Exchange City
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Had my two week post-op visit with the PS today. She had me massaging the non-rad side and today she showed me how to massage the rad side. She said to use lotion and massage twice a day. Also no more surgical bra and no more sleeping in bra!
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Can anyone tell me if the exchange feels better than these awful expanders because I'm having my exchange next month and praying the sever tightness will be better..any replies would be greatly appreciated...
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Absolutely better for me! The TEs were rock hard. Someone accidently backed up and bumped into me at work one day when I had the TEs in, you should have seen the look of horror on her face! My implants are nice and soft. Buying bras that fit is hard though.
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LMAO Golden! OMG I can imagine! I accidentally opened the car door into mine. That was an odd feeling.
Sherry, my implant is much softer than the TE. I'm at a little over a week out, and I get that familiar tight feeling toward the end of the day. I expect that will go away, though. It is much more comfortable.
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Funny ladies! I'm not experiencing quite as much squishiness as everyone else but I think it's getting a little better (3 weeks post op tomorrow). Yes, buying bras is difficult! I've given up on underwire for now, not that I mind, the alternative is much more comfortable.
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Thank you all for replying..I've been waiting a long time for this...the expanders have Been awful..
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I beleive that is why I'm not elated with the implants, my TE story was not that bad. It was bearable.
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To be honest if I knew the expanders were going to be uncomfortable and painful I would have never had it done...but hopefully things are going to be better..thanks again
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Yeah, my reconstruction on my non cancer breast has been moved up from 11/13 to 10/9. Hopefully this will be the end of this journey for me.
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Sherry67 - I felt very unsure about whether or not I'd made the right decision about my implants for a long time. I just was "withholding judgment" as it was harder than I thought it would be for me. Now, a year out from my BMX, almost nine months out from the TE exchange, and four months from my nipple reconstruction, I can tell you that I am very pleased that I chose this road. In fact, there was once recently that I looked at myself (fully clothed) and thought my breasts looked really good. You might just give yourself more time. They call this "reconstruction" but I really think it more like building some big project from scratch, it's hard and takes a long time.
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I have a post-exchange question for those of you with implants LARGER than the volume of your TEs...
Do you think it takes longer for the implants to settle... drop and fluff... loosen up, etc. when the implant volume is larger than the TE volume? I am almost 7 weeks post exchange and I know that is still considered very early and I have to be patient and give things more time. And I will, I have decided I will do my best to reserve judgement on my results until I am 3 months out. But once the swelling subsided around the 3rd week, I have noticed very little change in the implants. I have been taking pics as well in case there is something I'm not seeing in the mirror (will post those the picture forum once I figure out how), but can see no significant change there either. I was expanded to 630cc each side, and was given 695cc silicone rounds, extra full profile. I have had decent projection almost from the beginning becuase of the extra full profile, but there is no sign of dropping and, believe me, I would like them to drop. They are also quite hard, softer than the TE's but not all that much. And they feel really tight, almost as tight as the TEs.
I'm assuming the skin and muscle may have to continue to stretch to accomodate them given that they are larger than my TEs were, but has anyone else had this experience? That it just takes even longer for them to settle than usual?
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Dragonfly-I predict that you will see more dropping as the months go on. It can be very slow and subtle- I was very tight for well over 6 months. I am still not overly soft, especially on the tops of the implants that are under my pec muscles.0
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I'm 3 weeks post-exchange. I did not have that "AHHHH" feeling after the TEs were removed...even though they were huge and hard as boulders.
I got high profile smooth saline implants, but in the process, the PS had to do a lot of pocket work due to my weight loss (50+ pounds) and that did cause some excess swelling that will take a while to resolve.
I did notice that Righty is getting much softer, and appears to be getting ready to D&F. Lefty, however, sits high, and the swelling goes up to my collarbone.
I can still feel every single movement of my pectoral muscles, just as I did with the TEs. I think it was SpecialK who said that could go away in time.
I'm not at all sorry I went this route - overall I am pleased, but I wish I'd had that immediate relief like taking off an iron bra that so many women report.
Oh well, these things take time!!!!
p.s. The PS hasn't cleared me to wear anything other than my sports bras or my Genie bras yet. He wants to make sure all the internal work has healed first.
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Dragonfly, I can't help you with your question but I am in the same situation or will be next month. MY PS put me in 550 CC TE after I had had 2 infections and 4 surgeries. He put iin a smaller TE without asking me but I am ok with it. I was a DD and want to go smaller. I am 5'7" 162 lbs and 331/4 " under chest. He filled me up to 570 today and I will get another fill next week to 630. He said he would take 3 sizes with him and see which fit better so I have no idea what size I will be after my exchange next month. He will use Mentor High profile silicone. I want to keep up with you to see how you are doing so I will know what to expect if he puts in a larger size, which I want him to do. I pray you do well as with all the others on here. God Bless and hope someone else can answer your question. I will be checking in.
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The reason I had to wait was the hospital was waiting approval for the new silicone implants called sientra something like the gummys..suppose to be natural feeling ..did anyone have fat grafting done...because he mentioned that as well..
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Estepp I am like this with my skin too. What kind fo lotion do you use?
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summer2recover: Thank you SO much for your prediction! Your words of encouragement really mean a lot. I don't mind the waiting, it's the not being sure that it will get better that I find so difficult!
