Exchange City
Comments
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I read in the forum about implant sizing to include info with help in sizing. My PS says he put expanders in for around a C cup. I used to be a small A cupt. I am still going through the filling process after my mastectomies. Anyway, my ht is 5' 4 1/2", weight 140, circum around ribcage is 31". I am currently about 20 lbs over my normal weight & feel like Frankenstein right now. Anyway, I got a card describing the TEs. They are "Natrelle" style 133V series expander matrix. The card states 500cc so I am guessing that they can be filled to 500cc? Although maybe that's what he put in at surgery. It seems I have had two sessions of 30cc's injected and one session of 50cc's injected. One time they could only fill one side b/c I was leaking serous fluid. Anyway, does all this sound like a good size for me? I haven't put a lot of thought into it as all my energy went to getting through the first surgery. Plus my life is quite stressful as well. I still do not feel like myself & do not look forward to a 2nd surgery for implants.
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stlcardsfan: I have been using the NewGel strips on my scars and they seem to flatten and lighten them some. I wear them every night for weeks and weeks--they last a really long time.
Congratulations on everyone's upcoming exchanges! Yippee squishees for all!
Rebecca: We will all be thinking about you tomorrow and please let us know what is going on! Hugs!
Estepp: When I saw 45's all I thought about was records, silly me!
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LOL Mary........ 45's........ records......... I soooooooo remember too ! LOVE IT!
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deekaay: that happens to me all of the time--scratching an itch I can't get to!
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Thomasj: If your grand children are still young it may be more then 2 weeks before you can pick them up! No lifting, stretching, sudden movements, driving.
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Codavis - I recently got my T/E on my right and yes, some pain and stabbing, this is my 4th (brst form) on that side, it will take a few weeks for it to settle and then things will subside. Sometimes it may hit nerves, etc. because they also fall naturally over some time....normal unless the pain is really unbareable....just from my experience. Are you wearing anytype of support? That helps too if your doc has approved it. I purchased some light to medium support activewear sports bras from target which are super, stretchy and comfy and just enough support and no pinching or binding...((((gentle hugs))))
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Whippetmom thanks so much, now to convince my PS as I think he told me the textured would help with the ripples! He also won't do fat injections. But I have seen other women post that their PS don't feel good about that either. What a mess. I go back and forth and back and forth.
I didn't have rads but many surgical complications. Infections both incisions and the incision on the left broke open and had to heal by secondary intention. Two IV antibiotics going 14 hours a day for 6.5 weeks.
Do you think adding a little more volume as I mentioned will help. I am 5'2" and about 116 pounds. Everyone now says yes I am bigger but still looks okay with my body.
I know you are the expert and I value your opinion. Part of me is scared to have a revision due to the complications after the mx although the exchange went without any problems.
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martiparty - I'm 5'6" and had my TEs filled to 400ccs and exchanged out for 450cc implants and I look like a small C cup (I was an A before also). Don't be worried about the exchange surgery-it's really not bad at all. I have pictures on the picture forum - if you are interested at looking at size etc. Hugs, Valerie
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Lilah: I am not sure just yet. I'll start this conversation on my next visit still new at this but I want to make the best decision though.
Treatment 6 rounds of Taxotere & Cytoxin
Diagnosis: 8/30/2010, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/1 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2-0 -
I just received a disturbing email. The FDA announced a possible association between saline and silicone gel-filled breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a very rare type of cancer. Data reviewed by the FDA suggest that patients with breast implants may have a very small but significant risk of ALCL in the scar capsule adjacent to the implant. As if we needed something else to worry about.
Here's the link to the FDA article: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm241101.htm
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Determined: You can email me photos and let me give you a better idea of what might be appropriate for your frame. [PM me if you want my email address.] With all of your surgeries and complications, you need to make this your last surgery for a long time. For your PS to tell you rippling or wrinkling would be minimized with textured implants is hogwash....
http://www.justbreastimplants.com/gallery/rippling_photos.htm
Your implant size range sounds fine for your frame - just switch out to smooth round and then adjust the size right or left as needed for symmetry.
Deborah
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Martiparty: Is the serous fluid leak resolved? You are still significantly underfilled for where you need to be. I would take those fills very slowly - a fill every two weeks and no more than 30 ccs in each TE. Your card will have some additional letters - like SX, SV, MX, MV, LX, LV...or a number 13 or 14 after the 133SV. I need that number.
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I saw this also...six days before getting implants...
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I also saw where the FDA is giving an updated review of silicone implants this spring.... Go to last paragraph.
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm241090.htm
Dee
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Hello Ladies,
I am new to posting things but have been on the site using it as a resource for quite a few months. I can't tell you how helpful all the information has been! I have been pretty quiet overall about my cancer with family and friends (until I had to go through chemo and then everyone knew because of the bald head..bummer!). I generally keep things close and handle things privately but I have come to a point where I need to talk to people who really know what I am going through and get some advice.
I am feeling strangely down in the dumps for the past 2 weeks...I am surprised because I figured now is the time I should be the happiest. I was diagnosed in early July 2010, had BMX with TE on Aug 18th, Chemo (T&C) Sept thru end of Nov and exhange surgery Dec 21st. So I am 9 weeks past chemo and 5 weeks out from surgery.
I know I have to wait and not be too judgemental about my new breasts...I know I should be happy that I have made it this far and I shouldn't expect perfection...I don't want to sound vain. They are looking pretty good...however, I don't think they are symmetrical...the left one seems lower, feels so much heavier and looks bigger than the right and the pocket seems to have more room...esp. toward the clevage line. I never experienced the fluff I read about and it seems they have dropped all they are going to drop...they are not riding too high or anything. I have the Mentor smooth round high profile gel 600cc...which sounds so big compared to others I have been reading about...I am wearing a 36C bra now...I used to be a 34B. I measure 31" around just below the breasts. I am 49 years old, 5' 4" and weigh 140 lbs (about 15 lbs heavier than I used to be).
