Exchange City
Comments
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MBJ- I am so elated for YOU and how you feel about yourself!!! I am so happy you have a great ps and the magic he has done!!
I can hear your excitement in your messages!
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mtks: I felt a bit dejected after my exchange surgery, too. It's probably a normal reaction, as the TEs look different and have more projection than the implants. There is often a concave area in the upper pole, too. I had that on the right side. Depending upon what you're going to do next, nipple/areolas? your PS can fill that in with fat grafting to smooth it out. Most of all, try to cultivate patience in the process, as the weeks go by and your body does shift and change to accomodate the implants. I was pretty happy with mine after about two and a half months, although I just had revision surgery. They do get better! Have faith....and know its okay to feel what you're feeling. It's a long journey to where you've arrived now.
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mtks: I had fat grafting on my first exchange but my divot, or step off, came back and he just "refilled" that area. They all tend to look like hamburger buns until the drop and fluff so take a deep breath, walk away from the mirror, and give it a few weeks. Mine took almost 4 months to finally drop and fluff. Know that it's a work in progress. It wasn't until I saw my nipple yesterday that I felt almost done, and I had a huge depression shortly after exchange due to the difference in projection from TE to implant. It does a number on our heads for sure. Know it will get better. Gentle hugs!
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Mtks:
I just went yesterday 10 days out of exchange surgery to PS. I, too, have concave on BC side and a slight swelling in the cleavage are of the non BC side. That, he says could be fluid but he did say revisions can be done after all is settled - as he put it - we need to wait for the implants to evolve to what they will be.
Thanks to everyone here and their advice I have decided I'm going to wait the 3-4 months to have any final nips, tats, revisions done. This will give my body a chance to adjust and have the 'girls' settle in and I can enjoy the beach for the summer!! Sometimes you need to take a break from all of this!
I'm sure when all is said and done we will all look 'boobilicious'
Jan
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Jan: I had my exchange surgery 8/20/10 so it was 7 months until I had it done and I am glad I waited.
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MBJ:
Yes, you make perfect sense and that's why I will wait too. I'm afraid to get nips and then the 'girls' decide to 'move' and the nips aren't where they are supposed to be! Hmmmm....
Jan
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jan: That was my biggest fear! I made the doctors and nurses assure me before going under that they wouldn't be playing pin the nipple on the boobie. Also, my surgery was done at the Doheny Eye Institute so I had to make sure I would end up with an eyeball there, lol!
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LOL you are too funny!
Is your avatar your pic? If so, you are a beauty!
Jan
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Orchidgal- I hate to sound ignorant but you said you just had revision surgery. Is that nipple/areolas or something else. Fat grafting? Is that something all ps's do? Hope so!
MBJ Drop and fluff? I like the sound of this but what's fluff? LOL I feel so stupid right now, I'm laughing! I am glad what I am feeling is normal.
Jan- just having recent surgery yourself what are you using on your incisions( as soon as you get the A-OK) ? Any body else?
You all are so great! I actually feel a little better. Thanks so much girls. It's amazing how much support and info you get right here. Thank goodness for that! You all give me HOPE!!!
I sure have had a lot of brain FOG!!! It's crazy what that anesthesia does to one's mind.
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Mtks:
I still have the steri strips on but I was using coconut oil on my incisions before or Vaseline Intensive Care lotion.
Jan
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Jan508-I have some extra virgin coconut oil that I used when I had expanders.
When should I start with the STERI STRIPS? And where do get them? Thanks a lot for your help!!!
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question for all you exchange ladies, did they excises your old scar with the exchange? My PS told me he would do this, makes me think I will need to expand more so I do not loose size with removing these scars. I do like the idea of a smaller scar that is not so stretched and wide. just wondering?
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MBJ so happy for you! I'm getting a little nervous, exchange is Sat. and the Dr. office just called and said my surgeon won't be seeing me until right before surgery on Sat., hope I can remember everything to ask! Either way, it's totally helpful to read encouraging stories on here, thanks for sharing! 0
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Hi,
So glad mtks asked what "fluff" means. :-)
I've been wondering, too.
I had TE put in at same time as bilat mx. Will be so glad to have them replaced in June after recovering from chemo. Have two more chemo treatments. And by the way, have kept all my hair by doing cold caps. Feel very thankful.0 -
Dropping and Fluffing: (p.s. copied and pasted from another location)
After surgery, your chest muscles are traumatized. Because of this, they're very tight and swollen, and hold the implant higher in your chest. What also happens is the muscles are compressing the implant, giving the appearance of "flatter" boobs or that of a pancake.
