Exchange City

Amstar15

PCH

My wife is similar in size to you --5'4" 130 pounds. She just had her exchange surgery and she ended up with mentor ultra high round implants -- 534ccs each. PS said that once your expanders are at the size yiu like/feel good with then you should have one more full because usually the implants at the same cc size as the expander is alittle smaller -- so my wife went one fill more in her expander --but still asked larger the day of the surgery.. She looks great just a few days after surgery

pch

Wow, first off, thank you all. I'm overwhelmed and relieved to hear your stories.

Amstar15, did the ultra high implants give your wife a lot of high-pole volume? My PS suggested Mentor high profile 475-500 for me, but that was when I was still pondering going half a cup size smaller than I am now. Once I started putting on my regular clothes I wasn't so sure it was the smartest idea! (And good for you being on here.)

kingster, I don't know of anyplace that sells pink-perfect. I believe they are manufactured in Israel. CureDiva has them as well and you can get a discount through their site if you're a first-time buyer. The customer reps are fantastic, really great, though it may take a day or two to get back to you. One word of caution re: color. Because the woman who started this company is olive skinned, there's a slight bias in the color descriptions (all refer to light skin "burning easily" until you get into the darker skin tones). I burn red/brown (but not that easily), and struggled with peach vs. sandy, erring on the side of sandy the first time because it's the most popular color. Unless you have a lot of brown/tan tone to your skin, sandy, while not that dark, may look too brown. Peach looked much more natural on me. If you're very light skinned/fair, stay in the pinker tones for sure. Just my two cents. But the CureDiva people happily advised me, sent me e-mails of different colors on different shades of skin, and I was able to return them in exchange for the peach. The woman I worked with actually uses them, so she totally got it. And like I said, they are unbelievably realistic. Worth the $$. And if you're unsatisfied period, you can return them. The shipping does get expensive though.

noonrider, thanks for the tattoo recommendation! I think the volume that's right for you might be too much for me. Discovered that my pecs are not that deep and even the 295 expanders drive the volume up toward my collarbones and under my armpits (though my PS assured me that that's where my breast tissue ended!). I wish he'd do something for my arms! Maybe I can slip him a fifty and he can tighten some of that skin up.

But pretty much everyone agrees: go larger than you think you should to get the projection/volume that'll work with clothes, etc. The last thing I want to do is make myself disproportionate because I always dreamed of having what my friend calls "surfer chick" boobs. Also, did you find that the upper pole and side volume in the TEs settled downward and inward? That's what's messing me up trying clothes on to test for size.

Any other advice gladly accepted!

Happy Friday ladies (and Amstar15)!

Queen_Celeste

Suzy1067, that's awesome!  What a wonderful group of coworkers you have.

I had twinges and severe internal itching after my exchange surgery (Oct. 6), but they went away.  Hope yours does too.

I don't really think that I want tatoos.  What for?  My plastic surgeon encouraged me to do it, so I made the appointment for next week.  I will meet with the tattoo artist and then decide.

And here's something to make you laugh:  I received a reminder from my physician's office to get my yearly mammogram.  Sorry but there's no one left!

pch

Amstar15,, Do you mind me asking one more question? What was your wife's cup size before recon? Did she go for the same size? I'm trying to get back to what looks like a C. Thanks!

Amstar15

My wife was a 34B in most bras but a 34C in Victoria secret bras before her double mastectomy. As far as having a lot of high pole volume.. I wouldn't say its a lot... it looks really good to me. It doesn't look like they are shoved up to her neck/collar bone if that is what you are asking. One of her concerns was that she didn't want to look like she didn't have a neck because her boobs were so high up.. even with the ultra high profile they are not to high. I would also assume it will look even better as the swelling goes down and they drop as well.

pch

My concern exactly. Thanks Amstar!

robinblessed54

pch ,

My PS office said that during my fills start trying on your clothes to see how you look. You can get an idea how you want to look. It helped me. I was filled to 420cc and have 475 Allergan 410 gummies. I was a 36 B and wanted to stay about the same. They are very close to that maybe a small C. They are annatomicals and have a natural slope to them. I am very happy with them. Where are you along pch? I am in Southern California San Bernardino area. Yes I was 5 miles from shooting and 3 blocks from their home here at work in Redlands! Very scary

Robin

pch

Wow Robin, that's intense. Hope you're doing ok. I lived in Long Beach (Belmont Shore) and Venice for twenty years, so I know just where you are. (I was there for the LA riots if you remember, and the OJ trial. And the Northridge earthquake.I can only imagine how bad the hype and hysteria are these days.) I'm in the Midwest now (and missing my ocean!).

