Exchange City
Comments
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Hi,
I am celebrating and going to get a real new bra today after not having the girls match since Jan 2011. My reconstructive surgery got delayed a number of times after getting the TE inserted at time of mastectomy in Jan 2011. The plan was to have one breast reduced and the other which had a mastectomy get a silicon implant. Well I finally got it done this April 2012. Things kept getting delayed due to chemo delays, herceptin delays (start and stops), medical complications delaying surgery etc. The good news is the surgery this April resulted in getting a new much smaller lifted and reduced boob and a silicon implant on the other side and the port out at the same time. They match pretty well. Went from about a 38 H to probably a D cup. People tell me I look thinner and younger. YEAH! but not the way I had planned to get a breast reduction. It wasn't that much pain but I think mine was more complicated than most due to the large reduction done on one side. I had some trouble healing and wore a surgical bra night and day for about 1.5 months but now my PS says to get a real bra. The incisions kept draining in small areas but now are healed up pretty well. How do people deal with the scar tissue- what works best, Vit E oil, Emu Oil, just general moisturizer. Scars are not all that bad, so glad they used glu rather than the old stiches which use to leave a lot more scarring.
Also do people recommend tattoo for nipple or actual nipple reconstruction? That is the next step for in about 2 months when the breasts settle down and swelling goes down, and I guess I have a choice here. Thanks for any info
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Serenitywisdom - It sounds like things have worked out! I'm glad you're finally in a place where you're satisfied. I hope you found a really great bra.
I ditched the dressing this evening, leaving just the ace bandage on as instructed. I'm HUGE! I always felt like the TEs were a bit bigger than where I was before, but I figured that was 'overfill' part of things. And yes, it looks like one side is bigger. I'll have to talk with him and find out his rationale during my follow-up. I know things need to settle a little bit, and the scar still stands out (I have the straight-across scars, not circular ones). We'll see how things go.
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Serenity,
Here's a link to the SOS: scars thread
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/756050?page=12#idx_346
Your question re: nipples/tattoos is something you will have to think through carefully. If you get nipple reconstruction (also known as "fipples" to go with the "foobs"), they will always be erect. For me, that is a drawback, so I am getting the 3D tattoos in the fall.
Happy for your results! You are an inspiration to those who also have to wait longer due to delays - no matter what the reason.
Best wishes.
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serenitywisdom - Yay for you! You'll be able to buy bras off the rack!!! My girlfriend was an "H" before her reduction...I was just a 38DDD who always wanted a reduction...just not this way!
Happy shopping!!!
p.s. Even though I won't be having my exchange til September, reconstructed nipples are not in my future. A) Don't want any more surgery;
Don't want constant high beams; C) Really hoping to be able to get to Vinnie Myers for 3D nips.rachelvk - glad you are feeling better!
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serenitywisdom - Sorry you've had such a rocky road
. Fortunately, I was able to have nipple sparing surgery, but lost part of one to necrosis and am considering some sort of revision with my wonderful PS. But, you might consider requesting access to the picture forum. You will be able to see real results of many types of nipple and areola reconstruction. Send a PM to Lilah, Dawne Hope, or firni to get info about the forum.... 0 -
Anyone's arm hurt after exchange? Like not in the armpit but under the arm? Maybe it hurts there BC I can't feel anything in the front?
Parents have the kids for the weekend so I'm just relaxing at home with hubby. Too quiet, I almost wish they were here causing havoc ;-)0 -
Lauren..I had a redux many years ago and my arms hurt so badly. I found out it was because they had me lifted up and my arms resting on something so they could see my torso for positioning. My arms did not hurt after my exchange though. Just thought I would let you know that might be the case here.
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Lauren - the bras are called coobie bras. I got mine online. They are very comfortable.
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i had my implant and reduction 18days ago my implant feels like a rock and my reduction side is very big under my arm and hurt badly please somebody tell me if this is normal i am going scream soon
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Erika did you get saline or silicone? I am so sorry you are hurting. Perhaps someone else knows what you are dealing with but my pain was bearable after the exchange even though I had no pain meds. At almost a month out, they are still a little sore a twinge here and there, but getting better daily.
