Exchange City
Comments
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Summergirl -- I had a reduction (mastoplexy) and lift on my native side to match my implant. It came out beautiful! They cut around the areola and move it up, then a straight line down from bottom of areola to the IMF (called a lollipop incision). I had this done in May 2010 and the scars have faded a LOT. It really looks and feels great. Talk with your PS about the risk of losing feeling in the nipple. I did NOT lose feeling -- in fact the lift gave me more feeling (too much, at first, but it's normal now) because the nerves got shortened. There is a risk of losing the feeling, though, which I knew going in... and was relieved that did not happen.
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Lilah, thxs for sharing your experience I am a very small size A and want to stay that way after recons so as Im not having a implant put in they mentioned something about having to cut underneath to give extra support , I guess I will find out more at next appt , but its good to hear that all went well for you , I cant wait to have my TE removed its horrible I feel like a have a hard deflated bag in my chest I hate it. as far as the feeling in my nipple Im not that concerned just want to look ok in clothes , and I find over here in Ireland they do not give you much info at all so its great to get feedback on here thxs so much
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I have been lurking for almost a year. I had a lot of challenges the last 11 months, but finally got rid of my expanders! Time to move to a new phase of life. Thanks for the information you all shared. You all are wonderful.
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Officially in the club and hoping my journey gives light to others as well as to get even more support for crazy business of reconstruction surgery.
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pitpat, are you joining as exchanged or getting ready for exchange? I love your signature line.
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Summergirl: I'm confused...if you're a small A why do you need a reduction?
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Lilah , Im not getting a reduction Im getting a mastoplexy (a breast lift) as my healthy breast is droppy from having kids and he is doing a lift to match other side or they will be uneven , I definently dont need a reduction, they are actually trying to convince me to go bigger and get an implant but I was happy with small ones , I have a very small frame and would look ridicoulus with big ones .
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I got my TEs on November 15th, 2011, my original BMX was Sept 9, 2010. I lost my left implant due to infection and only had a TE. The TE failed Sept 12, 2010 while waiting for a new surgical date (yup a whole year after it was placed).
I'm now getting ready for fills. My first should be December 1st (it is my first f/u appt with my PS since the TE surgery).
No date for exchange as we have no idea what size I feel best with.
I'll be here to tell ya all about it though.
Patti
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Ah Summergirl -- sorry! Well you should ask your PS how he does it. I believe it can be done where the only scar is the ring around the areola (when it is cut and moved up) and any other skin that is moved/tightened is pulled and snipped via that access point (so NOT a lollipop incision). This would mean stitching around the areola which heals and becomes virtually invisible over time. Confirm this with your PS.
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Patti,
Sounds like you have been through alot. I just saw my PS this am, everything looks great (had my exchange in July and nips in Sept), now I am getting set up for my tattoos, yeah.
We will all be hear to cheer you on!
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What are most people doing for their nipple recon? Are they grafting for the areola and what are they doing for the nipple?
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I'm having my exchange surgery on December 16th (all I want for Christmas is my 2 new boobs, my 2 new boobs, my 2 new boobs) and will have lipo under the armpits also.
I hear you guys mention "drop & fluff". What does that mean?
Also have the same question as determined. What are most of you going to do about nipples and areolas? I think I may go with the tattooing with 3D for the nipples.
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I am worried about my PS plan with my nipples.....he wants me to get the tattoos first & later do nipples(skate flap). I have never heard it done in this order. He says that the tattoos shrink the nipples. But I'm thinking his cutting will ruin the tattoos & I'll need them redone afterwards anyway. Anyone know anything about this?
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I have never heard of doing it in that order tic40.
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I think I am going with tattooing only, exchange isn't til January, I have time. Work done by Vinnie Myers in Baltimore looks good to me. I won't feel anything either way, opting to keep it simpler and easier on myself. Good luck!
Lisa0 -
I had my nipples done at the end on Sept, saw my PS again today, will have the areolas tattoo in just a couple of weeks. I had CV flaps (local flaps) for nips, so easy, also had fat grafting at the same time.
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chiluvr1228 your getting your new boobs on my birthday, good day for it!
I am on day 26 since my exchange. I am wearing a strap 24/7 and a surgical bra at night.
One side is a little bit higher than the other. I think it's going down not sure.
one side had a lot of lipo right at the fold so the skin is kind of folded there. PS is expecting that to go away on its own.
My upper chest area under my collar bone in the middle, seems swollen still so there is no definition between the breasts up there although penty of cleavage.
Also my sides have flaps I think he is going to have to lipo that. Seems more noticable to me as time goes on.
Day 9 of My throat is killing me. Guess my immunity was low from the surgery andI got a bug while I was visiting friends and family in NYC.
And to make matters worse i was already up 15 pounds befroe surgery and now I gained another 5.
But I am being optomistic that I am going to feel better and I am going back to work on friday. Should be a good money making day in retail I don't want to miss it. FYI I work at Soma Intimates in Leawood Kansas if anyone is in the area come see me and I can get you a coupon.
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Hi Carrol! Are you liking the new boobs so far? I can't wait to get rid of these hard, uncomfortable TE's!
Does anyone know if insurance would pay if Vinny Myers does the tattoos? If not any idea how much for the 3-D ones?
Denise
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why does my passcode not work on the picture sight?
