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Exchange City

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  • thirdgenerationmomof2
    thirdgenerationmomof2 Posts: 65
    edited March 2013

    Hi Ladies,



    I'm new to this thread. Been on BCO for a few months now. I had BMX with TE on 02/21. Had my 4th and final fill today. I go back next Friday for any "top offs" and consult to discuss exchange date. My PS suggested today we use 500 cc Natrelle Highly Cohesive anatomically shaped implants. Aren't those the new gummy implants? She said they recently got approved with the FDA and are the most natural looking to your regular breast. She said they are softer, hardly no leak issues and have less of a problem with capsular contracture. I told her I did not want the round porn star look and wanted something that looked more natural.



    Have any of you ladies gotten these new gummy implants? If so, can you give me pros/cons of them? She said she would take several into the OR and sit me up and try them on to see which ones look best.



    Thanks!



    Jen

  • shellshine
    shellshine Posts: 930
    edited April 2013

    Hi Jen, I just got back from being "topped off" and I think I will be getting the Natrelle highly cohesive anatomicals as well. I think this is the right plan for me, but I am uncertain which size I will get. I told my PS what I want, and he said that he will have sizers that he will place in the OR to compare and come as close as possible to my desired outcome.

    I just want to get this over with and move on. Surgery slots are tight at Kaiser, so they are trying to fit me in between my last final exam on 3/31 and when I start my next Nurse Practitioner clinical. I may not know the date until a week prior, if there is a cancelled surgery slot available.  I was laid off six months ago as a Nurse Manager - and decided to return to school. Didn't know DCIS was in the picture, so trying to get everything "done" before my severance pay ends in June. Holy Macaronium, what a year. 

  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Posts: 142
    edited March 2013

    CSquared...I too have those fat pads. At first my PS said, Oh I can take care of those at exchange and now he is saying, well, I don't think your insurance will cover it. Well, I wouldn't be having any of this done if I didn't have the stupid cancer.



    So thank you Chrisrenee for that website. My insurance is not paying for a dye test I had early on in my dx...it's the only test I have had. So I'm going to fight with them on that test and liposuction.



    Thirdgen....I have heard good things about the gummy implants...I see my PS on Wednesday and will ask him about it. I don't even know his plan for me...isn't that bad of me. I guess I just trust him but I don't want this hamburger bun look I've got going with the expanders either.

  • placid44
    placid44 Posts: 179
    edited March 2013

    Hi everyone,



    Does anyone know how long the recovery is from exchange surgery? The PA in my plastic surgeon's office said if I have exchange on a Wednesday, I could be back at work on Monday. I was out of the office for seven months during chemo/BMX. Just went back part time. I'm hoping for short recovery with the exchange. I still have a while before the exchange as I just started radiation. Thanks.

  • Chrisrenee77
    Chrisrenee77 Posts: 693
    edited March 2013

    Placid- I was out for 3 weeks that's only because my PS is very conservative on time off. I was up the day after exchange cleaning. Not recommended but I felt that good. Hope that helps some.

  • C-squared
    C-squared Posts: 338
    edited March 2013

    placid44~ I had my exchange surgery on Dec. 27th and was back to work after school resumed from winter break on January 7th (10 days).  My job can be physical but I just asked for help with lifting and reaching.  Remember the mantra.., just because you can, doesn't mean you should. 

    I think it depends upon several factors:   the physical demands of your job.., the extent of 'pocket work' that is done and your overall 'strength' going into the surgery.  

    Bottom line.., talk with your surgeon about it.  The PA may be knowledgable but may not be aware of the details  of your particular procedure (i.e., pocket work).  If it is a straight-forward procedure, it is  indeed possible you can be back to work after a short recovery. 

  • melmcbee
    melmcbee Posts: 371
    edited March 2013

    Hope I just wanted to tell you that I dont know my plan either. Im not sure how much is in my te's now or how big the implants will be. I only know that he said the implants wont look as big as the te's. I guess I trust him too.

