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  • Mykidsmom
    Mykidsmom Member Posts: 1,637
    edited October 2009

    Judy - Welcome back. We love to see your smiling face and receive your wise counsel!

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  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 1,092
    edited October 2009

    Thanks Jean..I see my PS on Wed and maybe I'll get a date and no longer be "in the future" lady in waiting"   Thank Heavens the fills are over!  JUDY

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  • geneskirt
    geneskirt Member Posts: 218
    edited October 2009

    O wow!  That makes sense,- so, in essence then, a larger implant than expander will have a bit of effect on the projection numbers? And the pocket is determined at the initial surgery(when the Expanders are placed in) and are what they are... unless surgically altered.... !  Crazy as it seems.... i never really understood it to this extent....

    ARen't I the 'compliant' patient.... lol!? 

     Oh!!!and i'm self-centered too.....:) i forgot to  tell you I am truly thankful Whippetmom for the time you invest  at your desktop.  Do you ever get tired of it?

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  • firstmate
    firstmate Member Posts: 410
    edited October 2009

    Mykidsmom  -  That is so great that you now have the "wow factor".  Congratulations!

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited October 2009

    geneskirt:  Nope....never get tired of it...figuring this stuff out for all of you just blesses the socks off of me Smile  To answer your ?.....not necessarily an impact on the projection numbers.  But you know, my TEs had a projection of around 6.4 cm and my implants have a projection of 5.6 cm and they project on me - I have the same profile - as I did with my TEs.  The reason for the excessive projection on the TEs is to stretch out that skin sufficiently for implant coverage, for skin integrity, to get a little ptosis or "droop" and, of course, to make us crazy wondering why we cannot have the same projection as our TEs....

    Karen W:  Your TEs had a width of 15.0 cm and projection of 6.3 cm - probably 6.5 cm with the overexpansion.  Your implants - they are the HP's ...are 15.5 cm wide by 6.0 cm projection. Pretty darn close.  I went back and looked at your photos and I think that a lift would be the least invasive remedy second to fat grafting. Ask about a crescent breast lift.  I don't even know how much it is done with breast recon...

    http://www.breast-plastic-surgery.org/crescent-breast-lift.html

    But I would not try to reduce the size of the pockets.   It can be done, but it is pretty intensive and invasive... not the procedure of choice for correcting ripples.  Are you really feeling that you are too large?  Could you go consult with Dr. Rast to ask him what he thinks?  Just to get a second opinion?

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  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 745
    edited October 2009

    Hi Deborah,

    Thank you for your help.  No I don't feel to big, they feel great, it is just the rippling at the top that I get, the step off, and the double bubble.  I think we were trying to avoid a lift, but that is what is going to need to be done, and I guess I have to pray the nipples hang on. Size wise they fit my body really well, I just want to wear something other than a turtle neck and feel normal.  Where is Dr. Rast?

    Hugs--Karen 

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited October 2009

    Dr. Rast is Laura's doctor in Kansas City....

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited October 2009

    Karen:  Dr. Rast is Laura's PS in KC.  Just ask about a lift.  Nothing is going to much impact the step-off issues apart from Alloderm or fat grafting...If you lift your breasts manually, the ripples disappear, right?  Well, mine do...so I assume yours do as well...

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  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 745
    edited October 2009

    Deborah--Yes, when I left them manually the ripples are gone!  I will see my PS on the 30th and see what he says, I don't know that I can get to KS, but I will think about it and a local second opinion.  Your doctor is in SF correct?  I could get there much more easily and have a multitude of friends in the area.

    You are great, please thank DH for all of us, I'm sure he wishes we would stop asking you questions!

    So, I'm writing a paper for school that is due tomorrow about the social construct of what being a woman means--does any one think what I'm writing now, is vastly different than what I would have written a year ago?  Umm, yes it is for me personally, I've learned you can take my breasts, uterus, ovaries, and chemically block whatever estrogen is left, and I still feel sexy, nurturing, feminine, gentle, strong like only women can understand, I think I may be more of a "woman" now than before everything got yanked.  Never would have thought I would feel this way. 

