Exchange City

mysunshine48

Thanks for explaining, SpecialK!

ThinkingPositive

Has anyone had nipple reconstruction? Mine is scheduled for the ninth of December. Little nervous about this. Taking the skin from the crease in my leg. Can anyone tell me what to expect please, can't imagine it could be any worse than anything that I have already been through! Thanks

Moonflwr912

Thinking, I haven't had it. Several people on here did though and will be able to fill you in.

Zuki, there are a very few people who have trouble for exchange. But most don't so don't borrow trouble. It was pretty easy for me and I'm by myself a lot. You an actually be able to do something special with your daughter then.

Much love to all.

ZukiCat

OMG - 8 more days to go........!!!!!!

Lol

SummerAngel

ThinkingPositive, I'm having nipple recon and fat grafting tomorrow. My surgeon does the "origami" technique where he doesn't need to take skin from another area of the body. I'll post how it goes, but according to him it's an easy surgery to recover from. Frankly I'm more worried about the fat grafting. Last time the donor area (my inner thighs) hurt for quite a while and were very bruised.

AudreyB

Hello ladies!

I am taking the plunge and booking a revision surgery. The PS is going to remove right implant and do some pocket work to open up the muscle area that is causing my wonky cleavage. He said my skin looks good now and he can definitely improve the look. He is also going to insert a brand new implant, I was happy to hear him say that. He is also going to work on left breast loose skin issue, along the outside of the left breast.

Now, here's the kicker. He wants to do fat grafting, which I am terrified of. He said I would only have bruising on my stomach and just feel bruised, no real pain, back to work in a few days. Does this sound doable? I don't want to lose too much time from work. Surgery would be a Thursday, giving me 4 days to recover. I know I could have gone back to work 4 days after my exchange, even though I took 7 days off.

All experiences will be appreciated, the good, the bad and the ugly.

As always, best wishes and love to all!

Elizabethaw

Hi Audrey,

I had fat grafting two months ago, and I would not be terrified of doing it again! It all depends on how much fat your PS plans to take. The more fat taken, the more painful. Mine took 400-500cc from my belly and inner and outer thighs. I was bruised on the outer thigh area but not elsewhere--that's where most of the fat came from. I took one week off work, but it was mostly anesthesia fog that kept me home. I felt definite pain getting up and down out of bed for the first 3-4 days, but once I was up I was fine. I did not need narcotics--Advil was enough, and it was only painful when I got up and down.

If your PS only plans to take a little fat, it won't be a big deal at all. If he/she plans to take tons, it'll be a bigger deal. There's a fat grafting thread on here. I'll post a link.

Elizabethaw

Here's the link to the FG thread: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics/823278?page=27#idx_796

AudreyB

Thank you, Elizabethaw! Greatly appreciated.

Suzy1067

Hey Audrey,

I had fat grafting with my exchange - 2 donor sites (inner thighs and abdomen), the bruising was terrible, but, the pain wasn't nearly as bad as it looked! Today I am 4 weeks out and my skin is still a little tender to the touch, but, the bruising is gone. From what I've read the tenderness could be nerve related and will subside over time. It's not terrible, just kind of annoying. I went back to work the following Monday (had mine on Thursday also) and the hardest part for me was finding something comfortable to wear as I did not want anything tight on my stomach. I wore a lot of leggings with long shirts . You'll be fine and I'm very excited for your revision!! Hugs!

Suzy

kingster

Audrey, does that mean that you will cancel with Vinnie Myers? When I called, he requires 5 months from your last surgery. I took 2 weeks off from fat grafting, but I have a very physical job. I felt pretty normal after about 1 week, but was sore for at least 1 month. I also took 2 weeks off after my exchange.

AZ85048

AudreyB - kingster is right. Vinnie's pretty adamant about the five months surgery free prior to the tattoos rule. You'll just have to call and move your appointment a little farther back is all... and I'm sure someone else will be very happy to take the slot in March.

aviva5675

I had some fat grafting on Oct 30. Things went fine- but my stomach is still a bit sore (incisions in lower abdomen near groin and fat removed from above that area), bruising long gone, but there are still some 'hard' areas near my navel, and kind of sore...Anyone had similar? Seems a long time for it not all to be gone by now.

ThinkingPositive

I assume fat grating is different than skin grafting. I believe my ps said he cuts a piece of skin from the crease of my thigh. Then what?????

AudreyB

Thank you Suzy and everyone who responded

Kingster, I will be moving my Vinnie apt to later in the year. I am so looking forward to my tattoos but I want my Foobs to look a bit better than they do now. I was settling for what I have then thought why am I settling. One more shot at a better outcome can't hurt.

Does anyone want my apt? March 4 at 1pm. Not sure if it's allowed but wouldlove to know someone who wants it got it.

AudreyB

forgot to add surgery is scheduled for January 13. My 5th surgery in 12 months.

kingster

Aviva, I had fat grafting done Oct. 16. Also have hard area above umbilical area. Called PS office today. She said it will take longer than that to completely heel, and to just keep massaging. I see PS next month for my 3 month follow up.

