Exchange City

Badgergirl

Audrey B -

I am having the same issue with my PS...he suggested mentor moderate plus for me, but Deborah (Whippetmom) suggested round, high profiles for me, so I am stressing right there with you. You are so brave and have been fighting so hard - I know it's hard when you finally get to this point - you want this one thing to be "right". Have you brought in pictures to your PS to show him/her what you envision for your boobs? That might help him/her understand what "look" you are hoping to achieve...our exchange dates will most likely be around the same time, so I will be sure to keep in touch!

I will be thinking about you and hoping you find some peace in the next few weeks!

AudreyB

thank you Badgergirl. We are all in this fight together. I told him I want to look like I had a boob job. I think he gets it as he filled me to 750. But when he said 650 i did some research and think they will be too small. I am gathering pics and will bring them to my preop July 15 or sooner if he wants to do another fill. he did tell me I could also get cleavage with a good bra. I had very uneven breasts prior and am really loving the symmetry. My clothes are staying in place for the first time in my life.

mjh1

audrey - I also agree with whippetmom.  I had Mentor 450 cc TE's put in at MX.  They were overfilled to 490.  At exchange my PS put in Mentor round moderate plus profule 425 cc implants.   The implants wound up being too small for the pockets and had severe rippling.  I guess my PS didn't take into account that in my 40's my skin is not as elastic as it was when I was in my 20's and 30's.  Hence, I had a revision 3 months later and now will be going in for my 2nd revision to still correct pocket.  I hope this is not your PS thinking also.  Do not be afraid to ask him what he thinks of 700 cc high profile instead.

AudreyB

thanks mjh1. I'm sorry you had such issues. I'm hoping for just one more surgery just not so sure if I'll be that lucky.

Iwannacookie

Mjh1--your story is exactly the same as mine.; same TE, same fill, same implant/size, and same terrible rippling for the same reasons as you. I'm only a couple of months out from surgery and was told to wait another 4 months to see what happens. Well, what's happening is that the rippling is just getting worse.

I'm interested to hear about your revision--what was used, and how it looked?

I'm miserable waiting this out.

mjh1

Iwanna - I'll PM you.

kingster

Audrey, my te's were filled to 700 ml, and my implants were 700 ml mentor memory gels, high profile smooth round. I have very mild ripples on the right inner side, only if I stand a certain way. From what I have read from the other ladies, if the implant is too small for the space, then rippling is more likely. I am 5'3" and 180 lbs. My ps chose this size based on my chest measurements. I now wear a 38 C bra. I hope this helps.

robinblessed54

Audrey, I had my TEs filled to 420 and Allergan 410 annitomicals filled to 475. Gummies need to be bigger than the pocket that was formed from TEs so they adhere to the muscle and skin and less chance of them flipping. I am 3 1/2 months past exchange. They are gorgeous and I love them. No rippling and cannot feel the edges of implant. They are probably 36C. I was a 36 B before. Very easy surgery and recovery.

ThinkingPositive

Just curious... how do you know when the implants have flipped.  I am still having a problem with my reconstruction side.... mentor 150 cc was put in - PS did a slight reduction to that breast and put in implant to lift.  I still say its on the side of my boob.  When I saw him two weeks ago..he said it still can be swollen from the surgery... but I feel a hardness on the side of my boob and it extends out to the side making the boob seem wider going into the side under arm..  I go back again end of this week.  My left MX side that has implant feels like an implant...the whole boob.  My right reconstruction boob feels squishy like breast tissue in front...but on the side feels like my implant on my MX side... Is it possible that he may have put the implant on the side ??  I know I need to ask the PS these questions but hoping to find someone out there that this may have happened to or that this is normal?

