Exchange City
Comments
-
I told the doc I'd like to be somewhere in the neighborhood of a C cup. I have Mentor 600cc Round High Profile Gel implants. I'm about 5'5", and sad to say, I'm about 180 right now (working on that). Darn, can't find my tape measure to measure rib cage :-(. Right now, being only a week out, of course they're sitting pretty high and flat... but I'm thinking that they will settle in nicely to a fairly even C, maybe a touch on the big side? So right at this moment, I'm wearing a nice stretchy Bali bra that I found whilst going through the fills that is perfect - they come in small, med, large, xl and I have a large on. I like this one, but need more side support, again.
Have an appointment at the mastectomy bra place on Friday and I'm sure they'll be helpful.
0 -
I'm hoping to get my surgery date tomorrow...am I hearing that after recon is completed I will have to wear special bras forever? I know it's a long way off for me 😢 but like knowing what to expect.
Thanks
Cindyloo0 -
Icefishinglady- my stats are close to yours and I got 600's also. I exchanged to implants almost a year ago. I wear the vanishing back bra by Soma called Natalie. It has good back and side support. I am wearing a C cup.
0 -
Hi Ladies,
Had my NSBMX on 9-24. I've been kindly directed to this thread by another member. I love the way all you gals know what I need before I do! Hand holding at it's very best. I ended up with kind of a unique surgical team. Both very, very experienced, but my PS does things a bit differently then others I'd interviewed, as well as a lot of what I've read on this site. Naturally this frightens me because I dont exactly know what to expect, and time is about the only thing that will reveal if his creative "thinking outside of the box" techniques were effective. For starters, this particular team were the only ones willing to go forth with a NSM, and lift. I was a 36dd and very droopy. They worked together for the duration of surgery along with a surgical nurse. Because of this my surgery length was just a little over 3 hrs. I was told, it had nothing to do with a need to rush, but rather the result of working efficiently together. I have a questionable dvt history from a long flight years ago, and have a huge fear of blood clots. Being under anesthesia for half the time was a plus for me. The other thing, is that my PS does not typically feel the need to use alloderm, and also prefers in many circumstances to put the TE's OVER the pectoral muscle rather than beneath. So you can see some of this is not the conventional route.
I'm feeling pretty good, my Left nipple is thriving, my right struggling a bit, but both doctors feel I may only have some superficial loss. I was told my TE's were only mildly filled at the time of surgery, 60 cc's in one, and close to nothing in the other. Had both drains removed yesterday. Most external stitches are in the inframmary fold.
I'd love to know if anyone has had similiar experiences having the TE's over the pecs? I'm going to have a ton of follow up questions for my PS in the weeks to come. So far I feel a lot of pressure on the right side up high. Feels like a fist is going to come popping out for lack of a better description. PS said the numbing from my surgery is wearing off, and as I heal I'll be using my arms more, and therefore becoming more noticeably sore.
I know complications can arise in almost any, and all circumstances. I guess I'm just a little uneasy that I don't have anyone to compare notes with about the particulars.
Thanks as always for letting me share. It's a great feeling to have a safe place to vent, and be heard without judgement. I'm so grateful.
~kellie0 -
kellie - It's so confusing that each PS seems to do things a bit differently. You're right, every patient and case is different so there are never any guarantees. I have read of other PSs doing over-muscle implant placement, but I don't know whether or not Alloderm is used in those instances.
Sorry you're feeling uncomfortable and uneasy. I hope all heals up and goes well. Keep us posted!
0 -
I know some PS do over the muscle for augmentation, but I haven't heard of it for recon since there is no breast tissue left. So is the implant right under your skin? Please let us know how you're doing.
As you start to feel better, you'll start to do more, which means you'll feel new aches. Time will be your friend. The discomfort doesn't last forever, but it certainly at times feels like it!