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Am researching now, do believe it is covered. Hoping so as I would prefer this to offering at PS. Will advise ASAP, won't hit my deductible til 2012 though, already met it for 2011! Oh well, BC is full of this BS! Cheers
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I'm still wearing my sports bra 24/7 and for the last week have been blaming it for my discomfort, but realized over the weekend it's probably from the liposuction. Frankly, I don't see a lot of difference there, but it's only been 3 weeks, so maybe still some swelling? My biggest challange is what to wear to work.
Because PS let me go back to normal bra's when I had TE's was never an issue-but it's pretty hard to hide a sports bra-unless you wear a turtle neck, or a jacket. And, at my BMX, according to my BS "pushed" me into menopause-though I think I was half way there anyway, so wearing a jacket-especially, can be pretty uncomfortable. Anyone fine sports bras that do not go up that high around the neck?
Seems like a little thing, but I do think there's some truth to when the "worst" is over-it all kind of falls on you like a ton of bricks! Pat
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Pat- I saw my PS for followup (25 days post exchange) today. She said I can wear any bra I want to now. I do not even find the sports bra comfortable so not sure what kind I will get. I do not see any difference from the lipo either except for the itchy/prickly incisions. She only gave me one massage exercise to do: to push the implants in towards each other to creat cleavage. This is supposed to keep the pocket open. She said she does not need to see me for a year; i am actually feeling a bit deserted.
The good news is she ordered me PT for my frozen shoulder and said I can schedule my ooph for 2 weeks from now so I might actually finish all my surgeries before 2012!
Did your PS give you any idea when you can abandon the sports bra and what did he/she say about massage?
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Good evening ladies.
Summergirl - I just had my exchange and a mastoplexy on the right side. As Lilah mentioned, my incision is inside the areola and likely won't be visible at all once healed.
Carrol2 - Wish I could stop by this weekend as I would love to get a few of the new cami bras but am in Virginia and not yet up to a roadtrip....lol Best of luck during black Friday
Wishing everyone a wonderful week with a safe & Happy Thanksgiving.
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Carrol2, tell me about the cami bras?
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I spoke with a lady today, who after only 6 weeks from TE's had her exchange...implant. I'm getting the same procedure as her. I am relieved to think the TE's will only be in for 6 weeks. ...
Just reading here so I'll know what to expect...I thought once you got implants you didn't need to wear a bra. Bummer.
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evebarry, my PS told me I am stable enough post exchange that I do not need a bra, unless I want to wear one. Said my girls were not going anywhere.
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the cami bra at Soma is really pretty. It is basically a bra with lace across the front so no need for a camisole to cover cleavage. I was told by a woman in the shop at the hospital i went that she sends many mastectomy patients to me because there is no chance that anyoen can see down your blouse with this bra. But most of the customers just like the way it looks. It's a very preactical way to add some lace to an outfit to make it more feminine or dress it up.
ok that said. Soma does not sell sports bras. I took had an issue with them sticking out at the neck. I found one that sticks out less and if it does stick out it comes in pretty colors. The barely there sports bra. It has very thin straps whcih can be rolled down and worn like a strapless. Not much support but very comfy.
Do I like my new foobs? The jury is still out. I had very high expectations, too high, and I knew I would. I suppose they look better than my TEs, those were really lopsided. They do project a little bit more than they did. But so far really missing my natural breasts. But it was not an option to keep them both and this is better than how i looked all flat and puckered after my bmx. I am really hoping they improve in time. Right now I feel like I all this fat on my sides pushing on my arms, don't think that was there with the TEs, could just be swelling. It's also hard to get a feel for them when I wear a strap 24/7.
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I have a new development. The skin on my left "breast" (in quotes cuz it isn't really a breast anymore, is it!) has changed in color. On Thursday, I had noticed a sharp pain for about 2 minutes and then a warming feeling. About 2 days later (Saturday), I noticed a small area of coloration change. By Sunday, this color change covered 1/2 of my "breast". I called my PS's answering service on Sunday and he called back within 10 minutes. I described to him what was going on and he said it sounded like cellulitis. He told me to apply a warm compress, take it easy and he prescribed an antibiotic. I saw him today, and he is perplexed. It looks like a bunch of capillaries are broken. He said more like a bruise than cellulitis. No sign of infection, but told me to continue taking the antibiotic and to keep him posted if anything changes. Getting ready for bed, I noticed the color was pinker and it had advanced to midway in the sternum area. So, I took my antibiotic and did a warm compress. After the compress, the pink went away and the discoloration is again looking more like a light bruise. So weird! Anyone else have anything like this? I still have TE's in and no sign of rupture and have not done anything that would bruise them, or at least I don't think so.
Phyllis
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My first thought was also cellulitis but since that was ruled out, not sure. Did the doctor do a culture of any fluid inside the foob?
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HI I apologize for not reading thru all the posts for an answer...I had my exchange yesterday. I had 600ml in the left side, and 570 in the right, swapped out for 600mL silicone on both sides. Maybe I'm crazy but the implants seem smaller than the TE's. I have a stretchy ace-wrap band across the top to keep them 'down' and in place that I have to wear for a couple days but I took it off when I removed the bandages this am and they just don't look the same. Is this something transitory? Will they settle and look more like they did before the swap?
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