Exchange City

I had my first fat grafting at time of nipple reconstruction, this was about 3 months post exchange.  I am going to have additional grafting late March.  The fat grafting completely filled in one divet and 1/2 fixed the other, also wanting more fat in my axillary area.  I have a huge hollow under my arm from node disection and amazed how much better that is following the first round of fat grafting. 

Anne, I agree a long road, but I am in this for the long haul, so I will do it.

Whoa.  Don't get it wet?  That would be impossible.  I also don't think that it would make much difference in my case - that tape is welded to my body!  I see my PS this Friday, which will be 15 days out.  We'll see what she says - I'd love to get it off at some reasonable point.  Right now, I can only wear turtleneck sweaters because it shows in everything else I own.  

I think the tape was on for about a week if I recall correctly. I showered several times with it. When I went for the follow up the tape was wet cause I had showered right before i left, but it made taking ti off a little easier. it was like this 2 inch wide kind of gauze tape. After a week it was only just kind of rolling up at the very edges. My PS said it was ok to get it wet and blow dry it after. I am a big proponent of doing what my doctor tells me.

yeah that sounds like something different what you ahve sounds like its more for the incisions. I had steri strips on mine that my doctor said the same thing leave them till they fall off, but he took them off in my follow up so he could check the healing and left them off.

I have the same stuff glued to me. My PT told me today that my skin underneath the tape is going to be wrecked. She told me to use real aloe ( from the plant) on it when I get the tape off tomorrow. I will let you know how it works. Can't wait to take a real shower where I am not trying to get the front of me wet!

Oh, I just saw your last post - three weeks.  Holy cow!

bluedaizy, I did 90cc's each time and found it very painful. I was sprinting for the Vicodin and stayed on it for 2-3 days.  I had to rush for radiation, though.  hang in there!

bludaizy - My PS starts with a large volume (I woke up with 350cc), then adds 50cc at a time.  He lets the patient call the shots on the timing (from 1 week to 4 weeks apart).  They always reminded me that they could remove saline too if it was unbearable.  Other than the initial discomfort (which was mostly from the actual MX) I did really well during the TE phase. 

Sounds like your PS is going pretty fast.  If you're really uncomfortable you can ask them to allow more time between fills, add a smaller volume, or actually remove some saline.  If they're OK with you taking ibuprofen and your stomach can handle it keep taking the max dose listed on the bottle to try to stay ahead of the pain.

Hang in there....keep your eye on the prize! 

Was supposed to have my first TE fill today, but the PS postponed because he didn't like that some of the skin/tissue on the lower part of my reconstructed breast seemed to have thickened. I knew thin skin was a risk, but hadn't heard of this. He didn't have any ideas about why it might be like this. He said he had one other patient with the same issue, and he was eventually able to do the fills and exchange sucessfully.

 I did have difficulty with the TE when it was first put in--either a drainage issue, an infection, or a reaction to the matrix material. It did clear up with antibiotics and is not painful any longer.

Anyone else ever have something similar happen? The PS said he will see how the skin looks in 3 weeks and will try to do a fill then.

Hi, Ginger48..I feel exactly the same way you do regarding MY implants. I had exchange surgery on 10/04, that's 19 weeks ago and I am STILL tight....I have had NONE of that "drop & fluff" that I was told would happen and I REALLY don't see how that will happen in the future...maybe there will be a little bit of drop due to normal gravity, yes, but I see now that my "breasts" will never be soft, cushy or jiggle not even a little bit. VERY disappointing because on top of that, I have NO feeling on either breast, they are always cold. 

OF COURSE I am aware that they are not real, but I see many women who have had augmentation for cosmetic purposes only yet they are deliriousy happy! I am not deliriously happy with this, although I have not regretted having recostruction as that would not have been an option for me emotionally. 

AnaM and tenaj - I'm so sad that you're both disappointed with how things look and feel so far.  Wish I could say something to cheer you up, but all I can say is to give it some more time.  Many women end up having revisions so there are options and hope out there. 

((((hugs!)))))))

TinaT & Carrol2- thanks for the encouraging words. They are softer but now I see unevenness or ripples & that seems more as time goes on. I am concerned that the size is too small. Whippetmom had helped me & gave me a suggestion & that's not what I ended up with, 100-150cc smaller. I did get the ok that I can wear underwire now. Do you think that will help? I am going to a certified fitter in the next few days. He didn't mention about sleeping in a bra & I forgot to ask him. I've been sleeping in a barely there sports bra, someone had suggested that to me pre exchange & it is so comfortable. Do you think I should be wearing something else?

Just wanted to update y'all. My PS did offer to wait another week before we did another fill, but since the pain had eased up, I wanted to keep moving forward. He did cut back the amount he put in and said that we could spread the rest out over the next couple/few weeks if needed instead of finishing next week.

How much did y'all overfill? I have 400 cc TE's. I thought we were only going to 500 but today he said something about maybe doing a little more than that. Reading all of your comments and the input y'all give is so helpful. Thank you.