Exchange City

Wishing you the best tomorrow-Jada and Star!

Jada- I had fat grafting with my exchange in February. I had some bruising on my chest and a lot on my butt - they used what were my love handles for the fat harvest. I had to wear compression garments for 6-8 weeks. I still wear spandex because the compression feels good. My new boobs were swollen and very soft. Such a relief! I wore coobie bras - very thin stretchy and soft. I will need another fat graft in 6 months - one boob did not keep as much fat as the other. All in all, I would do the same thing again.

Star- I totally relate to getting chores out of the way before surgery. As things piled up, an old friend who could not visit told me to stop paying attention and focus on healing. She walked me through the process of how I had to stop myself from trying to clean up or fix things by just stopping and telling myself my healing is more important. I was doing laundry and taking out recycling too soon. Its so hard to just let things pile up, but as they say here in many forums “just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” I ended up hiring an affordable house keeper to come a few times, and also the pet sitter to help with cleaning kitty litter. Healing from mastectomy requires that you treat yourself very gingerly.

Sending you both healing thoughts and hoping for the best of all outcomes.

Ceci

Mucki. I used those before I got my tattoos and it was so helpful. I love my tattoos. I didn’t want to do nipple recon just didn’t want to chance scar tissue and besides, I was over big nipples you had to hide.

Take care, Robin

Go STAR! We're rooting for you. Please do let us know how it goes.

I just had my exchange surgery yesterday. It was a huge relief. It is 10000x easier than the mastectomy + tissue expander. It also looks great, just like it was before all these surgeries. I only got my right side done and it is totally matching with my left side

Hang in there ladies!!!

Hi Ladies,

I have been off the forum for a while so I'm a little out of date. I am now five month out from my Exchange surgery (mentor smooth round saline implants) and have ripples showing. I moved from one Kaiser region to another (and have a new insurance plan) since then and am wondering if any revision surgery will still be covered by my new Kaiser insurance. I think(?) it would fall under symmetry b/c the ripples look different in each breast (lol). I hope it will be covered b/c I hate looking at myself.

On another topic, the only bras I've found to be really comfortable are Coobie and one very expensive Calvin Klein bra (got fitted at Nordstrom). I need more bras for v-neck and button down shirts. Has anyone tried Third Love bras?

Hope all are doing well, and hugs and best wishes to the ladies recovering from their exchanges and surgeries --star2017, spazcat, judalu , and lmkopy!

thanks!

Minute,

I had my exchange the day before you, back in November, I think. I am having a revision in 3 weeks and my PS didn't say anything special about getting insurance to cover it. The average reconstruction process takes 3.5 surgeries, so says my MDA plastice surgeon. So, insurance companies should not think that it is odd. I am getting more fat grafting and a smaller implant inserted on my natural side, just for shaping and contouring to match the mastectomy side which has the perfect-sized implant from the first exchange. There is a bit of ripling near my underarm that is only exposed if I lift my arm a certain height. My PS is going to add a bit of fat over there. My frame does not have a lot of upper-body fat so adding fat is sometimes necessary for that reason too.

I have tried third love, but so far haven't found a style that fits my implants well. I have rounds, maybe anatomicals would fit better, they seem to have more room for a nipple or a more natural breast shape, which is great but for me with rounds and without nipples it leaves an empty space. They are comfortable, just the cup sizing isn't a good match for me in the two styles I tried. But their return process is easy so give it a try! I ordered several Wacaol bras off of Zappos after I had a fitting to get my size. I like being able to try on at home and with different tops, etc since it feels like I am starting all over on what looks good on my body and with my wardrobe. I found a few that are pretty comfortable. Not as comfortable as a completely unstructured bra, but I have worked my way up to wearing them all day. They were not cheap, but definitely worth it!

MIntue, I have not had the preop yet, but I think that they told me that things would be the same as before...no heavy lifting or working out...compression for 4-6 weeks top and bottom (my fat grafting is from my thighs)

An update for me since surgery: I had the exchange done on my right side. I got the round gummy bear implant Sientra 440, and while the tissue expander looked like it was about the size of the left breast (that I still had at the time), this just doesn't look right. It's too small or too high or too flat or too something. Maybe it's the lack of a nipple. it's funny because the whole time I was telling my PS to make sure he didn't go too big.

