Exchange City
Comments
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Chinney, my first set of implants had one side drop and fluff after 6 wks. It went into cap contracture about a mth later. The other side never dropped much. They have been replaced after a yr of trying to straighten the problems. Just got these new ones on July 1st and the lefty is still sitting high again! Hope will drop to match other one. The projection is so much better and they are round. Hated the little square ones I had and the capsular contracture was painful. We worried that it would squeeze the implant until it popped eventually.
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WOW Layla, I know you went through something. I sure hope mine will drop. I can almost lay my chin on my foobs. I am going to stress heavily to my PS that I'm expecting to have normal looking foobs. Thanks for your post. I'll sure be very observant of this.
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lala1: Your theory sounds pretty logical to me. I had another thought about why some ladies might not see the drop and fluff as soon or maybe not at all compared to some others......the amount of skin elasticity that remains at time of exchange. Most of you know my story by now but the short and sweet is that I had BMX on 11-5-12 with 600cc TEs placed. Final fill was 4-11-13 to a total of 750cc each side.
I am still able to pinch a good one-half to one inch of skin on each breast, so I'm theorizing that I still have enough elasticity to allow the implant to settle in with enough 'drop and fluff' to achieve some level of ptosis (droop).
BayouBabe: I've been massaging my TE breasts with Bio Oil once or twice a day since sometime in January. Original intention was to keep the skin moisturized and as soft and supple as possible to aid with the expansion process. I do think it's helped, because even with being over-expanded by 150cc my skin is still very soft and as stated above I can still pinch a good sized amount of skin. I did not need radiation, though, so that's another thing to keep in mind with all the theories being put forth.
Chinneymae: I actually told my PS when we decided to overfill that I fully expect to be his finest masterpiece and I want him to be able to look at me a year from now and say 'Yup, you're still my best one yet!'.
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sweet: I am going to tell him that!! He should feel that way about all his patients. I'm definitely going to let him know I expect the best from him. After all we've gone through, we should at least have voluptuous foobs to help us feel normal.
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2nd_time_around - Wishing you all the best with your revision surgery tomorrow.
May you have a speedy and uneventful recovery and the results you desired. Please let us know how you are doing, when you feel up to doing so.
Wishing you comfort and peace...
Sharon0 -
Thanks Sharon, for the kind words! Surgery scheduled for noon if she's on time (she was over an hour late last time).
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2nd_time: good luck today! Wishing you great success and pain-free satisfaction with the results
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Hope all goes well for you Sharon. You will be in my prayers.
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Good luck 2nd_time! I'll be thinking of you today!
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Beware of the pain pills and constipation. My fiance went to drugstore and got me Citrome. Beware of that. Take in small doses and stay at the toilet. He told me to drink the whole bottle but it was nasty so I only drank half. OMG. nuff said on that subject. Its cherry flavored magnesium citrate.
How to make the high one drop? Yep still have one high one and one low one on these implants.
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Thanks, Lisa and Andrea! Surgery is over! Pain isn't nearly as bad as either previous surgery, but some pain. Difficulty waking up, last people in recovery center (only my nurse and a helper remained with DH and me). Slept when I got home , now wide awake.
Layla , am surprised your surgeon did not forewarn you about this. They know this is a definite SE from anesthesia, not that it makes it much easier. Hoping you feel better soon.0 -
2nd_time, how are you feeling today?
My surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, and I woke up with a sore throat today. I'm worried that I'm getting sick. I don't want to postpone this!0 -
Layla I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with high implant
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Hi ladies..I had my exchange surgery yesterday. I originally had it scheduled for sept 9th, but after my last fill I noticed my left expander was leaking. So my PS moved my exchange up to yesterday. I was filled to 605cc and agreed on the gummie bear 410 implant. But bc of my leak he's was only able to give me a 535cc implant. For some reason they look very small and flat with no clevage! Will they stay those way? Do they fluff up? I'm disappointed with what I'm seeing so far!
