March 2014 Surgery

Juliecc

Awe!  Easton is so cute!

linda505

KLJ - what a beautiful baby!!!

Julie - great picture!!  You look happy can't wait to have a normal day - some day lol.   

Ally2345

Love these pics!!  

Ally

iwannaseeyoubebrave

Great pictures! 

ucfmom

Aw, I love the pictures!  I need to post some but I'm on the iPad this morning and the pics are all on my phone.  We're in Key West now - arrived on Thursday night and will be here through Sunday morning.  

I called NOLA last week and learned they are finally scheduling Vinnie Myers appointments into next year.  I submitted all the info they requested - insurance, path reports and op notes for both surgeries at the end of last week.  I got a call yesterday saying they will contact my insurance company then call me back within the week to get me scheduled.  If my insurance pays anything my cost will be $400 for one 3D nipple tattoo, or $600 if they don't.  I'm excited to get this done!  I have opted not to have nipple reconstruction, just the tattoo.

Frostecat

Just had my final fill, I am now at 655 cc's.  Dr. and I discussed my final surgery.  He wanted to take some nipple from my good breast and make a new nipple for surgical side , but I don't have a large enough aerola so that won't be happening.  He also discussed filling in some of the "pocket" areas that will be sunk in slightly with fat from other parts of my body.  Like above the implant and under the arm. I.E. liposuction it out and insert around the implant for softness.  He said insurance does not cover a portion of this, but said, as long as your under if your going to get it done get it done, and most of it will be covered.  He told me he would provide me with my cost, and he deeply discounts breast cancer patients.  I have not heard of this from anyone else - does anyone else have a story to relate to this?   P.S.  the date I picked for my surgery is his birthday - wasn't sure if that was a good thing or bad thing then he started cracking jokes about going and partying at the strip clubs the night before.  He saw the deer in the headlights look on my face, then started cracking up laughing.  I'm glad he's got a sense of humor!

Ucfmom - I was telling the person in my PS office about Vinnie, they have an esthetician that does tattoos and I told her to look him up.  She was really interested in learning more of his story.  I did read somewhere else, that if you are going to have a tattoo be sure to go to an artist and not someone who just does it in the office.

SpecialK

frostecat - I had fat grafting by lipo and it was covered by my insurance.  The donor area was the abdomen and I needed the fat injected above the implants and just slightly down into the cleavage.  This was the best thing I did recon-wise as it filled in the divots on my chest (I am pretty thin and bony there) and made things look much more natural, rather than coconut shell under the skin.  It should be coded as a revision by your doc, I had no insurance issues.  Also, tattoos in medical offices use a different kind of ink than a regular tattoo artist and those usually fade more quickly and have to be touched up more often, regular tattoos are more permanent.  Makes it more important to get it right the first time though!

Frostecat

Thanks again SpecialK for your wealth of knowledge.  If he's taking any fat it's off my stomach for sure! That's good news to hear that you were happy with the results.  However "bony" is not a word I would use to describe myself. But it sounds like I'm going to lose some of my tummy in the process . . . Yay!

I'm not a fan of surgery by any stretch of the means but I know this time it will be far different than the last.  Last time I felt perfectly fine and was struggling with the idea of a surgery that would maim me, where this time around I'm actually looking forward to getting this TE out and god willing putting an end to a big part of this journey.  I know it will never be over, but getting this part of it over is something that I am definitely looking forward to.

SpecialK

frostecat - don't look for too much reduction in the tummy.  Plastic surgeons have to be careful to only remove as much fat as they will use to make the revision to the chest.  If they remove more (and all of these amounts are in the surgical report which is submitted to the insurance company) than they need the procedure can be termed "cosmetic" and denied.  Some docs will do a combination of revision and cosmetic and bill you for a portion - mine will not because he has seen the whole thing denied and feels like it is too risky financially for the patient.  Be aware that my post-op instructions prohibited going to the gym for 8 weeks, could not exercise at all and had to wear a compression garment (Spanx) for all eight weeks, 24 hours a day. As I said though, it really improved the look, and in the final analysis was totally worth it. 

Frostecat

My PS already advised me there would be an out of pocket expense for me, so I guess it is the combo.  He is supposed to be giving me the costs for that soon.  I guess I'm on board with it, as long as I'm doing it, I might as well do it!  Lord knows I need help in that department, and if I already have to go through the procedure and healing anyways, I might as well be happy with the results.  He spoke of doing lipo on my stomach and mid back area, I would be happy with the stomach.  Even when I was skinny, I had a pooch!  Of course this all depends on the cost of the procedure.  I've never considered myself a "plastic surgery kind of person", but since I have to go through it anyways . . . . Of course now I am hearing all of the horror stories about lipo.

