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Exchange City

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Comments

  • janiceh
    janiceh Posts: 7
    edited August 2012

    I like the idea of rub-on nipples quite a bit. Take them for a "test drive" to see how they look. :-)

  • 2FriedEggs
    2FriedEggs Posts: 324
    edited August 2012

    The more I research what implants I want the more afraid I become of the final outcome. Now I see why some women feel they have a pancake look and some feel they are much smaller-guess if you choose high profile you give up width for projection? http://www.justbreastimplants.com/breast_implants/implant_profiles.htm

  • blessings2011
    blessings2011 Posts: 1,801
    edited August 2012

    2FriedEggs - Not neccessarily. Here's another site that shows silicone implants from moderate to extra high profile.

    The widths do vary, but only very slightly.

    http://www.natrelle.com/breast_reconstruction.aspx#/6/

    These are the implants I will be getting (68HP-650 or 68HP-700) 

    http://www.justbreastimplants.com/breast_implants/natrelle68hp.htm

    Currently I have in 133-MV16 TEs, filled to 620ccs. That means they are 16 cm wide. The implants I get will be either 14 cm wide or 14.4 cm wide. That's a difference of only one cm on each side, which my PS says is not a big deal for two reasons: 1) the natural formation of scar tissue generally makes the pockets narrower anyway, and 2) there should be some movement of the implant. Natural breasts do not stay in a stationary position all the time.

    Pretty much everything I learned about how to choose the right implant came from Whippetmom on her Breast Implant Sizing 101 thread. You've been in contact with her, right?

    A lot depends on your body size, and what size TEs your PS put in.

    Thanks for posting that link....very interesting, as I will be getting saline implants.

    (I had to laugh when I read something on your link that said "women want side boobs".....I'm SO SICK of my TE side boobs! I just want to sleep on my side again!!! Laughing)

  • CMartin
    CMartin Posts: 237
    edited August 2012

    Blessings2011...amen! Can't wait for my arm to touch something...anything....besides that expander.

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited August 2012

    Getting excited, go tomorrow for my pre-op just two more weeks for my exchange

  • Karenr1028c
    Karenr1028c Posts: 25
    edited August 2012

    Did anyone file a short term disability claim for the exchange surgery? If so, how long were you approved for? I have my exchange surgery on August 21st and it's hard to plan ahead when everyone seems to have a slightly different story. (My STD for the BMX w/TEs was approved for 7 1/2 weeks.)



    And like many of you, I'm nervous about the final outcome. I actually like the look of my TEs, even though they're probably narrower than my final implants - so I'm afraid of losing projection because the implants will be wider.



    Thanks!

  • golden01
    golden01 Posts: 527
    edited August 2012

    My company's STD requires a 30 day leave before the benefit kicks and I wasn't out that long for the TE exchange. I did get STD after the Lumpectomy and BMX last fall. It really helped (paid for cleaning folks, books for my Kindle, and my button up pajamas). Probably helped with all those dreaded co-pays too.

  • Karenr1028c
    Karenr1028c Posts: 25
    edited August 2012

    Golden01, how long were you our for the TE exchange?

  • golden01
    golden01 Posts: 527
    edited August 2012

    I scheduled two weeks and then end up taking three based on my doctor's recommendation. I was healing fine after the surgery and based on that part of the recovery I would have been ready to go back to work. I had an odd reaction after the TE surgery and just didn't get my pep back and was too grumpy to go to work (over the top grumpy, like my husband is lucky to be alive after he asked a question about baking potatoes one night!). The only thing we can figure out is that I had a panic attack at the hospital just before the TE exchange surgery and may have had a different reaction to the anesthesia becuase of that. I had a bad experience a long time ago at that hospital and when the nurse wasn't going to let my husband stay with me ahead of the surgery, I got very anxious. When I went back to the same place for my nipple reconstruction surgery in May, the PS office made sure they knew to let my husband stay with me and I didn't have any problems.

  • lezza13
    lezza13 Posts: 579
    edited August 2012

    I have a question:  What time allotment did your PS give you for going swimming after an exchange. I know each PS is different I just wanted to know if any of you have heard?  Thanks.  I had mine done in early July to saline implants.

  • joanquilts
    joanquilts Posts: 270
    edited August 2012

    Lezza - my PS gave me the go ahead to swim after 2 weeks.

  • Erika8
    Erika8 Posts: 56
    edited August 2012

    thank you JoanQuilts i had the same question

    but is it o.k for clorine water or saltwater  

  • joanquilts
    joanquilts Posts: 270
    edited August 2012

    He told me that anything was okay  pool or beach.  I know different PS's feel differently about this.  I guess he was satisfied by how my incisions were healing.  I have already been swimming several times.

  • Erika8
    Erika8 Posts: 56
    edited August 2012

    thank you JoanQuilts and have a great week

  • lezza13
    lezza13 Posts: 579
    edited August 2012

    Joan:  Thanks. My PS said 6 weeks and I am not listening to her.  She is checking my incisions again today and hopefully she will give me the green light to swim next week. It wil be 4 weeks out.  I am leaving on vacaction for 4 days with my family and want to enjoy the salt and clorine.  Thank you so much and have a great week.

  • dipad
    dipad Posts: 135
    edited August 2012

    my ps said 4 weeks for swimming in pool. So funny how every ps has different views. It would be so much easier if there were set guidelines!