As the muscles start to heal, they relax, and the implant slowly drops down in the pocket that your surgeon has created. That's the "dropping" portion.
As the muscles heal and relax even more, they fully release the implant. Think of a flower blooming....it slowly starts to open up and then one day it's big and beautiful and completely open. That's the "fluffing" portion.
Basically fluffing will make your cleavage more defined and softer looking. Some girls say they gain size when they fluff, others don't.
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Please put me on the list . . . I am having my unilateral exchange surgery on April 28th. I can't wait.. . . actually I guess I can because I have . . . I have been waiting since December 21st. I feel like I have a cement brick on my chest. My DH calls it "my weapon"
The expansion process has not been fun but is getting better as I move closer to my exchange surgery date. I am counting on what I heard on these boards . . .that the exchange surgery is alot easier than the Mastectomy with TEs. Although all this "dropping and fluffing" may be a bit challenging.
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mtks:
The steri stips are what the doctor puts on after he stiches you up in surgery. They are waterproof so you can shower and will eventually fall off on their own.
I won't put anything on my incisions until the steri strips come off and the stiches desolve.
Jan
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Oh, I can't wait to 'drop and fluff'
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MBJ, great news you love your new nips/areolas! I hope this is "DONE" for you.
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Day 13 - 16 after exchange my nerves woke up and drove me crazy, I couldn't stand anything to barely touch my left side (natural side that was reduced & lifted). It has finally seemed to slow down tremendously. The sterile strips are starting to come off and I can see what I really look like. Had a problem with an area opening up at the nipple but it is finally sealing up.
I am so happy, I am finally able to sleep on my side like I did before I started in Nov. last year. I guess it sounds strange, but the first time I tried I was scared I would move or pop the implant. I was told that it could take a great force to rupture it.
I didn't have dissoluble stitches, the PS had to take them out, I asked him if he used 4 or 6 lb test line (that is what they looked like to me)
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Jan: That's just a really good picture of me at my best, lol! Thank you for the complement!
Bikerbabe: Have you checked out Breast Implant Sizing 101 to get Whippetmom's expert advice? She was so helpful to me as being a Uni is a bit more challenging. I am glad your exchange date is near. Mine look better then what I started out with!
Deekaay: Thank you! I never thought it would make such a huge difference getting a nipple/areola but I was just giddy seeing it for the first time. Made me feel whole again and not so weird looking anymore. I was also amazed by how my scar just magically dissappeared. I love an optical illusion!!!
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So happy for you MBJ!!! The roller coaster is slowing down. Enjoy the 'new' girls....
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MJB congrats!! What procedure did he do that he normally doesn't?
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Determined: Although my PS is a micro surgeon, he usually just sends you out to get a tattooed areola somewhere else. He did a skin graft for my areola at the same time that he did my nipple. It's beautiful and very real looking. He also did some fat under the areola for projection. He doesn't do any of these things except for the nipple. After seeing pictures of other procedures I begged and pleaded for this instead.
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Thanks MBJ for letting me know. My issue is I was suppose to be NSM but due to infections bilaterally both were removed. I have my own full areola on the right and partial on the left. I am so depressed still at all that has gone wrong. Can't decide what to do about the ripples, so afraid of what the outcome with this areola mess. Sorry to be so down, but so weary. I was suppose to be done with everything with my own nipples last June and I still am so far from being done. I know I should be thankful for so many aspects of this and I am but just cry still and am somewhat angry as the infection was most likely hospital aquired. Sorry venting
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MBJ: So happy to hear everything is looking good and you're one step closer to being completely done. Do you have pictures on the forum?
Found them!
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Determined: I understand your frustration. I'm home today waiting to hear from the PS office. I had NSM on Feb 16. One nipple barely went through any changes and looks good as new. The other has done the whole go black thing and despite the PS telling me on my last visit that it looked good I think now that I have an infection under all that mess (nipple and the skin lateral where the dye was injected). Something has definitely changed in the last 24 hours and I'm not feeling too optimistic today that the nipple will survive. I fear I'm going to lose it after all. Pretty depressing stuff. Hang in there...0
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Its been two weeks since my exchange and A0 my eyes look awesome and B0 my boobs are coming around. I wa s a bit distressed because they were so hard but, after meeting with my Ps whom I love, he said to move them around in the pocket (massage) and sure enough, they are beginning to soften and look awesome!
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Its been two weeks since my exchange and A0 my eyes look awesome and B0 my boobs are coming around. I wa s a bit distressed because they were so hard but, after meeting with my Ps whom I love, he said to move them around in the pocket (massage) and sure enough, they are beginning to soften and look awesome!
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ArleneMarie: Congrats on your eyes and your exchange!!!
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