Unfortunately my TEs are so high and wide (and immovable) that I can't tell from trying on clothes. They're distributed totally differently than my normal boobs (in a bra), which is what's making the guessing game so hard. I can say that I thought I wanted to go much smaller than I was, but then my whole body looks out of proportion. So curvy will be back. Just braless.

robinblessed54

Hey, how old are you PCH? I am 61 and was around for all of the above! I grew up in Whittier. Yes, the riots, the earthquakes etc. Sorry you had to move from SoCal. Robin

MinusTwo

PCH - any choice you make will NOT look like what you were before. There is no nipple complex to provide projection, and nothing left underneath to provide backing. Also implants are almost always wider than a normal breast. It would be unusual if you can still wear the same bras once you're finished. I'm not trying to be "debbie downer", but I do know it's often hard to adjust to a new look. Some of my loose clothes fit. The "fitted" things, not so much. The bras - none at all except stretchy sports bras.

And your implants will change over a 6 month period after surgery. That's why people keep saying not to get fitted too soon or buy too many bras up front. It's such a temptation. I knew better from these boards but bought 3 expensive bras while I still had the TEs. They went directly to Salvation Army after exchange.

Like Robin, I have Allergan 410 anatomicals (true gummies) and am very happy with them. I wanted to be smaller - and yes there have been a lot of women on BCO who feel that way, we just don't post as much. And you really have to be forceful to get smaller. Good luck w/your choices.

LoriWNY

pch--I, too, wanted smaller and had to fight with first PS who would not listen. I had a revision by different PS who understood my desire to be smaller and am thrilled with the results!

mysunshine48

Suzy, Love your story!

Lvbugs

I to was one who wanted smaller and my PS listened. After having large pendulous breasts I'm not missing tucking my shirt in the fold for me to wash my face at night

Lharry

I just had my exchange surgery this past Thursday My PS told me I could take off the compression garment around my stomach, where he did fat grafting, and my surgical bra for sleeping, but to wear them when I'm up. I've been afraid to take them off so far though. I'm going to take my first shower today. I don't know why I'm afraid to remove these things. They certainly aren't comfortable so you'd think I'd be glad to have them off.

Oh well, gotta do it I guess!

mysunshine48

I understand. I think there is a sense of security there. But, take off them off and take a shower. I was afraid to take my first shower too. Silly me!

katcar0001

Just wondering--is there a way to fake an areola complex later? I am having nipple recon in about 6 months, but since we're on the topic, I'd like to know more. Can the surgeon not put in fat or something like allograft to build up the complex? I had a unilateral, and while I am pretty symmetrical and have good projection, I'd like the foob to have a little bit more of the cone shape like the native side.

Also want to note something I find interesting--my foob is warm and has never been cold. I wonder if has to do with my brand of implant, which is Motiva?

bikefam

I've been reading various forums but this is my first post. After a mastectomy on one side in March, 2015 and TE placement in September, I just had my exchange last week. I had a 350 cc silicone implant in the cancer side and 100 cc in the non-cancer side. I'm sorry I don't know exactly what kind of implants since I haven't been back to the doctor since my surgery, but I know he said he was not going to use anatomicals. I am shocked at how different my two breasts look. I realize they can't match them exactly, but right now, there is no way I could wear anything but bulky blouses or scarves to hide the difference. The cancer side is very flat and square. It is shaped exactly how my TE was, and for 3 1/2 months, I had to keep my top covered up. I hear that they "drop and fluff", but mine have a long way to drop-at least an inch. Should I be concerned or just wait. I can send pictures if anyone would like.

robinblessed54

bikefam

Annatomicals don't drop and fluff but will get softer. You might have had pocket work done and that can take awhile to settle. I can't say about one side because I had both. You also have swelling. Give it time. You can send me a PM with pics.

