Still Uncomfortable with Implants

Just wanted to post an update.  I have decided to move forward with my revision.  My DH and I are flying out tomorrow morning.  I am having my surgery at the Miami Breast Center with Dr. Khouri.  He is going to take about my 375 implants and replace them with 225 and then do fat grafting over the top.  I'm really hoping this will relieve my pain.  I think that I had started to develop capsular contraction which is where everything hardens around the implants.  I think the smaller implant will be much lighter, too, which should help.  And Dr. K said with the fat grafting, and the accompanying stem cells, I may even regain some sensation.  I am nervous about another surgery but I knew I couldn't continue being in constant pain.  For those with pain, have you been seen to see if you're developing CC, too?  I think it is more common than they talk about.  I am so glad this thread was started so we know we are not the only ones dealing with these issues.  I wonder how many women suffer in silence?   Good luck to everyone!  Hope you all find solutions to your pain.

joan- So sorry you're in pain, too.  I just never expected all this.  I thought once you are done with exchange it is smooth sailing!  That symptom management program sounds like a great idea.  Wish I had something like that.  (Actually I might but my cancer center that I went to was 2 hours from home.)  For me, I'm starting out with fibromyalgia so any additional pain that gets piled on top becomes unbearable.  Hope your appointment goes well.  I will post again when I'm able.

Good morning all..

Kate, thanks for your kind words, and I agree, I never expected this.  I had a lumpectomy first and they found more than on the original biopsy--1 ER+ tumor, 1 PR+ tumor and 8 cms of DCIS.  So everybody pretty much said to go back and have the mastectomy.  But the margins were clean and one surgeon said the main issue would be cosmetic.  If I had known how miserable this would be, I'd have gotten more opinions about breast conservation, and the risk assessment on that.

I had my consult with the symptom mgt group--wonderful people.  There are resources for pt, etc.but for now, they're focusing on the nerve pain, so I will be on a program to increase the neurontin to the top therapeutic dose.  They also gave me pain meds for when it's really bad, particularly if I have plans and the pain is interfering with my ability to be out and about.  I asked about Lyrica, but I understand that's in the same class as the neurontin, but just two pills vs six. Also, cymbalta, which they will consider after we see how the neurontin goes. 

I am also having problems with fatigue still from the chemo and herceptin; also a recurrence of anxiety/panic issues which had resolved, but I guess that's for another discussion board:)  

My oncology surgeon has also referred me to an orthopedist to look at my shoulder--I have been putting this off until after this appt yesterday, but I think it's a good idea--it's really bothering me.

Well...a good day to everybody and good health always.

Kate--again, all the best this weekend--I hope you're so, so happy with the result and that you have an easy recovery. 

My revision surgery went well and the PS said he thinks I'll be very happy.  He did a lot of fat grafting so I'm pretty sore.  I just got cleared to take a shower (nothing ever felt so good) so was able to get the bandages off.  Everything looks good though there's a lot of swelling right now.  The best part is they already feel softer and more natural with all that fat on top.  I'll have to wait until the pain of the lip goes away to determine if the implant pain is still there plus I'm still on pain meds.  Already, though, I think it's an improvement.

Kate- I am so HAPPY for YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm glad it is behind you and now you can just rest and let your body heal.

I've thought so much about you. Prayed for great results and fast recovery!

HUGS, MTKS

Becky,

My heart goes out to you because I (and all of us here) know how you feel.  I hope your new PS will be able to help you.  So many just don't understand....we just want to FEEL normal again.  Don't give up!

Hugs

Joan- yes I have photos on the picture forum and I'll update them when I'm able. Just had my post op appointment and everything looks good so my DH and I are at the airport waiting for our flight home. Just wanted to share something right away. Dr Khouri swapped out my 375 cc implants with 225 cc and then did fat grafting over the top. I can no longer feel the implant under the skin and my skin is warm to the touch! They used to feel like Barbie boobs! So the surgery was worth it just for that!

congratulations katie.

thanks for all of the information.

Eileen

No more Barbie boobs - yes!  Congratulations and speedy recovery.  Get back home safe & sound!

Hugs - hugs- hugs

Need directions:  How do you get to the picture forum or photo board.  Where is that?

