Exchange City

Thanks Rachelvk...I am seeing my ps on Tuesday, I will ask then.

Just thought I'd clarify some more about tatoo'd nipples. Nipple reconstruction is a surgical procedure. That is probably what the PS is saying should ONLY be done by a PS. After the reconstruction (orgami-type skin fold/build or graft), then the skin is tatoo'd to match your preferred nipple and areola color and size. Sometimes a surgeon does this, often they have a tatoo artist complete that part - either in the PS office, or at the tatoo place. 

Then there is the 3D nipple - totally different from the nipple reconstruction. This IS done by the tatoo artist - again, either at the PS office or at the tatoo place. The look is not "perfect" as it really is flat. The shading makes the area LOOK like a nipple from straight on. I'm sure from the side you can tell it is just a "picture". 

The rub-on nipples (or stick-ons) are something we can choose to do on our own. Very temporary though. But, as mentioned above, a good way to determine placement for the more permanent nipple - either reconstruction or 3D.

Was talking to my sister tonight who had exchange two months ago. We were moping a little about the lack of sensation on the breast. Our incisions (same PS) are across the breast. I am on for surgery 8/7 unless he gets a cancelation 7/31. I am anxious to get it done, feel like it will be good to move on. I thought of waiting until December but enough women said it was not a tough recovery compared to oopharectomy and BMX. Ugh, I never even had surgery till this year!!!

I sure hope it goes well. Our PS keeps you overnight in the hospital. Are most of you outpatient?

lisa2012,

Overnight or not is all over the place.  My PS office confirmed at my pre-op that I would be overnight, with his assistant telling the surgeon always does that when I had asked to make sure. His website says even augmentation patients typically have hospital care for 24 hours which is a bit surprising as they do not have the more extensive internal work reconstruction patients have. 

So I was pretty surprised to be booted out 2 hours after surgery and did not stay overnight. I was not at all prepared for that and did not have anything I needed including arrangements for someone at the house to help me after being delivered home, or the help with pain control I would have had in an overnight stay. Or even anything to try to help make the long ride home less painful such as a pillow for across my chest, a blanket for the chills, and things like that. This is to explain my caution to you that even if you are told you will get overnight care, be prepared for that not happening and have a backup plan for being home instead.

My PS put in for a 24 hour hold in the hospital but if I feel ok I can leave sooner, and he will go through the same incision as MX. I am not nervous about my 8/21 exchange, but excited.

dipad- I only had my drains for exchange until my first check up after exchange a week later.  Mine were not draining very much either but I know I couldn't wait to get them out!  Hold off on judgment for your implants, one week out I was feeling disappointed at final size and as the months went by everything improved substantially.  At one week I was a small B, almost like before surgery and now I am a solid C which is exactly what I wanted.  I have not really did anything to fade scars, I think I'll let time do most of the work for me.  Good luck with everything!

Happy exchanges and great healing to all the recent and "to be's"

dipad if you had 480cc's at time of exchange.  What size implants did you get and what profile were they?

My BS and PS each arranged for me to stay overnight after the lumpectomy, TE exchange, and Nipple surgery. I stayed two nights after my BMX because I had some problems with pain control (needed a muscle relaxant added to the mix and didn't get that until about 36 hours after the operation). I was in one hospital surgical outpatient facility for the lumpectomy and a different one for the TE exchange and the Nipple surgery. I got good care at both but the second facility was much nicer!

The plastic surgeon who did my reconstruction recommended Kelo Cote, which I used for months.  I generally scar nicely, but I used it anyway.  Of all the things I have tried over the years, only Scar Fade was about as good.  My preference is the Kelo Cote.

lisa, I was also instructed to wear sports bra 24/7 until further notice. I had my 1 wk follow up and had to continue w/the sports bra. When I saw ps next time, 3wks later (she was on vacation) I got the go ahead to wear whatever bra I wanted...and the best news was I can now let my girls out and go to bed w/out any bra. Yay!

Hi Greenmonkey ,

I've seen you on a few other threads and am happy you made it thru exchange.  Sorry they scratched your eye.. As if you didn't have enough to worry about!

