Exchange City
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lauralu: Absolutely! 425 ccs would be ever so much better on your frame! Heavens! What was your first PS thinking????
takeadeepbreath:
This is why I am so glad there are so many veterans hanging around this thread - to reassure you gals just starting or completing the journey. What a blessing!0 -
Ladies, I just wanted to saw lots of discussion about nips on here and just wanted you post this site in case you were interested in seeing. Vinnie does amazing 3D areola tattoos. Several of the nurses from Hopkins have had theirs done and I've seen them first hand ... amazing! It's hard to believe what a difference an areola and nipple can make!
http://littlevinniestattoos.net/section/134932_Nipple_Areola_tattooing.html
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belle phoen I am so sorry you are going throug that. My NSM was a total disaster as well. I ended up losing both of mine and my BS yelled at me for being tearful when the PS was cutting away at them and then the next day she did as well. Then surgery to remove both. It is totally normal to feel angry. I too wanted so desparately to keep mine as it was a way to still be me.
I would definitely think about getting a new PS. You will be working with that person for awhile yet and you have to have trust. After you heal there are options. You can have a nipple created and yes I know it won't be the same. I am still very sad about my loss. You can have the areola tatoo or grafted. I have my full one on the right and partial on the left. Did you have any left?
I would definitely go to a 3D tatoo artist if you go that route rather than have your doctor or his/her nurse do it. Unless you can see there work and it is good.
I am so sorry you are going through this.
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bellephoenix: I am so sorry to hear of your loss and I do know how dissappointing that must have been--I had a few months to digest the fact that I would lose my nipple so by the time it happened I already had acceptance. If you do not need radiation, there isn't any reason you can't have a very realistic nipple made-no, it won't be like a real nipple, but with a talented PS you can have the next closest thing. I am a Uni, and the day of my reveal after my nipple/areola surgery was the first day I felt there was hope to be returned to myself again-it looks so real even right up next to my natural one! So don't give up hope and if you are unhappy with your PS, do get some 2nd or 3rd opinions-that's how I found mine because I hated my first BS. Gentle hugs!
BTW: My first BS is no longer at City Of Hope and I am just thrilled with this news!!!
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takeadeepbreath: WAHOOO FOR YOU!!!!! Congratulations on being on the other side-it will only get better, promise!
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Ok, those who have access to the picture forum... I've posted some new pics of my possible issue. Ever notice when something comes to your attention, you practically drive yourself crazy because you're more aware of it? Cannot figure out if it's a combination of these factors or more likely one: Right handed, use that arm more, muscle pulls away from center because of that use; right foob just sits different than left; right foob has softened more than left; left foob hasn't dropped/fluffed as much; left foob is tighter because don't use left arm as much; slight revision needed to correct and if so, how, or just leave as is?
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belle-phoenix: My opinion... get additional PS involved and get at least two other opinions. That's horrible! So sorry this has happened and after the initial devastation wore off, I'd be extremely angry and wanting to find out if this was just something that happened (which maybe it was) or if it could have been prevented. Soooo sorry...!0
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Joan Davies...congrats on the exchange!!! I'm more impressed that you went out and was in class that night. Did your students notice? So glad you feel so good about the girls. That's the most important thing.
Jan....I love that..."the girls are getting new hats. Thanks for the chuckle.
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Belle- pheonix...I agree with all the others. Get a few opinions for proceeding. Trust with your PS is the most important factor. If you cant talk with him/her, he's just doing a "job". You want to develop a repore. You see a lot of each other.
I have a question....why does everyone hate their TE's so much?? I really dont understand.
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I have a question - I am 6 weeks out and my incisions look great...except for one teeny pin size spot I am not sure about. It is either a stitch or a scab. The color is normal and nothing is oozey or weird about it. I covered it with a bandaid and put my sports bra back on. If you have had a pin-size scab, did you just leave it alone or did you see your PS? I am not overly worried, but surely don't want infection, etc if it isn't a stitch. I'll wait for my hub to get home to look closley, it's in the IMF so next to impossible for me to see up close...I used a mirror to check it out. Thanks for any responses!
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Hi All. I am still with my two TEs and had my second fill. Everything is good. However, at my last fill, the PS mentioned that when he will be doing the exchange, he will make the incisions under the breasts, instead of using the BMX scars....It seems to me, after reading these forum that this is not how it is usually done? Did someone had new incisions under the breasts? Thks.
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WOW the nipple tattooing looks great. 1 more month. 1 more month.
