Exchange City

Molly50: 2 weeks. I probably could have returned to my desk job sooner.

Above the muscle. I think that is different. The nice thing is that we do have options with size, the type of placement, type of implant etc. There was a time when none of this was possible and we would all be having a radical mastectomy whether we liked it or not.

BTW I hate my spanx everyone. Hate it. is there anything out there that is sort of comfortable?

wow, sounds like numbness after FG is the norm. Wish they would tell us these things. I'm glad to hear that it is fading for some who are further along in the healing process. I'm rather bummed that so much of the front side of my body no longer has any feeling (other than deeply sore). I'm hoping some feeling will return. I know not to expect all sensations to return.

SanFranKitty I'm with you... I hate these compression garmets. At the moment, I'm struggling with the corset pressing directly on my drain wound. I have to move it several times daily to shift it down so it is not resting exactly on the exit. Seems the perfect spot for the drain exits is the natural position for a bra band or a high waist band. Erg!

If you guys have some sore spots - specifically drain exits you might fold up a telfa pad or some gauze and place it between the area and the garment - sometimes padding it a bit is more comfy.

The numbness should be temporary if you have it, lipo is actually kind of a violent thing and does cause trauma. That is the purpose of compression on the donor site so the tunnels made by the lipo cannula don't fill with fluid and/or form a seroma, which happens when there is surgical trauma. It is not surprising that you have some short-lived numbness where the fat harvest was done.

Well, today was my last fill - at 640cc for a Mentory MemoryGel 620 MH implant and scheduled my exchange surgery for Nov 17th. Now just the waiting around with the TEs. I appreciate all posting here and am learning as I read..

Hang in there Orka... even with all our grumbling about the drains, spanks and side effects of this round of surgery, for me, it has been much, much easier than the BMX!.

I stopped all pain meds by day 7 after my surgery. I simply don't need it any more. And, the areas numbed by the lyposuction are already waking up again... itching like crazy now as the nerves start working. A good, if bothersome, sign.

As a bonus, my post exchange figure is looking pretty good given what I've been through in the last 4 months. My husband has recently nicknamed me "Barbie".... so the process must be working...

You will get through this and you will love the softer and more natural shape of the Mentor anatomicals. Mine are sooooo much more comfortable than the TE's. I hardly even notice them after only 1 week!.

Had my 10 day followup today. My drains stay in for 1 more week - rats!. It is a mixed blessing i guess. Because my fluid production is slow to diminish, my PS has extended my leave for 1 more week. My body seems to produce lots of fluid when injured.

I have a hard patch of fat (necrosis or scarring) under my arm pit that needs to be massaged many times a day to break it up or soften it. Does anyone else have this and what seems to work best to help soften these troublesome spots?

Good news about the spanks though, I've been given the freedom to discontinue wearing them if it is comfortable to do so. The amount of fat they removed was minimal so they are not worried too much about seromas for me. I find it still a bit painful not to wear compression, so am going to keep my spanks on for another week, then see if I can go without. I'll let you all know. Guess it pays to ask your Dr. How soon you can go free!

Lucky you SFKitty! To be given the go ahead on exercise! I'm just dreading my entry into the restricted activity phase beginning tomorrow - exchange day! Though, sorry you still have some pain and bruising, but glad the PA said you look great!

I threw myself into this past weekend and biked a ton in anticipation of being sedentary. It was so enjoyable and my teen daughter was a great companion. She had me working harder than I would do without her setting this crazy pace ahead of me. What a role reversal for me, but it's great that she seems to have developed a passion for biking that we can share.

I keep getting butterflies as I realize periodically that tomorrow is the day. Nervous anticipation - not so much about my actual implants, but about the procedure, all the needle pokes, how I will react to anesthesia, how much pain will I be in afterwards. I know I'm the first case of the day which I sure appreciate. Hopefully I'll be home before my kids are from after school sports.

My PS is bringing 3 different allergen anatomical implants - they are extra full projection style in sizes 295, 325 an 330. I'll be very curious to see what I end up with after surgery. Oh, boy, here I go!

I'll check back afterwards...

Jessejake good luck with surgery tomorrow can't wait to hear how it goes... I'll say a prayer for you, I can't wait to get my little turtle shells swapped out!

