Exchange City

SissiAngel

@Paulinek

I can relate to you because at first, I had a unilateral radical modified mastectomy and at the time of reconstruction, 3 years later, I decided to also have a prophylactic mastectomy at the other breast. Because the skin and nipple were spared on my right breast whereas on my left breast there was nothing left, the two sides are not identical twins. The first weeks, I was very dissapointed with the difference. After the first 2 months, they started to look better, the swelling subsided, the scabs fell off. They are still different but not so much as at first and when I wear supportive bras (underwired), I cannot notice almost any difference. Last week I even went out, for the very first time in my life, without a bra and I got amazing comments from my friends and some head turnings. It is very liberating not having to wear a bra, although I wear one every day. My implants are Mentor Memoryshape (teardrops) and I am very pleased with the size and how they feel. I like the fact that they feel firm, but I am still able to move them towards the center creating a cleavage with my hands or with a bra. I don't have any rippling whatsoever and the right breast where the skin and nipple were spared looks like I had a breast augmentation and lift, not a reconstruction. Later on I might consider a fat grafting on the left breast so that they will be equal, but first I want to lose all the weight I put on since my chemos (around 33 lbs).

So, have patience which is the key to peace of mind and give it lots and lots of time, which is what I also do.

I wish you a smooth healing process!!!

Sissi.

VegGal

I'm almost 3 weeks in with my Natrelle 410 FF's. The right one is so comfy, squishy and seems to be settling but the left is hard, high, has a bit of "red breast syndrome" from the Strattice, and seems to go in and out of proper position which is uncomfortable.

Anyone else with anatomicals notice things going "in and out" and did they finally settle or is this a bad sign?

robinblessed54

carla, I have the 410 FF as well. They are 475 cc. I have had them almost 16 months. I love them. I never had a problem like you are describing and suggest you call PS right away. From the ladies that have posted here, it doesn't sound right to have any redness.

My doctor doesn't use strattice. He used my own muscle to create the sling needed for pockets.

Let us know how you are doing.

Ro

Paulinek

Sissi (thanks my aunts name ) thank you for sharing your journey. I had nipple sparing, but the BS seemed to get as close to the skin as possiblewithout going through, so the rippling. I spoke to my PS today and he said I can have fat grafting to correct it in about 4 months. I feel relieved, and can focus more on being grateful to be cancer free now.

VegGal

Robin, I am doing better. The redness that had been decreasing daily is practically gone. I've worn a more compressive bra this week as I need to wear them 24/7 for 4 weeks, and I think it's helping. Sadly, I've gone DOWN 2 sizes in these little Fruit of the Loom front opening bras since the exchange.

I have 595 cc implants that seem to be disappearing before my eyes! I am 5'11" but thin. I hope as they continue to settle and find their pocket and relax things will look more encouraging.

robinblessed54

Carla,This darn keyboard doesn't get all the letters in my name. but you can call me Ro! My name is Robin. Glad to hear that your redness is subsiding and you had a good discussion with your PS. Believe it or not, in the over the year I have had mine, they seem to have gotten a more full shape and look fantastic. I had to wear my sport bra 24/7 for six weeks. But like I mentioned, I like wearing a bra most of the time. It is so nice though to not have to wear one You will get there, it just takes time. Remember, this is the new normal and try to step away from the mirror until things settle down. Keep us posted.

VegGal

Thanks, Robin! I corrected your name.

I feel OK wearing the bras. I'm looking at it as "protecting my investment." I know the larger the implants, the more strain on the skin and pocket.

It's so encouraging to hear that others continue to have positive changes over time. And you're right, this is the new normal: Rack 2.0!

Carla

SissiAngel

@Paulinek

This is the right attitude!!!

I hope everything works out for the best for all of us, we deserve it!!!

Sissi.

robinblessed54

Sissiangel, I am thinking of doing nipple recon. I already have tattoos, but thinking of going for the recon. How do you like your outcome? Could you send me a picture via PM? What method did your PS use?

Thanks, Robin

SissiAngel

Hi Robin!

