Exchange City

Scottiemom11

CA 55 so glad your exchange went well. Hope your recovery is quick.

Scottie

ca55

Thank you, Scottie. Sorry you are having issues with nerve pain, but glad to hear you are getting relief.

Msmath

My surgery has been scheduled for September 18th. Thankfully the insurance is also going to cover the FG. My PS said some insurance companies do not cover it because it is more cosmetic. I am scheduled to have it at an outpatient facility under observation in case I need to stay the night in the hospital. Those of you that have had your exchange already was your surgery outpatient or did you stay one or more nights at the hospital?

BBwithBC45

My exchange is scheduled for September 30th. My PS likes to wait 8 weeks after final fill.

It will be done in the hospital, but on the outpatient basis as far as I know.

Scottiemom11

MsMath . . . PS gave me a choice. She said she could go ahead and order me admitted for one night or do a wait and see, i.e., depending on my recovery after surgery. I had a very rough recovery with BMx and was already admitted to stay anyway. I'm glad I chose the wait and see option because I had a much better recovery this time.

Talk with your anesthesiologist at hospital during EX pre-op. Tell him/her about any trouble or questions you had from BMx (or any other prior surgeries) in recovery room and after. I told anesthesiologist everything and he was great. I also highly recommend Versed. Much happier sleeping at home that night since night nurses at hospitals are hit and miss. I did have BMx and EX at different hospitals though. That may have made a huge difference.

Good luck!

Scottie

mazy123

hi everyone,

Wanted to post as soon as I could.

Had my exchange this morning at 9. Got home at 2. I am feeling really good. Took two extra strength Tylenol at 430, but that is it. I am sure improbably still have some pain Meds from iv flowing through my veins.

Plastic surgeon put in 410 anatomicals 640ccs. My tissue expanders were filled to 550. Hope 640 isn't too big. It doesn't feel too big at the moment. I am 5' 8 so maybe my body can handle without them seeming too much bigger than what I was before. They took about 420 Ccs out of each side during bmx.

I have two drains that will come out next week.

I am allergic to all kinds of medicine. They gave me two hydrocodone before surgery and iv Tylenol and zofran. Also scopolamine patch.i have tramadol but decided to start with extra strength Tylenol. Hopefully a good decision.

This has been way better than bmx for me. I feel soreness at incision sites, but nothing terrible. I also had far grafting done. He took it from my sides under armpits. I have been icing those areas.

I really appreciate all of you that have shared your stories. Thinking of those who went before me and those that are waiting.

Mazy

hummingbirdlover

Thanks for your post Mazy! It sounds like you're doing awesome! My exchange is a week from today and although I'm excited to be losing these miserable TEs, I'm apprehensive at another surgery. I'm happy to hear you are doing well....gives me hope!

Take care

AudreyB

Good morning everyone. I am 3 days post exchange and I wanted to share my new boobs look amazing. I could not have envisioned this outcome in my wildest dreams. My TEs were the wonkiest shapes, like footballs, the right one twisted so the port was in my underarm with a very high upper pole. The left sat lower with no upper pole. The only thing I had going was perfect symmetry along the bottom. I just took off my surgical bra as I couldn't stand it anymore. I'm allowed to shower today so I'm not breaking any rules. And I can't stop looking down my shirt. They are perfectly round and soft to the touch. A beautiful natural slope and full at the bottom. I have Siientra smooth round 655cc high profile gel implants. Scars are also looking better due to the projection. I'm just blown away and wiping tears.

Mersk

Hi all,

I just had exchange surgery yesterday. No pain at all, I don't even feel like I had surgery except now i am wearing a surgical bra with guaze padding. Anyway, I didn't receive any special instructions for my new textured anatomical implants except not to lift anything over 5 lbs and no exercising. Did others receive more restictive instructions after exchange to textured anatomicals? Like not raising arms above shoulders? Thanks

marketingmama

So great to hear how well you ladies are doing. Congrats to all!! I'm scheduled for Monday and literally counting the hours!!!!!

Badgergirl

Oh Mazy and AudreyB - I am so happy to hear you are both doing so well! YAY! That makes my heart happy ;-)

Mersk, I have textured anatomicals too, and my PS only restricted my lifting. I was able to lift my arms above my shoulders, but he didn't want me using my chest muscles to lift. I'm four weeks out and so far so good ;-)

Mersk

Awesome! Thanks Badgergirl. I was so loopy from anesthesia that I wanted to make sure I didn't miss any important info

mazy123

hi everyone,

Glad everyone seems to be doing well. Audrey, glad you are so happy.