Best wishes
0 -
Thanks ladies. Yes Jamie, the TE's are under my skin. Sounds a bit bizarre doesn't it?! The BS that did my surgery specializes in surgical oncology with over 40 yrs of experience, and works with many other PS's. He is known for leaving a bit of a thicker skin flap behind after mastectomy. Not breast tissue, but rather fat, and skin. The PS that worked with him on my case however, is the only one out of all these other ps's who proceeds with the reconstruction in this non conventional way. A huge part of me feels incredibly lucky that this duo is willing to "think outside of the box" but there's also the little scaredy cat inside of me who is terrified of the unknown, and looking for some reassurance where ever I can find it.
Thanks again girls. I will continue to keep you posted for certain!!0 -
Kellie...my Ps wouldn't consider over the pec. Not sure but believe it could more easily drop out of the pocket.
Cindy...no special bra instructions but I don't believe that is normal. Wear whatever I want.
Icefishing...ive seen commercials lately for a new bra that id supposed to minimize side and beck fat. I thought might work but of course the model is a size 2.
0 -
misstoli I have had my implant almost a year now and yes def settled quite a bit. At first they were kind of deeper in my chest and kind of relaxed into the pocket kind of like a tennis ball finding its way to the toe of a sock. They look way way better than when I first got them. It took about 8 weeks for them to drop. Now so much time later they still look pretty much the same as 8 weeks a little more droop. My expectations were a bit high but overall I think I am ok with things. I have great cleavage. I am hoping that the fat grafting will give me a little more upper pole and def looking forward to the lipo.0
-
Major milestone! Went for my first professional fitting today! (A small shop...)
I'm six weeks out from exchange to smooth saline, high profile, 700cc implants.
There wasn't much there that fit me really well....she did find one that wasn't an underwire, but had good stitching. Unfortunately, it looked just like one of my sports bras, except it was four times the price. I wasn't jumping for joy.
I'd worn one of my old bras (racer-back, underwire, demi-cup) in a 36DD that fit me perfectly! Of course, it's been discontinued. I showed her how that fit, and how I liked it.
Then she found two cute - I mean CUTE bras that had just come in, and they fit really, really well. They were 38Cs!!!! So I bought both of them.
They're still in the bag, but they sure were comfy in the store.....
0 -
Blessings: Wow a difference in bra size with different brands, huh?
Glad you were able to find something that fits and looks nice!
0 -
Question- when you say an implant size for example Blessings your's was 700- is that what they are filled to as well or are most implants filled to more than the actual size of the implants.
0 -
Hi Ladies,
I have a question regarding nipple reconstruction. I am planning on having the exchange in Dec.2012, I am still out on whether I want to do nipple recon. Those of you who have done the nip recon at time of exchange would you recommend it or would you recommend it at a later date?
Any and all input is welcomed.
christy
0 -
Chrisrenee - I had mine done at exchange and am very happy not to have to have yet another procedure.
0 -
Ah, snuggling! mmm...
Hey, what about massage? I finally asked my PS and he said, yes, do it. Um, can you be more specific????
0 -
Chrisrenee7,
I'm having my exchange October 23 and I choose not to have the nipple reconstruction..truly do not want another procedure..good luck with your exchange..0 -
Icefishing, I love your dog! So cute!!
After surgery saw my PS at 1 week and again at 2 weeks. I see him again at 5 weeks. He didn't give me any instructions but I just dug out the post op instructions that I was given before the surgery. So I gave the nurse a call. It's 3.5 weeks and she said I can do anything (lift, sleep on side, braless at night) and to start doing the massage. I really don't know how to do the massage, she didn't give me any directions. Help!
0 -
Rosie...it wasn't even mentioned to me.after only one postop follow up.
0 -
2FriedEggs - My implants were Allergan 68HP-700s. That meant that minimum fill was 700ccs, but they could also be overfilled to 750ccs.
I'm not sure how most women get their saline implants filled...with mine, if the PS had overfilled them, I would have gotten a whole centimeter more projection, but the width would have been narrower, which we were trying to avoid. Also, an overfilled implant can feel much firmer than a minimally-filled one. I worried about ripples going with the minimum fill, and he said that was a possibility no matter what size or fill amount the implants had. So far, no ripples, though!
Chrisrenee77 - I have no plans for nipple recon. I want to be DONE with surgery! I find that I can go braless under clothes (not recommended by my PS, but allowable for short amounts of time) and if I had nipples, I'd be on high beams all the time. I do, however, want to go see Vinnie next spring for 3D tattoos.....
