Exchange City

hawaiik

I am thinking about going to saline I have silicone right now my exchange was 4 weeks ago but they are smaller than my real ones were. Are the saline implants hard I heard they are what is it you do not like about them? Maybe I should keep what I have?

I'm going in for another recon surgery in 2 weeks to fix my radiated foob. My PS is going to exchange out the siliocone implant for another implant. He also wants to do another Alloderm sling. I got red breast syndrome the last time I tried this. I'm not sure if I want to go down that road again. I have an appt with him this Wednesday to discuss the surgery.

i had temporary expander implants which were 280cm3, but filled an additional 80ml of saline. My PS swapped them for 315gm Allergan silicone implants. They definitely look smaller but my PS tells me they are bigger. Surely I was previously 360 (280 + 80) and silicone is more dense than saline, both facts mean i am smaller? or is this not how it works. A clear explanation would be much appreciated.

My saline implant is just look going strong described it.

Hi everyone,

I had bilateral mastecomy March 29th and I am confused on sizing. My TE's were filled with 300 cc's at the time of surgery. I've had two fills (my PS does 60 cc's at a time) so I am currently at 420 cc's. He likes to overfill by 60 cc's. I want to be a full B. Not sure when I should stop? I am 5' 7" and 135 lbs. Anyone similar stature that could recommend sizing? Not sure if there's somewhere better to post this question.

Thanks Kim! Discovered that after posting here first. Hope your recovery is going well!!

Has anyone here gotten micro fat grafting at the time of exchange to make the slope look more natural?  I need to make a decision and am going back and forth. 

Hi Ladies,

I'm 14 weeks out from my exchange and have a question. I have rope like muscles in both my breasts. I don't know how else to describe it. It's definetly the muscle as I can feel where it attaches to my rib cage. On one side it is near the top of my 'cleavage' and it's making a ripple. On the other side it runs out from my incision.

Has anyone else had this? Did it go away?

My other question is about cleavage. My right breast pocket goes close to the center of my breast bone when I push it over to the middle. My left breast pocket is moved over to the outside and stops my breast about a half inch before it can get to the center. It's not horrible but  it is definetly preventing me from not having anything resembling good cleavage. If it were the same as my iright I could actually have some cleavage. It's like the pocket on that side is just not cut over far enough.

Is that something that will change?

Thanks everyone!

I'm about 14 weeks post exchange and am aware that the implants settle in. I have noticed more rippling in the last few weeks, if not more every day recently. Is this normal? They have rounded out but I am not happy with the rippling. I'm due for a follow up with the PS, but want to wait a few months for any revisions as I just started a new job. My question is, when do they stop changing? I ended up with smaller implants than we had discussed, he said that in the OR these fit better. Does too small an implant cause more rippling?

Bad news...it can get worse.  I am now at full expansion of 960 cc for the 800 cc Mentor silicone replacement in 12 days.  It is so painful...like I have 4x4 blocks in my chest and I think I cracked a rib a few weeks ago while rolling out of bed ( I can't just sit up). Now its hard to even breath. Pain meds make me sick, but I took it twice last night, and will prob keep taking it until replacement.  I have to say that I am so encouraged by so many of you. I smile when I read of your outcomes and how happy you are now.  I know that coming back and updating everyone about your journeys must be time consuming, but please continue as it is such a blessing to the rest of us.

I got my 4th fill yesterday and it's killing me today!  I've gotten (2) 60 ccs, (1) 120 ccs, and yesterday was 90 ccs.  This is worse than the 120.  I'm only at 390 (he filled 60 at time of surgery) so I have a long ways to go.  Normally the next day I'm fine but not today.  I can't wait to go home and take some muscle relaxers and a pain pill.  Advil isn't doing it for me.  I asked my PS what he fills to and he said between 500-800.  Gee thanks!  It's so hard to tell where I want to be size-wise.  Guess I should hop over to the size board and see!  I'm glad to hear too that so many are getting the silicone implants.  That's the way my PS's nurse was leaning too.

I feel so bad for you ladies that are having issues with you TE fills. I was very fortunate not to have too much pain or discomfort. My last fill was very tight, but nothing a lortab couldn't cure My expanders were filled to roughly 500 cc's. I can't recall the exact amount. At the time of my exchange my PS used sizers and finally ended up using a 750cc & a 800cc silicone implant. I was surprised to learn My skin and muscle could accommodate that considering I wasn't filled with that much. So far (1week post-op) I am very happy with the results. Can't wait from them to "settle" completely. Any idea how long that takes?

Erika, there are some women on the "TE Problems" thread that had had leaky TE's. They had to get the TE taken out and replaced with another one (all in one surgery), and usually the TE is filled to where it was when you left off.

Erika - how do you know when your expander is leaking?  Do you actually feel liquid coming out?

Oh no, Erika, I'm sorry.