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Keke This is one reason I DIDNT get the gummie implant. The Secretary at my PS office told me that most of the gals that got them were disappointed as they thought they would be larger. With my smaller frame measurements I was limited to the projection I could go with and it was pretty small so I said do silicone. Well I had my exchange last week and I was hoping for a large C cup and I am a small B cup at best. VERY disappointed. I went to see my PS yesterday and he said "wow you are right they do look much smaller then I thought they were going to be" To top it off one is round and the other is pancake looking. They do not match. He said maybe we should take them out and go in with the form stable implant ( gummie) I told him I didn't want those because I was afraid of looking too small. He said to get one large enough with enough projection, I would have to have a lot of side boob. This is to get the projection I want with my small measurement. I don't know why my measurement on my chest is so small. Its not like I am a tiny person. I asked if they would change after swelling goes down and time. He said a little, but you wont get more projection. What a bummer to go through all this TE fills and to end up smaller then I was pre cancer. I think I am going to call another PS and get a second opinion. Good luck to you./ I hope for you yours changes:-(
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Ughhh! This is so frustrating! They're like pancakes! I see my PS Wednesday, sooo I'm going to have a lot of questions, and maybe a little attitude! Haha!
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Thanks Andrea! Doing so much better this surgery (just a revision). Not so much pain but lots of soreness (she removed flaps under both arm pits and some moving around of the implant on the recent mx side which was already in more pain than the other side due to the slip and fall).
Gargle, maybe iced cold liquids for the throat? I woke from surgery with a sore throat probably from tube placement during surgery. Hoping your surgery continues as scheduled.0 -
My pre op office visit went okay on June 21st doctor was caught in traffic had a waiting room for of patients and his patience was SHORT (never saw him this way before, and NEVER had to wait long before, never more than 5 minutes)....told I was not having fat transfer this time....but a masteoplasty, to remove the excess skin and try to balance the foobs...the Z dent foob and shar pei foob will remain until nipples (didn't tell him i may be DONE w/o nips)....PS was not pleased that the actual implants were NOT covered by Medicare from earlier surgery in April....it has to be a MISTAKE.....talked to billing and she will rebill....very DEPRESSED
....very very depressed...deleted all my post on this forumThen on Monday July 1, I get a call from My PS's OR nurse, that I again need labs and EKG....great a holiday week! Tues I go in and get it done abnormal EKG/unknown on labs...Friday noon , I get the news that I have an abnormal EKG possible heart attack at some time....I have had this abnormal EKG since 2002 which I documented for them that my abnormal is normal for me (my BMX was posponed once because of this....and I am anemic...and I need my primary DR to give a release....she isn't in on Friday ever....they CANCEL my surgery for Monday morning
......and I have a appoinment with my primary DR and she will not give a release without seeing me (and getting her part of the pot---> ($$$) test test and more test......I have cried and cried....this is getting worse and worse....---revision surgery cancelled
--rejected appeal for my prophylactic MX...have to file 2nd appeal
---I have to appeal my hospital billl -$0- paid ( found this out tonight)
---may have to appeal for prothesis denied coverage
---now heart attack and anemia
way too much for this old fart...depressed...crying and hiding my head under the covers....will probably delete this post too
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Oh Di, I'd be hiding under the covers too! I hope everything gets straightened out and you're back on track soon. (((Hugs)))
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Di,
So sorry..hopefully something will give0 -
I'm so sorry Di. That all sucks! Please don't delete your posts. Your story is important and may help sisters who are here now or are coming behind us.
It seems like things always happen on Fridays! If they would just happen on Mondays, we'd have time to get things done. My insurance company dropped me on a Friday and I spent a frantic weekend trying to figure out how and where I'd get coverage. SO frustrating!
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Hi ladies been awhile since I posted and just wanted to check in.
2nd_time: congrats on your revision and glad to hear things went smoothly! Hoping you are pleased with the results.
Di: so sorry to hear all of this bad news. My heart aches for you. Big, big hugs being sent your way!!! Hoping everything gets straightened out quickly.