Lisa, Rosie, CMartin - I finally got cleared to do massage on my implants. My PS said to massage them in the shower at night when they're soapy. He said the point was to massage them "together and up" ...in other words, "against gravity"... if that makes sense. If I'm doing it wrong, oh well....at least I'm doing something...
0 -
thank you all for responding. I am just ready to get all these surgeries over with. The exchange is the one I'm the most anxious/worried about. I would like to have the nipple recon at the same time as exchange but that's only if he doesn't have to do any additional construction with the pockets. Then also those pesky damn drains. I'm ready to get my name on the list at the top of this page with a big completed. So ready for December. 0
-
Silly question but what does the massaging do? Just had my exchange surgery Tuesday and i have 800cc saline overfilled to 1350 and 1400. IM wondering if they will always be this hard (about the same as expanders)?
0 -
Blessings, thanks for the massage description. I asked my PS last week by email, since he'd mentioned it once but said "not yet" and then we never discussed it again. So funny- he said-" yes, you can start massaging. It is to prevent capsular contracture." um, I could have used more info. I like him but not very pro-informative. Since Dr Google tells me that capsular contracture is the most common complication from implants, I guess I WOULD like to do all I can to prevent it!!
0 -
Blessings- I have heard the name Vinnie a few times on these boards. Who is Vinnie? I gather he is a tattoo artist but where is he/she at?
Again, I'm still in the fence about the nipple recon its something that is still a few months away.0 -
It seems to me that most plastic surgeons are referring to upward implant displacement exercises when they talk about massage after reconstruction with smooth, round implants. I found a simple video (from a PS) that shows this on YouTube at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDB8ArOdjOk
0 -
greeting, ladies. I'm back 3.5 weeks post reduction and oh my what a mess...got a huge hematoma and some necrosis and the incision line broke open. So now I've got what looks like a butterflied boob. It's wide open. Good news is the nipple is lovely and the size is perfect.
So, for now, they are watching it, have evacuated and saline flushed it once already, and I go back friday....the plan is when the edges are healed more, he will steri strip it. says most heal ok and not too bad w the scarring. God I hope so.
so I had such high hopes for this, only to get this awful complication...I think i have cried more in the past 3 weeks than since the intial diagnosis.
Well, the good news is negative pathology and that in time, it will heal....but oh my. Not what I hoped for in any way, shape or form.
Anybody have this sort of issue?
Thnx!
0 -
Oh, anniealso, I haven't had those issues; I just wanted to say "great news!" on the negative pathology, and "so sorry!" on all the other challenges. Sending you huge (gentle) hugs....0
-
Thank you all for the help with figuring out what to do for the breast massage. Annie, i'm so sorry to hear that you've had some problems. I got a huge hematoma right after the mastectomy and TE placement. It wasn't fun but getting AFTER your exchange? How disappointing! Your PS wants you to look great and will keep working to get you where you want to be. It's a bump in the road but you'll get there.
0 -
Lawana_m - your implants are really over expanded - FDA max fill is 960. Mine are at 960 and they are not as soft as some of the silicone I have felt, but with the over expansion you have, they will probably remain a little firmer.
Massaging helps them drop into the pockets and prevent capsular contraction.
0 -
Hi everyone, hope you are all having a painless weekend. Well I had my implants switched out on Tuesday and am just now able to update. This was by far the most painful procedure so far. I guess he had a lot of pocket work to do in there since the last set didnt lay right. Other than not being able to take anything for this pain, I have good news...the D and C came back negative!! and the new girls are awesome. They are exactly what I envisioned when I started this journey so long ago. I am not sure if or when I wil get nips. Right now I don't want to hurt anymore. Perhaps in a few weeks I will be able to think about it. lol.
0 -
Incogneato- so happy that you are loving the new girls. I'm ready to get mine. I've had my TE's in for just under a month now. I like them but they are hard as rocks. There isn't a comfortable way to sleep with them. Hopefully when I do the exchange they will be softer and more manageable.
0
