Exchange City

JamieB86

Patience ladies - you'll be back up and running before you know it.  Enjoy the break!

loulou24

My new girls are on the picture forum ! I love it ! So soft and so natural !

annemarieh

Congratulations loulou24!!!! Sounds like you are very happy!!

Skibunny

Dulcigiril - I have Allergen round gummy 800ml ones. They were the biggest ones my plastic surgeon uses, but think they look small on me as I am so tall with a large frame (not fat! Just a tall girl!).

Blessings - thanks so much for the advice on the bras. Really useful. I got some vouchers for Christmas for an expensive, but very good shop in the UK and am looking forward to getting some nice new undies!!

Actually - on that note, for those of you who have had bilateral implants, do you actually need to wear a bra? One of the only good things about the expanders for me was not having to wear a bra even if I was exercising!

Recent-surgery-girls, I'm bored too!!! And tired. I really struggle to sleep on my back - I like lying on my front, so haven't really slept since my op 2 days ago.

Loulou, so pleased you are really happy with yours.

x

CindyLooWho

My ps said sports bras for awhile. She also just wrapped me with a ace bandage to help them settle and keep them in. She said to wear it a few hours day. This was after I told her that they were wider than I was expecting. She said they didn't look like that on the table, it's swelling. She said plan on two weeks before it goes down.



She would rather I go braless than wear underwire down the road.

Skibunny

I'm wearing a sports bra and have folded up pillowcases and shoved them down each side to try and push them forwards rather than sideways! Don't know if it will work - and it's rather uncomfortable (ha!) but going to give it a go anyway.

Still soooooooo bored.....

Merlcat

Mine are going to be an adjustment- I too am a tall-ish girl( 5' 9 3/4" around 130 lbs but I have a small frame- 32 bra band and size 25 jeans) I used to be a 32 dd but I did decided that I wanted to be smaller- wow! Compared to the TE my new boob looks TINY! I hope that I'm not too tiny now...I don't wanna end up looking like a 12 year old boy

Skibunny

Me too Merlcat!! I'm 5' 11''. Used to be 36DD and liked being busty but feel tiny too. Don't want to end up having my stomach stick out further than my boobs!! It's never a good look!

Merlcat

Stomach bigger than boobs definitely icky.12 year old boy definite turn off too....which is worse !? Stupid damned breast cancer....( oops sorry to be negative)

CindyLooWho

Skibunny try the ace bandage. Or they sell these bands online that you can get too. My ps says it helps.

Skibunny

Thanks. Have ordered some online so will hopefully get them on Tuesday.

annemarieh

Cindy, what kind of bands? (trying to get as much together as I can for after surg) Appreciate it! You all are a great help!

CindyLooWho

They look like this.



http://www.makemeheal.com/mmh/product.do?id=93857



Ps said you could also use a heavy ace bandage.

Andrea623

I'm not sure I understand what that band does. Can someone explain it to me?

jezza

Just wanted to tell you girls that I had my exchange done 20 years ago and still have the original implants with no problems.

Wishing you all the very best.

hugs

jezza xx

loulou24

Jezza: 20 years !!! You give me hope !!!! Thank you !!!

CindyLooWho

Andrea the band goes over the upper pole to help keep the implants in the pockets. It's not forever, just until they settle in.

Andrea623

Thanks, Cindyloo! How long does it take for them to settle? Is this something you wear all day, or just at night?

CindyLooWho

Since I'm only on day one I can't answer the settling question.



I think it varies too.



My ps said to wear it when I'm home, as long as I can stand it. She said it doesn't have to be all day. I can tell you I have been wearing the ace bandage since about 2:30 and it is driving me nuts. She had to wrap it a few times so it is up under my arm pit and rubbing. I ordered the band I think that will be better.

Andrea623

The band looks like it would be more comfortable than ace bandages. Be sure to let us know how you like the band when you get it. Congrats on your exchange! It must be wonderful to get rid of those awful TEs!

Grier

Whooohooo CLW and Merlcat!  Glad you're on the other side and doing well. XO

OBX - Would love to take you up on your offer next time we're there. Lovely!

Missy123

I'm so upset!  In August I had a bilateral skin sparing masectomy with tissue expanders.  Ten days ago I had my exchange.  Doctor used Allergan full profile implants.  I know it's only 10 days from my exchange but the results look awful!  I saw my doctor today to get my stiches removed and I asked him about this.  He doesn't think things will change much from how they look now.  They are very full on the top half but not very much on the bottom half where I think it should be the other way around.  There is a big fold of tissue at the bottom part of my breast that would fill out if the implant fills out in the bottom half.  Then each breast seems to have about an inch or two concave portion running through them.  Please tell they do start to look better over time!!!