Unfortunately, I cannot help you with this. My reconstruction, up to this point, concerns only the areola and not the nipple. I am explaining what I mean:

Because I had a radical modified mastectomy on the left breast, there was nothing left there as you can imagine. When I decided to have a prophylactic nipple/skin sparing mastectomy on the right breast, at the time of reconstruction, and because the areola of my right breast was very big, my PS said that he would cut a piece of the areola and would transplant it on my left breast. It wasn't 100% certain that this would work, there was some danger that the transplant could not be supplied by blood, but he said that he couldn't just throw away my areola, it would be a pitty. Fortunately, it worked and now I have what I would have, had I made an areola tattoo but with an actual areola skin. So, the next step, should I decide to take it, is to implant, where the nipple should be, a very small piece of silicon or a small piece of cartilage from my own body (nose, ear, etc.). This way, he says, there are better chances to succeed than with local skin flaps. But I am not deciding anything yet. For the time being, I will let things settle down, lose all the weight I gained from chemos and hormonal therapy and maybe in a year or two, I will have a corrective surgery with fat grafting on the left and the nipple reconstruction.

I am thinking about posting photos on the picture forum, but I haven't yet found the time to do it, being a single mom of a 12-year-old, having a full-time job and studying for a postgraduate degree... Ah, there is life after cancer!!!

I will let you know once I post them.

Love to all!!!

mvspaulding

I went to my PS last week. Although I have had zero problems with my exchange it looks like I will have another minor operation. I have a significant amount of side boob, that is the only way I can explain it, lol. So my PS suggested that we can do some liposuction on both sides and inject the fat into the area above my implants on both breasts. I am a little hollow at the top. I told her I would do it, I am just going to wait until after summer is over.

kingster

I'm really happy with my fat grafting results;) It was pretty painful because of the liposuction involved, but really has softened the overall look. Took a good 6 months to really see the final outcome though. I bet you'll be happy with the results.

bikefam

Kingster, How long did it take you to recover from fat grafting? How long before you got back to normal activities? I don't want to be laid up for another several months.

SpecialK

bikefam - just in case kingster doesn't see your question - I have had FG four times - for differing reasons. Pain is relative to how much fat they harvest, and from how many different areas. With the largest quantity harvest, which was a significant amount, I had pain when moving, not resting, for about a week. I did drive after several days and I did not require pain meds beyond Tylenol. By the second week I was sore like after a long session at the gym.

BethL

I am scheduled for exchange in 2 weeks...after 8 long months. I have vertical scars that have spread a little. A few visits ago he said he would use the same incision for the swap and revise the scar a little. Correct me if I'm wrong but won't that mean even less projection if he's pulling the edges of the incision closer? I have scars under my breastsfrom previous reconstruction efforts after lumpectomy several years ago. Do you think he can use those instead?

kingster

Hey bikefam, I went back to work after 2 weeks, but could have went back a little sooner. I was still sore, but was able to do everything. I massaged my abdomen for at least 3 months though trying to work out the "ropes" and to make sure my abs weren't lumpy. I have enough of that naturally, lol;) The ropes were from those tunnels made by the fat cannulas. I wore shapewear for at least 12 weeks or so even though ps said it wasn't necessary. I only leaked for 1 day. Worse amount of bruising I have ever had in my life which was a little unnerving. Still glad I did it though. Looks much better with it for sure.

bikefam

Thanks, SpecialK and kingster. I will be talking to my PS in September and decide if I want to do anything.

Mominator

Hello Lovely Ladies,

I've not posted in a while, but I'm so happy to see everyone doing so well.

Carla, yes, protect your investment by wearing bras. I still felt a lot of movement of my anatomicals even at 3 months. I have been wearing my bras continuously. Only recently I have felt less movement. My PS had to do a lot of pocket work, so that may be why there was so much motion.

mvspauling: sorry to hear about the side boob. I think it's wise to enjoy your summer and do the next steps in the fall. You will be more recovered by then as well.

kingster: I'm glad you're happy with you FG results. My PS has suggested FG for me, but I'm not ready to do any more surgery for a while. I still have a lot of my "co-insurance" to pay. That was a shock.

BethL: yeah for your exchange. It's been a long wait for you. I think if PS pulls in your incisions, you will lose very little projection. I think the nearby skin will stretch. PS may need to use those incisions because they are closer to your implants.

