange experience and terrible pain you are experiencing.    Please keep us updated.

Sunny -- I'm really sorry you are so unhappy with your exchange.  If I were you, I'd see another PS for a consulation before you have any more surgery.  Deborah may be able to help you find someone. 

Sling -- I have the same problem between my armpit and my implant (not TE), but I had lymph nodes removed and that seems to be part of the problem.  My PS said he couldn't do much about it; second opinion PS said he thought he could fix it but radiated skin is tough to work with.  Did you have rads?

Today I see PS again about my contracture and should have enough information to make a decision then.  If not, I'll see another PS for a consultation.  The implant needs to be removed because it looks awful and it hurts, but I will live with it until I find the right solution.  I asked my husband what he thought about it yesterday and he said the implant looks like it did a 180 in the last couple of weeks.  It was sort of round and flat before, but now it is long and thin and migrating up and over toward my armpit.  It's really strange... 

Yesterday was my second mamm since dx.  Mamm was clear -- woo hoo!!  The tech showed me the pics from when my cancer was dx'd -- the cancer looked huge and obvious and I'm so grateful it is gone and I am NED.

Peace, ladies.

Bonnie 

Di, I am so sorry you had this happen.  Here you are so happy with the side you had to do and he goes and messes up your perfectly good side.  Yeesh!

My PS lowered my inframammary fold a while back and had to lift and  reinforce it yesterday.  If only he had left it alone in the first place!

I know Deborah will give you good advice as she did for me.  Thanks to Deborah, I got a much more  appropriate implant style and size when they had to do the re-exchange.  If not for her in the very beginning I would have had too small and too flat an implant for my frame.  And lucky for me I checked with Deborah before the 2nd exchange and got even better ones that I am thrilled with.:)

Laura2....I am so sorry for all you have had to endure.  How devastating to lose a child.  You will see him again someday, but how sad to be without him now.  My heart goes out to you and your family.

FYI, I put my photos of my current TEs on TimTam's photo site yesterday. They are the low height Siltex 7100s. Also, does anyone know where I can find the list of questions to ask your PS before exchange surgery? I saw it here, but can't locate it now, and it's getting close to my exchange pre-surgery appt. All the best... Thanks!

Thank you all for your reassurance!  You are so sweet and encouraging.  What a nice place this is.

tnbcRuth - you made me laugh in the middle of my pity party!  I needed that!

Deborah - I will send some pics tonight when I get off work. 

Bonnie - congratulations on the clear mammo!  Sorry about the implant pain.  I hope you get some relief soon!

Thanks again

Thank you all! I saw my ps and Deborah I will PM you when I get the information. I unfortunately was too much of a babbling crying mess when I saw him to think about what I should ask him. I have since emailed him my questions.

So I am headed back into surgery Monday the 4th!! He agreed the implant was too large and hanging too low. I don't know what he was thinking. He was afraid 300 was too small and I dont think 400 was on hand. He doesn't want to do saline he said he feels confident he knows what size to use. Of course he didn't committ to one for me. he just said 350 or 400. and he will fix the inframammary fold. UGH this time I hope he gets it right cause it's his last chance. my BS said he would POP in and see how its going during the procedure. I totally trust him to make sure it gets done right.

I did a little retail therapy and feel a little better. Im happy he is able to fit me in so quickly but not looking forward to surgery again. My last surgery I had an asthma attack as the procedure was ending and alarms were going off and they woke me up shoving nebulizer in  my mouth and oxygen on my nose. and it was scary..then KATE as they were shooting dilaudid in my iv I was like NOoooooo and dose off.

Thank you all for your support. Fingers crossed this one is the last one.

Diane

Di:  Retail therapy always works for me also.    I just think though that "guesstimating" at 300 ccs or 400 ccs might not be EXACTING enough for our taste!  It might be 325 ccs...or it might be 375 ccs....make sure you tell him you want him to not just consider those two volumes alone.  He can return what he does not use to Mentor or Allergan.  But he needs to order the actual saline SIZERS in a wide range of volume, which is what most plastic surgeons do....

Deborah

Estepp yes indeed a very small world!  It was an awesome event.  Maybe some day we can meet! I would love that. 

That's what I'm hoping to do. I have my yucky boob saved to my computer and plan to post after it's beautiful

BonnieK,

I did not have rads but the dip near the underarm is on the side that I had lymph node biopsy so that may have something  to do with it.