CindyLooWho

Missy I'm so sorry you are not happy. I have not heard of anyone having these issues! Maybe some of the other girls. Have you considered a second opinion?

Missy123

Thank you Cindy,

Yes, if things don't improve I will definitely get a second opinion.

Blessings2011

Merlcat and CindyLooWho: DOING THE HAPPY DANCE FOR YOU!!! 

Missy123 - When my Exchange bandage came off, there was an area underneath my foob that looked completely flat, like the implant couldn't fit into the pocket or something. I was freaking out.

Turns out, somehow my skin got really squished under my big Ace bandage, and after a couple of weeks, that flat, empty space filled up.

After every exchange surgery, there is a period of adjustment, lovingly referred to  as "Drop and Fluff".

What this means is that the swelling that occurred naturally during your surgery starts to go down, and the implant itself starts moving down your chest wall towards the pockets your PS created for them.

Once the permanent implants "drop" down into the pockets, then they soften, and "fluff" out and conform more to your rib cage like a natural breast.

This process can take a few weeks or a few months. Some women still see changes taking place 9 months after Exchange.

What does your PS say the "concave areas" are?

Seriously, you really are just out of surgery....wait a few weeks and see if you notice any changes. Be sure to communicate your concerns to your PS.

If you haven't already done so, you might want to start a photo journal to get a better idea of how your permanent implants are changing the farther away from exchange you get.

sweetandspecial

Hello all!  I had my final fill two days ago and am now at 600cc in both TEs (Natrelle 133MV-15, 600cc capacity).  I'm really excited to be done with the fills but don't know my exchange date yet.  I see my PS again in a month and will have an in-depth discussion with him at that time regarding expectations and recommendations.  I've been PM-ing with Whippetmom and have a couple of recommendations from her to discuss with PS.

My TE's actually look pretty nice with GREAT cleavage.  I didn't understand until I asked my PS why some women end up with lots of space between their foobs and some don't. He explained that it's related to the natural placement of a woman's pec muscles.  Since the TE's are under the pecs, if the pecs don't come into the center of the chest then the TE's can only get as close together as that allows.  I do have some armpit fluff that PS said he can eliminate at exchange.  Hmmmm....sure has been a whole new world of knowledge since this journey began.

Anyway, now that I'm done with fills and naturally am now beginning to worry just a bit about exchange results I'll keep reading and asking questions on these threads.  I stressed to my PS that I want to have good projection (I've read so much about disappointment after exchange in that area) and we'll go over all that in detail at my next appointment, including Whippetmom's recommendations.

Kudos to all you lovely ladies! 

btw...I would love to visit the photo site.  I've PM'd Lilah a couple of times and never heard anything back.  Any suggestions?

CindyLooWho

I have a small valley Between my girls. She released the pec to get them closer. I like where they are I didn't want them touching.



I had arm pit fluff with the TEs too, because they were sitting so high. The implants are lower so that is gone now too.



I can't wait for the swelling to subside. Ps said they looked great on the table, I want to see what she saw. I must say though, they look pretty good now. I think they can only get better. The TEs looked like Portuguese rolls in clothes, these are better already. And like Blessings says...I so rarely go topless in public any more....lol

Layla2525

Congrats loulou on your switch to the squishy side.

Yes,C square I had the Q pump right after my bmx and I can agree. The pain was worse with the TE fills than after surgery.

Andrea,You are living my fantasy life,to be in Utah with Alaskan Malamutes. I have a Germ Shepherd but poor creature is getting old. The summers in FL make me wanna head for the mountains. Got stuck in SLC cause I missed my plane and Utah was great. Everyone was nice to me. Whats wrong with those people??!!!

Ossa

Ladies. Have any of you ben on a flight since your exchange?? I am Going to Vegas in March and was wondering if I need to tell security personnel about implant  before I go through scanner.. Dont want any issues

ssc19

Had my exchange on 1/23 and unfortunately am not pleased with the results. I am 5'3" and about 135lbs (should be more like 120, I am small boned). Before my bilateral mastectomies I was a 34DD/36D. Wanted to be a full C. 3 days out from exchange I look flat and saggy in my opinion. Will see PS on Thursday, but in meantime I cry when I look at them in the mirror. Any advice is appreciated. (My TEs were filled to 510ccs) my mentor moderate plus implants are 450 ccs. Soo disappointed.