Exchange City

Rubalou: 

How are you feeling today? I'm feeling much better today.  I slept well thanks to Tylenol PM and I didn't wake up as sore today.  I'm off the narcotics and I think I can just use Tylenol now.  I'm excited to see my PS tomorrow and see the "big reveal!"  Right now I'm wearing this big sports bra with foam padding and I can't really see how I look. When do you see your PS? 

Hi Jaysmommie,

I'm feeling pretty good today as well. No meds at all untill 11am and then went with Daughter and Grandkids to McDonalds so they could play in the Playplace.  Took half a pain pill after that (AND A NAP!!!!) but over all way better. Mostly just sore where I had the lipo to harvest fat on my back and where it was injected on my boobs.

Friday at 9:30am I see my PS. My boobs only have a small bandage over the incisions (same ones from BMX) and over the small incisions for the FG so I can see them. It's been really cool to watch the changes over the past 3 days. They have actually dropped down a tiny bit and gotten rounder. I'm sure it's not the all important 'drop and fluff' -  too early I think. They have dropped down just enough to have a nice little crease under them though. So bizarre to have them be a little bouncy after having the TE's stuck in place like glue!!! lol!

You must be so excited!!!  I hope you are so pleased with yours. It was a geat help to me to read the posts from those who have gone before us that things will change over the frist several months and to not get to tied up in how they look immediately. I would have even been happy with what I had right out of OR but they have already changed so much I know the best is yet to come!

Got my tight ace bandage and padding off at the PS today. I'm really disappointed but he promises me all is well and it will be better. Very flat and odd shaped because of the tight bandage. Lots of bruising as he also did some liposuction under my arms (I wondered why it was hurting so much there!). Need to do massage several times a day and will wear a binder up under my arms for now (fairly tight). Still using some pain meds but can probably switch to ibuprofen soon. Not at all what I expected but will do my best to be patient and just eat chicken soup to feel better for now.

Golden and tenaj, when I first got my exchange they seemed soooooo small compared to the TE but as the month went on they seemed to get better and bigger... so don't judge them just yet.!!!!

I must say to everyone on here, thank you so much for taking time out of your lives to post on here. I it's been 2 months from when I found the initial lump to today and it feels like 99 percent of my information has come from you ladies. I realize my doctors may have taken for granted that this was a pbmx, but I have been disappointed that all my information, including my right to have a prophalatic mastectomy on this website. Thank you rubalou and jaysmom for answering my questions. I am being weepy, just frustrated with lack of communication on what to expect. Anyways, thanks so much everyone.

Klynnz -

This site was a Godsend to me when I found it, too. Hang in there!!! Don't feel bad about being weepy - this is such BIG stuff and you can come cry with us any time. We understand!!!  You're in a tough spot with a little one and not much help. Sending you [[[[[HUGS]]]]]

If you have insurance they may have provisions for visiting nurse type folks. It won't solve lifting your little one but it might help with some other stuff. Sometimes it takes a village.

Hi,

I am fairly new to this site and only posted a few times. I have had my exchange on Nov 14th, 2011. My PS did my Nips when she did the exchange and they look pretty good. I had some concerns with some rippling on one side when I am laying down or bending over. I have an indention on that side also when I lay down. When I am standing up there is a little bit of an indention above the implant. She told me that if I read in the metor book about the implants that rippling may happen. I told her I was concerned and showed her waht I was concerned about when laying down. It seems like they are projected more to the side than in front. When I push on both sides it makes them look better. She told me then that she may be able to move the pocket a bit to correct it. She said she would probably do fat graph to fix the indention above the implant. She said they would not do that until my year check up because they want everything to heal and settle. Don't get me wrong I am not completely disfigured but only disappointed after reading some of the results that some of you have had. Does this sound normal or has someone had something similar? I have Mentor smooth round high profile gel that are 600cc. Any help or advice would be very helpful.

Thanks,

Malina

I felt she acted like it was a risk that can happen with implants and not anything she could do about it because it was a risk explained in the pamphlet. My calander year is up already. I almost feel like getting a second opinion but not sure. I have a follow up with my breast surgeon in Feb and I am going to ask her what she thinks. I know it is not going to get better but I am thinking to myself, what is this going to look like in a year or 5 years? I was told by my breast surgeons office that she was an excellant surgeon. i almost feel like that now that my surgery is done she has just wanted to get the last thing over with. I was in yesterday to get the tatoos.

Lizardbeth,



Hang in there, I am 2 1/2 weeks out and kind of stressing too. Stitches are out and had no drains for exchange, so still swollen a bit. I already made a follow up appt with the PS at 8 weeks out, can always cancel it, but at that point, want to realistically look at where things are and figure out if I want additional work done, that at least will help the waiting for me.



