Visible ripples in implants

Vanderlady-hope all went well and you are resting. I was an IC while I was a MT because the office I worked for didn't want to take out my taxes. In a way it's good to be considered an employee because you may get some benefits and they should be able to take out your taxes for you.

Determined and Kate-make that three. I see my Dr in Jan and if I do consider a revision I think I should wait at least six months too. Beside that my DH is having foot surgery and will be home for 5 weeks (help me! LOL) I guess I'll have to wait on him so I won't be able to have surgery until he's recovered. I agree with you Determined that we should be satisfied. I am happy and grateful but honestly it does bother me a lot to know I have all these ripples and many other women don't and I wonder if it could/should be taken care of to give me a better result.

Vanderlady-How are you doing? Glad to hear your happy so far and the pain is gone! Did you Dr have to do any pocket work to raise the implants up or did the bigger size just bring them up higher. I feel the same way as you I think mine have a lot of fullness on the bottom and not as much on the top. How was the surgery? Any pain or discomfort? My friend had her exchange the same day as you and is in a lot of pain. I feel so bad for her. Her Dr did so much work and rearranging things. I took her to her appt today and she was so banged up and bruised.

Hello Ladies

I just found this thread...started reading and realized I had 7 pages to read through.  I have skimmed alot...just wanted to add my experience about rippling.

I had a right unilateral nipple sparing mastectomy on June 28 at Mayo Clinic in AZ with immediate reconstruction using Alloderm.  I was small breasted to begin with (barely A) and I am a slender person.  I see rippling, but only when I raise my right arm high (as when I am shaving underarms).  This is only on the upper part of the right breast, nowhere else. 

The alloderm was placed below the pectoralis muscle on the lower part of the breast, so there is really nothing but muscle and skin covering the implant.  I went from a barely A to a full D (Natrelle, 354 cc).  My left breast got 270 cc and I am perfectly symmetrical.  I am very, very pleased with my results.  You can see the progression over the past few months on Tim Tam's site.

I haven't posted since the end of October, but I will again over there.  I think I will take a photo of my arm raised so the ripple can be seen.  When I am lying down, standing up straight, whatever, you cannot see a ripple at all.

My PS went over every option with me, including fat grafting, prior to any decsion I had to make.  I had not even had a lumpectomy when I first met with her.  My BS sent me to see her so I would be fully informed prior to my whole treatment sequence in the event I needed to make a decision (which I did after the lumpectomy). 

In regard to fat grafting, the BS said she would never recommend it because she does not think there has been enough study done on long term results. 

speech- Just checked out your pics because I hadn't realized you had posted new ones.  You look so great!  Now I really want the name of your PS!!

sweetie- Me, too!  I just keep forgetting to get my DH to take them when he's home.  (He's out of town half the week!)  I tried to take them myself but couldn't quite get the angle right.

Janleigh-Welcome to our ripple club! Not the club you wanted to join,right?! All of us here have some issues with rippling that we are not happy with and we have been discussing ways this can be addressed. It seems sometimes you can get a revision to a bigger implant (my Dr recommended this to me). Some women have tried fat grafting with some success and still others think exercise can help the issue. I think the thinner skin is a big contributor with the ripples. I have ripples on both sides and wen I bend over they go all the way down the side and to the bottom of both breasts. If you are only seeing the ripples on one side it seems it would possibly  be the thin skin on that side. Do you feel your implant is large enough for the pocket? Have you talked to your Dr about it at all? We are all here still trying to figure out how to address of indivual ripple issues. I too wear a bra 24/7 and in a bra everything looks good. Without I have ripples even standing up straight.

Hi ladies-ok I started a ripple thread on the pic forum. I posted my pics and I invite you to add yours to my thread if you'd like. Hopefully we can track our issues and some of us may have revisions and we can see if that helps. Take a look and let me know what you think.

