Exchange City

deekaay

Cindy and Cameron,  Happy Exchange Eve!!!!!!!!  Hope everything goes perfectly tomorrow and that you are home healing very soon.  deekaay

TinaT

Cindy & Cameron:  WooHoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rowan

Same here!  Hope all goes well.

rowan

rehm046,

I am getting my fills very slowly, 50cc each time.  My PS is very conservative and that is fine with me, because I don't forget for a minute that I the TEs in.  BUT, it is much better than the first four weeks after surgery.

also, my PS only uses the round silicone because the tear drops might shift.

Everything was a blue to be prior to surgery...but my PS is very patient and answers any questions I have.  So,, I hope yours is too. 

rowan

wow, that last sentence doesn't make any sense, should read, "everything was a blur to me..."

SuebeeBC

YEAH - HAPPY EDAY!!!!!

Lilah

LOL Rowan -- I was sitting there trying to figure out what that meant!

Anniemomofthree

Good Luck Cindy and Cameron!  We will all be sending your happy thoughts about the new girls!

greytcruise

Exchange surgery over!  Had exchange surgery on Thurs.  Did have some lypo done on stomach, added fat to fill in.  TE's were 485cc, got Mentor High Profile 450ml (that is what is on card not cc's). I have 2 drain tubes.  Not much pain, icing alot and not able to move arms much.  Still on pain meds.  Said I could take off bandages in 48hrs, go to Dr. tomorrow to have drains removed and they can take off bandages. Pain is not that bad.  Good Luck tomorrow Cindy and Cameron. 

TinaT

greytcruise:  Yay!!!

SuebeeBC

Greytcruise - thanks for checking in!  Congrats!

TinaT

I hear lots of comments about silicone implants being softer than TEs, but do they feel lighter, heavier, or about the same weight as a comparably-filled tissue expander?

JoanDavies

My silcone implants are definitely softer and not as tight as the TEs, and they look more natural. But it still feels a little like there's something foreign in my chest. I don't bump into stuff like I did with the TEs, which is a huge plus.

Rnjules

Ladies,

what determines whether or not you have a drain at exchange? my PS said that he is planning to reopen the incision that is vertical. lower half of the foob from where the nipple was. He is not planning to open the incisions that I have underneath, which are healing really well. I did not have Alloderm, PS was able to create a dermal sling out of my own tissue for the pockets.Surgery is 7-11 the thought of another drain makes me scream, since the ones after BPwere sitting on nerves!

christine47

Good luck Cameron and Cindy, let us know how things go.

tory

Rnjules - I think it's the PS's preference. There are many women on here who didn't have drains for their exchanges. My PS thinks it helps everything heal faster, so I had them. I was totally bummed about it, but the drainage was much less than with my mastectomies and just like everything else you get past it. Hopefully you'll be so glad to have the miserable TEs out that you won't think too much about the drains, IF you have them. Good luck!

Lilah

Rnjules -- yes it is entirely up to the PS.  Mine told me she would definitely use one (and did).  Other PS's do not use them unless there is a problem... and some simply don't.  I think my PS is just super careful... but it is generally a much simpler surgery than the MX so many PS's do not use them.  Your best bet for getting the right answer to this question is to ask your PS what his plan/practice is.

TinaT

JoanDavies:  OK, softer and not as tight, but do they feel lighter or heavier than the TEs?  Thanks!

PennyG

TinaT, I got my exchange this week. I had 600cc TEs exchanged for 600cc silicone implants. I think they feel lighter. In fact, it's almost as if I have my natural breasts back in terms of feel.

JoanDavies

Tina, they don't feel heavier, but it's because they aren't hard and cemented in place like the TEs are. But because of that very thing, I worry about them dislocating. I'm so paranoid not having a bra on, and when I don't for even a short time, they feel "heavy" and hurt. I've been living in my sports bras for a month, and it feels better when I'm wearing one. Which really sucks because I used to be small enough to go without a bra pretty much all the time before.

JoanDavies

PS - my implants are 550 silicone, and my BF says I look bigger now, although I don't think so. I think I'm wider, but not really "bigger."

Estel

TinaT - I can't give you an answer concerning weight TE vs. implants.  I had so much pain with the TE's ... I wasn't aware of the weight, just the pain.  Is the silicone gel heavier than saline?  I don't know. 

TinaT

Thanks all, I haven't had any additional fills since surgery in Feb. Hopefully  will finally get back on track at my appt. on Friday and start discussing fills and implants.  My TEs are bottom-heavy right now, but only at half-capacity on one side and less on the other so I'm envisioning that adding more fluid will plump up the upper poles.  I'm just trying to imagine how much more saline will be necessary to even things out a bit without making the implants feel too bottom heavy.  Glad to hear they typically feel lighter than the TEs!  I am just amazed at how differently each plastic surgeon works.

I have been in contact with whippetmom and she thinks I'm on the right track.  I just started to wonder about the weight of the implants...

eulabt

Good luck Cindy and Cameron today! You will be amazed at how much better you will feel.

annettek

yeah gcruise! how cool is that:)

GO GO GO CAMERON and CINDY!!

TinaT- my implants were initially only a little softer than my TEs, perhaps because I have extremely tight pec muscles, but, as each week goes by they are becoming much more soft and pliable. Less like an implant, if that makes sense. Time is the great healer I guess. I go without a bra for a few hours a day but feel much better in one, I guess since I know they are still healing and changing for up to a year from exchange.

renmars21

Hi Everyone-I had my exchange on 17th.  I have a Mentor 600CC High Profile on my MX side and a Mentor 350 Smooth Round Moderate on my native side.  Prior to BC I was a 34-36 B/C.  I am 5'7" and 135 pounds. Im noticing that my MX side looks kind of flat and round (kind of like a hamburger bun ) Is this normal and do they fluff in time?

MBJ

renmars:  I have very similar, though slightly smaller implants.  Yes, my MX side took about 3-4 months to fluff up and look less like a hamburger bun.  It felt like it took forever and then all of a sudden the muscle relaxed and no more hamburger bun.  Give it some time..

renmars21

Thanks MBJ!

rebetata

RNjules I had a drain after my exchange. I think the reason fo rme was I had pocket work done as well. I have the 800 Alergan style 20  implant and they are great. I hope you get the size you are looking for.

I think your surgery day will bring you luck.

Well my nipe are healing great no more stitches although they do continue to shrink my right is still bigger than my left but only me and my DH know that so I am ok with that. Life is so busy lateley I do read the boards regularly.

Thank God for Lilah and MBJ they are so consistent and helpful to all of us.

Hugs to all of you,

Rebecca

Lilah

Aw Rebecca you are a sweetie!

Jerusha -- calling Jerusha -- how are you doing????  Please let us know!