Exchange City

I had TEs for 11 months and I have read some here who had them much longer than that. Most do seem to go ahead with surgery at one month post chemo, so you might be okay then, too.  Watch and see how you feel, knowing you can go sooner or later and either will be fine.

Had my exchange yesterday ..had 600cc tissue expanders placed in November..and 800cc silicone implants yesterday..still wrapped so don't know how they look yet

Summer girl- my exchange did not hurt at all except where she did some lipo for the fat grafting. My dr used the same incisions.



Tampa- my PS just said she would see me in a year. I have no idea why or whetstone will happen at the appt.



Rachel- nice to see you here! How are you? You definitely need to enlist some help with packing and moving.

Hi Summer girl and others,

This may answer some questions re length one can have a TE in.   I had my single TE in for 15 uncomfortable months due to exchange surgery being cancelled a couple times  due to heart problems from herceptin infusions.  So for 15 months, coped with trying to match the boobies by using scarves to cover my very lopsided body and also a pad on top of the TE.  I had wanted  to get a breast reduction but insurance originally denied it years ago telling me to go get hot packs to see if that would help.  What a joke!  

This past Monday I had a silicone implant put in and the other breast reduced and lifted.  I was a 36H in the other breast so it was a signficant surgery.  I now look like a teenager with I think about a 36 C.  Went from wearing X lge blouse to medium.  My PS even said he was able to keep nipple on and I will have sensation.  A miracle worker!  I am wearing a sports bra 24/7 and having to take a little vicodin but not a big deal.  Everything feels very tight but I assume that is normal?  I am literally glued together

A couple Questions:

If I lose weight does that impact the implant side in terms of making it easier for implant to slide around? 

Has anyone had a nipple reconstruction  vs tatoo?  

Doing things backwards, as usual . I had my exchange done on Wednesday, April 11th along with nipple reconstruction. I'm thrilled to have the TE's out, but my foobs look like wrinkly, dog-eared, footballs =(. I don't know what the nipples look like yet, because I have foam bolsters sewn on them. I also have a drain on the cancer/LE side. Surprisingly, the drain doesen't bother me at all, this time. I wasn't given any lifting or movement restrictions. I was told I had to wear my surgical bra 24/7 for 6 weeks and had to sleep on my back. The surgical pain hasn't been bad at all. I'm experiencing more pain from sleeping on my back, than from the surgery. I can't shower until I get the bolsters removed on Wednesday the 18th. Hopefully I'll get the drain removed at the same time.

I'm hopeful that with time, the foobs will look more normal. I don't think I can deal with another surgery. The TE's and reconstruction process has pushed me to the brink. I found it to be much more difficult than dealing with the BMX and chemo. 

Circles - When I had my TE exchange back in January, I wasn't even sure the PS had put in an implant on the right side when he took off the tight bandage a few days after the surgery! Give it time. I'm happier with mine as time goes on, I just wasn't so sure at first! Even my "dent" on the right side has filled in nicely. Good luck to you as you recover.

Hi Kim, my exchange is on 25th April and I am planning on having 2 weeks off work. That's assuming all goes to plan

Hmm... I was hoping for closer to one week. I'm low on days off and have a wedding to attend in August. But my job is almost completely sitting at a computer, and I can do some work from home.

Thxs guys for the replys Im just so confused right now, My PS said I could keep my TE in if I wanted and never have the  exchange but it feels so hard. I dont mind the size and shape of it and it is the same size as the other side so I dont have any problems once I have a bra on it looks perfect but when I take it off they are really lopsided which is why I was advised to have a lift on my good side  I really am weighing up the odds right now , (Dont do anything and have lopsided boobs forever !!! or go ahead and have the exchange done) I just cant make up my mind what to do so your info is really helpful thxs,

Nedeza: Im not sure what kinda implant they plan on doing they never said Im thinking saline but have heard the silicone ones are more natural looking and I think he plans on doing a full lift as its quite droppy from having my kids , I am really stressing out right now trying to figure out what to do wish someone else could decide for me LOL 

Today is the third day past surgery.  I feel pretty good and have very little discomfort.  However, I think they tell us take it easy for two weeks so we don't pop the incision open.  The implant does feel much softer than the expander did.  I chose saline over silicone cause I just didn't want any problems later down the road.  But silicone is the prettiest.  Still, I am glad I went thru with the reconstruction.  If I had to do it again I would though praying I never have to again.  One surgery to go. 

Ladies,

I thought I would be thrilled to get a date for my exchange, but find I'm getting depressed. I'm doing so well that I dread having to go through another surgery and recovery again. The TE's have been bearable. I'm back to almost all of my old activities. My BMX was Jan 4. My last fill is on Thursday. I''m up to 800cc and am overfilling  to 900.I've been getting 100cc's at each fill. My chest is tight for a few days and the spasms usually start about 4 days later and last for a few days to a week. Just reading this is making me feel a little better. Maybe the 900cc gigantors will make me look forward to getting them removed. I'm hoping I'll only feel bad for  a few days and not be laid up as long as with BMX. I'm taking 10 days off and going back to a desk job. Can anybody tell me how the exchange surgery felt as opposed to the original one? Also, was there a time when you noticed you didn't notice your foobs? I feel these TE's my every waking moment.

The info from those of you who have gone through exchange is so useful. I am not expecting to be pleased with my new girls when I wake up from the anesthetic but I will remember that they will change shape as time goes on. My date is 25 th April. I am feeling very low as i have got back to normal and dread the disruption of more surgery. I have allowed about 2 weeks off work and I am glad everyone seems to think that will be enough.

Thank you all so much for all the information which makes getting through this whole thing so much more bearable

Hugs

Carrol2, did you get saline or silicone?

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with me. I have my pre-op meeting with the PS this Wednesday and exchange next Wednesday. Hearing everyone's advice and tales of their exchange has helped me with my anxiety!

I am 3 weeks post op from my exchange surgery and wondering if everyone can move the implants when you move your pec muscles? Mine move alot.and are kinda sore inside. I have 800cc silicone but will be going in for a revision to 1000 saline I am smaller than I was originally right now, has anyone had problems with saline vs silicone, I heard the saline are alot harder than silicone