Tangles: sorry to hear you are not happy with your implants. What kind did u wind up getting? Glad to hear your PS agrees with you though and is willing to make things right!
It's been almost 7 weeks since my exchange and my new foobs have dropped and fluffed. I was actually happier with them right after surgery. Now that they have settled into the pockets I can see a visible difference in size. Righty is clearly bigger and sits lower than lefty (had to use two differrent sized implants to try to correct chest wall asymmetry issues prior to BMX). I was REALLY hoping the symmetry issue would be corrected post exchange. They look great in a bra or clothes, but naked not so good.
Sigh....really debating if I should just live with the results or consider a revision. I don't see my PS again until December so I have time to decide. SO did not want a third surgery this year!
Hugs to all our sisters coming up on exchange this week!
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Di, sorry to hear that you are not feeling that good. Medicare should cover this, are they exempt from insurance laws?
Side effect from surgery can include depression. Lots of walks in the sun should help,if not ask your dr about chocolate.
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Di: I am so sorry you are having to go through all this. Please contact your social worker at your hospital and see if they may be able to get some help for you. In this country we live in we should be able to get what ever care we need. From what I have been reading the law requires for insurance to pay for MX and for reconstruction. I hope you get all this straight soon. Please hang in there, it will get better.
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Di: I echo all the sympathetic thoughts being sent your way. And MNSusan is right.....you're story is important, please don't delete all your posts! They say it's always darkest just before the dawn so please, please hang in there. If you need a little anti-anxiety medication don't be afraid to ask for it to help you get over this new hump. Works wonders! I got a prescription last October and used it for only a week, then one pill several weeks ago on a meltdown weekend. Doesn't mean you're weak, it means you've got more on your plate than you can handle without pharmaceutical assistance right now. You'll get through this girlfriend. Love you girlfriend
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I had my exchange surgery 7/5/13 and so far I am extremely happy. I had Mentor 650cc TE's filled to 460cc and ended up with Mentor Memory Gel Silicone Smooth Round Moderate Plus Profile 500cc. I told the PS that I liked the size the TE's gave me but a little smaller and less wide would be great. He removed some excess skin on the sides because I felt the TE's were too wide since I was overflowing into my armpits and sides. I feel the PS really listened to me because I am the size I was envisioning. This surgery was SOOOO much easier than the bilateral mastectomy, especially since I now know which drugs work for me to prevent post-operative nausea/vomiting and which drugs help with pain but don't make me loopy! After the mastectomy and left axillary lymph node dissection in February, I wasn't even able to put my hands together to wash them! This surgery had none of that and I felt so great on the way home from the hospital after the outpatient surgery that I was able to text my friends!
I am so relieved that this part of this journey is behind me as I am sure so many of you understand.
Wishing you all the same good outcome I have had so far.
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Di2012 - I am so sorry you are having to deal with so much red tape and could not have your surgery as scheduled. And my goodness, who of us wouldn't be depressed and crying with the turn of events...we have all gone through so much and long for any sense of a return to normalcy, and having surgeries take place as planned is a part of that process. Your words have helped me personally and countless others here, I am sure. I am glad you came back and hope that you decide to stay...and please don't delete your posts.
Whatever you decide to do will be okay, but you will greatly missed if you leave and surely welcomed back by so many of us when you are ready to come back again. Please take care of yourself...
Sending you hugs and comforting thoughts!!!
Sharon0 -
LoriWNY - that is AWESOME NEWS and I am so happy for you...wishing you continued success with your recovery!
Sharon0 -
OUCH!! Ladies Who had augmentation/lift on native breast along with TE exchange for UMX- My surgery was June 25th and I am having sooooo much nipple pain/sensitivity on lift side. I realize it is hyper sensitive, I am having a hard time touching it to desensitize it. Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.
To all the other ladies with recent exchange surgery, hang in there! I hear it gets better!0 -
Lori, congrats on your exchange! Sounds like you're doing great!
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