  • Layla2525
    Layla2525 Posts: 465
    edited March 2013

    Sweetandspec, is it ok if I live vicariously through you? LOL, sounds like you had a great time. I am so happy for you.

    I can't believe lots of people on here have been married 30 yrs. Wow! I have been with fiance for about 10 yr and sometimes I think about calling it quits. He's the only guy though that I have been able to stand for more than a year. The ones I get are messy. I told him that to his face but I followed it up with some lame compliment. Is that ok? I told him he is the man! He came over to rescue me from the flood in the guest bathroom when I got home from work and the shutoff valve from the wall to the toilet was gushing water. It was about 11 pm when I called him. I tried to fix it myself but things kept getting worse.

    Heres a toast to tan lines...may the weather be warm and may we all get some sort of tan line this summer even a pale one...we need our vitamin D!

  • di2012
    di2012 Posts: 871
    edited March 2013

    Yes ladies I am 65 (soon 66) and on MEDICARE, however they do cover RECONSTRUCTION, of both breast, they just didn't pay for my prophylatatic MX (medicare calling it cosmetic) only my cancer MX.....Both were coded the same # 19303.

    My reconstruction did not start for a month after my BMX as my PS said I was he did not want to place expanders at the same time as my MX due to my risk for infection, that is why my MX was a piece of cake and I was doing 100 modified push up a day, a week after my BMX.   My expander surgery was HELL....felt like I was being stab under both arms if I moved them at all.   It took 3 weeks to feel okay.

    I did call medicare before my BMX to find out if they would pay, waited on the phone for 42 minutes and then the person that I that I talked to didn"t know what a prophylatic MX was, I told my surgeon's nurse and she tried and tried to get through on the physcian's line, she was unsucceful too.  My breast surgeon told me she never had a problem with medicare not paying for a BMX  and as far as the hospital over night stay it would be the same if one or both of my breast were removed.

    I talked to my regular Dr after my surgeon's appointment and she said she thought my decision for BMX was best.  I was told by my radiologist I would need MAMO's every 6 mo for at least 3 years. (before I spoke to my breast surgeon)

    I do have secondary insurance but I will still fight for my "cosmetic" MX & for other on Medicare that don't have secondary insurance.

    grinding teeth!!! Yell

    Di

  • shellshine
    shellshine Posts: 930
    edited March 2013

    Dear Di, don't grind your teeth over this but keep up the fight!

  • CindyLooWho
    CindyLooWho Posts: 260
    edited March 2013

    There is very specific criteria for prophylactic BMX. Age, risk factor, brac status etc. It is only ythe surgeon they are arguing about and his rate would be automatically reduced by half because he did another surgery at the same time.



    The hospital does not spliit the bill by procedure so Medicare should cover that in full.



    The breast cancer legislation refers to recon. Not prophy.



    I had issues with my carrier also, but my surgeon is considered elite, so did not need prior approval. As it turned out my prophy was not prophy after all, as they found a tiny spot there too. They said it was so small it wouldn't have shown up for YEARS.



    I have worked at a large insurance carrier for 17 years.

  • CindyLooWho
    CindyLooWho Posts: 260
    edited March 2013

    And check with your secondary carrier because many times they will not cover anything denied by Medicare. They only pay up to the Medicare allowable, so of Medicare didn't pay...no coverage.

  • brownlee
    brownlee Posts: 21
    edited March 2013

    Geez, my mom is on medicare and has secondary insurance.  She had bc at 41 in the left and then at 57 in right. Currently they think it may be back in the right side.  She promised me she get a bmx if positive.  Now I am worried they won't cover it her left breast - since she did  have bc in that 25 years ago, would it be covered by medicare?

  • cocok
    cocok Posts: 12
    edited March 2013

    Does anyone know about having to take an antibiotic prior to another, non-breast-related procedure, for example, a dental cleaning? I was told I need to take an antibiotic the day of the dental exam. The gums bleed and there is a risk that bacteria could travel through the blood stream and infect the TE. I don't know how great that risk is or if' it's worth it. If the antibiotic doens't prevent it from happening, and the TE is infected, I don't want to have to get it removed and start this process all over again, just to have clean teeth! I'd love to know if anyone has experience with issue. Thanks! 