    Hugs--KarenW 

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited October 2009

    Amen Karen, amen!  You are gonna ACE that paper!

    [No....one of my plastic surgeons is in San Diego...so SD, not SF.]  I know your PS is one of the good ones out there so I think that you can eliminate the need for a second opinion.  Let us know what happens on the 30th!

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  • dani42
    dani42 Member Posts: 423
    edited October 2009

    Karen, I second Deborah's Amen!  The social construct of being a woman is powerful.  Look how we have all impacted and supported each other here?  In a situation where we were each brought to our knees, we held up one another, in spite of our own pain and devastation.  

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  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 745
    edited October 2009

    Deborah and Dani----You just made me cry.  You are all part of the reason why I want my MSW and LCSW you've given me so much, it will take me a lifetime of working with other women to balance it out.  Brought to our knees, Dani, so true.

    Love--Karen 

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited October 2009

    Karen...

    Your paper will be GREAT, your post is beautiful !  You are a strong amazing woman.

    Hugs..

    Alicia

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  • Hood1980
    Hood1980 Member Posts: 537
    edited October 2009

    Whippetmom, Deborah, Breast Whisperer (LOL)  I hope you don't mind us calling you that!  I've got an appointment with my ps on Wed.  My good friend Linda posted photos for me on the pix forum showing my lack of symmetry.  I'm definitely going ask for a lift on my good side!  I wish he had never lowered it!  Since I am going to have to go under surgery again do you have any suggestions on what size implant I should get on the healthy side?  I'm also going to ask about fat grafting on the mx to fill in the divot & to help with the drop off. 

    I'd greatly appreciate all of you ladies comments & Geneskirt - I sent you a PM since we are of similar size & diagnoses.  Have a good day ladies!

    Joyce

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  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 1,092
    edited October 2009
    KAREN:  Whomever gets that paper will not know what hit them.  You are SO right.  JUDY
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  • aoandrews43
    aoandrews43 Member Posts: 68
    edited October 2009
    KEW-You'll be a terrific social worker! I love the way you expressed your statement about being a woman. I struggle a bit with what that means right now (maybe because I've always had body image issues and I need to reframe how I think of my 'new' self). After chemo, I found myself wanting to wear more makeup and clothes that fit me better (I have no sense of style -- I should be a "what not to wear" person)--I think it was a way of wanting to connect more with what it means to be a woman and to be feminine. I found that the mastectomy was easier to cope with from this perspective than either losing my hair after chemo, or the thought that I have to take estrogen blocking drugs (tamoxifen for now) for maybe the next 10 years. Not sure why I am more attached to my hair and estrogen than my breasts (maybe since implants give at least the outward appearance of breasts).  Anyway, I ramble. But I gain a lot of strength from everyone on these boards. Thank you.
    Alice
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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited October 2009
    Joyce:  Your PS is going to need to take in a few sizers to see what works best.  I do not think it is so much the size - I think you have around 230 to 250 cc's now on the healthy side and that might be sufficient.  Rather, it is the profile of the implant which is going to give better symmetry.  I would opt for a high profile saline round or the high profile Becker expandable.  Sandy was able to get perfect symmetry with the expandable - so discuss these options with your PS.  She is going to perform the IMF repair first and then determine which implant works best...
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  • Angel10
    Angel10 Member Posts: 682
    edited October 2009

    Nedeza,

    So glad you are finished with the fills....that is a big hump to get over! You have a bit more waiting to do.....but future work/surgery should not be as painful...so congrats on the milestone!

    God Bless!

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  • Jazzygem
    Jazzygem Member Posts: 790
    edited October 2009

    YAY FOR LAURA!!! LAST HERCEPTIN!!!  WOO HOO!!!  Laughing

    Laura all of us are wrapping our arms around you!!  HUGS!!!

