Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Virtual Support Groups! See times and register here.

Exchange City

16646656676696701387

Comments

  • cc4npg
    cc4npg Posts: 438
    edited March 2011

    EastCoastGrl:  Yay!  So happy to hear you're done with exchange!  I had mine Monday and I look kinda squished too, so I'm happy once again to hear that things do drop and fluff out some.  I have just a tiny bit of ripples on my cancer side, when I bend over (of course.. I've read we shouldn't bend over! lol).  It's not really major so far, and I was warned that my skin was thin so I was at risk for this.  I do have options if it becomes worse.  My PS said we could do fat grafting in a few months after things settle.

    I also had the ooph, and man, am I warm with hot flashes!  So far my face doesn't seem to turn red or anything.  One minute I seem either comfortable or even cold, the next minute I feel this "heat" going up my back to my neck and face and scalp and then I'm sweating!  Well, I would have gone thru this in life anyway within a couple years and so far it's not too bad.  The heat waves at night that wake me up are interesting... lol!  I'm just HAPPY to be DONE!

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited March 2011

    cc4npg:  On the 15th I get my nips and some more fat grafting and hopefully he can get ricd of the wrinkled boob.  Otherwise, no more bending over without a push up bra for me, lol!

  • cc4npg
    cc4npg Posts: 438
    edited March 2011

    I hear ya there!  I have to ask him his opinion on how it looks, and I'll try to get pics, but it's so mild right now that it will be hard to get in a photo.  I am honestly quite pleased thus far with my results!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited March 2011

    Lynkoura -- so what you have similar to the gummy (Allergan 410) which is what I have.  I think you said you're 6 weeks out.  I found that at 3 - 4 months out I noticed my implant was softer... so I think it does get better.  Hang in there... and ask your PS if it's alright to massage.  That might help relax the pectoral muscle (which contributes to the hard feeling).

  • 42squared
    42squared Posts: 25
    edited March 2011

    I have to post this because i'm still laughing...

    so last night i got back from a short work trip to dallas.  my boyfriend asked me how it was flying a few weeks post exchange.  i told him the flight felt fine, but that in the lovely hotel lighting, i saw a few ripples on one side i hadn't seen before.  to which he replied:  "well, don't worry yet...you still need to give them time to fluff and fold."  

     dying!!!!!  how cute is he??  :)

  • tnbcRuth
    tnbcRuth Posts: 338
    edited March 2011

    So cute!!!!!!!!!!

  • deekaay
    deekaay Posts: 254
    edited March 2011

    42, awww, that's adorable!  He's trying his best, isn't he?

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited March 2011

    42 -- that's adorable!

    Ruth -- is that a new pic?  Also adorable!

  • Nedeza
    Nedeza Posts: 351
    edited March 2011

    Lilah,

    Nice new pic!

    NAE

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited March 2011

    Thanks Nae! 

  • tnbcRuth
    tnbcRuth Posts: 338
    edited March 2011

    Lilah - yes, thanks!!  I think I might stick with short and dark...wondering if I should have my driver license changed...in that one I have shoulder length blonde straight (bob) hair...couldn't be more different.  Think I may change FB pic as well...looks like I'm getting used to the new look.

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited March 2011

    I know the feeling :)  I used to have long hair!

  • MarieK
    MarieK Posts: 467
    edited March 2011

    I posted this on Tissue Expander but I'll repost here for other UNIS.

    Someone asked about the softness of the implant after the exchange.  I posted that mine was still hard - not tupperware bowl hard - but still hard. 

    Well I'm happy to report that after almost 5 weeks it is softening up considerably!

    Also I posted that my implant seemed heavier than my natural breast.  That too has changed for me and now the opposite is true.  The implant did seem heavier at first but I think that was because I wasn't used to the weight and the pressure against my chest - being a UNI and not having had a breast for over a year contributed to that.

    My natural breast feels heavier now because it has droop and movement where my implant does not.

    LILAH - when you wiggle your shoulders do both of your breasts jiggle?  My natural one does but I don't think my implant moves very much at all.

    I've been doing a gentle massage with Lubriderm for over a week now and the scars and hard outer edges are starting to soften up too.

  • Lilah
    Lilah Posts: 2,631
    edited March 2011

    Marie - that's correct.  Real boob jiggles; implant does not.  I think even with regular silicone there is not a lot of jiggle but maybe some of the silicone ladies can comment.

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited March 2011

    42Squared:  LOL!  Fluff and fold-so cute!!!

    tnbcRuth:  I LOVE your new look!  Very cute.

    Marie:  My natural side jiggles and my MX silicone side doesn't so much though I can manipulate it quite a bit like a natural breast.  They are both soft, however, my MX side just feels "different".  When I make certain movements, it also goes "flat" where my natural side extends out, like when I bend over.  I found that a push up bra helps alot with making them look the same and then I do get a bit of a jiggle.