  • di2012
    di2012 Posts: 871
    edited March 2013

    My mom has to take antibiotics before dental work but she has KNEE REPLACEMENTS. 

    Never heard or told that it is necessary for us "expander" people!

    I would be interested in knowing too as I am overdue for my dental cleaning.

    Di......another from WA

  • thirdgenerationmomof2
    thirdgenerationmomof2 Posts: 65
    edited March 2013

    I just had my dental cleaning 3 wks after BMX. I have TE and neither my dentist or my PS said anything about taking antibiotics. Guess I must be ok because that was over 2 wks ago and no infections. Would be curious if others were told they needed to though!



    Was told could not have exchange surgery if you have active infection in your mouth though. That's another reason I had my teeth checked out now to make sure all was good.



    Jen

  • Hopex3
    Hopex3 Posts: 142
    edited March 2013

    I'm suppose to have a cleaning on Tuesday. I'd better call tomorrow and ask! Didn't even think about it!

  • Dulcigirl
    Dulcigirl Posts: 864
    edited March 2013

    Unrelated, sort of, but my DH has mitral valve prolapse and always had to take antibiotics prior to dental cleanings/work.



  • sherry67
    sherry67 Posts: 370
    edited March 2013

    Cocok,



    I Had my teeth cleaned they said I didn't need an antibiotic..but I mad sure I called my Dr. First...

  • di2012
    di2012 Posts: 871
    edited March 2013

    CindyLooWho

    Can you be more specific about prophylactic mastectomy requirements......

    My paternal grandmother was born in east Germany/(borders have changed could have been Prussia/Chec.)  and my parents (when both alive, Mom is 94.5 years old and doesn't remember much now)  went beyond the WALL into communist (escorted) Germany to find my Dad's mother's birth records,  she was born with a twin brother and adopted in 1885 or '86 records showed the ONLY two babies born that day in that place were both marked: Jew.......her last name was Keller (I don't know if that was her adopted name or given name before she immigrated to the US and later became PG with my dad 1916 and then married my dad's father. I don't remember much about her, she was a nurse, but I think she she had breast cancer and she died of colon cancer. Around 50. My dad had prostate cancer and also early colon cancer. 

    Could those genes been pass on to me?

    I have had colon polyps removed  everytime I have had a colonoscopy.....is there a relationship with breast cancer.

    I had ovaries and uterus removed in my 40's.

    I have had my previous Mammo (2011) & ultrasound concentrated  (on my "cosmetic MX" right breast) suspious  findings, 2 clusters of microcyst  (1 year and 1 day before my 2012 mammo that dx the cancer in the left breast)

    I have copies of all my records.

    Any hints on how to appeal this.....my post "cosmetic MX" picture is proof IT WAS NOT COSMETIC......I was scared that  the rest of my remaining life would be test and surgeries, doctors and hospitals.

    ANYONE?????

  • CindyLooWho
    CindyLooWho Posts: 260
    edited March 2013

    The criteria are specific to each carrier. I researched with my carrier prior, but I was doing it anyway. There is no such thing as a cosmetic BX. That is ridiculous that those words would ever be used together. You need to fight this.

  • di2012
    di2012 Posts: 871
    edited March 2013

    Thank you CindyLooWho.....

    Getting info from Medicare is like doing my own BMX......

    Di

  • ccjj
    ccjj Posts: 26
    edited March 2013

    Di2012... I don't have Medicare, but there are definitely lots of Medicare women that have had bilateral mast. My guess is that you are running into coding issues. My insurance did deny my non cancer side mx initially, stating not medically necessary. I was slightly stressed about it when I received the explanation of benefits. My surgeons office changed whatever they needed to do and resubmitted and it went right through. That was without me even asking them to look into it. I just waiting a few weeks and a new EOB arrived showing it was paid. Sorry you have to deal with this. That's horrible after all you have endured. I am going in for a revision in a couple of weeks and kinda worried about it all being covered.