  • Layla2525
    Layla2525 Posts: 465
    edited August 2012

    Hey Blessings and Rckrobin, will joining the club and boarding the train to Exchange City on Aug 30, I am so with you, this is the first time I have had boobs without having to prop them up with a million chkn cutlets. The office was suprised when I came back from "getting my boobs cut off for cancer" and looking like I had a good boob job!  Of course without the bra to make the shape right,they are squarebobs/boobs but thats my little secret. Off to Sallys to try and find adhesive for my fake nipples and get spray tan so I dont glow in the dark if I do go to the beach. We have been so busy and had so much rain that we havent been to the beach at all this summer. yep,just pizza and beer and the whole restaurant staring at us out the window while we sit at the outside table under the overhanging eves part of the bldg eating our pizza...they keep wondering why would anyone sit outside in the rain? Fiance is crazy, think his mom dropped him on his head when he was a baby...lol..

  • blessings2011
    blessings2011 Posts: 1,801
    edited August 2012
    YAY LAYLA!!!!
  • Rckinrobin
    Rckinrobin Posts: 28
    edited August 2012

    LOL! Layla, you are hilarious! I actually had a coworker come up to me just today and she said she had just heard about what I had gone thru over the summer...she said, "I just thought you had had a great boob job!" and after that I actually showed her my results...she was so impressed she wrote both of the doctors name, lol. She is an RN at our school and likes to know about great docs.



    It really is funny catching people taking quick glances at my chest area to see what I look like now. Lots of coworkers I think are curious but don't really know what to say.



    I can't wait for my exchange....it seems so far away. I don't know if I can wait till sept. 27, I am so tired of not sleeping well. These things hurt in my underarm area at night. I think I am going to move back to the lounge chair, it seems to help if I am a more sitting up position. Does not bother me during the day, just at night.



    Sigh....the things we go through!

  • Sleep
    Sleep Posts: 19
    edited August 2012

    Thank GOD exchange complete kinda surprised that the projection is not quite what I expected. Moderate plus profile ? Not quite sure what model of implant. Kinda of sore under the arm area. Oh well I will find out Monday ps office. Feels much better with that ungodly expander in my chest out. Good luck to all

  • CMartin
    CMartin Posts: 237
    edited August 2012

    Rckinrobin..do you wear a bra to bed? That seems to help me.

  • Rckinrobin
    Rckinrobin Posts: 28
    edited August 2012

    Sleep, congrats on the exchange! I'm so jealous! Can't wait to get rid of the turtle shells!



    Cindy, I do sleep with a sports bra on, and wear either the sports bras or one of two underwire bras a friend gave me during the day.i hate to wear underwire at night but might try it. It seems To not hurt as much when I am more upright...did pretty well in the lounge chair last night.



    Currently I fit a 36c bra nicely, but since I am not sure what I will need after the exchange I have not spent any money on nice bras. A friend that lost a huge amount of weight gave me a couple of hers that are now too big for her. I can't wait to finally go to nordstroms and get an official fitting after the exchange!

  • Karenr1028c
    Karenr1028c Posts: 25
    edited August 2012

    I've been wearing the Coobie bras and they're awesome. They're one size fits all, if you can imagine that. They've worked for me throughout the expansion process and I'm hoping to keep wearing them after post-exchange which is on the 21st.

    I actually really like the way my expanders look, at least when I'm wearing clothes. I think my implants are going to be wider and won't project as much. I'm worried about having flat ovals on my chest. When I told my PS that I wanted to look just like I do now, he said that would be a problem because my implants will have to be wider. I'm going to remind him again the day of surgery.

     Although I am looking forward to hugging my husband and my kids without having these hard things in between us...

  • blessings2011
    blessings2011 Posts: 1,801
    edited August 2012

    Karenr1028c - have you checked out the "Breast Implant Sizing 101" thread?

    Whippetmom is our Implant Guru. With some information from you, she can help you decide what type and size of implant would look best on you.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    As for bras, I LOVE my Genie bras. Step in, or pull over my head, they fit perfectly over these odd-shaped TEs, and are comfy enough to sleep in at night.

    At exchange, PS says I'll have a big honkin' Ace bandage right out of surgery, but after that, a sports bra will do until he gives me clearance to get a more supportive bra (probably underwire). I've been taking notes all over the place as to what works best, but there's no point in even getting measured right now, since my exchange won't be for two more weeks.

    Right after the Ace bandage comes off, I'll probably wear my JCPenney zip-front sports bra that I wore after BMX.

    Then it's a-shopping I will go! LaughingMoney mouth

  • Delilahbear
    Delilahbear Posts: 206
    edited August 2012

    Sleep - do you have saline or silicone? I have Mod. Prof. Plus in saline. They don't have quite the projection of the high profile, but they will still have to "drop and fluff". Believe it or not, I think I had some more projection after 1 1/2 years. Some of my bras I had to go up a cup size in after wearing the same ones for quite some time.

  • Layla2525
    Layla2525 Posts: 465
    edited August 2012

    rocknrobin,I completely agree,I dont think I will buy a lot of nice bras until after the implants are installed and they settle and fluff.

  • Mooleen
    Mooleen Posts: 63
    edited August 2012

    As i get closer to my exchange day on 8/21, the anxiety is starting to set in. The anticipation is the worst and the last week is forever.

  • blessings2011
    blessings2011 Posts: 1,801
    edited August 2012

    Aw, Mooleen.....I am sending you big hugs and lots of courage....as you are going to be going in the day before me!

    I want you to have a wonderful experience, so you can come here and tell me all about it!!!

    xoxoxoxo Smile

  • Husker123
    Husker123 Posts: 13
    edited August 2012

    19 days until exchange surgery. Not sure which I want rid of most, my TE's or my port! They both go the same day!!! 

    Good luck to all having exchanges soon!

  • Rckinrobin
    Rckinrobin Posts: 28
    edited August 2012

    I called today and changed my surgery to an earlier date... Now my exchange will be September 6....woot woot! I can't wait! Planning a Disney trip and want to be able to swim when we go. And so tired of not sleeping well. So ready to just get this over with!