Exchange City
Comments
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Deb in Kansas, Congrats on both your new girls and ALSO the engagment of your dear daughter, how nice is that to have new boobs for a wedding, you will look beautiful. And btw, you look much to young to have a 25 year old daughter!
Congrats to Estepp as well, isn't it fabulous having such a beautiful chest? I had my DH with me at my follow up visit and omgawd, the lights in there were so bright and all of my scars were really evident. I can not wait to start using scar fade cream and look good without clothes too!! I have kept my shirt on in bed and DH really never cared to look but I could see that he was surprised when he saw my mangled girls in the bright light. I am blessed that he has been such a trooper though all this with me. He is the best guy a gal could ask for. He is already talking about doing things to my breasts (I shall not elaborate) lol! TMI??
I had my exchange last week and am having a hard time staying away from the mirror. I do wish I consulted withe the sizing guru, I am a wee bit smaller than I thought I would be, I am at a nice C cup, but coming from DD's. I do like my new physique. My sisters agree that the firm breasts give me an appearance of being more muscular and definitely younger. I am 50 years old and my chest matches that of my 19 year old DD. Gotta take the good with the bad, right? I would not have thought this time last year that I would be here but am overjoyed that I am also nearing completion of my reconstruction. I too will revisit my ps in a few months to talk about nips but really, who needs them at my age! I think I should invent peel n stick nips or have they already been invented?
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WOOT WOOT for Dorothy.... YAY! Please enlighten us on the foob play.....
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Dorothy: Congrats! give them time to "fluff" and btw my DH loves mine, lol!
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Hi Deb in Kansas, thinking of you and congrats! I bet you are so happy to have your exchange done!
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I am getting closer to my late February exchange. I went for my second fill today with Dr Shanaq (PS) and I have to say, this guy is wonderful. Answers questions, postively glows when he sees me happy about the progress. I am only at 200cc on my way to 450 cc but no pain. Just a little fullness. I really think the alloderm made all the difference in the process. Anyway, that's my two cents:) I think the most important thing is having a PS you can trust and that shares a mutual respect.
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Yay!!!!!!! Congrats to the ladies with the new girls!!!!!!!!
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Thank you friends : ),
Well, I have NOT been able to stay away from the MIRROR. : P... So, now just 24 hours post exchange, I have a question re: the drop and fluff thingee. The new implants are very soft, but much higher on the chest wall than the tissue expanders. Is this the area that will "drop"? I feel like the slope begins just an inch or so under my collar bone. They seem like they need to be pushed down. Just checking... BTW, the new "girls" are so nice.
Deb in KS
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Ladies-- I am back from my holidays (during which time I was off line) and there are pages and pages of posts)! Too many for me to catch up on... so please, if anyone needs me or asked me something, can you either repost now that I'm back or PM me?
Thanks and Happy New Year to all!
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kansasmom - I know, we try but can't!
It is hard to tell without seeing a pic but I'd bet it is swelling. I LOVED my new foobs when they were brand new because I had so much fullness up top ... so what you're talking about is likely swelling and will go away after a few weeks. They will drop too. But right now you're going to have a lot of post-exchange swelling. 0 -
Kansasmom: I agree with DawneHope--could be just swelling. I wore a bra for 6 weeks to make mine go down a bit on the top and you can also buy just a compression band that does this no matter which bra you are wearing. I would ask your PS at your next appintment to see what they say.
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Yeah.....Lilahs back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Yay!! Laura & Lilah's back!!!
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LOL
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welcome back Lilah and estepp! Ok, only here could I say this.... I cannot imagine my dh playing with my foobs. They have no feeling. They are just numb ugly lumps. I really cannot imagine them being a part of our sex life ever again. I know....I have 'issues'. sigh. Why isn't there some kind of support group IRL for women who have had mastectomies?
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kansasmom I live in Kansas City just over the border in MO. Where did you have your surgery done?
mom3band1g I had my bmx aug 9th with delayed recon which we think will be April now. I still have feeling all around the area just not on the scars and about an inch around them, and a little under my armpit on the cancer side. I got more feeling as time went on. But i am thinking after reading your post that I will not tell my husband that I can't feel anything. I am sure i will feel in the surrounding area that will have to do. When I explained about the nipple recon he said well it always annoyed you when i played with your nipples too much, now you can take a nap lol.
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LOL Carrol
Kansasmom -- give it time. I think you just had your exchange... so there is swelling and extra numbness. But also it's just a period of adjustment, of psychologically integrating them into your sense of self. In time they will feel more like your own and some sensation may even return. I think it's more a matter of the strangeness and of getting used to thinking of them as part of your body more than anything else.