Best wishes to all,

Mominator

lclark1959

I had my exchange 7/11 and it was a lot easier then the the bi-lateral surgery. 750 cc smooth ultra high profile memory gel implants! Sounds impressive but I also have to wear a bra for at least a month and "drop and fluff" could take several months I'm told. I also have an issue on my right side, my PS said it's scar tissue but it feels like part of the implant is there. This is the side they took lymph nodes from so is that why there is scar tissue? Also radiation probably didn't help as he said it was very tight like he thought it would be. My left side feels great but the right side feels like I need to start over again with PT. It's only been 9 days so maybe I need more time?

SeattleBound

I am scheduled for exchange surgery on August 17, 2016. My PS offered fat grafting as an option to restore a raised area to my nipples (I had nipple-sparing surgery), but I am worried about the result lasting. I read that the fat can flatten/distortover time. Perhaps it is wishful thinking, but with gummy bear implants, I hope I have a chance of avoiding another surgery! Should I just skip the fat grafting? Has anyone gone many years without problems?

robinblessed54

Seattle, I have had my gimmies for 16 months. I didn't have fat Grafting but I also didn't get to keep my nipples. But my results are amazing! No FG needed. I would wait and see what kind of results you get.

Robin

SeattleBound

Thank you, Robinblessed. I appreciate you answering me. Do you know of anyone who had fat grafting just to raise their spared nipple area? I am afraid to do it based on a little I have read, and having another area that needs healing from the site where the fat is taken, although I was told only 5cc would be needed

marketingmama

Seattle, you might want to check out the fat grafting thread. You might find someone who has had this experience. Definitely many on this board who have done fat grafting. My PS prefers to do fat grafting after exchange so he can see how things settle. If you are hesitant to do it t your exchange, perhaps wait and see how things look a few months later. From all I've read, fat grafting is a really good way to handle dents, divots, ripples etc.

SpecialK

seattle - you should barely feel the removal of 5ccs of fat if that is all that is needed - I have had hundreds of ccs removed at a time without much soreness - 5ccs might feel just a tiny bit sore for a few days. I have no experience with raising a spared nipple to offer, have you seen any photos from your PS to see before and after?.

SeattleBound

Thank you, Marketingmom. Will check it out.

mye

Hi, I had my exchange surgery this week from TEs to Natrelle Anatomical gel implants 370cc both sides. Before going in, my breast cancer (right) side was bigger but higher than the other side. Now, a few days after surgery the right/cancer side looks l a cup smaller!) than the right/non cancer side! It looks really off. I'm trying to brush it off as after surgery swelling, but I'm worried. Is it possible that my PS would make such a big mistake?

I should probably also mention that before surgery my PS and I had decided to go with Inspira Round silicone filled implants, because I didn't want drains and I wanted the least amount of "surgery". However during surgery my PS made a judgement call to go with anatomicals based on how the sizers looked. The rounds left too much room etc and the PS would have had to do a lot more pocket work. The anatomicals fit just right she said and didn't need drains.

I really hope I don't need more corrective surgery.

Mominator

mye, I hear your worry, and I'm sorry things don't look even right now.

There are so many variables to consider. Your PS made a judgment call, and I would expect for a very good reason. Express your concerns at your next appointment. She may explain why the sides don't look even and what happens next.

My PS made a judgment call as well during my exchange surgery. He put a 50 cc larger implant in the right than the left.

He explained that he had to remove more tissue from both breasts. There was a layer of fat that was becoming necrotic. He removed 50 cc more from right than from left, thus the right needed a larger implant to look even.

(((HUGS))) Moninator

Anonymous

Hi ladies,

I've been reading some of the posts on this thread recently, even though I'm not at this point yet. I have expanders in and am getting fills. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I have learned SO much from all of you and I appreciate those willing to share their experiences.

Have a good weekend!

mye

Thanks Mominator. I don't mind so much that I ended up with different implants than decided, but I really hope they will start looking more even. I will keep you posted on what my PS says when I see her next week. So do yours look more even because of your PS's judgement call to add cc on one side?

robinblessed54

hi mye, I am a socal girl too! Where in socal are you?

I have annatomicals as well. I was expanded to 420cc and have 475cc on each side. Mine are even but have had them for 16 months. It takes awhile for them to feel like they are part of you. I have the tattoos but thinking of having nipple recon.

Try to step away from the mirror. But do as momenator ssid, make your concerns be known to your PS.

Best wishes, Robin