Exchange City
Comments
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tenaj - My PA highly recommended the silicone scar strips, which can be found online or at any drugstore like Walgreens. I had quite a tough, thickened scar from a necrotic area after NSM, but after about 3 days with the scar strip I was amazed how it softened up. I don't exactly understand how they work, but they seem to work well for me!
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Update! It looks like it is healing! The bandage was dry this morning, which means it stopped oozing at some point last night.
Whoo hoo!!! Off to buy an amazing bra today and wear it constantly! 0 -
Sweetbean: Hooray for you!!!
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nehson I'll weigh in on recovery after excahnge but do be sure to follow your doctor's instruction. My doctor said no lifting arms over my head for two weeks, 1st week no lifting over 5 pounds, 2nd week no lifting over 10 pounds. I was allowed to go back to the gym to do zumba after a month. I went on a road trip after 2 weeks from Kansas City to New York. I did not drive but I was fine in the passenger seat for tow days of driving 12 hours a day. Then I was all over NYC on the subways. I got a little tired at times so I just sat and caught my breath once in a while. I felt fine though. I only took the pain pills for a few days after I got home from hospital. I had delayed recon so this is my third surgery and it was the easiest one. I slept in my bed with lots of pillows and went up and down the steps no trouble at all. I think if I had a desk job I could drive to it as soon as the drains were out which was about a week. But I work in retail with lots of reaching and sometimes lifting so did not go back to work and decided to go to NY. But I was back at work 30 days after my surgery, no restirctions from my docotor and I was totally fine, probably could ahv egone back after 2 weeks.0
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Congrats sweetbean!
Does the Kelo Cote help fade them? Mine are pretty flat have been using the silicone strips but are still pink. Same with abd. scar from 1.5 years ago. I need to help fade the color. Thanks for any help.
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Ugh. Well, it started oozing a bit. Just clear fluid, so I know that it is no big deal. Must have been the activity of being up and about. It does look like it is improving, although it is hard to tell through the steri-strip. I wish it would just heal up - this is freaking me out!
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Thanks ladies for the info!
Have a great day!
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Hi Ladies.. when you had the exchange can you tell me what you wore for tops? Do you need a button down top or can you bring/wear a pull over? What other things can you wear/bring?? How long were you in there (time of surgery to the time you were home?)
Thanks and congrats to all of you who have gotten this far!!
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B123 I wore zippered sweatshirts you arent supposed to lift your arms over your head for 2 weeks so if you ahve a really loose stretchy top sometimes you can get that on wihtout raising your arms. I had drains so I liked the sweatshirts cause I could keep the drains in the pockets.0
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Carrol, how come you aren't supposed to lift your arms above your head? My PS didn't say anything about that.
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Mine didn't either....I thought it was great that I could do that without pain.
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I am not sure why I think it's to not stress the pockets. Have you had your preop appointment yet? perhaps he will tell you your restrictions then. If not I would call his office and ask.
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Oh, I already had my exchange and have been wearing regular tops and putting my hands above my head. *sigh* I have a small spot that is leaking clear fluid, but that seems to be getting better. My PS wasn't concerned. However, I wish I had gotten more instruction on post-op activities. If it weren't for you ladies, esp whippetmom, I'd be lost!
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I was not allowed to raise my arms over my head for two weeks, did not have drains and was able to wear stretchy tanks with loose sweaters over them. It was a much easier recovery than the BMX.
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What's the reasoning behind not raising your arms?
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Oh wait, not to stress the pockets. Carrol answered. Thanks!
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also maybe not to pull on incisions as well?
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that makes sense! Last night was the second night in a row that there was no drainage and it definitely seemed better yesterday, so I think it is healing. I also have a good Wacoal bra and I think that is making a big difference.
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I saw a huge difference in the drop and fluff once I wore underwire for a month. It was like night and day. My doctor thought I was much further along when he first saw me at my last appointment. He said just keep doing what your doing. I wear underwire during the day and a very lose stretchy sports bra at night, the barely there brand, very comfy.
If anyone wants a discount on bras at Soma Intimates PM and I will tell you how to get it.
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Carrol, when you wore the underwire for a month, did you wear it 24/7 or just during the day, the way you do now?
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sweetbean I had a second implant exchange Oct. 20th from textured to smooth implants. I have always worn a fairly tight fitting sports bra to bed and an underwire during the day. I have done this since my original surgery in Dec. 09 after I was allowed out of the surgical bra. I feel I have a very good shape. Not sure if it is wearing the bra that does it or not.
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My PS also never said anything about not lifting my arms for two weeks, but then again he didn't give me any post-op instructions. When I asked him if I should be wearing a bra 24/7, his answer was "you can". Needless to say I fired him.
Other than this dent I have above one breast I am fairly happy with my exchange. Go back the end of this month to see a different PS. She wasn't much better but I don't have a lot of good options in my area.
Denise
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sweetbean no I went from wearing the surgical bra 24/7 with a strap, to wearing just sports bras 24/7 for a few weeks. Then he had me wear underwire during the day and the sports bra at night, which I am still doing. My next appointment is in a month. Initially after my surgery one side was a little too high so that is why the strap. Then I got a little fold of skin that is not plumping out the way he wants. It got a lot better but still may have to fix that. But it seems like the underwire really helped the shape become more round and less hamburger bun or square looking. I beleive it got me to drop and fluff as the ladies here call it.0
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Interesting. Did you have radiation? I feel like the girls looks better already and it's only been one day.
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no, i did not have radiation. Everyone is different. I think some just drop and fluff right away and some take a long time. Also it is very very common to need revisions. My doctor pretty much told me ahead of time there would be some fine tuning at the same time as the nipple surgery. It is very important to talk to your doctor and ask lots of questions, they don't always think to tell us things that they find obvious but are all new to us.
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chiluvr1228 - Sometimes it's worth some travel if only to get another opinion. I would have rather had surgery here, but I ended up seeing a BS and PS 2.5 hours away. It wasn't always easy, but it definitely was worth it!0
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Im a bit worried.. I am having my exchange on Thursday. My TEs are at 380ccs and we plan to exchange for 280ccs Allergan. Im told by my PS that it will be a small B. Is this too small? Has any here exchanged with that amount of ccs? My PS told me that if I like the way I looked under a tank top, then that will be the size I will be. Hmmm???
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Tina - I have a feeling that's what I may wind up doing.
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chiluvr1228, why did you need a second opinion?? I must have missed something.
B123, that is small, but maybe you are very petite? have you consulted with whippetmom on sizing thread?
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02/13/2012 exchange surgery
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