  • rebetata
    rebetata Posts: 213
    edited March 2011

      I just have to comment I a BX silicone and I do have some jiggle going on but I am almost a year out from original exchange. I know initially there was no jiggle here either.

     What horrible winds we are having here today. ughhh my allergies are all crazy.

    Rebecca

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Posts: 6,028
    edited March 2011

    42squared:  I think your boyfriend must have spent WAY too many years going to laundromats!!!! LOL

  • Estepp
    Estepp Posts: 2,966
    edited March 2011

    LOL

  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Posts: 312
    edited March 2011

    Just got my exchange date for March 30.  My expanders were filled a lot at surgery and I only needed 2 fills.  I did not have any trouble with the BMX healing or the expanders.  Anxious to get something a little softer in.  

    Terri

  • cc4npg
    cc4npg Posts: 438
    edited March 2011

    Woohoo for exchange dates!  You'll love it!

  • HappyGirl45
    HappyGirl45 Posts: 29
    edited March 2011

    Hi Ladies,

    I need help/suggestions.  I had my exchange back in November.  The results turned out great...got lift and implant on the natural side and implant on mx side.  Just this week my mx side implant slides very wide, to the side when I am laying on my back. Undecided Had a follow-up appointment today with the PS.  Was told I could get it fixed by getting another surgery ... putting in stitches to close up the pocket.  PS said if it was his wife he would wait, wouldn't rush due to risk of surgery.  Has anyone else had this happen and if so what have you done or any suggestions?

     Thanks for any suggestions, Verna   

  • deekaay
    deekaay Posts: 254
    edited March 2011

    ibc, you will love the softness when you get your exchange.  It is a HUGE difference from TEs.

  • Nedeza
    Nedeza Posts: 351
    edited March 2011

    Marie~

    Being a uni...my MX side doesn't do much when I jiggle as well.  It just stays there Undecided!  My natural side with the saline implant for augmentation "jiggles" when I jiggle Laughing!  All in all both my "girls" look great whether they jiggle or not jiggle together!Wink  The things we learn about ourselves! LOL!

    NAE

  • Amos
    Amos Posts: 3
    edited March 2011

    I'm getting mine April 21!!!!

    I'm planning a weekend get-away 9 days later - is that too soon? Should I postpone my surgery until after that weekend?

  • sweetie2040
    sweetie2040 Posts: 470
    edited March 2011

    Happygirl45-my implants slide to the sides when laying down. Your PS is correct, the way to fix it is to sew it laterally to close the pockets. This doesn't have to be done if you can live with it. I am having a revision to address rippling and this issue too. My PS said he would stitch the sides. I do hear that it is somewhat painful when there is stitching like that and he also said there is only a 50/50 chance it would "hold".  I may do just the larger implant and not the stitching and live with it. I think your PS is right I would definitely wait awhile before making any decision on it. You can consult Whippetmom on here and get her opinion.

  • tnbcRuth
    tnbcRuth Posts: 338
    edited March 2011

    Amos-if you did ok with the mx, then you should be ok.  If it was hard, then the getaway might be too soon.  The exchange is not as bad, but it just depends upon how well you tolerate surgery and anesthesia.  Good Luck!

  • Amos
    Amos Posts: 3
    edited March 2011

    tnbcRuth - MX was a piece of cake - thanks for the reply!!!

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited March 2011

    HappyGirl:  I am so sorry you are experiencing this.  When I had my TE's I asked for the kind that are stitched down because I am so active--My PS also stitched down the pocket at exchange.  I really wish that this was a standard practice!  It is so common that you would think it would be a no-brainer when it comes to reconstruction.  I think that would drive my crazy and the only temporary solution would be to sleep in a bra, but ultimately, I would get it fixed.  Best of luck to you and again, I am sorry you are experiencing this.

  • MBJ
    MBJ Posts: 3,671
    edited March 2011

    Modernmade & DawnHope:  Anything I should know before my nipple/areola recon on Tuesday?  What bra to wear, what clothes to wear, how long before I can wear "normal" clothes and do normal activities?

  • MarieK
    MarieK Posts: 467
    edited March 2011

    I'm popping in to see my PS later today.  I feel like a hypochrondriac sometimes!

    I was hoping to hold off seeing him until my next follow up on March 28 but I have a concern and we leave for a family vacation on Friday so I want to have something checked out before I go.

    On my implant side I still have the redness (from radiation) near my mast incision but below that area I seem to have what looks like a bruise (paler than a bruise but has that slight blue colour) and it is slightly raised/swollen.  When I feel around it the area almost feels like a hole because it is very soft there.

    Also when I raise my arms that area is very pucker-y like cellulite - but I only see this when I raise my arms and make slack in the skin.

    It almost feels/looks like there is something between my skin and my implant.

    Has anyone ever had/seen this before?

    I'm hoping that it's just another radiated skin "issue" and doesn't interfere with our vacation plans!