Exchange City

SanFranKitty - thats scary about the insurance denying coverage for revision surgery! My insurance has been great so far, but I keep thinking they will eventually say enough is enough.

The NP in my PS's office said she would probably bring a range of 300-350 cc implants to try out. I will ask the PS to err on the side of a little bit too big rather than a little bit too small. I've decided not to fret about it any more. My DH couldn't care less and I've been small chested my whole life. Even at 300 cc's I'll be about 100ccs larger than the breast tissue they removed . They won't do fat grafting at the time of exchange so I will have to wait several months for the final outcome anyway.

Seedsally - good to see you are approaching the end as well!

Grandma3x, I haven't really heard of them not covering revisions before so I was surprised. When I found out they were covering my mastectomy and reconstruction I thought " wow my insurance is finally covering something ". I was pretty happy because I had huge bills from the two biopsies that I had in March. I'm trying not to worry though.

Mom2fourplusmore, The recovery for the exchange surgery is not as bad as the recovery for the mastectomy surgery. I'm sure it varies from person to person. I had a fat graft at the time of my surgery. I was on pain pills for about a week. I had lifting restrictions, but was allowed to do cardio at 2 weeks post op. now I am five weeks post up and still have some discomfort. But it's been a pretty easy recovery.

What day of the week do you have surgery? You might be okay if you have a long weekend.

Mom2fourplusmore - I went shopping the day after my exchange. I did have some pocket work done so I was sore but absolutely nothing like the MX. I took Norco the first and second night, only needed OTC pain meds for about 3 or 4 days during the day. I would say if you have older children who will not need to be carried around you would be fine after a long weekend. I didn't have any arm lifting restrictions, but no lifting more than 10lbs for 2 weeks.

Mom2four, mine is on Monday also...im freaking out right now

FUBC...we can freak out together. Let's hope we feel normal soon

thanks Deeratz & sanfrankitty

Mom2four, lots of luck tomorrow

I'll stop by here or at the June's board to see how you're doing. Update us ...

Deeratz, if you don't mind me asking,why are you going for a revision?

Deeratz, I agree with you when you say you have to love them...it's the only, although very tiny bit of pleasure we're getting out of this horrible experience...

I am suppose to get the ultra high profile smooth silicone tomorrow...I can't wait to see what they look like...

Morning everyone. I have a question. In what way does your implants feel different from your TEs. I have been very aware of the back of my TEs. I feel like I have something pressing against my chest and I can feel the saline go from side to side when I turn over at night. I also have sore areas at the sides where there are deep dimples and quite a bit of fat I guess pocketed under my arms. I don't want to feel this uncomfortable for the rest of my life. So just wondering how if any different you guys feel now after exchange.

Mom2fourplus more and FUBC good luck today and let us know how things are going. It is easier than the MX's. I would like to know what size and style they will be going with..

Shout out the all the others I have been corresponding with: I had my follow up with PS last Thursday.. Have been in a lot of pain from that long car ride and food shopped on Friday and did way too much so have been back on pain meds. Yesterday eased up enough not to take any. Also been feeling like a hermit because I am depressed with my results. So PS says she chose the 410 anatomicals because she felt I would have less capsular contracture. I told her that considering I had rad on right side that they were evenly matched, however I am diappointed in size and shape and how flat and that they give me no shape. She said if she went with rounds I would be happy in the beginning but then later would most likely wouldn't within 2 years..GO FIGURE! I would rather be happy now and face if at all any problems should arise.. I have been trying to post pics on picture site but not having any luck resizing pics. If anyone wants to comment and see results just pm me and I will send them that wAy. I have 410 anatomicals 360 cc's. Sorry to complain.. But swelling is subsiding and I'm even less happy about result so. I just can't wrap my head around this. I am very flat and have a big depression over implant on rad side and then you can notice fat grafting fill above it.

Just 2 weeks and 4 days out.

Remi50

Remi50-I was unhappy with my exchange immediately after surgery. The implants felt very flat and wide. I call them hamburger buns without the sesame seeds. I discussed with my PS at my first post-op. She said to leave them for 6 months and if I was still unhappy that she would do a revision. Her comment was, "No big deal, it's an easy surgery and we can fix them". Now I am am almost 8 months post exchange. I have gotten used to them and I really could just leave them. Like I said I want to love them. I have gone back and forth trying to decide if I should go through another procedure. I have had no bad experiences(surgery wise)so far and I hope that I am not making a bad decision.

As far as the feel of the gummies, I love them. I almost don't notice that they aren't mine.

seedsally - the tissue expander had a hard backing with an expandable front - this is what allows it to stretch the skin and muscle forward. As the expander is filled you can experience discomfort and that feeling of pressure deep in the chest. When you exchange to a universally softer implant you should notice a difference and the feeling of pressure should discontinue. Unfortunately, for some, feelings of tightness persist but physical therapy can definitely help with that, and I encourage all to get a prescription for a short course of PT to safely stretch the area after initial recovery. If your surgeon has an example of an expander in the office ask to see it and both an anatomical implant and a round one - you will see the difference between the expander and both types of implants. If you are uncomfortable with excess fat in the area laterally to the expander, toward the underarm, it is possible to remove it or lipo it out at the time of exchange.

trmtab - I did not have the softer fleshy area under the arm but do have a good friend who had quite a bit and had the incision line extended to remove it - she did not complain about too much discomfort there - most likely because many of the nerves had been severed in the previous mastectomy. I changed her dressings for her afterward and she was comfortable, no pain to speak of.

Thanks SpecialK for your info. Most of the time my TEs are comfortable. I have plenty of skin I think although it is thin. I have only had one fill and it actually made me a little more comfortable. I am supposed to have 750 cc's saline right now. I am seeing a new PS (since my prior PS moved away) on Wednesday. Originally I was to have 800 cc's mentor high profile implants at exchange but I don't know what the new PS will want to do. I had DD breasts before but I am very tall and not too overweight so I didn't look very large. And I told the first PS I did not want to be very large afterwards. It's the fat pads under my arms that worry me I guess. Each one could be a b cup.

Deeratz, Do you think maybe physical therapy could help you get some of your mobility back?

hi there ROBINBLESSED .. Hope your doing well. Your perspective and experience is greatly appreciated. It's nice to hear that time does help in this crazy world we were thrown into!! I will pm my pics to you.. Haven't loaded my TE pics yet but I think it will give a better comparison to what I'm trying to express what I liked. Maybe no matter what I do it may not make a big difference in the look and I know it's a lot to risk another surgery. I think it comes down to following through with gathering info from all the other ladies, seeing pics definetly helps. It puts this craziness in a better perspective however and whatever decision is made in the end.. Maybe time will make a difference and we can learn to like what we have. I know it's a new norm but I want to feel good about myself again!

Remi50