Thank you.

mom3band1g- Even though he swapped out my implants to 225 I'm a lot bigger than that because of all the fat grafting he did over the top.  I guess I won't really know where I am size wise until the swelling goes away.  Right now I feel just as big, if not bigger, than I was before which was a 34C.  I had told him I wanted to be smaller (more like a B cup) so am hoping that's where I'll end up.

faithroad- The picture forum is a separate site that is run my some members on BCO.  In order to get access you have to PM one of the "gatekeepers".  They admit members based on how many times they've posted on here.  You've probably posted enough and shouldn't have any problems.  There are several "gatekeepers".  The ones I can remember are Lilah, MBJ and whippetmom.  Just send them a PM asking for access and they'll write back and tell you what to do to log on.

mtks- I completely understand your unhappiness.  I have to say that, so far, several things have improved since the fat grafting.  As I said before the skin is warm to the touch.  I now have a more natural slope to the breast and my cleavage area is no longer bony.  I also don't have any rippling like I did before.  One of the downsides, though, are I now have some numbness in the back of my arms from the shoulder down to the elbow which may be from him doing the incisions in the armpits when he swapped out the implants.   Am hoping this goes away with time.  This surgery was, by far, the toughest one of all the 5 that I have done both in pain levels and recovery but I think it'll be worth it in the end.

Deirdre- I first found out about Dr. Khouri on another thread called "Has anyone had micro fat grafting?"  I read through the entire thread as well as the information on his website (miamibreastcenter.com) and googled everything I could find about him.  He is the one that pioneered this type of fat grafting as well as the BRAVA system.  I also became a member on another site called fatgraftpatients.com and got some great info there as well.  Probably the most information came from a member on here called leeinfl who had just completed her procedures with Dr. K.  

I pretty much have hated my implants ever since getting them.  They felt like plastic underneath my skin.  And I was having a lot of pain, too.  Dr. K was the only doctor who said he could eventually get me to a point where I could eliminate the implants all together.  That with his method it was very likely I would have a return of sensation.  And that his method wouldn't create more scarring like DIEP and other methods.  

Dr. K trains other PS's from all over the world in his method of FG but I figured if I was going to do this I wanted to go to the person who "invented" it so to speak.   I believe the way he grafts the fat there is more retention, too.  (I think it's around 90% retention vs. 50% with other doctors.)  And the way he  injects the fat (drop by drop) there is less likelihood of the fat forming lumps.  

It's definitely not the easiest thing getting to him and his office is a bit of a mess but I do think it was worth it.  It will be so nice, though, to see this offered more by other PS's.   

Kate-Thanks so much for keeping us posted.  I really am considering going this route.  I had my BMX in Jan 2010 and have never felt comfortable with my implants and most of the time I am in lots of pain. I am seeing a new PS on Tues but if he doesn't give me any good options I will be calling Dr Khouri. Did you have any of the numbness on the back of your arms after your last surgery? I had a lot of numbness on my back and armpits and a lot of that has come back so I wonder if it will be like that.  I hope so because I am tired of losing sensation in so many areas! Once again thanks for all the info all of you have provided.  It is so helpful!

Becky 

Kate - I had to chuckle with your last sentence!  Yes, we have to learn to overcome quite a few hurdles in order to get to Dr. K but it's worth it.  It was like a flashback when I read your post about having warm breasts.  For someone who doesn't know how cold the implants feel, it probably doesn't seem like such a big thing, but I remember touching my breasts after Dr. K did the revision and I couldn't believe how real - how warm - how "alive" they felt.  So when I read your post - I knew EXACTLY how you feel.  It's wonderful!  It will keep getting better.  Just wait until you start to get feeling back - it's so exciting and I'm so happy for you.  Hang in there - wonderful, good things are ahead!

Becky - My BMX was Jan 2010 as well.  I'm sorry you are also going through this.  While I didn't have pain, no one ever prepared me for the impact implants have on your body....your life.  I'm so happy now but it was tough to make the decision to go forward with a revision.  I hope you will get encouraging news from your new PS.  

kate33- I just saw my ps this past week and he mentioned taking out my implants and using Brava.  I hate these implants.  He said he needed to do some research as it's so new and  he hasn't done it before.  He was going to consult with some Dr's who had done it.  Is that what you had done?  How did you get insurance to pay for it?  He wasn't sure how it would work taking out the implant and filling the pocket with fat.   I love the idea of NO implants but more sugery scares me.  I hate surgery and really hate recovery.  Love the idea of losing some extra fat!  How are you feeling about the whole procedure?  Any info you have would be appreciated. thanks!