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Fire-dancer -- I would just leave it alone and then show it to your PS next time you see him/her. It could be a stitch working it's way out... that happened to me months after surgery and I was quite surprised.
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JeanneR: That is unusual! Did you ask your PS why since this isn't the standard? Was there some issue with the skin's integrity? Why make a new scar?
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thanks, Lilah! Good to know that stitches can still be working their way out so long after surgery, I thought it may be too late for it to be that!
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cc4npg - check out our photos - I think you look pretty darn good. But if it bothers you I would talk to the PS about it. After looking at other's pictures I'm wondering if mine are too close together - hope I don't get a uniboob. If any body has time take a look for me and let me know what you think - page 7 (i think) under Valerie - thanks.
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Thanks for all the reassurance that the results a couple days out are not likely to be the final results; gives me a sense of peace (as impatient as we all must be about these infernal transitions). My BF did drive me to class after the surgery, and traffic was so horrible. I was fazing in and out from loopyville, trying to call someone to set the class up for me till I got there. I was only about 20 minutes late, which isn't too bad, and those kids raced through their speeches (the only caveat I gave them was to keep me awake). I wrote some scribbles on their papers that I didn't even recognize by the end of class. What a trip, but so glad I was able to keep my commitment and still have the surgery the day I wanted it.
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I wanted to know what you Girls think about my plan?? I had a left mx with a t/e,which if u noticed i posted about length of time having it till exchange . Now realizing i will have to have through the summer,and the heat i was considering going ahead and having my right cancer free breast lifted and inplant put in so i do not have to go through the summer covered up and hot!! i always wear either big t-shirts or when we have a hot spring Cali day a wear a cami,but have to always have a sweater or something to cover up my very obvious imbalance. When it gets hotter i will not want to put on extra clothes and do not want to stay house ridden or bedroom ridden if people are around... i feel i will be trapped and very depressed all summer
So why not get the right one started and let it fluff and drop by then it will be exchange time and try to match then.I KNOW it means 2 surgeries ,but at this point i do not care ok tell me im crazy or what u think.I see my ps this Mon. im sure after hearing from all of you how long u had your t/e's he will tell me the same sooooo im gonna ask him about this....0 -
Ok I am out of the fog I got my nips and quite a bit of fat grafting. I told my PS to go ahead and get carried away and throw away what I did not need up top. I am sooooo bruised I could tell she did a lot of work.
I took a shower this morning and maybe it's just me but I think my right nip is bigger. I am wondering if maybe it is the swelling? If not can that be fixed?
Rebecca0 -
ok im gonna try another question,,,, does anyone know of a bra that is made for unilateral mx,for the 6-12 months we have A t/e in one side and a tata hanging way below??? very obvouis embarrassing ..... any help here Please
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beacher -- I think it's better to do the matching up with a lift/augmentation at same time as exchange... so you should wait on that. I went 6 months with two different boobs (also a uni) and I found that a zip front sports bra by JCPenney called the Underscore was perfect for the period. It was stretchy material but not too stretchy... it lifted my native breast (which was larger than the TE for a time) and helped match me up. I also had a falsie that had some stuffing in it that could be removed as the TE grew (to even the TE up with my native breast). I had a lift/reduction... but still it's the same issue, dealing with unevenness. I think you can find inserts like the one I used on line (via mastectomy fashion outlets)... or you can buy a silicone insert from Victoria's Secret to put into your bra to even up your smaller native breast with your larger TE. The silicone inserts that VS sells are available on line (not sure if they have them in the stores).
PM me if you need more help.
Edited to add: just google "silicone bra inserts" and you will find a whole slew of options... some on Amazon, some sold at Walmart... they are made for women who want to make themselves look bigger but they do the trick for us uni's!
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belle-phoenix: I don't understand what you mean when you say that the BS "burned through" your breast. Sounds like you've had issues with both sides??? I'm so sorry, I can imagine what a great disappointment this is after having hopes raised so high with the possibilities of nipple-sparing surgery.
I also had NSBXM with TE placement. In my original surgery plan I thought I'd have my exchange sometime this summer.....no way that's going to happen! It's now been 10 weeks since surgery and I'm still dealing with healing issues on one side (other side looks fabulous). Due to blue dye complications I developed some necrosis and still have a hole that hasn't closed up (right where the dye was injected). Have lost a bit of the nipple and some adjacent tissue. My PS and his PA have been wonderfully supportive and have been giving me every chance to save as much of "myself" as possible, always assuring me that we have the same goal in mind. I can't believe how incredibly patient they've been.
