Exchange City

Yes, Minute, I hope it goes well for you and T-Sue, as well!  I will keep you posted! 

I'm 5.5 weeks post-op and haven't received any guidance on massage...? Saw PS at 4 weeks post-op and don't see him again until 10 weeks post-op.

I have the Allergan Natrelle 410 gummie bear implants. No massaging for textured implants. They have to adhere so they don't rotate. You don't want them being pushed around. hope this helps.

Robin

Siti and All, I didn’t sleep on my side for probably a year. I also wore a soft bralette 24/7 for about a year. I just felt more support and comfortable. It has been 2 3/4 years and I no longer wear a bralette at night. My outcome is very good. Pretty much twins!!

Robin

It was more of a personal preference. I believe my PS suggested 6 months. It was just more comfortable. And it paid off. I didn’t have any problems.

If you follow instructions and not rush your recovery, you will have a successful outcome. Remember, “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should “.

Robin

Thanks Lynae! Hope yours goes well too! Let's keep in touch during our recovery. Will be great to get rid of our TEs!

Sitti--About side sleeping--I never thought about it but remember that my PS said back only for 4 weeks after he placed my TEs. I asked his office about when I could sleep on my side again after the exchange surgery and the nurse said 4 weeks, but would discuss at Post-op appointment. (But now Robin has me thinking maybe I should wait longer! I don't sleep well on my back though.) I would ask your PS, because they all seem to give different advice--maybe it's based on your individual factors or the implant chosen?

Thanks Robinblessed54 & MinuteAtATime, I'll specifically ask my PS about sleeping on side. My restrictions were minimal to start with - no restrictions other than no lifting above 10 lb for first week. So it's hard for me to gauge what I should/shouldn't do. I'm like you MinuteAtATime, I don't sleep well on back although I'll tough it out if that helps things settle and heal properly.

Wishing all you ladies that have your exchange coming up a speedy recovery.

just curious veggal, smooth or textured implants? Textured you have to wait longer or you will push them away from their pocket. Just want to make sure the ladies know that it depends on type and of course your own body. Always check with PS and bespecific.

Robin

Hi Sitti- I had some fat grafting done, so I have been sleeping on my back for a while now in order to help keep pressure off the newly transferred fat cells, and will continue to do so. I'm past the period of 6-8 weeks of knowing whether the fat grafting will live and connect to its new blood supply, but my implants still feel large to me, so I'm continuing to sleep on my back for now (3 months post exchange). I had been a side sleeper before this whole mastectomy thing, but switched just because I worry too much on my side.

Good Morning,

My exchange surgery is scheduled for 11/15/17 at 10:30 and I can't wait. The plan is for my PS to do lipo/fat grafting and place 685 cc anatomicals. I must say I'll be happy when the surgeries are behind me. Best of luck to all of you out there waiting too. Speedy recoveries to all!

Thank you everybody for all your imput (regarding sleeping on side ). Burner, I too had some fat grafting with my exchange surgery so that is another consideration although I saw my PS yesterday and was told I could sleep on my side if I'm comfortable and (use support I think). But I think I'd rather not take any chances although it makes sense what VegGal said, that they shift in whatever position your in. Sleeping in soft bra as well, just feels better right now. Burner, how are you able to tell if the fat grafting took? I don't go back to PS now for 6 months. I'm 5 weeks post exchange today, it seems most swelling is gone except under arm where lymph node was removed (which took longer after BMX also). I'm not seeing the initial lumpiness that I saw right after exchange so wondering if it took.

Ptorres60, I've never heard of MSSA. I did use the hibiclens before both the BMX and exchange though.

Best wishes to all who have their exchanges coming up!

Sitti- my 3 month post-exchange appointment is coming up, but I don't think all of my fat grafting "took", despite best precautions... I was really swollen for the initial 6-8 weeks after exchange, and I think the implants have sort of settled in the pockets in the meantime. I have rippling / bumps at the inner edge / cleavage area where I can feel the implant, and I know that's one of the areas where fat grafting was done. My MO said it's OK to do more fat grafting to try to smooth it out, but that it might not take again. I'll give it a try anyway - the upper slope/pole actually looks smooth and good, and I know that's another area where he did fat grafting, but apparently I had some extra fat there anyway to help hide/pad the implant edge.

My PS said I didn't need to be too cautious beyond the initial month that I was keeping pressure off the fat grafted areas- that the fat cells would find a new blood supply within a few weeks or would die off. So I think the swelling going down and dead fat cells being cleared out over the past few weeks sort of "revealed" the rippling where it didn't take?

Good luck to all - wishing everyone good outcomes!

looks like a few if us have our exchanges this week...YAY! I hope all goes well for each of you! We definitely need to all keep in touch on here so we can let each other know how we are doing!! Good luck ladies!!!

My doctors had me do Hibiclens prior to BMX, and I chose to prior to Exchange as well because...why not? I did not do nose swabs but would have if I'd read about it here first!

I also did the Hibiclens and continued using it until my drains were removed after each surgery. I also used a fresh towel for each shower until drains were gone. Infections happen, but I was determined to do all I could to prevent them. Luckily, it worked.