I guess part of the problem is my postpartum body. I was diagnosed while pregnant and am only 5 months postpartium and just not happy with my body shape. I suppose that's one reason things don't look quite right, the proportions are off. I have a follow up with the PS tomorrow and will definitely ask him, but would love some advice for those who may have experienced something similar.

The left prophylactic mastectomy side is doing okay. If you recall, they weren't able to do immediate reconstruction due to poor blood flow, so there's a tissue expander there instead. The area looks less bruised, so i assume that's a good sign. I'm waiting to hear back from the radiation oncologist to determine if I have to wait until after radiation (May-July) before starting fills and doing the exchange.

When I left the hospital I was prescribed Vicodin, Valium, an antibiotic, and colace. Yesterday I tried Tylenol rather than Vicodin, and today I dropped the valium and added ibuprofen between Tylenol doses, to see if I can manage that way. It's been okay.

I am feeling pretty overwhelmed and frustrated. I can't hold my baby, can't drive, I have tons of help and it's driving me crazy. It's

because of the prophylactic mastectomy, not the exchange. I am lucky to have so much support and it's not them, it's the situation. I hate being dependent and out of control. I was finally starting to feel better, but the prophylactic mastectomy has thrown me back into those vulnerable days, and I've had a couple big cries today. I just want my husband to be home and I want my space. I've retreated upstairs with the laptop and left the grandparents to deal with the kids for much of the day. I either want to be in charge or left alone. Not sure how to address these feelings.

Star2017 I’m sending you big hugs right now and I recommend you talk to Special K she has a ton of experience in the reconstruction process. I know it’s tough to be so dependent, this is definitely a testament of our patience. Remember we are all here for you to vent to...this journey is not easy by any means I can’t imagine having a new born.

Cyber hugs,

Mich

Go to 'Member List/ on the left. Type in "SPECIALK". She's the only one with a picture & 14 thousand posts. Then you can send her a private message. I think this is her profile below.

https://community.breastcancer.org/member/120961/p...

you all are wonderful. Thank you.

Special K. Thank you so much for responding so thoughtfully!

My implant side is the side that will get radiation. It was due to the PS's preference/suggestion that we decided to go ahead with the implant before radiation for the reasons you mentioned above. He just didn't want to have to cut into radiated skin if he didn't have to, and the radiation oncologist and medical oncologist were both comfortable with the plan. So on the right I have an implant but no nipple. I will be starting radiation on the right next month. On the left I JUST had a prophylactic mastectomy and because of bloodflow concerns, they did not immediately do an implant. I think I was feeling kind of miserable the last couple days and wrote out whole long depressing posts.

I met with both my breast surgeon and my plastic surgeon today for post-op visits. They were very pleased with the way the left (prophylactic mastectomy) side was healing, especially since there had been concerns about blood flow. I'm supposed to apply Aquaphor regularly to encourage healing. I did talk to my PS about the right (implant, no nipple) not looking quite right, but he also reminded me that there was no reason we couldn't make adjustments in the future.

But it's best for me to get past radiation and past the post-partum phase (I had a baby 5.5 months ago, so there's just a lot going on, and my body has been through a lot). I think I'll take the next few months to eat healthy and be a bit more active. I think if I lose 10lbs, I'll look much more like myself and more proportionate. Larger boobs always make me look chubby and matronly, and I want to avoid that! When it's time to reconstruct the left, we can think about if the right needs revision. I still have my drain, so I'll need to go back next week to see the PS, but I'm generally feeling better. Thank you so much for sharing your insights.

start I can chime in on the book not closing...I went thru 28 rounds of rads, healed up and had recon to remove expanders and put my implants in. I never really ‘loved’ my look, waited patiently and kept researching things while I waited for the magical moment when I loved my foobs. Last December I had a consult with a PS who specializes in revision recon post rads...I’m having revision surgery tomorrow including an implant swap and FG. Your journey is going to have plenty of twists and turns maybe even some detours but you will be ok. What an incredible role model your children have to look up to...hugs to you

Nickel, I didn't have rads. Did you do Breast Implant Sizing 101 with Whippetmom? 

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topics/746448

You don't have to read the whole thing. Just make sure to read the original post, and answer all the questions. Also ask any questions or concerns you might have. Whippetmom is a genius about implant sizing.

Also, ask you doctor any concerns you may have. We all have some experience, but your doctor knows you and your situation best. 

Good luck,

Mominator