Questions about Implants

Melgirl

I have been back and forth about reconstruction. I have TE's under my muscle. My PS inflated to 300cc in surgery and I had a lot of pain. I do realize a lot of my pain was from the BMX. I had him take out 120cc after I started chemo. I did have some pain relief especially sternal pain. I have really been thinking about going flat after chemo. But there is still part of me that worries it will mess with my head to be completely flat (I don't want prosthetics). So I am back to questioning implants. Here are my questions.

Do you ever get used to feeling something underneath your muscle? I am 4 months out and have a hard time shutting a window, opening bottles and opening bags.

Does the implant feel heavy on your chest? I was a DD but only want a large B? maybe small C

How was the recovery? I'm a Nurse, I may need to drop to the floor and do CPR

Can you sleep on your stomach? I can't even sleep on my side because the TE's hurt...I miss it!! (I use LOTS of pillows)

THANKS SO MUCH!!

DeeRatz

Melgirl-Tissue expanders are very uncomfortable and hard. I called mine rocketboobs, I always felt them especially after a fill. You have to remember they are only temporary and are there to stretch the skin and muscle, thus making a pocket for your implants. I hated my expanders, but at the same time I was very grateful to not be flat. I was able to wear a bathing suit last summer which was important to me. Once you have exchange surgery you will hardly notice your implants. They are softer and feel more natural. I too had issues with opening jars, wiping counters, pushing/pulling and my expanders. These issues have pretty much disappeared. The only time they are very uncomfortable is when I am at the gym and doing exercises/weights that cause my pecs to flex. I don't think you would have any issues performing CPR.

Recovery from the exchange surgery was waaay easier than the BMX. I was tender for a few days but nothing major. I think I took 3 pain pills and then I was good.

I was sleeping on my side a few weeks post exchange. I am not a stomach sleeper but I am able to lay on my stomach with no problems. The implants don't bother me at all. I have cohesive gel implants.

Good luck with your decision. If you have more questions feel free to ask

Melgirl

Thank you DeeRatz. That helps a lot!

Blessings2011

Melgirl - 300ccs in your TEs at surgery is a lot! Especially when everything else that has been cut and sutured is trying to heal. You were smart to have the PS remove some saline.

Honestly, I think most of my post-BMX pain came from the TEs. It took a very long time for the pain to go away, and required me to actually TAKE the pain meds I was sent home with.

But once I started getting fills, the TEs moved off some of the nerves they were compressing, and felt better.

The TEs were like boulders attached to my chest, and making everything more difficult. I did have the same difficulty you did with opening windows, etc.

Prior to surgery, I was a 42DDD. At exchange, I got 700cc high profile saline implants, making (after weight loss) a 38D or DD.  Yes, they are a bit heavy, and yes, I was initially aware of them every minute of every day. My MO explained that I'd had 50 years of my brain being used to the Original Girls, and now it had to get used to the feeling of the New Girls. Now, unless I am consciously thinking about them, or lifting something heavy, I don't pay much attention. I can sleep in any position. My arms would be stronger if I worked out more. (I could, but I'm lazy.)

It's been four years. I was like you.... thought I would try recon first, then go flat if I didn't like it. There were many days where I wanted to just quit the process... (one memorable night during recovery, the TEs hurt so bad I told DH to take me back to the hospital, or I would remove them myself) but that passed.

It's tempting to say you will go from a DD to a B cup, but be careful. The PS knows what he/she is doing when they measure your chest and take into consideration all the factors of implant sizing. There are SO many variables! Many women do choose a more "athletic" look, but you don't want to look in the mirror every day and see ping-pong balls where you could have had baseballs. (I know, stupid analogy.)

Wishing you the best, and HAPPY NATIONAL  NURSES WEEK!

