Exchange City

AudreyB

Hi Halee! I wish my surgery was scheduled sooner, but its been 8/19 for a while now. My PS is going on vacation so I scheduled sx for after. I just want these TEs out!!!!!!!! I'm filled to 750 and getting 655 high profile rounds "installed". LOL.

ThinkingPositive

Geez... I have no cleavage but its not due to a uniboob...it seems that there is a lot of space in between mine... don't remember is it was like this before.. Is that normal. Plus its over 8 weeks and I still feel my good boob reconstruction is a little bit off... I still feel it when I have my arm down.. PS says it looks great..and yes thats the implant that I feel and it will settle... I just feel as though the entire implant is on the side..not under the boob.. but maybe he had to do that for the LIFT?

MinusTwo

OK ya'all - remember it can take 3 to 6 months for the implants to settle & for you to see what the real results will be. Kingster's right - stay away from the mirror. It is not your friend.

Warrior - most docs say NOT to lift your arms above shoulder height for at least two weeks, or longer. There are lots of interior stitches that you can't see that have to heal. I wouldn't start exercising w/o the approval of your PS. Also my PS said NO massaging.

Badgergirl

Help please ;-)

My exchange surgery has been scheduled for next Wednesday, and while I was settled with the decision to go with the Inspira (415 or 465) at 9 am, now at 10:00 pm, I'm second guessing myself all over the place. I was large before, a size E, and had ptosis. I was concerned about the anatomical for two reasons - first, rotation. I know it's a minimal risk, but I am very active and didn't want to worry. Second, because I had ptosis previously, I was worried about the slope at the upper pole. So we chose a round, but now I'm worried about a shelf. GAH! The PS is planning to do some fat grafting, but did caution there would not be much fat to grab (which I know, is a good problem to have...kind of).

Advice, comments, insight, suggestions are all welcomed! And thank you in advance - I'm grateful!

PS - I've also posted in Breast Implant Sizing...sorry for any duplication!

robinblessed54

Badgergirl, I can only speak about my experience with anatomicals. Until 2 weeks before my EX I was going with rounds. I too heard about the rotation chance. But changed my mind to Allergan 410 FF 475cc. I can't see how they could rotate! These suckers are held in place nicely. The slope looks natural and I do have upper pole. They drop so natural too. I was a 36b before. I might be a small C. But that is what I wanted. I wanted to look like me. All my clothes fit from before. I will PM you a picture.Robin

Badgergirl

Robin -

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!! I want to look like me too....and you look so beautiful - thank you for sharing, I definitely think I may need to reconsider my choice ;-)

Truly grateful for you!

MinusTwo

Badger - I too love my anatomicals (I also have Allergan 410s). Anatomical implants do require a surgeon who is experienced & exacting, and the pockets have to be carefully crafted & designed to fit exactly. Done correctly, I think they're great.

LoriWNY

Badger--I also love my Allergan 410 anatomicals! At my first exchange, I received Mentor round moderate plus profile silicone rounds--they did not look right on my body. I changed to a different PS and received the anatomicals about 20 months after my first exchange and they are much better suited to me. I have had the 410's since February 2015. I agree with MinusTwo in that anatomical implants require a highly skilled and experienced PS. My first PS did not have much experience with anatomicals (although he was quite experienced with round implants) and therefore, he did not want to give them to me but what he really should have done, since I expressed a desire for the anatomical implants, is referred me to a different PS who was experienced with anatomicals so that I would not have had to have two exchange surgeries!

sherry67

Badger,

I have the Memory Shape Anatomicals and I like them much better than the Allergan 410 for me the Allergan were to wide for my body structure.

robinblessed54

Badger, ask Whippetmom if you want the whole scoop and what might be right for you. I didn't ask her but I know alot of women on this board have. I think it is breast size 101. One of the women will chime i

Badgergirl

Robin,

Whippetmom has been amazing...we are so lucky to have her! Thank you for the suggestion...great minds :-)

J

robinblessed54

I hope you get to a good conclusion from all of the imput. Don't settle, get what is best for you., and what results you want. Anytime you can avoid more surgeries is the best you can do. Keep us posted!

Xinghong

Hi everyone, I am back! I had lat flap on the left side and regular implant on the right side. My exchange surgery was in January and it's me today. I feel great! I am able to do almost everything I could do before the surgery. I feel I even can do better in the yoga class. I hope everyone is doing great. I don't come here often now. I got lots of help and encourage here before and I just want to tell the ladies who are still in this procedure and feeling hurt, It is a hard procedure, but it is definitely worth it. Be patient and you will do great!

kingster

You look great! Glad to hear that you feel great too! Very encouraging. What type of implants do you have?