Determined-I didn't realize you scheduled your surgery. I saw my BS last week and asked her about a revision. she didn't think it would be that big of a deal because as she put it the major parts of the process were done and the revision would a simple changing out of implants. Of course she is not the PS but she is a surgeon. I talk to my PS in Jan and we'll see what he thinks. If I go for it, would probably be March or April like you. I think you should go with your gut feeling. If you not happy and can't live with the ripples than I think it's worth a try. We can't know unless we try.

Sweetie, Determined and Kate:  Thank you so much for your replies!

Yes, I do have Alloderm but as I understand it only for the lower sling to support the implant. Initially I was very disappointed with my size after the exchange but PS explained that he was concerned about a big step-off if he used the high profile implants on me so I have come to feel the size is ok. At my last check-up the PS decided I needed some pocket work to address some problems. My left side is lower and looks larger than my right side. Whether it dropped and fluffed more than the right or whether the pocket holds the right too high and tight I don't know, but he doesn't want to discuss nipples until the breast mounds are right. I also have some divots that he wants to correct with fat grafting.  I'm a little afraid to mess with what I have because I've had pretty good luck so far so why push it. On the other hand everytime I look at myself I think if only this was... well you understand. Now the ripples have shown up!

I didn't think he would be doing any revisions until at least February but now his office called and wants to schedule the revisions for Jan 5. Not only was I not expecting the call but his scheduler said he would be exchanging implants. If you have pocket work does that automatically require new implants? I scheduled a consult because I need to show him the ripples and discuss exactly what he has planned for me.

The ripple thread on the photo site is a great idea and I will try to get my pics posted. Thanks again for taking time to give me your input. I will definitely let you know what my PS says and does.

Jan 

Hellome- I''m so sorry your not happy with your results. I know radiation can be very tough on the skin. Have you had an revisions at all? It seems many women do and find things can be fixed. I wish you luck and please never give up on anything, because we deserve to be a pleased as possible with all we went through. 

Kate33-thanks for finding that thread. It did seem like the larger implant helped her a lot. I'm leaning towards that choice, but I'll see what he thinks in Jan. I did put up my pics ijf you want to add yours you can too.

janleigh-It sounds like your PS has a good plan to help your issues. I think if your not happy it's worth doing. I'm leaning towards a revision too. I feel like you about worrying about messing things up, but if you have a good PS hopefully that won't happen. I'm not sure what they do with the pocketwork thing and a new implant. Is he planning on using a different size? Get all your questions ready and make sure you're on the same page with him. My husband is having foot surgery around the same time as yours and he'll be home for 5 weeks. I have to put off any thoughts of revision until after then. I wish you the best, your ripple sisters will be right here supporting you!

sweetie- I am planning on putting my pics on there.  Just keep forgetting to have my DH take them.  He's been flying a lot (pilot) of overtime, lately, so is gone more than he's home.  I'll try to get them taken this weekend, though.  Thanks for starting the thread on there.  Great idea!

Whitedove-My PS never said anything about this but I was thinking about it myself. When I pull my skin up a little the ripples all go away and I wondered why they just can't take some of the skin in. My friend just had her exchange and her Dr does all kind of work including tightening the skin. She has no ripples at all. I'll ask my Dr at my next appt.

sweetie 2040 I would imagine tightening the skin can only be done once because at some point you don't have enough to do it.  Does that make sense?  I think the alloderm is suppose to become part of your tissue and help with it.  It would be nice if there was a way to send questions to a panel of Plastic Surgeons and get some answers.

I forgot to mention I got my bill from my exchange it is costing me $800 copay for my implants. That means if I do a revision I will probably have to pay that $800 again. That just sucks!

My DH was dropping hints a few months back that if I was going to have a revision to have it before the year ended.  I know it would have saved us a lot of money but after 4 surgeries in a year I just couldn't do it, yet.  I didn't think my body was ready, either.  But I do think about all the wonderful things we could have bought with those thousands of dollars that will now be spent on yet another surgery in the attempt to look normal.  Really ticks me off!