I will probably need another sugery to correct one side due to scars from the redux 20+ years ago...I hope that isn't too painful either.
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thank you Incogneato for answering i had no pain meds after one day of surgery i felt fine the pain is starting 2 days ago i got saline implants on one side and the reduction
i had not much pain with my expander no pain meds
you have a great day
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Erika - my PS said saline would be hard, somewhat like the TEs. Do you have saline? Maybe you can swap out for silicone? Either way you should call your PS.
With regard to your reduction side, I know women who had work done other than the exchange and it did take longer to heal. Best of luck to you.
Incogneato - I go back to the PS on Tuesday so I'll ask if he sat me up. It's ony one side which is odd though. Hopefully getting my drains out then,so I'm sure to be a happier camper then..0 -
I have a question...I don't eat soy products because they don't agree with me, but I did have some Edmame Friday and yesterday and today, my right foob is blown up! Its not warm, but very swollen...if I don't have any/much breast tissue, why would I react? Or maybe its major LE? I get it in the right arm from time to time, but not the foob. Ideas?
I've had my foobs for almost a year...and on that note...I saw my ps last week and I think I'm going to have these monsters taken out and the size I requested put in. (bastard ps !!) The nurse told me they were taking in 400cc, 450cc, 500cc and 550cc's and somehow I came out with 600's ! I had always had big boobs and I am so over them!!! They said insurance would take care of it, its a minor 'nip and tuck' and would be off work a week. (I don't have any money for a vacation anyway). Thoughts? They hurt all the time and while they are absolutely perfect in symmetry, etc., if I had a magic wand, I would change that. I'm also thinking I'll use the same guy because he did such a great job and everything went so well...he just thinks ALL WOMEN want big boobs. What a boob !!! ha
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Ruth - I'm not sure, but I don't think eating soy would have an immediate effect like that, especially since as you said you've got a foob. That said, I can't think of what would have caused that. I'm new to the foob world. Definitely check with the doctor if it's not better in a day or so. And I hope you can get the size you want. I'm just coming to grips with the fact that I may have wound up bigger than I wanted - but it was so hard to judge with the TEs. I had to think real hard to remember what my real ones were like since it's been over 7 months, and I guess I was smaller than I remembered. I agree that a lot of doctors assume we want to be bigger/fuller.
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tnbcRuth: Sorry I can't speak to the edamame. Be sure & call the doc if the swelling doesn't subside.
As for revision - I am 9 months post exchange and still disappointed to be a larger size than I wanted. I got gummies and love the symmetry, and the clevage & the tear drop shape - but I wanted to be able to button my blouses w/o gaps for once in my life. Yes the projection is less, but the width gives me the same diameter. I too am thinking about going back to the same PS since he did a great job - even my scars are almost gone. But don't know how I feel about arguing the same issue twice w/the same doc. Anyhow, I vowed to wait a full year before even considering nip & tuck revisions so I have awhile yet.
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I was kind of worried about the "always on" look of reconstructed nipples as well but I asked my PS to make them small and they are very subtle- just exactly how I want them to look. I'm 100% satisfied and they show just a touch with a t-shirt if I'm not wearing a bra. I almost always prefer to wear a bra because now it's more comfortable anyway. I am getting tattoos on Tuesday- not looking forward to anymore "tampering" on my sensitive stretched out skin but will be happy when it's done.
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I'm thinking my new foobs are too small. I haven't looked yet since I'm all bandaged, but I've always been small and was hoping for something bigger. I kind of got used to the size of the TEs. Not that I liked the rock hard feeling, but I did like the size - they made me look thinner! Fingers crossed for big foobs on Tuesday!
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Rachel - I didn't talk to him alot until the appt last week when we scheduled. I was worried that I had not really researched or discussed it alot. I was in the dark. My PS was wonderful, though.
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Isn't it funny how so many people want to be bigger if they were small and smaller if they were big? I jsut wanted the choice. I was a 34DD and I was fine when my PS said he would only be able to get me to a large C small D but sometimes I miss my DDs. But I am a 36D and they look very nice. I am hoping for some fat grafting and lipo when I get my nipples but gotta lose 24 pounds first,
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I had my stitches taken out last week. They weren't the type to dissolve. I have found that all PSs are so different. I wore a button up PJ shirt to wear after surgery. Also, I was told to bring my surgical bras from my mastectomy. It saved me a lot of money.