SanFranKitty congrats on being the go ahead on working out...I think that's the one thing I've missed the most in this process these modified workouts just don't do it for me

Hi Everyone,

I just last week seen my new plastic surgeon. I was originally going to get my dog ears removed. Then about a week before my appt. I decided I want boobie's again. It's been 2 years since my double mastectomy. I had one removed 9-9-14 and the other breast removed 9-18-14. I usually just go flat. I hate wearing foobs. I'm really excited about getting permanent implants. My surgery date for the T.E. is Holloween this year. I am expecting a new granddaughter the middle of October. (if she waits that long). I was wondering what restrictions to expect? Also how painful are the T.E.'s? Mine is going behind the chest wall muscle. I'm so happy to find this group.

Jessejake, good luck and keep us posted.

Carolynn

Hi Carolynn, I had my tissue expanders in for 4 months. For the first month I couldn't do much. But by the end of the four months I was sleeping on my side, and was able to work out and do arm exercises that included light weights etc. The only thing I wasn't able to do was anything that worked my chest muscles. I also did regular house work without any issues. So I wasn't that restricted.

It will be interesting to hear what it is like to go from flat to tissue expaders. It is great that we have choices and options.

Thank-you for your information gals. Bikefam, where in Michigan are you? I'm about 30 min from Jackson. Down by Brooklyn. I am going to call the ps tomorrow and ask what to expect in restrictions. If I'm restricted thru the Christmas holidays, I might have to delay till the beginning of the year. I don't want to leave work short during the holidays. I sure don't want to tho. I'm really ready to do it now and get it done with. Plus, since my surgery is scheduled for halloween I was planning on bringing in a large cup bra with candy in the cups and hanging it from my iv pole and telling the staff to say trick or treat to get candy from it. lol I'll let you all know what happens tomorrow.

Exchange complete! I had my surgery yesterday. It appears to have all gone well. I'm feeling quite good today. I actually went the entire night without pain meds and found that quite tolerable.

I had fat grafting from my thighs and butt. Looks like one incision on each side. I'm sporting a lovely crotchless girdle that runs from above my knees to very high on my waist. I actually undid the top waist part and folded it over as I don't need any compression up there. That's slightly more comfortable. I don't have drains.

I'm not positive yet which implant my PS used. After surgery she told my husband I am probably a C cup and I assume she meant 32 as we talked about that before surgery. They don't look too bad as in the incisions are covered and very minimal swelling. I couldn't see bruising. Because my implants are above the muscle the biggest aesthetic thing she was trying to accomplish was hiding the edges of the implant to make it look natural. I have one small incision near my armpit on each side where she must have injected the fat. I think they look good. One small thing that might not be a big deal is that my left nipple seems to still be pointing a little outward. My husband didn't think much of it. I'll see what my PS thinks at my follow up next week.

My thighs have bruising. We just went for a short walk outside and it felt more to me like sore muscles. I think it was on here that people were discussing numbness in the fat graft area. The little pamphlet I received about fat grafting did list that as a temporary result.

I was so relieved to wake up not feeling nauseous after surgery. Just very, very tired. I made the mistake, though, of drinking some apple juice shortly before I left and that made me nauseous. I was sick all evening, but finally took zofran (anti-nausea med) and feel asleep. When I woke up a few hours later I felt fine and I've not been nauseous since. Yeah.

So, just taking it easy now and contemplating how difficult it will be to restrict my activity for the next 4-5 weeks. Girdle, too, for 4-5 weeks.

Hope everyone else is doing well!

My PS had warned me that the fat grafting would be the most painful part of this surgery. She said for thin women (they had my BMI as 17 so not a lot to grab!) they have to work harder to get fat and that cause more bruising, etc.. So, I'm somewhat pleasantly surprised that it just feels uncomfortable but not super painful.

I figured there might be some swelling going on. I can definitely feel some between my implants. The PS made mention I might see more swelling next week.

Hope you are enjoying your return to exercise!

Congratulations JessieJake. I'm so excited for you. TrmTab, I also work a a hospital and during the time between Christmas and New Years the main part effected is the office people. The other departments just keep going. Actually, we are not allowed to put in for vacation during that time. Keep us posted on your recovery.