My PS spoke to me about going through cancer and how devastating it is, and as long as I'm going through all of this, I might as well do something to help me feel and look better.  He said sometimes it's just the thing that triggers a healthier lifestyle too.  If you look better, you can feel better.  I guess I can't type into words, but it really did make sense.  My husband was totally on board with it too, which surprised me, but then maybe he was trying to tell me something subliminally - lol??

This will take place at a surgery center in my PS building, not at the hospital.  Is everyone else doing the same, or back to the hospital?

Thanks SK for the more detailed description, this all makes more sense now.

SpecialK

frostecat - I had mine at a surgery center but the fat grafting was done a while after exchange. Also, an FYI, the compression garments are important because the lipo cannula creates tunnels which can fill with fluid if not compressed. If you have abdominal lipo you can end up with a seroma, so definitely follow the instructions for how long to wear compression.

Juliecc

Special K and Frostecat, I will also have fat grafting from my stomach during exchange to fix a dent.  Hopefully she'll put it in other places too.  Special K, how "supportive/tight" do the garments need to be?  I have a couple of spanx like ones that aren't too tight but offer some compression.  I bought an extra supportive one bigger than my size and I can't even wrestle it on.  I'll be returning it.  I can't imagine it would be good to be using your arms that much.  I have the kind like bike shorts that cover the thighs, too.  I was thinking I'll bring a bag of my bras and garments to my pre-op appointment to ask my PS what I should wear.

Frostecat

Hmm, I took it that he would do the fat grafting at that time, but I could be wrong. Sometimes when I'm sitting in those Dr. offices, stuff just flies right by me.  Thanks for the good advice.

KLJ

Frostecat, My exchange surgery is being done at a hospital but as an outpatient procedure.

Looking for some input. What has recovery been like with the exchange? My surgery is scheduled for Sept. 2 and we have a family reunion at the beach about 5 hours from us starting on the 13th. Should I even think about this? At this point I will take the exchange surgery over the reunion. Really anxious to get rid of these expanders. Also, flying on Aug. 1st. Do I need something from my PS stating that I have expanders in place to avoid an extensive search? I am flying into Phoenix and have heard some horror stories about their search rules. Don't want to get caught up in that!

SpecialK

klj - I flew a lot with TE and never had a problem.  Your PS should have the medical device cards though, just ask them for a copy.  Carry it in your pocket because if they stop you for any extra screening your bags will have already gone through the screening and you won't be able to access them.  I also had a chemo port in my chest at the same time - never had anything other than a pat down of my shoulders.

Julie - I wore pretty tight compression, but I had not just had exchange surgery, my fat grafting was done quite a bit later.  One piece of advice - get compression that has a snap or hook and eye crotch.  Trust me on this, lol!  It will hurt less if you are not constantly taking the compression off to go to the bathroom!  Also it is important to have a couple so you always have a clean one available since you have to wear it 24 hours a day.

Juliecc

Thanks KLJ.  I didn't know they made them with snap crotches.  :-)  Maybe I shouldn't bother with the kind that cover the thighs, too.

KLJ

Thanks SpecialK, I am going to ask for a card just in case! This is going to be a FUN trip to see my artsy friends before my exchange surgery. I haven't seen any of them since this whole cancer thing started! Art retreat and shopping extravaganza. Can't wait!

FrannyM424

Hello March sisters! Been too long since I visited. Wanted to say Hi & glad to hear everyone seems to be doing well with their fills & getting their exchange surgery dates. Am I the only one who hasn't had a fill yet? My PS filled my TE to the max of 350 at time of surgery march 7th. My skin really needed a few months to heal after lumpectomy, re-excision lumpectomy then mastectomy. Skin was stretched pretty taut with the 350cc. Hoping we can overfill to 450cc & schedule my exchange surgery for end of October. Just filled my 4th bottle of tamoxifen. Doing ok on that, some minor side effects but nothing that would make me stop taking.  Looking forward to a cruise to Bermuda in 3 weeks - Life is Good! Hope all you wonderful ladies enjoy the rest of your summer!