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  • Angel10
    Angel10 Member Posts: 682
    edited October 2009

    What??? I must have missed that post...Last Herceptin break out party for Laura!! Yeehaw!!!

    Laura....a long process, but we celebrate each road we leave behind for more carefree happy trails ahead!

    Congrats and God Bless!

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  • Bigapple09
    Bigapple09 Member Posts: 440
    edited October 2009

    Dopey question I know, but I'm still pretty new to this, what is step off? And what causes it?

    Alice how are you liking the new boobies this week?

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  • Jazzygem
    Jazzygem Member Posts: 790
    edited October 2009
    Alright girls...if you're feeling a bit blue...just head over to the picture forum..  Laughing
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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited October 2009

    Congrats Laura on the last HERCEPTIN ! woo HOO ~~~~~

    :)

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  • Jan1
    Jan1 Member Posts: 326
    edited October 2009

    Ladies, it took 45 minutes to read through 2 days of posts, you are all so amazing!  The snow is gone in upstate NY and the sun is shining.  I do have one observation, when it is really cold, the implant, mx side gets REALLY cold! 

    Laura!  Last HERCEPTIN!!!   Laura, dearest sister friend, if anyone ever deserved a party, it is YOU!  The 28th will be here before you know it and I think you are wise to get all of the tweak's to the procedures done at one time.  Rejoice today for the dues you have paid will be rewarded in days and years of memories. 

    Geena, You were missed and you have been overwhelmed with events in life that have piled on.  Hopefully everyone that is close to you have been supportive.  Hopefully those around you have not been "crazy" at the same time.

    Welcome Annie 7216,   Listen to Deborah, aka "the breast whisperer"  She has very sage advice.  I would have asked a lot of different questions to the PS with what I know now.  

    Wendy,  I am glad that you got answers about your weird cording thing.  It sure was a rude awakening to come from 70 degree CA weather to 30 degree weather. My skin around the implant on the mx side is so thin and man, the foob sure got cold.

    Welcome back JUDY!!  I hope that the cruise went well and that you came home refreshed. You were MISSED.

    KEW,  I love the idea behind your paper and you touched my heart.  The sum of (of lack of) does not define us as a woman.  The fear and trepidation beforehand of losing what we think defines us as women is amazing.  The support of the sisters here to hold and comfort and type us through those tough times is so curative.  You rock and the world will be so blessed to have a compassionate educated woman of experience to guide those that are stuggling.  

    Deborah, great advice as always, what would be do without your talent and gift of time and hunting for the truth regarding treatments and options.  

    Jan

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  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited October 2009

    Laura, congrats on your last herceptin!!!  That is a long road to have behind you.  I'm so excited for you and your upcoming revision.  I hope you'll be as happy as I am with mine.  Even tho it sounds like you're having a lot done during this surgery, you're a smart gal to get it all done at once.  Prayers for you and a great outcome.

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  • Angel10
    Angel10 Member Posts: 682
    edited October 2009

    Wendy...music to our ears...B9! YEAH! Congrats that nothing more disturbing than scar tissue is your issue..

    Ladies...let me go on the record here for saying as much as I USED to think I had a great set but could do without them....I MISS MY BREASTS!!!   I know....no cancer...but I miss my breasts... Enough said.

     

    God Bless us...with or without them!

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  • Bigapple09
    Bigapple09 Member Posts: 440
    edited October 2009

    Thank you Angel

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited October 2009

    Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    Janet, thank you so much for remembering. You might wanna PM me before your last treatment..ok.

    I have pneumonia. I will read... but posting is hard.

    Packer..PM me if you see this.

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  • MooreTennis
    MooreTennis Member Posts: 177
    edited October 2009

    Laura - so sorry to hear you have pneumonia. Please rest and take care of yourself. If there is anything you need or I can do to help, just call.

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  • dani42
    dani42 Member Posts: 423
    edited October 2009

    Oh Laura, that stinks.  Just when you should be kicking your heals in celebration you are sick with pneumonia.  Get some rest and feel better soon. 

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