I received instructions to not have arms up over head.

I got 640 anatomicals. I just peeked and they look pretty good, but seem pretty flat.

That is temporary, right?

Thanks,

Mary

ThinkingPositive

ca55...for your lift, did your PS put an implant in? Mine did and its partially on the side..with what he says is scar tissue. Just wondering how the heck do you do a breast self exam with an implant sorta on the side? It feels like its right there.. so when I touch the side its hard.

How does everyone else feel with their implants.. my MX side.. still feel tight. Is that normal? Does that feeling ever go away. Had my surgery for reconstruction on May 13th.

Msmath

Wow.. Thanks for all the post-op posts! I am scheduled for September 18th and after reading these posts I am getting excited about my exchange. I am still undecided as to what implants I am getting. It seems the more research I do the harder the decision is. I was even dreaming about implants last night. Those of you that have the anatomicals are they heavy or hard like the TE"s? That is one of my fears. My PT said she will need to put rather large ones in because of the pocket size and I don't want them to be too heavy. I've been trying to remember what my natural breasts felt like but that only made me upset.

Scottiemom11

Thinkingpos I don't really have the tightness anymore (Mentor Smooth Round High-Profile Implants) and I'm nearly 4 weeks post EX. Stiffness in shoulders. My issue has been the nerve pain but that is a different story. I'm restricted from any weights or lifting for at least two more weeks and am doing physical therapy to get back my range of motion.

Scottie

AudreyB

I have round Siientra 655cc high profile. I don't feel any weight in them. They just feel like a part of me and it's only 3 days. I do feel my incisions though. Very localized discomfort.

hummingbirdlover

I waffled for quite a while before deciding to go with silicone. I was happier about the fact that if the saline springs a leak, it just goes flat and you know immediately but I held both samples in my hands at the PS office and the silicone just felt so much more natural and soft. My TEs are filled to 320 ccs and I think she's shooting for a 400 or 410 implant. I'm just tired of feeling like I have to KNOW everything about everything, ya know? My PS encouraged me to choose the silicone, or at least it felt like she was. She said I don't have a lot of extra skin up there and that she was concerned about rippling and honestly, I just have put my trust in her. I'm so encouraged reading all of the post-op posts here, it makes me feel like there is finally light at the end of this crappy tunnel I've been in.

Thanks ladies!

robinblessed54

Mersk

I was not to raise my arms above elbows. Sports bra 24/7 for 6 weeks. I am almost 6 months out. I love them! They are more firm, less jiggle. If you want bounce and jiggle, anatomicals are not right for you!

Recovery was easy! No chance these will go into the armpits.

Robin

AudreyB

Say hello to my new girls.

hummingbirdlover

Audrey, you look AWESOME!!!!

AZ85048

Audrey -

AudreyB

Thank you. I just have one problem with the right one. Skin in cleavage could not be separated from the muscle and it's sort of dented in. PS couldn't fix it without compromising the skin. Might be stuck with it but otherwise they look really nice, great projection, big like I wanted and look great in clothes. And so smooth and soft. I'm in love. LOL.

Mersk

va va voom!

They look totally natural

AudreyB

There is a light at the end of the tunnel ladies. I was diagnosed in February and never thought this day would come.

Scottiemom11

Love it Audrey!

mazy123

You look amazing Audrey!!

Mazy

ca55

ThinkingPositive - No, my PS did not put an implant on my lift side. I asked her about doing that, and she did not recommend it for me. As far as the tightness on the MX side, I have had that since my mastectomy. It never really goes away, but lessens with exercise and stretching. I do notice that it has subsided a little with the implant compared to the TE.

Badgergirl

Audrey! You look fabulous!!! So beautiful

Mersk, it just goes to show you - every PS is different! Mine gave me no restrictions, but Robin's did...and I'm not allowed to wear a sports bra for two more weeks either...while she is in one...so if you're concerned, I would just call your PS and double check ;-) Sorry, that doesn't help much, but it seems as though there is a bit of variety on how PS's deal with anatomicals after the EX!

robinblessed54

boy isn't that the truth!! So amazing how they are so different. But whatever works for you and your PS. Just follow their directives. AudryB you look Marvelous ! Take care of those girls! Have fun too!! Does your hubby Love love love them too? Robin