Exchange City

hjpz

Met with my PS today and am all set for my exchange on 04/28.  I have decided I am going kick to this surgeries butt!  Positive thoughts provide positive outcomes

Moonflwr912

Yay Shirfi. Welcome to the squishie side! Rest up. 

Hope I'm glad you have a date. 

Did we'll be in your pocket tomorrow..

Much love to all. 

LoriWNY

Happy to hear from you Shorfi.  Take it easy and please know that we are all here for you!

AZ85048

WOO HOO, shorfi!  Happy Squishie Day!  So glad to hear from you!  (You sound pretty coherent considering the dilaudid, but I'm sure you're worn out.)   You've had a tough day, and with a little rest, you'll feel better tomorrow....  One more step to check off the list!

babs6287

Great to hear everything went well for you Shorfi!

mnmbeck

Yay, Shorfi!  I thought the 2nd day after surgery was the toughest, but it has been ever so slightly better every, single day since! (2 weeks today).  HUGE sigh of relief that this step in the process is behind you! 

Hipz.....wonderful to have a date!  It won't be long, now! 

I posted updated pictures to the picture forum tonight!

grammakathy

Dtkd - if you aren't having gummies, will you have silicone rounds?  My PS is wonderful with a great reputation and willing to insert the ones I asked for.  The only down side is that she is so busy that I need to wait for appointments.  I'm learning patience and making sure that I write all my questions down before my appointments.  

uds17

Hi ladies.

I'm new to this board- had Mentor 455cc smooth ultra high profile implants placed 6 days ago. 

Have any of you had these implants? My concern is that they look bigger than what I had wanted. I know there's still some swelling and that they'll drop a bit, but does the size change with time, too?

Thanks!

Anonymous

Hi Shorfi, didn't see your post from earlier today (cat may have walked across iPad to remove from favs). Rest, take it easy, take pain meds and stay away from the mirror! 

Sandra, wishing you all the best!

AZ85048

uds17 - Hi, and Welcome to Exchange City!  I have Mentor high profile smooth rounds - 450ccs each, and they're just right for me.  Yes, to all of your questions.  The swelling goes down, the pectoral muscle relaxes and the implants move into place, and they'll fluff gradually. It won't happen today or tomorrow, so give it some time.  I'm almost four months out from exchange and mine are still changing...  Hang in there, (it's quite the process to behold) and keep us posted on how you're doing. 

Dtkd

Kathy,

I'm having high profile allergan rounds...600 cc. I showed my Ps a photo of me in a bikini...many years ago, before childbirth made my long lost boobs big and saggy. I know they will never be pretty again naked, but I should be able to totally rock in a tank top...even at 54!  

Can't wait to be soft again!

Hugs to you all!

Diane

shorfi

My husband just unwrapped me and I am so disappointed. There is still those dog ears on my right side and the PS said he did liposuction.  I'm so sore, but I just thought I would have a better look. So disappointed I can't even talk.  Sorry ladies.

But once again thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers. It has meant so much to me.

Anonymous

shorfi,

Now, please....try not to be disappointed right now. If you need proof start with day one of this thread and read, read, read. You will discover that the vast majority of us are disappointed, sad, emotional, crying messes for about two weeks after exchange. REALLY!!!! This is why people say STEP AWAY FROM THE MIRROR!!! Most say they are too flat, too small, too _______. 

BUT THEY WILL CHANGE! And they keep changing for weeks/months!! You are swollen right now and your muscles are tight. All that impacts on your implants. Things will relax in the weeks ahead. They really will!!!

Sending you a giant hug. What you are feeling emotionally right now is EXTREMELY common. 

Get some rest, rest, rest. And give yourself time to heal and try to believe me that what you just saw is NOT "what you get."

(((((((((((Shorfi)))))))))))

Previvor101

I'm sorry that you are disappointed Shorfi. But one thing I have learnt is: 

okay. Maybe not the kiss myself business. 

It seems that most are disappointed early after exchange. You are going to have a lot of bruising and swelling. You probably haven't fluffed yet (not that sort of fluff). Give it time. Rest, keep positive and get husband to look after you.

We are all here to give you positive thoughts

sandra4611

I had lipo on one dog ear three weeks ago today. It still sticks out, just not as much. PS says it's still a bit swollen and that as the scar heals, it will contract and pull the pucker flatter. There is still the remnants of bruising above and below it, so I'm sure he is right.

Shorfi, did you ever see a picture of someone who had just had a face lift? Did they look the same a few weeks later? NO, of course not. Here's a little tough love...stop it!! You are perfectly normal. You will never look like you belong in Playboy, but you WILL look better than you do today.

Jackiegray

can someone please give me advice how to find a new plastic surgeon? I will need a revision and will not go back to my original plastic surgeon. Although he was highly recommended by other doctors he is not the doctor for me. It's unfortunate that I didn't figure this out before my exchange but I have to move forward and find someone new. 

momwriter

Hi there-

I'm fairly new to these boards. I am trying to figure out when to do my exchange. I had UMX 10/2012 and finished rads 6/2013. I finished Herceptin 1/2014. I am finally feeling better, doing a lot of yoga, and feeling I'm getting a better range of motion etc.  I don't feel like having surgery again but I have to get the implant. I'm deciding between doing it in May 2014 to get it over with, but can't swim for at least a month, and will have to take a yoga break, or Sept 2014 after swim season is over, kids are back in school, and I'm that much further along in yoga practice.  Those who have exchange, especially those whose skin had received radiation, how bad was the recovery? How long before you got to do yoga and swim etc. I just find it easy to put off. 