 

Leslienva

Has anyone had successful implants after an infection on the radiated side? My stitch popped back in February so I had to have the expander replaced and now I'm being filled very slowly every three weeks so that it won't open again. My PS is afraid I wiil need to reduce the right side to match the radiated side, which means I will end up smaller than I wanted. I was only trying for a C cup. May end up barely a B.

patriciahurtado

Well im having my surgery on june 30th. will I have drains? and i asked for gummies. im not sure how much i have on my TE cause i did small fills 30 or 40 every visit but it took me a year to spand. ill find out on Monday how much i have. Any advice for my surgery?

thank you my ladies

Janett2014

I did not have drains with the exchange surgery, but like everything else that varies among doctors.

patriciahurtado

thank you!! i hope i dont have any drains and no pain!!!

mjh1

patricia - yay, you're finally coming to the squishy side.  For the majority of us, drains are not used in the exchange.  Hope all goes well and you'll love the new "girls".   Warm hugs!!

robinblessed54

I had gummies and did not have drains. My PS told me he wouldn't use drains unless when he got in there he found too much fluid. My pain was minimal, Tylenol with codeine the first day, then switched to OTC Tylenol. I did have some pocket work on bottom to even me out, but just felt more tenderness than pain. Take care, squish is better than TEs anyday! Robin

middleagedmama

Hi ladies,

    I am scheduled to have my exchange on the 8th of July.  Well my blood test came back with a low white blood cell count so now my ps said that we might have to cancel my surgery.  My white blood cell count is always a little lower than most but he is concerned about infection so I will have a new blood test done on next Monday and will know by Tuesday if I  am a go for surgery.  Has anyone else experienced this? I was so looking forward to being done and now I may have to wait a little while longer. I am trying not to freak out about the blood.  I have had this happen the past couple of years during my physical but I am rarely sick and feel fine.  Does anyone know a way to help increase my white count? 

Tish

trailrose

Hi Ladies,

I went for my 2nd opinion yesterday and loved the PS as he listened to my concerns with the rippling. He said he works for the patient not the other way around. I go back in September to look at the newly approved Inspira implants then will schedule the revision surgery for the fall. He's looking to put high profile ( I have moderate plus) bigger implants in to hopefully take care of the rippling. He said he may have to use alloderm too. We'll be driving 6 hours to do this but it's so worth it! At least we get to eat good seafood since it's by the beach.

MinusTwo

middleage - you don't say if you've had chemo or not. Many of us have Neulasta shots 24 hours after every chemo treatment to help keep the WBC up. My MO said iron wouldn't really do any good and if the Neulasta didn't work, I would be having a transfusion. Hope you find an easier answer.

SpecialK

middle - a transfusion would not be helpful in raising your WBC - when blood is donated the components of blood are separated and what you get in a transfusion is just the red cells.  Platelets are also separated out and can be transfused. There is not much in the way of food that you can eat to raise your white count effectively - but here is some info from another BCO member:

http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2013/12/30/5-ways-to-increase-white-blood-cell-count-naturally

When you look at the lab values for WBC remember that the range is for an adult male.  As women we will fall on the lower end of the range naturally - this does not mean we are deficient.  If you fall below but don't have frequent and chronic illness you are most likely fine.  I am also this way and I occasionally dip below the low end of the range.  I just addressed this with my MO and he was not at all alarmed, and reiterated why there is a range.  In many cases, particularly for surgery right after chemo, docs will use a prophylactic antibiotic.  They even do this during chemo if your WBC is not increased by Neulasta/Neupogen.  You might discuss this with your PS as a method to keep your surgery on track.

 

patriciahurtado

i ate loots of veggies and juiced a lot so I don't know if that work. I hope you can bring those counts up ASAP good luck

Lady's surgery is over!!! My hubby said the gummies description say 620cc I was wondering is that a lot? I see them small? He did fat graphing from my stomach and thighs I'm don't have fat from my thighs where did get it from. But I'm happy I want see them but I can't. My ladies what should I expect? They don't look big like the expanders. What is 620cc in our world?

Janett2014

Patricia, my implants are Allergan silicone 410s, style FF, filled to 650 cc. I wear a Genie bra, and without the inserts I feel that I look like a slightly flattened C cup. With the inserts, I think they look like a "normal" (whatever that is!) C/D cup. I am pleased with the results.

robinblessed54

i have Allergan 410 475cc FF. they look like they might he a small C . I was a B cup. I love my results! Just remember they are not augmented breasts. You have to have realistic expectations. Hope you like them. And remember also that uou are swollen. It takes at least 3 months for them to settle. Keep us i

RAK1

Hi Ladies,

I had my postop yesterday for the implants.