I will try and be patient, hope you can too. At least these are more comfortable. Hoping for some drop and fluff soon. Still tight from swelling, almost wish I had drains... Let's see where we are in thenext couple of weeks, I will update when I have something to share. Unfortunately, living in Philly, no bathing suit opportunities for a while... Cheers, Lisa

Haven't been on here in a couple of years since I had my exchange in 2009.   I had a left mastectomy and silicone implant and had a small implant put in the right breast to help match them.  I have now found a small lump in my augmented right breast.   Has anyone heard of their silicone implant leaking after such a short time?  I have heard that it can pool and feel like a lump and if it isn't I am wondering if BC is back in the other breast this time?   Any thoughts would be appreciated! I see the doctor at the end of this coming week but it feels like forever until I go!

 Thanks! 

Malina,

If I were you I would be persistent with my PS about the areas that you are unhappy about.  I believe that FG can help the indentation but you should wait a while and see how they look in 6 months or so.  Also are you doing your massage exercises?  I know this is important for the shape. Your insurance should cover all reconstruction and I believe that means any corrections necessary to achieve "symmetry".  Push for what you want and if your PS won't listen get more opinions!  Don't be afraid of the doctors, they work for YOU!

Rubalou, how are you feeling today?  I'm feeling really good and I'm liking my new boobs. Got the drains out yesterday so I could finally shower!   

 Golden, hope you are feeling better today. I was really flat the first two days but they are looking better each day.  Give it time.

Tenaj,

I was given an instruction sheet on massage at my 1st post exchange appointment.  The paper says to start the massage exercises 3-5 days post op in order to maintain the soft feeling in your breasts and to prevent scar tissue or a capsule.  It's less massage and more manipulating of the implant so that they can move freeely within the implant pocket. If I were you I would ask the PS if you shouldn't start sooner and ask for an instruction sheet.  I am to do the exercises 3-4 times per day for the first 3 months after surgery and then two times per day for the next month and then 4 months post op 1 time per day if the breasts are soft and moving freely.  Basically the exercises consist of moving the breast implants up and holding and then pushing them together and holding.  It doesn't hurt me.  

Would love some feedback on sizing - is this the right place to post?  I have 300cc expanders (not sure what type), which are currently filled to 300cc.  It has been very painful to get here.  I have one more expansion scheduled for next week before I have to start radiation (my plastic surgeon said they could overfill with no problem), but the last fill - which was only 50cc - hurt so much I'm not sure I'm going to be able to handle more volume.  I'm 5'10", about 145 pounds, ribcage measures 31" and I'm about 34.5" around the expanders.  Before my double mastectomy, I was a 34B or 32C (either size fit me about the same).  I was hoping to end up with a fuller C, but my surgeon said that a C typically requires 400cc.  It's really hard to tell based on appearance because the exapnders are such a different shape, but I think I'm roughly where I was before this all started.  Really bummed - was hoping to be a little bigger! Any insights would be greatly welcomed.

Hi Jaysmommie,

I am feeling good enough to be admonsihed to take it easy  IT's amazing the changes that are happening. I'm not stressing about any of it because I've heard so much about giving everything time.  I've had ripples one day that are gone the next and replaced by others that are there for a few hours and are gone. They are starting to get more and more normal boob like everyday.

Wohoo, on getting your drains out!  That had to feel so good!

Golden, don't stress yet! I bet things get better - mine are less flat today too.

klennz - I'm so glad you are getting some help lined up. Hang in there, Kiddo!!!

tenaj - I have the same massage info as Jaysmommie. My PS initially wanted me to wait a couple of weeks but I pushed and he said I could start now  but to be really gentle. He said he had to do alot of expansion on my pockets to get the 450cc in and didn't want to much stress on the sutures.

lstreett - Whippetmom is the go to for help with sizing. I am 5'7, 135# and 31" ribcage. I am a 34D after my exchange last Monday with Allergan style 20, 450cc silicone implants. The thing with reconstructed breasts is that they don't look as big as a natural breast of the same size. They are wider instead of sticking out as far.  You need to have the exact info about your expanders - make, model, diameter, volume, etc and then Whippetmom can help you.

Thanks for all the words of encouragement. Things are "rounding out"! I had a scare last night when I felt well enough to go to a movie but tripped on the steps and caught myself with both hands on the railings. It really-really hurt, especially in the areas where the PS had removed the fat. He'd told me to be very careful with not exercising that area yet. Took Valium and then Viocodin again last night and this morning, everything seems back to normal except for a little extra soreness on the left side so hope all is well. I'll see the PS again on Tuesday.I do have some really colorful bruising all around this time. 

 Again, thanks for taking time to help me not worry!