    CSquared.... I have that fat pad deal also on one side. I hate it. A bra makes it look even worse. It really bugs me when I wear something sleeveless. My ps said he would take care of at exchange, and its still there. When I pointed it out after that, he said he could lippo it. I went to another ps for a second opinion because I also had a bottoming out issue, and he said that "fat pad" in my case is caused by how the pocket work was done and can be corrected. So, will see. He is also going to fix my bottoming out issue. Hope it all works. Sometimes I think these plastic surgeons just say whatever

  • RunnerMom
    RunnerMom Posts: 17
    edited April 2013

    I had a cleaning and a cavity filled and my PS wanted me on a couple days of antibiotics first.  This was a couple of months ago when I still had my TEs.  I don't know if it's the same for implants or not, but I'll be sure to ask before I make another appointment.  

    Best to check with your doctor and see what he/she recommends. Smile

  • winterapril
    winterapril Posts: 2
    edited April 2013

    I'm tring to decide between the partial submuscular or total submuscular (pectoralis and serratus anterio).  Can anyone shed some light on how much muscle damage/restriction for the total sub?  Also, for the exchange surgery, are the muscles dissected in similar approach between these two procedures?  Thanks!!! 

  • mamatwinz
    mamatwinz Posts: 193
    edited April 2013

    hey my april exchange peeps (per above, there are 8 of us!!) ... our month is finally here!!!  :)))

  • cheryl_e
    cheryl_e Posts: 111
    edited April 2013

    Cathyann and Tonyan, hugs and prayers for both of you as you have your exchanges this week. You will feel so much better! I have slept better since I had mine than I have in months!



    We kept our grandsons this Saturday, and our oldest took a tumble down the stairs, so of course, I wasn't thinking and immediately scooped up and held him. He weighs 37 pounds, and even though I had just had my exchange a week and three days earlier, I was fine. Now, we are NOT supposed to do that, and I don't plan on lifting them regularly for another three weeks, but just want to encourage those who haven't had exchange yet. It is so much easier than BMX, and I would be running again right now if I were allowed to.



    Cheryl :)

  • peanutsgal
    peanutsgal Posts: 64
    edited April 2013

    Yay! April is here. It's sooooo nice to turn the calendar page and see that my surgery is on the same page. My date is the 15th and I can't wait! Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be excited for surgery! Well, maybe I'm not really excited about surgery, but about the results it will bring. I really hope a good nights rest is one of them. It seemed like it would never get here and now it is actually about to happen. Looks like you two are first up this month, Cathyann and Tonyan! Best of luck to you this week. Prayers for a quick and easy recovery for you both.

  • di2012
    di2012 Posts: 871
    edited April 2013

    Peanutsgal,

    I am also looking forward to April 15.....whoo hooo....in two weeks I will be home, by now and  and DONE with these expanders I will be my PS's first case of the day, at 7AM PST, in his office surgical suite.   so excited!....

    Then only one or two more surgeries after that (in 3 months excess skin removal after the drop & fluff and maybe my last surgery my nips "installed".....)  There are a lot of permanent make-up artist around here that do areolas, so I am not sure about a Vinnie trip, if I get alloderm nips from my PS.

    Cheryl-OOOOOUCH girl!   picking up your GS!  (My GS weighed 37lbs forever....he is finally 43lbs in first grade.   Tall & skinny)

    Do you feel that your pecs were stretched after the exchange?

    Will be thinking good thought and outcomes for Cathyann and Tonyan.....wishing you ladies  well Tues and Wed.

    Di

  • cheryl_e
    cheryl_e Posts: 111
    edited April 2013

    Peanutsgal and Di2012, I can feel your excitement! Spring means new growth, new life, new boobies!!



    Di, honestly, after the first couple of days, I would compare the feeling of exchange to a big fill that takes a few days to loosen up afterward. That's what it felt like to me anyway, which didn't feel like the pecs were that much more stretched. Hope that helps. :)

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