I too am considering the 3D tattoos. I don't want nipples since I really don't have to wear a bra again. I am so happy about this. I am so happy to have my exchange over. I still cannot touch the implant area. I don't like close hugs yet either. I have a special hug where I keep the person away from me so we don't make complete contact. My daughter calls them "Mom" hugs! My husband is the only one who gets a full hug.
I had to go smaller because my skin wouldn't stretch with the TE to get me back to my regular size. They hurt so bad that I am just so happy to have them out of me.
Congrats to those who have finished their surgeries and prayers for those who will!
Beth
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So I took a peek before. I think they're small. I'm a little sad. Tomorrow will tell for certain, but they look small. Not even close to the size of the TEs. Let's see what the PS says tomorrow. Boo hoo
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Hi everyone,
I am schedule for exchange on June 27. I know I will have mentor cause my ps gave me their booklets. Other than than that I am in the dark. He never talked to me about size shape or profile. Did anyone had the teardrop shape? I am not sure what to even ask.0 -
Ddeal- this is what my ps told me when I asked about tear drop vs. round...the round will fall into tear drops when u are upright and lay round when u recline (more like a real breast) the tear drops do NOT become round when u lay down. Next time you are there pick up a round by the edge and u will see that it does fall in the right shape. I opted for round. Hope this helps and wtg on scheduling!
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Ddeal14 - Check out the thread Breast Implant Sizing 101 if you haven't already. There's lots of helpful info there. Please read all the info in the header first to get the quickest answers when you do post a question.
It's amazing how different our doctors are. I'm sorry your PS hasn't discussed your expectations or wishes with you. I guess I'm very lucky - mine started out on that note at our very first meeting. Please check out that other thread ASAP and you'll have a better grasp of what to be asking before your exchange surgery.
edited to add: Of course, it matters whether you are having reconstruction to one or both breasts. If you've had a single MX you might want or need something done to the intact breast to help them match. If you've had bilateral MX matching is easier. Either way it seems really important to be able to communicate with your PS about your expectations so you can work together to get you as close as possible to that. Just my two-cents worth
Best wishes!
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I am scheduled for exchange on the 13th and my ps said there will be several options in the or and she will try out different sizes and shapes to see what looks best next to the real one.
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I am finding my new foob to be to small for my frame. They are a B and on my frame they look more like an A. I feel flat and out of proportion. I had UMX and a lift/reduction on good side.. Have anyone had bigger implants put in after recon surgery
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Thank you ladies so much for your responses, the ps said I don't need to see him till the surgery, so I won't have a chance to discuss with him and actualy hold the round implant, but it makes scene that the round fall more naturally. I think the ps will try a few sizes, but he thinks the bigger the better and I don't. It's just so hard to judge by the te. I am trying to think that it's not important, what matter is that I am happy to be alive, and anything will be better than the sagginess that I had. Thanks again and best best best wishes to all of you.
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I'm scheduled for my exchange on 6/19 and am soooo ready. At the same time I'll be having punch biopsy on mx breast, lift/reduction and excissional biopsy on other breast. This seems like a lot to even think about all at once but I'm just assuming everything will come out ok. Otherwise, I would be nuts. Anyone else have multiple biopsies after bc?
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stjude - my ps did the same thing - brought a couple different high profile sizes in the OR and chose what was best.
Ddeal - best of luck.....and remember, you can always call your ps if you have any questions. I went with a round, high profile, fat grafting, and some alloderm where things tend to ripple.
Have my 2 week post op on Wednesday.
Take care everyone,
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Ossa - I'm heading off today to my second revision surgery. I was a D-DD, now I'm maybe a small C plus they are too far apart and have a weird shape, not round, not tear shaped, just weird.
My new PS is going to use Alloderm to support the foobs and move them closer and give me a bigger implant. I have 500 cc's now, he's going to do 600-650 cc's.
I like him much better than the original surgeon. I hated my 1st exchange surgery from day one and after the "drop & fluff, they weren't much better.
So now version 2.1. :-)
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