XO Franny

sandra4611

Franny, you sound wonderful! Slow and steady wins the race. My PS only had me wait one month after the last fill, but they are all different. Have a fabulous cruise. Wish I were going with you. Cruising is the BEST!

iwannaseeyoubebrave

Hi Franny! Happy to hear you are doing well.  How exciting that you are going on a cruise!   Enjoy relaxing and being catered like a princess.  You deserve it!  As far as fills go, there's no hurry in the stretch. That's great that you are tolerating the Tamoxifen.  I'm also on it and so far so good. I'm learning that I have to keep walking/moving to avoid stiffness, which I think is one of the side effects.  Have a super fantastic trip! 

ucfmom

I woke up today with some red streaky looking spots on my left leg.  Looks like some pretty bad razor burn but I haven't shaved my legs in a week.  It's only on one leg but I have a few more spots than I did earlier.  I'm seeing my doctor this afternoon but does anyone have an idea what this could be?  I'm not taking any meds and haven't changed detergent or soap.  So odd!

linda505

Ucfmom- did you get new pants or new body lotion?   That sure looks like an allergic reaction to a cream or material or something maybe even a bit of a heat rash.  New sheets?  

ucfmom

No, same old pants, sheets, etc.  I did put some cocoa butter on the spots that were there this morning thinking that wouldn't hurt, but that was after the fact.  It reminds me of when I was a teenager and would shave my legs and go to the beach.  As soon as I got in the water, little red spots would appear.  lol  But no streaking like this. And I've gained some more streaks as the day has gone on.

SpecialK

ucfmom - I would take some Benadryl and use a cortisone cream and see if it goes away.  That would tell you if it was an allergic reaction or something else.

Frostecat

Curious - do the Mods sometime delete posts when a dollar figure is used?  I had a post on this thread and another regarding additional lipo costs at exchange and I don't see them anymore?  I was just trying to find out if anybody else has an out of pocket cost at exchange for an extra little lipo and what it was?

Frostecat

I thought I posted this a couple of days ago, but apparently not. 

My PS discussed doing some additional lipo during my exchange, due to
the fact he has to do it anyways for fat grafting, so might as well do
the whole thing. Well - I just received the quote, almost $8,500!
YIKES, I said to myself I will just be fat! But I also noticed in the
quote the lipo under the armpit - isn't that included? Exparel - isn't
that included? Fat -grafting charge? I guess my question is, did you
have any out of pocket expenses that you had to pay for to achieve
better cosmetic results? I told the gal in the PS office - "I'm not
like your wealthy lady clients, I'm only here because I have to be!"
This whole journey has already been an expensive one, I guess it
continues to be.

SpecialK

frostecat - what is included for exchange is what is medically necessary - if not, its cosmetic, ask for two estimates - one for the revision only and see what areas he is planning on, and one for the additional cosmetic work.  Exparel is not standard, probably why they are charging you, I have never had it and I have had 11 surgeries in 3 different facilities.

linda505

Frostecat - I kiddingly asked my PS about doing a facelift while I was under for the exchange.  He told me if he does anything at all outside the realm of what is needed for the reconstruction that it could jeopardize the insurance coverage so he never does and that includes removing any fat from anywhere that he doesn't place back in for the reconstruction.  I guess it is measured and weighed??  Anyway - my understanding is that any work that is done to finish my reconstruction is covered subject to my deductibles and out of pockets of course.   I would ask them to relook at those items and remove the lipo part and see what your costs are then.

Frostecat

I mean why stop at lipo - lord knows I can use a lot more, I've got jowls and a chin that needs lifting too.  I'm waiting to hear back from them on a revised quote.  I guess what my PS said made sense.  You are already going to be under, you are already having fat removed, you will already have to deal with recovery, this might help you look and feel better and it might encourage me to live a healthier lifestyle.  And no matter how thin I have been my whole life, I have always had the belly "pooch", and since reaching my 50's the "menopop" right above it!  I'm not the type of person who would normally seek out plastic surgery, but since I'm already doing it, I thought I might consider it - but I didn't think it would cost that much more!

ucfmom

Frostecat, you'd think they'd cut you a beak on the price, since as he said you're already going to be under!  

My doctor said I have vasculitis and those red spots are tiny broken blood vessels. She thinks they will start to fade out in a few days.   She's never been wrong before, so I guess we'll see.  But it doesn't fit anything I've read about it online.   They did blood work while I was there, so hopefully nothing weird shows up.