Robin

kingster

Bikefam, you gotta give it at least 4-6 months before making a judgement after exchange. Initially, I looked as if someone turned a normal breast upside down, then put it on my chest. I was super full up top, and flat as a pancake on the bottom. I really had my doubts about whether or not my ps knew what he was doing. Anyway, try your best to be patient. I have mentor memory gels smooth rounds. Things are more even now...not perfect...but better. I had 1 fat graft 7 months after exchange.

bikefam

Thanks, kingster. I am impatient because for 3 months that I had the TE, I had to hide my top because it was so mis-shapen. My implant is exactly the same as the TE in shape. I was looking forward to wearing normal clothes.

noonrider

PCH, my TE's were all.over.the.place!!! One was way up high touching my collar bone, the other more under my arm. I could lay my palm completely flat between them. I tried clothes a couple of times and just could not get anything that looked right. When my exchange was done my PS did a lot of work on the upper poles and they look normal again.My underarms too. My right (cancer) side needed more pocket work and my PS told me it will take a bit longer for it to drop. My left has a very nice shape already, just two weeks out. So far, for me, I like these better than my original breasts. Maybe because I don't even remember them? My recon process took 15 months and I guess really all I remember is horrible ugliness after various steps in the process, and the rock hard expanders. Now that my exchange is done and I look pretty normal (even pretty good?) in clothes, I'm anxious to lose some weight and show off my new shape. At 48 I no longer have boobs that nurse a lot of babies! Ok granted I don't have nipples either, but still....lol

ZukiCat

hello Ladies,

So I had my exchange on Friday, December 11 th. I still don't feel 100% from the anaesthetic though. I had two drains put in but things are slowing down and both will be removed tomorrow. My TEs were brutal and one was twisted a bit and stuck out the right side and would rub my arm. And they were so far apart! They were over filled to 290 ml. My PS did extensive pocket work, moving them closer together and lowering them a bit, hence the drains. But he was only able to fit in 225 anatomicals since he had to narrow the pockets. I wonder how this will look in a few weeks? I also have a divot under my left breast from lowering it. But man, did I feel soooooo sick for days after the surgery that I swear I won't be put under again!!!

Just wanted to check in, and say I am relieved the exchange is finished. So far my newly installed boobs don't feel that small, and I am hoping it's not due to swelling lol!

Hope you're all well, I am off to try and get some wrapping done before I lie back down - Christmas is almost here!!!

ZukiCat

sknitter

Hi. I am scheduled for my exchange surgery on January 28th. I didn't think I would need to be out of work as long as my PS is saying. I was initially planning to take one week as a sick week and then work from home for the next week and then back in the office on the third week. Am I being overly optimistic? Thanks!

Lkscolo

Zukicat- congrats! I hated the anesthesia funk too. Took me about a week to rid that. Give it some time to see results. You had a lot of work done and swelling will hide the implants for awhile.

Sknitter- that's totally doable and you might be pleasantly surprised how good you feel after a week home. You may go back to work sooner.

Queen_Celeste

sknitter:  I think your plan sounds quite reasonable!  My exchange surgery was October 6 and I returned to work October 13 - exactly one week later.  I felt pretty good, no problems.  My surgeon had said to take off "a long weekend."  I had weight lifting restrictions for a while.  Of course, it could be different for each of us, especially those with more physical jobs.

MsVeryDenseBreasts

12/18 Exchange

sknitter

thanks Queen. I hate to take off more work time.

macb04

Hi all,

On Thurs I will be 2 weeks out from nipple reconstruction. I had my implant put Over my pectoral muscle in August. In Sept I had a breast lift for symmetry on my R side. Itlooks prettygood except my inframammary fold, is not as good a match as my real R. I have really great upper pole fullness and great cleavage.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25455288

I am planning to get Vinnie tattoo to create a 3d areola this summer.

maxdog

Hi ladies,

I had by exchange surgery yesterday afternoon. Everything went well...after a bout of vomiting bile just before I went to OR. I am nauseous all the time from my Femara and don't think my tummy was happy being empty. I am sore-especially on my right side where more pocket work was needed. Wow! What a difference squishies make! I feel like they are part of me, not foreign invaders like the TE's.

NJsurfer

maxdog that is so great to hear! So glad you are more comfortable. My exchange is in January and I can't wait to get rid of my "tennis balls"!!!