Audrey, I think you will be happier to put tattoos on a breast that you are more happy with;) Sometimes I think I look just fine and am tattoo worthy, and other times not. I have an appt in 2 weeks with another PS who has a 3d tattoo artist come into his office to do them, and it's local. Actually, both PS said that the breast form and shape need to be ideal for those tattoos to look the best. After all, they are very expensive. My insurance will only pay for those if done by a medical provider and not a tattoo artist. Maybe I will just wait till spring to see what they look like then.

cateyz2

Aviva, had my fat grafting done 11/24. he took fat from outer thighs, stomach and love handles. Not sure how much was taken as I was 128lbs going into surgery, not much fat, and Jeanie says he doesn't keep track. Bruising is relatively gone, still slightly tender in a few areas, and have been using a rolling pin to massage my stomach and wearing spanks, heading back to work on Monday. Definitely improvement to foobs, however may need one more session to fill in large dent I had. I also can see results as far as shapely in donor sites and understand it can take 3 months for final results

AudreyB

Having second thoughts about this revision surgery.

Kingster, as you said, some days my foobs look great and some days they don't. But they always look great in clothes. My body has been through so much this year and I'm just starting to feel more like my old self. This morning I'm thinking just get my tattoos and be done with it.

I know you all understand exactly what I'm going through. My previous 4 surgeries were all necessary, lumpectomies, sentinel node, mastectomy and exchange. This revision surgery with the fat grafting is more terrifying to me mentally maybe because its strictly for cosmetic reasons as opposed to health.

I wish my brain would just shut of sometimes!!!! LOL

aviva5675

thanks Catey== glad yours went well too! Guess I just need to be patient. Its not painful for the most part, so that's all good. I go back 12/17 so will ask more but anticipate him saying it'll take awhile. I massage too, mostly in the shower.

Moonflwr912

Audrey, i well know what you mean! 12 sx in 4 years. I am a card carrying member of the sx of the month club! LOL I had 2 sx back to back 1 month apart 2 times! LOL Definitely not fun. I still need another knee done and my tatoos. I thought this year old be one without sx but my cataracts got too bad so I needed to deal with them. If you take out the knee and cataract sx, that means I had 9 sx in 2 years. It's exhausting.

Hugs.

Much love

kingster

Bottom line is...does the benefits of the surgery outweigh the risks? I think, I can hide anything in a really cute bra;) It's never going to be the same again, so I am just trying to deal with things the best that I can. And it's a financial strain as well.

Audrey, you had a close call with infection, and that is what I worry about. I wish you all the best. Maybe get a second opinion if you're not sure.

Moonflwr, that's a lot of surgery to say the least. I am "burned out" on surgery.

Leslienva

Kingster, the implants are rounds. I guess due to the scar tissue on the radiated side, she had to give me smaller implants than the TEs but I'm not happy about it. Now I'm back to wearing padded bras because I'm too flat looking without one. I was hoping I'd at least be bigger than I started. I've always been an A and I probably still am, just perkier. My expanders didn't require padding but these implants do. I'm depressed.

Moonflwr912

leslienva, TES project way out because the back is hard. Pushing it all out front that's why they are so uncomfortable. The implants settle into the cavity and lose projection. Also Rad skin is not as flexible. The PS has to balance size to skin stretch and healing chance. Remember your natural breasts are held up by every cell connected to every cell. The weight f them drags hem down eventually but they don't just fall down. Unfortunately, TEs are held up by your chest muscle and sometimes Alloderm matrices. That's it! Nothing else to hold it up. They do take a few stitches to hold them in place but those stitches don't support the weight.

However, don't despair! Fat grafting on the Rad side can soften tissue to help it stretch. Months after the fat grafts your PS could try again with a bigger implant. But many women are surgeried out, i know I am. But if you are that unhappy talk to your PS there may be other options too. It's not a race. It will probably take more time then you want but if you want it you just have to follow the steps. One warning though, and I am not trying to scare you ; EVERY surgery is a risk, not only to loss of implant due to infection, but even loss of life. . You will have to factor that in as well.

This journey is not an easy one for everyone. Many of us have had those Scenic Detours! LOL. In the end, you will make the right decision for you!

Much love.

Leslienva

Moonflwr912, I agree about more surgery being risky. I have a friend who had sepsis last year and still hasn't fully recovered. Plus, it seems to take me longer to heal. That's one reason I didn't have DIEP. I heard it was much better for radiated areas and you don't have to get regular MRIs, but all that surgery and incisions scared me.

This morning I must've turned the wrong way because my left (radiated) side hurts again. I'd just gotten to the point, after three weeks, that it didn't constantly ache and now it's bothering me again. I was going through chemo at this time last year so I'm hoping to be able to enjoy the holidays this year.

trailrose

AudreyB,

When I had my revision surgery scheduled I went back and forth as to whether it was worth it. My thoughts would turn to what happens if I get an infection? I thought maybe I should thank my lucky stars for how things turned out the first time but I'm so happy I went through it. The one thing that I had and never have is nausea a few hours post surgery. But I did decide this would be the last revision since I wanted to get back to being as normal as I could be. And I thought going under anesthesia three times in 9 months was enough! My poor body needed a break.

I agree that every surgery is risky. And you did have a previous infection.

Scottiemom11

I have thought about fat grafting but as Kingster said I would not choose to have another surgery just for that. I'm still not even sure about the tattoos but will probably get them.

Scottie

mysunshine48

I sort of agree, Audrey, about more surgery. I have a few places that could probably be better with fat grafting, but, then, I think, wait a minute. Am I going to be a pole dancer? Duh.....no! And I look great in my bra and clothes. So, why go through that? Just think about it and you will come to your decision.

kingster

You could always ask yourself...do I like my results more than I dislike them? Getting tattoos sound like the party at the end of the war! I can't wait to get mine;)

robinblessed54

Well I have to jump in! Yes, the tattoos are the finish line. Even though mine are not "perfect " , they are wonderful! I was very blessed to have awesome results from my EX and experience. I feel complete. Just do what you feel is necessary but don't look for perfection. God bless.

Robin