If you're unhappy please know that there are great and compassionate docs out there - I hope you find one of them if you decide to go for another opinion!
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Hi everyone,
I've posted new photos, 3 months post exchange to the photo site (thread is Malpositioned, radiated TE-do I need a revision?). I see the PS on Tuesday next week. I'm looking for opinions on if I need a revision. (Thanks to those of you who have already responded!)
I was expecting to need a revision but I saw my rad. onc. on Friday and he thinks I look good so now I wonder if I'm being too picky?
Thanks for looking!
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Lilah Thank -you so much! i will go to jc penney' s and look for that bra,if it lifts this sagging 50 yr;old ta ta up to the t/e (mine is fully inflated) i will be so happy! and i probably will not need inserts, i'm only going to be a b and my t/e is about that, although odd shaped right now of course. My saaging one is about that once its pulled up ha ha I'm hoping i can handle the bra on my t/e side its so uncomfortable with out any thing on it and when something touches it i swear it starts squeezing even more, and then the port ALWAYS hurts like a knife. BUT I'm gonna think positive and that this bra will get me through the summer staying cool and not having to cover all the time or haunch over to hide thanks for sharing i woke at 5 a.m. so depressed and worried about summer coming i could not get back to sleep ,but now u have given me hope......
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Beacher -- if that bra doesn't work, there is also a Danskin bra that they sell at Walmart (for $10) that several women here have posted about. Basically you want to find a bra that is lightly stretchy (as opposed to really formed) to adjust to the different sides. Although you're smaller than me your native breast sounds like the same condition mine was in prior to lift/reduction
Also re: bras... check out the Bras 101 thread here on BCO that Val61 started. There is a TON of good info there. If you use the search function here on this site (upper right corner of this page) and type in Bras 101 (for your keyword) you should find it easily.
And you are welcome!
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hillck i love San Clemente,do u still live there? u must who would leave take care
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Again Lilah thanks sssooooooooooooo much for the info ....
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ProudMom - Congrats on your exchange! How are you feeling?
JoanDavies - Can't believe you were teaching class the day after your surgery! Grading speeches on drugs, LOL! I know what it's like to be disappointed after your exchange. Your exchange was just several days after mine. I too hope that with time, things will look more like we want them to! What takeadeepbreath wrote is exactly what I could have written - and I find it very reassuring, as are the comments from others here:
Apr 28, 2011 11:30 pm takeadeepbreath wrote:
JoanDavis- I nearly wept when I took the padding off...I went running to this board in a frenzy. Everyone told me to sit tight, and now just one full week out it is a world of difference.
Belle-phoenix - No words of wisdom from me, just lots of sympathy! It is really crappy when on top of having bc you end up with a bad experience.
x-raygirl - Thanks so much for posting the tattoo info. I'm saving it for future reference when my time comes.
Beacher 4209 - I was in a similar situation as you, uni mx, and about the same size (though I didn't have the pain with the TE, so sorry you're dealing with that!). I was able to wear either my regular molded cup bras, or one cup size larger. They didn't fit great over the TE, but I just did it anyway. When my TE was smaller than my breast, I had to "stuff" the TE side, and later, when the TE was larger than my breast, I had to stuff the natural side. Since the bras were molded cups, they hid the asymmetry and stuffing. For stuffing, my hospital boutique actually gave me a soft breast form (they call it a "fluff") with cottony filling that I could take out as needed to adjust the size. Occasionally I added a silicone "cookie" but not sure how much it helped. Having to do all that stuffing was a pain in the neck, but thankfully it's all temporary.
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Beacher: I was in my TE last summer and it wasn't great but it was doable. I went to JCPenney on line and bought silicone inserts and also some self stick to your clothes foam pads and both come in three different sizes. When I could still wear a bra I used both and then towards the end only the self stick ones worked. It wasn't perfect but you will at least have some symetry. Lilah's suggestion of a bra should work with the inserts.
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MBJ, Lilah, whippetmom, almostdone, Dawne-Hope, annettek - Thank you so much for your responses a few days ago. I was so dismayed when I first saw my post-exchange results. I'm not sure what I expected, but somehow what I saw was not it. Sure enough, however, things are slowly changing - whether it's in my body or in my head! It is really a big adjustment - and I'm sure I have a lot more adjusting to do. But I'm feeling better, and just wanted to thank you for helping me get to this point.
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