Exchange City

Lynae, I had my exchange in may. They do look full around the nipple, yes, but then there's a divot/ flat spot at the top of each implant. I'm a very long person and it seems like the implant isn't long enough top to bottom. So I'm having some fat grafting to try and fill in those divots.

As far as the wide cleavage, yes that happened too. My TEs were crazy wide apart, but my first PS fixed that at the exchange. However, since then they seem to be on the move toward my armpits which is less comfortable. I can push them closer with a bra but it pulls under my armpit. As an aside, my first PS was technically adept but did not want to hear any of my concerns so I've found another.

Every pair of implants seems to settle differently. I wish you good luck in getting used to the new you. Remember the only thing that matters is whether you are comfortable and happy.

Oh, and Minute, glad that your surgery went well! I didn't have drains either and was really happy about that! I am not looking forward to wearing this suirgical bra and spanx for 6 weeks, 24/7, but I rather do that than deal with drains!

all ladies that recently had exchange: your results will take several months to become what they will be. There is swelling and stitches and pockets that have to settle. Be patient and walk away from the mirror. It takes a minimum of 6 months and I don’t think mine were done for a year. I have had mine since March 2015. They are gummies and take a different kind of healing than rounds. But all types of implants go through changes. And also, “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should “! Please be careful and follow your PS advice.

Robin

Hi BC sisters! I was really looking forward to checking in with you all but have stayed offline since Friday's surgery. I was pretty groggy and headachy all weekend but feeling much more coherent today. The pain is SO minimal, really no comparison to the BMX at all. No drains either which is a huge relief. I've only used Tylenol since day 2 post op and the incision sites are itchy, but manageable.

Lynae, Scarfgal, and Minute, I'm so happy to hear that you all are also recovering well. We made it! For me, this feels like the last really tough hurdle in my cancer tango (BMX and chemo were the other biggies). While I still have 7 months of herceptin infusions, and Tamoxofin for a few years (both bring some unpleasant SEs to the party), I feel like the toughest parts are behind me.

Amazingly, I don't have any bruising! I'm shocked because my PS did a little pocket work at my sternum to bring the implants in. My NP attributes it to me starting their recommended arnica supplement 2 days before surgery.

Lynae, I hear you about getting used to version 2.0 boobs. I was checking myself out in the shower last night and I thought, you know, when I look down, they seem like my 21-year-old boobs - not too bad! I too have a son at home (9yo) and am so glad that his worry seems to be dissipating. Also, you posted about two issues that I also have: 1. more cleavage: my PS did a little bit of pocket work to bring the implants closer to my sternum, I don't notice a huge difference but it does seem to more gradually slope out from my sternum rather than the TEs which went straight out like torpedoes! 2. One of my nipples never really popped back out after the BMX. My PS said that at a later point we could pull some fat from my belly and inject it into that nipple to 'fix' it. I'm not sure if I'll even bother.

Thanks to everyone on this board for your advice and encouragement! What a wonderful community!

Cheers - Tera

HEllo my pink sisters!! Tera thanks for the info...Sounds like our exchanges & recoveries are similar:) That’s great you are not bruised! My hips have been since day 2 and my breasts and chest started yesterday. They are pretty sore to the touch. So glad your recovering well!! Minute so good to hear you are doing well too!!

Scrafgal thanks for your update too! Sounds very good on your end as well! Yes my crew at MDA in Woodlands are great as well! I feel blessed for sure.

I had my follow up today which was fine & it was so quick that I forgot to even ask how long I need to wear a bra or sports bra to help the implants settle? Do any of you know? I plan to wear the stomach Compression & spanx for at least another few weeks! My PS won’t need to see me again until I am ready for nipples lo

Dafne I agree with the others the exchange was a breeze compared to the BMX! Try not to stress to much. I know its hard since you have already been through so much but you will be pleasantly surprised

Keep us posted ladies. These blogs are wonderful! I usually find out more from yall than my drs lol 🤗 hugs

dafne, don't worry! (That is something my Greek grandma did very well too!)

I had nasty alergic reactions to all my surgeries, and if I hadn't had that I would have barely noticed I gad cancer. Only thing was to really watch lifting for a good long time to allow the implants to heal in place.

I am 4 months post, and if I wasn't having AI SE'S I would be back to all my usual activities. I also had another cancer removed (thyroid) when I had my exchange, so just an exchange should be a breeze! (Ok, not a breeze, but nothing to worry about! )hugs!