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kansasmom- I too had my exchange yesterday in the a.m. but was in no condition to get on the computer after I got home. Anesthesia did not agree with me. I am so happy for you now that you had your exchange. I have not even peeked at my new gals but I too seemed to be swelled up on top - I have a very tight sports bra on that his pressing down on me. I will post some pics as soon as I get this off of me my follow-up with PS. I may be able to return to work on Monday as this was not as traumatic a procedure as the BMX w/drained tubes. Thx
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New exchangees....the implants will "drop". Not everyone experiences this upper pole "fluffiness" [although the augmentation gals nearly ALWAYS do] and I feel it is best to just let them drop and take their shape naturally. It is perfectly fine and natural to have this occur. If they have not dropped in seven to ten days, you can buy a cheap stabilizer band to help the process along a little.
http://www.makemeheal.com/mmh/product.do?id=33512
You can also create your own stabilizer band with a sports bra - just wear it upside down and under your armpits like a tube top. Or if you have a tube top, use that instead
. Looks a little goofy, but who cares? But wait a week before employing this technique.Deborah
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Thank you all for your good advice and encouragement. There is so much build up to the exchange date. You think you will be in love with your new foobs, but it just doesn't happen that way for everyone. I know, I know... it has only been 2 DAYS!! and my surgeon did a beautiful job. But, it is hard when I look at them. They just don't feel like me yet so I am feeling a bit sad.
Lilah, you are so right and wise... it is a mental adjustment to a new body. I am so glad to know that you and others understand what I am going through. Thank you for caring so much about all of us. You are an angel in my life xoxo.
Whippetmom, thank you too. You are always a source of information and strength for all of us. I will follow your directions after 7-10 days and hope that the drop and fluff fairy comes to visit with her little magic wand *\ . An augmentation buddy told me the same thing about the "fluffiness" and she said it will all settle down, but it needs time.
Carrol2, I live in OP. The Associated Plastic Surgery Group at ~117th and Roe performed my surgery at Menorah Medical Center. They are an excellent group of plastic surgeons. We are very lucky in KC because we have lots of good plastic surgeons to choose from. If you want to PM me, I am happy to share information about my surgeon. All the best in making your PS selection.
Deb in KS
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Went to Victorias Secret today to exchange a very thoughtful but unwearable ensemble by DH gave me for Christmas. I am so depressed. The girls just don't fit into a bra right. Maybe it's too soon. I tried a Body by Victoria (no wires) and that was the best I could do, but it really got me down. All the girls in there are 20 something walking around with ear piece radios on like the secret service. Maybe I should wait until the hot flashes end before I go shopping again.
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My exchange surgery date is January 27
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Diane: Forget Victoria's Secret. They are useless when it comes to proper sizing. Wrapping a tape measure around you when you are fully clothed [and I was wearing a coat, no less] is not the way to measure. I left VS terribly depressed. Only a few of their bras fit a reconstructed breast mound. Get thee to Nordstroms. Call first and make an appointment with one of their fitters and ask for someone who works with breast reconstruction patients. And call your insurance company first to see if they cover bras. Nordies can bill your insurance carrier.
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A giggle for you all. I have been complaining about these cold foobs....thank you all for letting me do that without complaint. I have been bothered by my new size and afraid to measure and find out my cup size. Well, I finally did and guess what? My new HUGE size........AA. LOL. Seriously, AA. I had to laugh at myself. Only me would find a AA to be huge! I seriously need to get some pics up over at Timtam's site. Go ahead and laugh at me....:)!
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AA???? I am going to have to giggle !
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tnbcRuth- I knew you would laugh!
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Mom3band1g I won't laugh...I had 2 revisions to my exchange and now I feel like they PS finally got the right size. I kept wanting to be bigger which was silly cause I was a 34c/d before BC and I am 5ft tall so my first exchange was DISASTEROUS..felt like I used to dance on a pole but now was sagging 100 year old woman. They were so big my body couldn't support them..then I went down 100 ccs on the augmented side...still didnt cut it..then my PS went down 150 ccs to 600ccs mx side 300ccs augmented side...and guess what size I am...34 c/d!! Couldn't be happier. After 3 months of trying to be happy with my new bigger ones I am finally happy and feel like my old self again!! I don't have to go bra shopping my old ones fit!
Bottom line if you're not happy have a revision. It's hard to move forward if you're not happy. Triust me these last several months I felt worse about things than when I was going through chemo. The mental is just as important as the physical healing.
Happy FRIDAY Ladies!! Hope everyone is off to a great start to the day!
Diane
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DiDel, did your insurance pay for all of the exchanges? The way my PS talked when I last saw him, he didn't sound confident that 1 was going to be it for me.
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Diane, I am going to remember your post... the mental part of this whole deal is important. I guess that's why BCO is so helpful to all of us in recovery. Thank you for sharing your insight.
Deb In KS
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Ann97 - what did your PS say to you that gave you that impression?
I ask because my PS said that he could "fix things later" if I didn't like something. I was asking him about the little fat roll I have in front of my underarm. It's not noticeable on my natural side because my breast is much lower (saggy) on that side but it's being pushed up and out by the TE on the side.
Here I thought my exchange surgery on Feb 3 was going to be the end of the road for me but I guess not....
I'd like to know if that is still covered by insurance or if we're out of pocket for revisions?
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Oh how I miss this site. Well all is good I had my MRI and there is no rupture thank god. I do have another little thing to investigate apparently while having the MRI there is an area of concern the doctor wants me to have a PET SCAN so I guess I will be looking into getting that done. I am feeling good though so I don't think anything could be wrong.
I hope everyone is healing and staying warm. I will have another set of fat grafting in February. I think I might get my nips done at that time as well.
Hugs to everyone,
Rebecca
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