Thanks you so much. 

HappySpring13

I am now on the squishy side!!  My exchange was on 4/9 same as Shorfi.  It was nice to know I had an exchange sister with me that day.  My PS gave me Allergan 410 FF 595cc.  Tylenol seemed to do the trick for slight pain.  Today I took my first shower and a short walk around the block.  Feeling good and feeling happy.  Bye Bye TE's and hello some softness.  I haven't really examined myself as I know I have to step away from the mirror.  Giving it time.  Will post pictures on the picture forum in a few days.

  

AZ85048

Jackiegray - Go over here to whippetmom's thread 'BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101',and either post your question there - or probably better to send her a PM (private message).  I know for a fact that she keeps a list of good PSs across the country and will be glad to suggest someone for you.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/746448?page=352#idx_10537 

Jackiegray

thanks a billion az85048

sandra4611

Momwriter,

My plastic surgeon says the rate of failure of implants in patients with radiated skin is 50%. Find a doctor who can show you proof his patients with radiation damaged skin have done well with implants, the success rates of the different implants he uses, and be sure to ask about complication rates. Give yourself PLENTY of recovery time. You have to baby that skin.

uds17

AZ85048- thx so much for your message! Intellectually, I know I need to give it time. It's just really hard to not look in the full length mirrors all around the bathroom!

PS- I'm in AZ, too

HappySpring13

Hi ladies, just a quick question, I am 2 days post op from exchange and I noticed swelling on my left breast more than the right and it is a little painful.  PS said I can take advil now, but I am not sure about this.  A lot of pro's and con's on the internet.  I don't have a temperature and the incisions look fine.  I know the advil will help with the swelling.  Do you think it will be okay to take? 

uds17

I'm 7 days post exchange and took ibuprofen a couple of times from day 2 (my back muscles were so sore). 

If PS says it's fine then I think you should take it.

Hope you have a speedy recovery!

HappySpring13

Thank you uds17...I know what you mean about the back pain.  Arghhhh....

Wishing you a speedy recovery too!  

zennurse

Today my doctor took the dressings off and.....yikes! I'm a nurse and looking at these incisions made me queasy. I'm just going to try not to look for a bit and have faith that these raised incisions will hopefully flatten and lighten up. I guess I just was not prepared for what I saw

Dtkd

Hi Ladies: I'm at home and doing fine.  I left the house this a.m. about 7 and was home by 1 p.m. (hospital is 20-25minutes away) 

Of course I have bandages and haven't seen anything yet, but know that I have incisions on the axial (underarm) sides and on the inside (bottom cleavage).  I had some extra skin that was folding on the inside that my PS removed in order to smooth things out.  I VERY gently pushed on my foobs, and even through the dressings and surgery bra, they feel deliciously soft! 

It took me a while to get through all the posts, but will not be peaking until I go see my PS next Friday, and because I have a revision ahead of me, will try not to be too worried about what I see.  It helps to look back at my photos after the BMX, when things looked awful.  It helps keep things in perspective, since the scars healed then, I'm sure they will again.

I was in a little bit of pain when I woke up and they gave me a Percocet before I left the surgery center, but that was 6 hours ago, and so far, I'm just slightly sore.  This morning I took some stool softeners and took some magnesium tablets after dinner at the nurse's suggestion.  If I have pain tonight, I may take another Perc, but am otherwise going to see about getting by on Tylenol, since I have so much trouble with narcotics (nausea & constipation).

(((Hugs))) to all of you!  I"m so happy to have joined the squishy side.

Diane.

AZ85048

WOO HOO and YAY, Dtkd!  So happy you've made it over to the 'softer side' of life! 

Andrea623

momwriter, I had rads, ending in December 2012. Had my first exchange July 2013, then had my rads side exchanged to a smaller implant January 2014. I have healed all right, but the skin over the implant is very thin, and I can easily feel the implant. My first implant looked too big, felt tight, and had some capsular contracture. The smaller size feels better, but I worry about the thin skin. The biggest problems I've had are shoulder and arm pain. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you'll do well when your time for exchange comes!

scrappygirl

Hi, I have been 'using' this site since May of last year when I was diagnosed. Since then, I have had a right MX and expander in place (Oct.). I am scheduled for my exchange and a reduction/lift on the left side, as well as removal of my arm port in 4 days. Yay!!!! My MX was pretty rough, and ended up staying 4 nights in the hospital instead of the 1 they expected, so I am more than a little nervous about this surgery, even though it's outpatient.

My question is.....how long did you need 'help' for someone after the surgery? I could have someone with me for at least 4 days, but if I can manage, I rather not have help if not needed. Also, I was told that I can not take a bath/shower for 1 week (after my bandages are removed), but am wondering if I would be able to go to church for Easter Sunday (4 days after)?

Thanks so much!