Sorry for the long post but do you think they will change much yet...should I wait to go back to see my PS? I am sure he will think they are fine and I don't want to complain about a little difference when I know it could be so much worse. I really hate to go in for a revision, but if I do how big of a deal is that kind of surgery? Will I have drains again (ugh)? Do you think the PS will have to work on both sides or just match one to the other? I don't know...I hate this and feel like I am obsessing about it and constantly checking if they have changed...so I am obviously not satisfied. I am truly grateful to be alive and to be kicking this cancer thing...what is wrong with me. Yeesh.
Thanks for letting me get it out.
Dawn
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ok..i got the high profile part...but what is upper pole? I am lame and thank you for your help:)
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Soccermom I have had my implants since August 4. I honelsty think they finally jst settled in to place so its a good thing my exchange was 5 months later....
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Is there a mentor implant that is comparible to the allergan 45's? I have allergans now
(not the 45's) and will be having them switched to mentors on Monday...
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Annette, upper pole is the top part of the breast.
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Well, Ladies, I have a weird development. I went for a routine follow up with my BS nurse practitioner today and she found a lump along the top of one of my breast. She...and my PS nurse...and my PS's resident all agreed it is hardened fat from the fat graft I had in 9/10. So I am supposed to monitor it and report back only if it changes. My NP said it's really nothing to worry about so I am trying to focus on that. We know this is a possibility when we accept fat grafting, but I thought I thought I'd put it out there for you guys who are considering it.
I am scheduled for another round of fat grafting end of April so I have time to think about whether I want to do this again. I posted this over on the ripple thread, but thought I'd add it here, too. One other thing my NP told me--she said 6 of 10 women (who they see at my very large cancer center) who have fat grafting develop a lump from the fat grafts. deekaay
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DMD: You need to know that nearly half of us who come to these forums need some type of "tweaking" after the exchange surgery. Symmetry - one higher, one lower, one larger, one smaller, is high on the list of complaints. You are not alone. Some of us stick with the same PS - some of us find another PS to perform the revisions. It is very common. Your size of implants is perfectly acceptable for your height, weight and ribcage. Many women with your vital statistics have implants in this size range. It depends on the type of assymetry you have. If the breast fold itself is lower on one side than the other, dropping and settling is not going to make much of a difference. I would be happy to help you if you want to email me photos. You can PM me if so.
Deborah
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We have not heard from Rebecca today and I know I am not alone in saying that prayers have been going out on your behalf and we all want to hear from you. No matter what you have to share with us, we want you to know that you matter very much to us.
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deekaay: I had a lump from the fat grafting also [the first time] and it took about two months to resolve but it did resolve. Of course, I perform implant massage/displacement exercises and I often sleep on my stomach - so perhaps I worked it out on my own.
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Yes, DMD, revisions are very common.....I had one on my left side almost exactly a year ago, in fact. Don't be afraid to try to get the results you want......more than likely they're possible........even if it takes a different PS. Good luck!
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Thinking of you Rebecca....
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Deborah, did you massage the fat lump? I didn't know they could go away--that's encouraging. Did you have a second round of fat grafts?
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I would love to have another revision.... but it will cost me another 3000.00...my insurance makes me pay 3000.00 a year catastrophic BEFORE they pay 100%.... it makes it SO hard to get what you want. I have paid over 14,000 in almost three years. Probably more actually...... all cash... this does not even add into it my 377.00 a month premiums...... I would LOVE to like my recon. more... I know I need a revision........ I just look in the mirror daily... and just feel like I have to " be thankful I am alive" and not worry about how I look anymore. So not right. Actually, I stand corrected...... Dh and I have paid out over 22,000$ cash in three years... to keep me alive... and get foobs.... now that the foobs have settled... and I know what I need to make them as I want them..... I need another 3000$ this year. .... I HATE BC
REBECCA........... my heart is with you tonight as I go off to bed to pray!
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My thoughts and prayers are with you, Rebecca.
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Tomorrow I leave for my exchange - 1 day preop and then surgery Friday. I am nervous somewhat...there are some issues related to my lumpectomy/radiation 22 years ago with that side being tight and less accepting of expansion. I will have fat grafting apparently. I'm hoping for the size I was before - 36C - but have been told that is not likely. Darn. I really liked the size I was. I was never told prior to my BMX that there was this level of concern due to prior radiation. I think if I would have known this, I may have opted for DIEP. Well, it is water under the bridge - exchange on Friday. Has anyone had a similar situation with good final results. Sorry to sound whiney; I really have no right as I'm a 22 year survivor and the recurrance last year was DCIS; a better situation that the first time. I've had my expanders for 10 months..must say they've become a part of me.
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thomasj: Think of this as a step you take to get out of the expanders and into the breast implants. This is not the end of the journey if you are not happy with the results. The fat graft transfer can help soften the skin on the previously irradiated side, because stem cells are transferred along with fat and it can change the integrity of the skin. You could wait six months to a year, allow your skin to continue to stretch and then perhaps switch out to larger implants at a later point in time. My skin has stretched significantly in the past nearly two years, to the point that I could easily use implants with a volume of at least 100 ccs greater than what I have now. You also need to not stress out the first ten days after the exchange, because this is when the implants can look pretty misshapen. So hang in there!!! Come back and let us know how you are doing when you feel up to it!
Deborah
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