Now I have rippling on both sides, not happy about that!

After the surgery they were swollen and they looked perfect. 

Of course the swelling has gone down. I may need fg in the fall.

Hugs, Robin

patriciahurtado

well had my surgery yesterday. been on Tylenol 3 with codeine. im bruised from the ft just waiting on what next.the are pretty high but im just waiting to the swallowen to go down keep to guys posted

Elizabethaw

RAK1, if you haven't already, take a look at the "fat grafting--pros and cons" thread. There are so many of us (me included) who have rippling and have tried or will try fat grafting.

RAK1

Thank you Elizabeth,

I have spoken with my PS about FG, I will have to wait a few months for that.

I know that it has a 50% absorption rate.

This is such a long and drawn out recovery, and mine is much "easier" (no other treatments needed) than what most of the ladies on here have to deal with.

It is just one thing after another, and other people just don't understand!

I am trying to adjust mentally, emotionally and physically to my ever changing body, but it takes time.

Sometimes it's depressing and lonely dealing with this.

Hugs, Robin

PhillyEmma

Hi Ladies.

Had my exchange yesterday. Ended up with 375 smooth round. Haven't taken a shower yet so not sure what they look like but the cleavage looks good in the surgical bra.

I had more pain than my bilateral mastectomy which surprised me. But for that I had a pain port and lots of narcotic while in the hospital those 3 days. For this outpatient she had given me 1000mg of Tylenol in my IV as she was worried about be getting ill when I woke up. Also, my PS had to do some pocket work on the sides (tightening up) because I wanted to stay small C cup and my TE's had been 400's although only filled to 320.

So I kept on the 2 Percocets every 4 hours from 4pm until 3am and this morning I took 1 and then another 4 hours later. Pain is tolerable so hopefully tomorrow I won't need anything but maybe an Aleve. The antibiotic is making me feel a but nauseous but that's normal for me.

Other than that I'm just hoping they'll look good when I see them and not one higher than the other, etc. I know they say it takes time for them to settle and adjust but I just don't want to be disappointed. Like Robin wrote, sometimes it's lonely going through this even though not alone. It's such a personal journey.

Hang in there, Robin. xoxo

RAK1

PhillyEmma, Glad you are as mj would say....on the squishy side!

I hope your recovery is uneventful and that you feel great.

Please rest and remember not to do too much!

Gentle {{Hugs}}} Robin 

trailrose

RAK1- I totally understand what you are feeling. I, too, have had an "easier" time than other ladies but this is still very hard to go through. My hope was that the exchange surgery was the last surgery I had to deal with but now with the rippling I have I'm looking at a revision surgery in Fall for slightly bigger, high profile implants. The downtime/recovery is hard for me. I did request to wait a few months so I could enjoy my trail running for a few months. Hang in there and try to keep yourself busy with the things or people you enjoy. It helps me tremendously to know I'm not alone. And yes until one actually goes through this they just don't understand.

PatriciaHurtado and PhillyEmma- Welcome to the squishy side!

JoniMaloney

Hi everyone- this is my first time discovering this site and I'm so excited I found such useful information so far. I'm hoping someone can help me-- I had a PBM last year and am scheduled for my exchange surgery in a few weeks. I have tissue expanders in now and was very happy with the way they looked when they were filled to 230cc. My PS then put in an overfill to 260 cc which is where I am now. She said this was normal procedure. Since the overfill though I have felt huge and uncomfortable! The other day I had my preop appointment and my PS said i would probably end up with around 270 cc implants. I was kind of shocked and worried about them being so big! She tried to explain to me that the implants will be softer and more formed and centered in my chest so they will feel smaller but it's not making much sense to me. I am having a hard time believing that a larger 270 cc implant will look about the same size as the TE filled to 230. (Planning on anatomical silicone implant). I was under the impression that they put in the same size as you are comfortable with your expanders filled to. Please help with any input! I am really afraid of feeling too big and of course wanting to have the least amount of surgery necessary. Thank you!!