Exchange City

Annettek



I can sure lend you some belly fat for your graphing. I have plenty to spare(lol). I have never hear of a doc chastising for loosing weight. Congrats on good eating habits, now enjoy your time to add a little guilt free.



Identtwins and jadeblue Glad things went well. Here's wishing you both a speedy recovery



Kim hope everything went well. Please kelp us posted



Liz

AnnetteS,

Best wishes to you on friday.  So much easier than mx!  I am 4 weeks out tomorrow and feel very good.

I did not have any extra skin, my skin was and still is pretty snug.  I would assume this is something your PS can fix.  Maybe someone else will know more about this.

Again, best wishes !

Congrats to all the new exchangees!  Happy and healthy healing to you all!

Shortlady...that IS such a funny story!

Lilah..I love that atitude..."people are looking at how great I now look".  I hope you dont mind that I borrow it!

pinkbutterfly - I knew I was done because my skin became too taunt and the fills were extremely painful.  I couldn't go any bigger with my TE's.  So, first thing is, let your body tell you when you're done.  If your skin allows, get to where you like what you look like wiithout any help from a bra (and like how you look in clothes, most of us looked very strange in our TE's).  At that point, go bigger than that because if you exchange for the same cc implants, you will likely be disappointed.  The same size implants vs. the same size TE is going to be smaller! 

 I had a really hard time judging size with my TE's.  I think it is helpful to talk to your PS in terms of where you were with your natural breats, NOT cup size.  For me, I told him I wanted to be the same size as my natural breasts.  He knew how many cc's of breast tissue they took out, so we shot for that.  If you want to go bigger, tell him.  Smaller, tell him.  Talking cup size isn't helpful because most of us were wearing the wrong cup size before cancer.  

Whippetmom has posted previously, I may get it wrong, but if you like where you are with your TE's, you need 50-100cc's more in an implants to get that same look. (She'll correct me if I'm wrong). 

pinkbutterfly:  It IS hard to know!  I went into this saying that I wanted to look "like myself, maybe a little fuller" because I've always had a hard time finding bras (36 not quite a .  But the mastectomy removes breast tissue practically all the way up to the clavicles it seems .  When my PS told me early in the process that I had the approximate saline equivalent of the removed breast tissue it just didn't feel good - the upper chest just felt too bony without the extra "padding" so I chose to keep going.  He and his PA just kept saying, "OK, just let us know when you're the size you want to be and we'll make it happen.  If you get home after an expansion and feel like you've gone too far, come back and we'll pull off some saline.  You'll know when it's right." 

I stressed over it some, but they were right.  When I got to 450cc it looked about right and when they overfilled to 500cc (where I'm at now) it looks a bit too big.  He will use larger implants to approximate the size, fullness, and projection at 450cc.  They took lots of pictures and did a Vectra scan (3D pictures) before the overfill.  I'm not expecting to look the same as with my TEs (which I'm actually quite comfortable with) or my pre-BC breasts, but I know they'll get me as close as possible.

Whippetmom was right on about the amount of fill it would take to "know" and also about the implant sizes that the PS ordered.  He mentioned the exact models and sizes that she recommended so I'm feeling pretty good pre-exchange that things will turn out well!

Good luck!!!

Hi Jade,

I am well, I thought I posted last night but dont't see it .  I would love to thank everyone for their support Surgery went well, the anesthesia was tough but I didn't vomit this time.  This is someone who falls asleep after a wine cooler lol.  You guys are right, not as bad as a mastectomy.  There is some pain near my ribs - the PS cut and folded the skin there.  Plus the left side was higher and slided under my armpit, so she fixed that.  I took a peek and they look flat and wide, so I'm not sure about my reaction.  My mom is here, peeking and saying, "THAT" was not worth the pain and suffering  lol She was expecting something a bit more spectacular I guess.  

 I'm not sure the type or size I got, my PS said to trust her, and I did, hopefully I will like the results.  I'm waiting for an appt for a follow up - also I got two drains yuck, totally took me by surprise.

 Good luck to everyone with upcoming exchanges and who are recovering from them:)

 Oh, my husband made it in time to pick me up, I only had to wait an hour.

 best wishes,

kim 

Thanks, Dawne-Hope.

MBJ, sorry about your accident!

MBJ:  Hope you feel well soon!  Take care and prayers for a quick recovery.

Thank you everyone for your well wishes!  I am still in shock but my boobies are fine--just lots of bruising everywhere.  My black eyes are gone but my ankles and knee where I hit the boat going down are still very bruised.  Just call me grace!

virokie:  The picture forum is a totally separate site, not affiliated with BCO.  The moderators of that site do everything possible to protect the privacy of the women who post their photos so prefer to see that you've posted here a lot before giving access.  Lilah, MBF, firni are three of the moderators.  You need to send one of them a PM to inquire.

In case you're not aware, there is another thread called Implant Sizing 101 which you will find helpful.

BTW, my BMX was also back in February and I haven't had my exchange yet either.  We all seem to have different things to deal with - type of cancer, chemo, radiation, even the plastic surgeons are much different and each seem to have their own time schedule. 

You'll get there!!!

MBJ -- wow you poor thing!  That sucks!  I hope you're on the mend.  Can't believe you had to deal with that -- and on vacation no less.  Feel better!

MeJoy -- feel free to use that quote any time you like

Tina, your story sounds similar to mine.  I just had my last fill yesterday, so I am at 500.  I expected the PA to say that they were going to order 450/475 since I am overfilled, but she stated that they were going to order 600ccs (?!) which threw me.  When asked she stated that the TE has a 100cc like form to it already, so the 600cc would bring me to around where I want to be for form and shape.  She also stated that they order 1 above and 1 below in order to ensure a more proper fit for their patients.

I trust my PS, and I stated that I would feel comfortable with whatever size he determines is best for me.  Also, she stated no specialty bras, no drop and fluff and no drains.  I am having my surgery on a Friday and she stated that she believed that I would be able to get back to work as soon as Monday.

Also, he does micro fat grafting, and expect that I will have this done as well.

Edited to add:  no drains, and my PS uses Mentor High-Profile Smooth Rounds.  Also microfat grafting will be done at the same time, if needed.  I feel as if I need it.  When I extend my arms, I look like a bird! Its gross.  I can't even shave my pits correctly bc I can't get the razor in there.  I am hoping that the exchange will allow this skin to droop a bit more naturally.

CorinneM1:  It's not long now - good luck!!!