Scrafgal thanks so much for the info from your PS! I thought that would be the case that we would have to wear both the bra and Spanx for a long time. It definitely makes sense but wow six weeks is a long time LOL. But hey after going through 5 months of chemo and 2 surgeries...I think it is nothing compared to that haha

Thank you all girls for words of courage, I surely needed them! 2FUN, yep, my mom is the best in that too, and myself not that bad LOL (it must be something on the Greek gene). I'll try to keep calm as much as I can. -easier said than done. My TE journey was not easy too. My right TE somehow was found leaking back in July during my short holidays, so I had to go every two weeks for refilling it just to maintain the shape, volume and stretching of the skin. Unfortunately, due to that event, my ps could not fill it up as much as he wanted at first, we had to stop at 600ccs, which are really small for my frame. It was supposed to overfill the TE up to 800cc so he could swap them for 600-700 implants (I know other ps have no problem replacing with implants that are actually bigger than TE volume, but mine is a firm believer of bigger TE smaller implants). Another solution was to have a surgery back then in July and remove my bad TE, replace it with a new one and start again with the fillings, but once again he was not comfortable with the idea of another surgery only 3 months after my bmx and believe me I did not want that either. So now, I need to settle with smallish 400-450cc implants which are gonna look smaller and have less projection than my TE. Well, I'm trying to make peace with that too, and also trying hard to lose the extra weight I ended up having in the first 6 months after surgery. So far I'm doing great with the diet and lost about 6 kg (13 pounds) in two month's time and I plan on losing more after the surgery is over, so maybe, MAYBE (lol) those tiny winy implants will manage to look proportionate with my body frame.

Hi there! This is probably a silly question....My exchange surgery is scheduled for 11/28. My company holiday party is 4 days later on 12/2. Do you think I'll be able to attend? Thanks!

Not only did I not feel like socializing, but also this surgical bra is very bulky and would not fit under anything that I would wear to a party! I don't know whether you will have ine. Every PS seems different.

Also, I would also be very afraid that my friends would hijack hug me a bit too hard at the party before I could warn them to be gentle!

I was out and about, going to dinner, etc, within 2 days of exchange and after revision and fat grafting. You may not be able to "shut down" the party but will very possibly be able to go and have a good time.

Hello Ladies,

I've been reading thru the thread this afternoon and getting more anxious as I near surgery. Not really afraid of the pain per say because the change out of a faulty expander wasn't bad at all but I'm a bit concerned about the FG and anatomicals. I've had the TEs in since 5/3 and I guess I've just gotten accustomed to them as other than reaching or crossing my arms I really never give them a thought and have been sleeping on my sides for quite some time without even realizing when I started. I'm afraid I will migrate to my side and from what I've read that's a big no no. I'm definitely going to have a discussion prior to surgery that morning with the PS to find out his specific instructions and apparently build a fort around me so I don't roll to my sides. I'm happy for all you wonderful ladies who've had surgery and pleased with the outcome and hope that things go equally as well for those of you getting revisions. We deserve a "prettier than expected" normal. You ladies are wonderful and my hats off to those of you who have children at home. My kids are grown and it's just me at home so I don't have all the daily responsibilities a lot you have other than when I'm at work and my 2 box turtles (Pickles and Pokey) at home I do have a wonderful friend though whom I love him dearly and we've dated for 4 years now. He's very supportive and I know as anxious as I am for this to be over. He was in favor of staying flat so can't really understand my wishes to have reconstruction anyway but has been there every step of the way. I'm rambling now. Just wanted to wish everyone well and say thanks to everyone for sharing.

Eastcoast....thanks for that 9 week preview. It is nice to know that you still like what you see. Me too. I keep looking from all angles and think that my PS did a darn good job considering that I had a unilateral mx on the right. I think he picked the correct implant size to match my left natural breast (which was lifted) and used the grafted fat well to get the left to match the right. All the measuring and photos hooting was worth it.

Btw I LOL at the Daisy Duke comment on the bra...mine was even tighter because they wanted me to insert surgical pads on both sides for the first week. I just took them out a few minutes ago and it feels less tight and bulky aready. I also just ordered a black one with less halter straps. I think it will fit better under clothing!

You Ladies are always so supportive and funny. My compression top (much like a Daisy Duke) after the faulty TE exchange was pink with little flowers and not so bad (I guess) except the rather "plastic" area around the velcro which continually jabbed me. I don't know it the rest of you had an area between your turtle shells that created a sort of stretched raised, bridge between your TE foobies in between the fold under them but that was the most irritating for me. I so wish that a wonderfully talented woman who has had breast cancer would go into design and create at least comfortable "after surgery garments" as insurance would call durable medical equipment (DME). As always, I appreciate you ladies so much and wish you all well.

2FUN, I'm subpectoral (under muscle).

I was a 52 European size too, now I'm 50 going to 48 and keep going on with my keto diet, so I might end up 46 at some point.

Nevertheless, my rib cage and back are wide, due to my body building years when I was younger. This is not gonna change with losing weight, at least not by much.

Pre bmx my measurements was bust 45 inches and under bust 40 and I was a 40DD. Now, after losing some weight and with my current TE at 600cc, my measurements are "bust" 43 inches and under bust 37 inches. If I end up with a "bust" circumference at the same size as my under bust measurement, well... you get the picture.

On various FB pages for women with breast cancer and reconstruction, I see many ladies ending up with huge implants (up to 800ccs) and they don't look that huge. In Greece I don't think we have anything bigger than 800 and my ps said from the start this was not for me anyways. He was aiming for something close to 600ccs range for me. Now he doesn't want to go for anything bigger than 450cc... Well, not much I can do about it, than losing some more weight I guess.