Caro4: I will certainly keep you posted. Prior to my BMX I was a 40D or 38DD. At almost 7 weeks post exchange, I am a 40C or 38D, but those bras are starting to feel tight. So I suspect that I will wind up the same size I was previously. Frankly, I was happy to be a little smaller, but didn't want to be a lot smaller. But I do not want to wind up bigger! My PS also took 3 sizes of implant into the OR. As I mentioned, I was expanded to 630cc and I was going to receive Natrelle Inspira round silicone implants. He brought in a 630cc full projection (14.5 cm diameter), 675cc full projection (15 cm diameter) and 695cc extra full projection (14.5 cm diameter). He said he would almost certainly be using the 675cc full projection because he preferred not to use extra full projection implants. When I woke up though, the 695cc extra full were exactly what I had. I was a little upset when I found out, but he was not around to discharge me. I was discharged by a resident who told me they were the best fit with minimal pocket work and that I would be very happy. I hope she was right!
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sherry67,yep almost 9 out of 10 folks on these threads feel better once the TE are out. Mine are so much softer and look so much more normal than the turtle shells. I never even had an ounce of pain or discomfort til the PS started making me massage them. I gotta do that to avoid the muscle and scar firming them up and if that happens sometimes you gotta get them removed.
I was sleeping in the recliner to keep right side up but now...
Its ok to sleep in the bed on my side right? I cant get comfortable and kept waking up last night afraid the implants would go under my arm which I guess is ridiculous as only one has changed since surg 2 wks ago and it scootched down about half an inch. I am measuring them cause the pics may fool the eye so I want it to be scientific and I couldnt believe it, they look kinda flat but the measurements are way more than I was naturally so maybe theres hope.
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Dragonfly, Thank you for the good information. If you don't mind me asking, what is your chest wall measurement and height, weight, etc.? Whippitmom says that has a lot to do with your final outcome. I would be happy to be a full C or small D cup...you have made me feel much better. I am sure he will put what is best in my pocket, I know he is going to have to do some adjusting because my left boob is high and my right is under my arm more, he will have to move it in toward my chest. They are really lopsided and very tight at 570 CC's. If you could give me your measurements, maybe I would know if it will work for me. I am praying for good results, Thank you so much. God Bless and I am praying you have drop and fluff soon.
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Layla2525,
Thanks for responding..I will be getting 550 sientra silicone gel...I hope so because for the past year I have felt like I have been having my life sucked out of me..a little nervous but excited to move forward...do you know of anyone who has had fat grafting because he mentioned it..0 -
blessings...sorry you're still swelling! I can feel my pecs when writing, driving, etc. I hate that feeling.
I can't speak to having implants fuller than TEs but mine were the same, 500 at each. I'm thinking I might have preferred to be overfilled by 50cc.
Layla I think as long as you're comfortable you should be fine. I believe the TEs are sewn in.
Carrol, I use Gold Bond Shea butter and love it. It is in a pump but almost like a cream instead of a lotion.
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Caro4: I am 5'3", 165 lbs, and measure 34" around the ribcage. Hope that helps! I am planning on posting pics on the picture forum this weekend. I have found that being able to see the transformation in other women over the weeks and months post exchange to be incredibly helpful. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank those who have taken the time and effort to document their reconstruction journey with photos
! I have not yet seen anyone who looks quite like me in terms of dimensions though, so I hope that posting my pics might not only be a sanity check for me, but helpful for others too. BTW, my PS also had do some pocket work on the left, that TE was much higher than the right, and almost in my armpit. And it also had a huge dent on the medial aspect. I don't think he did any pocket work on the right though. 0 -
Rosetx, So glad you came through ok. I had a similar experience on the 12th. I stopped breathing on the table and then in recovery it took 5 1/2 hours to wake me up. Same issue with the low BP. I got to stay the night. Got a mentor 480 ultra high profile on the left side and a 300 medium profile on the natural right side. He was going to do a lift on the right side but didn't, don't know why yet. The 300 was all they could get in there. I had radiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma 32 years ago and he said the skin never regained it's elasticity. Hoping the girls will look somewhat symmetrical.
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Dragonfly....how do u get there?????
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CMartin: Do you mean get to the picture forum? It is separate from BCO - you need to PM Lilah or nowheregirl and request access. They will be able to send you the info.
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Thnx!
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Dragonfly, Thanks that sounds great, we are almost the same in our chest wall so that sounds good. May I assk how long your PS waited after your last fill to your surgery? I wonder if that makes a difference in the size of the implant and the drop and fluff...lots of questions. My PS would do my impans right away but I have read enough I want him to wait at least a month. I have to get it all in before the end of the year for insurance purposes or start over with a high deductible next year. Thanks so much, this is so much help to me.
and Blessings to all you STRONG Ladies! 0 -
Coconut Oil......:)
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Caro...I believe I'm the exception but my Ps exchanged three months from bmx surgery which was one month after the last fill...irrelevant to the fills I believe but I didn't have any complications.
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Caro4: I'm so glad this info is helpful to you! This board has been really helpful for me so I'm delighted to be in a position to give back. My PS waited 2-1/2 months after my last fill. He typically waits 2-3 months after the last fill before exchange, but this wait time seems to vary widely among plastic surgeons. If it were me though, I would want to wait at least a month. I found that my TE's loosened up quite a bit in that time. For what it's worth though, my experience also seems to be the opposite of many - my TEs had become quite comfortable by the time my exchange rolled around, and I'm not having that post-exchange relief from tightness (yet).
Another thing that might play a role though... you wouldn't know it to look at me now, but I used to be a bit of a gym rat and focused quite a bit on working out my pecs. Two years ago my mother died horribly due to breast cancer that had metastased to her brain, and less than a year later I was diagnosed myself. I haven't set foot inside a gym in those two years - a combination of grief and surgery every six months I guess. So the weight has piled on. Even still, my pecs are pretty hard. I have the whole Schwartzenegger pec flex thing going on in a big way... I don't even have to try, just twist my arm slightly. It is NOT pretty.... LOL!!! The TEs were hard enough to withstand that, but maybe the implants are having a harder time. Who knew that all those thousands of chest presses and dumbbell flys would come back to haunt me!!!
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