Melgirl

Thank you so much Blessings. Great advice!

kaycee3

I am 3 days out from my reconstruction. I had a tissue expander on the right side since December. It was filled to 400 cc's. I called it my plastic barbie boob. I have no pain on the right side and I'd say the pain on the left is not too bad. The implant feels very different than the expander. It is not as heavy and uncomfortable. I thought I'd feel it too, but so far it feels very comfortable. I have not tried to sleep any other way than on my back for now. The recovery is much much better than mastectomy. I was really nervous about that because the mastectomy really knocked the wind out of me. I feel like I'll be able to get back to my regular exercise routine much sooner. Good luck!!

Melgirl

thanks kaycee!

Jenwith4kids

I'm one year out from my reconstruction. I feel GREAT. I never thought I'd feel good again, I never thought I'd NOT think about these "things" under my muscle. It so totally gets better. I promise.

Recovery from the implant surgery was a breeze. The difference from the TEs was immediate. The implants are mushy and squishy. Getting used to them took a little longer. It wasn't until very recently - very recently - that I actually can look at them and say, "hey, these are BOOBS".

Oh, and I totally sleep on my stomach.

PM me if you want to talk more about it.

Jen

Melgirl

Thank you so much Jen! What kind of implants did you choose?

mesharon1959

Implants are much softer and more pliable than tissue expanders, and look more natural as well. I'm a gal who lost 20 lbs post BMX. That doesn't include the breast weight I lost - I was an over-flowing DD and will be a full C or small D when I'm finished with the exchange surgery (coming up June 17 - six months after my BMX). The plastic surgeon I have is conservative, and seeing my weight loss, advised me to go slightly smaller than the size I am shooting for. But from my perspective, I'm much smaller than I was, and looking forward to the exchange very much.

My biggest issue is balance. After having so much breast weight, I find myself off balance sometimes when I have to bend over, or if I'm walking fast around a corner. My whole center of gravity is off key. I had my ears checked out thinking it was maybe something going on with my inner ear, but the doctor said they were fine. I am looking forward to the gummy bear cohesive gel implants - the shaped ones. My PS is doing some fat grafting as well.

Strange thing - maybe now that reality is setting in after all the trauma since my mammogram in August of 2015, I'm having dreams at night that I have my nipples again and none of this happened. I'm hoping I won't have this dream for a bazillion years. At least I'll have a new pair of nipples with tattooed areola after the surgery. During the surgery my PS is going to create an 'origami' raised nipple so I should look relatively 'normal' (is anything normal anymore?) except for the scars. I'm ready for this to be at an end.

You shouldn't have any issues with healing, comfort, sleeping positions, etc. after your exchange procedure. Make sure you have a really good PS. I trust mine with every fiber in my being. Ask your PS a bazillion questions, let them know of your concerns, and they'll take care of you the way you are most comfortable.

Best of everything!

Melgirl

Thanks for sharing Mesharon. I was also a big DD, but I haven't noticed the balance issues. I have been leaning toward the silicone gel implant myself. And my PS is also doing fat grafting. I started thinking the other day that I sure would like to have some extra lipo done! Then I thought, why not do something for myself and have a tummy tuck during the exchange!! I'm going to talk to my PS this week about it!

Right now I'm thinking I won't do nipple recon....mainly because I would like to go braless. I'm thinking of a large tattoo on my chest instead.

BethL

meshaton- I don't have dreams about nipples but I do have phantom nipples. I can point to where they should be without looking. It's odd but I know where they need to go based on where my brain thinks they are.

Soancika

Just had my exchange on Friday. Ps and I decided on Natrelle extra full profile smooth Inspira's. She also did fat grafting and put it on top of my implants to give a more natural slope and cleavage. I also asked her to do a full abdominal lipo, figured if she is going to be digging in there already, might as well take all. I felt instant relief. No more tighness, no more rib or shoulder pain. I feel great. Breasts didn't hurt at all after, just lipo area, but still nothing compared to pbm. And I love love my new fake boobs. My ps did a wonderfull job. You will be ok. All the best on your journey!

Melgirl

Oh Soancika that is excellent news!! Thank you for sharing!!