How did you find out they placed your TEs wrong? Mine don't feel right either.  They are so far apart (I have at least a 2 inch gap in the front) they are high (under my armpits) and poking out on my sides.  They also don't project and are like flat baseballs.  My PS said she is not concerned, but I can't help but wonder.  After going thru all this I would hate to get implants that have to be removed later.  

You've been thru so much and may have some good advice to share.  Thanks and hugs.

Hi Digital! okay, I hope this isn't too much information but every time I read your name "Digital Cowgirl" I think, "reverse cowgirl" clearly, I am a tad twisted. 

From day one I knew my right TE was too low but I was told they could fix it in the exchange. It was sitting on the lower lip of my ribcage and it hurt to take a deep breath. When I went for my first fill I could see the drastic difference in where my left and right TE ports were. I then went to see another PS at Sloan and was told I would not achieve symmetry but that I shouldn't expect that. I told her I disagree and that the government agrees with me. I then went for 2 more opinions both outside of Sloan and both agreed that my TE's needed to be taken out and repositioned.

Here is a link to a blog post that shows what my TE's looked like after Dr. Cordeiro's placement and what they looked like after Dr. Margoles's placement: 

http://greenmonkeytales.blogspot.com/2012/04/why-i-did-what-i-did.html 

I have since met other women who were also butchered by Dr. Cordeiro. Not only were my TE's not positioned evenly, the right pocket was opened too much. I recently found out that Dr. Cordeiro did not do my surgery, two interns did but Dr. Cordeiro swore to me that he performed the surgery. I can't talk about Cordeiro (aka DICDOC) without my blood pressure going up. Especially because all of my pain today is because of his, or his interns mistakes. 

I have virtually no pain on my left but my right is very painful because my PS added more sutures along the natural fold (to fix the pocket error made by sloan) and also along the side to help keep the implant in place. None of this would have been necessary if my reconstruction surgery was done correctly.

The other thing that upsets me is that prior to my BMX, I told my BS, Dr. Heerdt that I was not comfortable using Dr. Cordeiro. I found him arogant and dismissive and I knew he wouldn't do the surgery himself even though he said, "I'll be there for the important parts." Dr. Heerdt told me not to worry, that the TE placement was the easy part and that I should be focused on the cancer. They suck you in on the word CANCER. they're were both nothing more than car salesmen. 

So that you don't think I am a walking bitch, I love my PS, Dr. Margoles. She is smart and compasionate and patient. We all deserve that!!!  

okay, time for another pain pill.... thanks for listening....... zzzzzzzz  

Love you, GM. What a huge difference the new PS made!  So happy for you:)

greenmonkey wow I can't beleive what they did to you. You wpuld think Sloan Kettering would be held to a higher standard. Perhaps they have too many pateints to pay attention the way they should. Looks like your new PS did a great job and you will get great results.

That being said my TEs were a little lopsided, not as bad as Green monkey. My PS did fix that in the excahnge for the most part. Still have a little extra tissue on my non cancer side that he will fix when I get my nipples. I am overall very happy with the results. My hospital was Truman Meidcal of Kansas City. I went there because they were the only ones that would take my medicaid for everything, since I had no health insurance. I worried since I had no choice really of what PS and I find that because he has a good heart it shows in his work. Dr. Hlvacek also has his own practice called facial spectrum in Lee's Summitt, MO.

Thanks for sharing Greenmonkey.. I can't believe all you have endured but your new PS sure did a great job!  It's amazing work. Do you have any recourse against the first PS?  It just seems they did you so wrong!

My scars look so much like yours but my TEs are high and to the sides.  They feel way too wide and today they are just killing me. Whippetmom will be giving me some feedback once I send her pics but I still don't have the info on my TEs even tho I called the office last week with the request.  I never got a card and did not know to ask for one.. I would assume we should get cards for implants too.

Carroll, I  am so glad you are pleased with results. Sounds like your PS is wonderful. Congrats.

Hope everyone  is having a nice weekend.