Xinghong

Thanks Kinster! Glad to know that you are doing great too. My implants are CPG 333, Tall height, high profile.

robinblessed54

Badger,

Well, how do you stand two days before your scheduled exchange? Did you make that final decision? Let us know what you decided on and how it all turns out! Robin

Badgergirl

Robin,

The PS surgeon called this morning and the round Inspira implants I had selected were on back order in my size...I took that as a sign :-) After talking to my PS, we decided on anatomicals...he's done a great job so far, so I just told him to pick out what implant he felt would give me the best look...I'm choosing to trust him. So fingers crossed! Will update you after the EX.

Thank you for everything - you've been so wonderful and I'm so appreciative.

robinblessed54

Badger, that is so great! How full are your TEs? He should put bigger anatomicals than fill amount. That gives it the tight fit it needs.

Can't wait to hear about your EX.

R

Badgergirl

Robin -

My TE's are filled to 380 cc's now...I believe he's looking at the Mentor Memory Shape - I know he prefers/works with anatomicals more than rounds, so I trust him to create a good, tight pocket. He knows how active I am as well...I think he's looking at the medium height, high profile.

I will most definitely keep you posted ;-)

sherry67

Badger girl,

I have the Mentor Memory shape and love the Anatomicals..

Eee3

badgergirl: I keep going back and forth between round and anatomical and we are similar in size so I am very anxious to hear how you feel after. I still have a couple of months before my exchange

Badgergirl

E -

I will definitely keep you posted! IMHO, if you have a skilled PS, either way will give you a good look - it's all about personal preferences. That may or may not be true, but I'm going with it ;-)

robinblessed54

E,

Like I told Badger, I was waffling between the two up until I had to commit so he could order them. And yes, they have to be skilled in anatomicals. I am very happy with my Allergan 410 gummies! Robin

tonia52

I'm preparing to see another PS for options on my PS and would like to be prepared for what he suggest. I'm 5 foot 7 and 145. I'm medium build and very active. Can anyone tell me the difference in round versus anatomical and what does high profile mean on the options for breast implants. I would think I would needs tight pocket I guess that is where filling comes in and the LD surgery, right? I appreciate any help and recommendations. I will be starting rads end of sept or beg of oct for six weeks. I have no expanders or implants at this time.

MinusTwo

Tonia - below is the link for Breast Implants 101. Read the header and then post your questions with the specifications and Whippetmom will post back with her expertise.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/...

Leslienva

Xinghong, did you get the lat flap on the left because of radiation on that side? My left TE had to be replaced when the stitches popped and my PS thinks a lat flap may work better on that side than an implant. I was worried about them looking different if one is a lat flap and one is an implant, but from your photo, yours look great!

December

I requested access a long time ago - never got it (I don't think)... I just figured that I didn't "request" right, or the the mods were completely over whelmed! Eventually it didn't matter - BMx and recon start - over May 5th - I've got my own pictures - right in the mirror!!! I have no privacy issues left, they chopped off my boobs and I'm a bald, sick woman - so anyone who needs/want to see pictures of my "so far" reconstruction - PM me and I'm happy to sent you pictures - I'm 55, had nipple/skin sparring BMx. My TEs get filled when ever I have time (found out AFTER BMx that I would have chemo/rads - PS won't do exchange for at least 6 months after last rad treatment.) I've had, post surgery, 3 fills, 50cc each - I look like a B cup. Have no clue what I'll end up as. I have a big dimple/ripple at the edge of where I think my TE comes up to on my non-cancer left side, and a dent/dimple/ripple close to under my arm on the right side. Light scars right above where the underwire of a bra would be - My left nipple stands to attention ALL the time - my right buries it's self inside - and is basically flat. The TEs are terribly uncomfortable - especially when I try to sleep - before May 5th BMx, I expected to have done my exchange by now - with the tumor being twice as big as expected, after chemo and rads, I'm looking at maybe mid spring 2016 before exchange - over a year from dx. I new I could handle the "iron bra" for a couple of months- but 8+ months! I was not prepared for!

If you look at my past posts, you will notice that I am NOT the chearleader on this board - I'm the ba, hum,bug - put your big girl panties on and get ready for most every thing you ever knew and loved to now exist in some alternate world. Thank goodness there are so many bright spirits here, that they over shadow my blunt, to the point, won't soften the blow attitude that I share - still - I think I have my place here!

Even so, I pray for healing, peace, and understanding for all my "sisters" here - so many of whom have pulled me through the last 5 months!

kingster

December, I could not sleep with my TE's in more than 2 hours at a time. As soon as you move in bed...ouch! Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone.

mjh1

december - I had my TE in for 7 month's b4 I could go in for exchange. While I can't say they were ever comfortable, I can say u eventually adjust n it does get easier. U will get thru it be cause u r a warrior n on the days that seem the hardest we will b here for u.

Scottiemom11

Joining in finally, please. Exchange was yesterday 7/27, almost 8 months after BMx. Also had some lipo to even things out.

Im pretty miserable right now but very happy it's over. I have no idea how I'm going to look, but PS was able to get 350 Mentor implants in, even though I stopped expansion in Jan. at 250 due to extreme nerve pain. Going to read up on posts here and hope to participate regularly once I'm up and about.

Thanks,

Scottie