Exchange City

TT---ooh, yes 3-5 hours is quite a hike. I bet you will find her in Richmond! Dr Nadia Blanchet looks promising!!

Hi Minute - you're not crazy to consider autologous surgery. I'm switching from tissue expanders to DIEP surgery - I can't stand the feeling of the expanders and have had too much nerve pain to think implants will solve it. If your insurance will cover it, it is a viable option. Check out the 2018 DIEP board - lots of ladies have just finished surgery and are sharing their experiences

Lanne

Minute - I am 8 months post exchange and starting to look for a new PS for revision...what concerns me with your new Dr is he is simply offering you what he does which wasn't really what you were looking for. As I am in the looking process, if someone simply offers me what they do vs what I am looking for, that is my signal to make another appointment with someone else and keep looking. In my first round of this, I accepted a lot by the BS and PS as to what was best for me...but I have learned a lot in the nearly 3 years since this all started for me and I hope to be much more discerning the second time around.

Blessed - I'm sure others will come along to answer more of your questions, but here are a few of my thoughts.

I had Allergan 410s and have never regretted the cohesive silicone. Some people think they are heavier, but my natural breasts were always horribly heavy so I don't notice a problem. In addition, I wanted to go smaller as long as I had decent cleavage.

You're right, the implants will not have even the projection that the TEs do. Unfortunately talking about cup size or bra size is not relevant since each one of is different. How close they will look to the TEs depends on your surgeon, your chest size, your height, whether he uses alloderm, and a hundred other variables. You should go to Breast Implant 101, read the header, provide your stats as requeste, repeat your questions and ask Whippetmom for her recommendation.

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

TrmTab: Thank you for your feedback--that's a good point. I did end up making an appointment for a 2nd opinion with another PS who is apparantly more conventional to see what she says.

Robinblessed: I'm in Northern, not Southern California--seeing docs in N.Cal. That's great that you had such a great outcome!

I also spoke with a physician's assistant this week who scheduled my 2nd opinion. She said that most subpectorals require 3 rounds of fat grafting and that 1 round generally doesn't fix the problem.

Anyone else here used a PS in Northern California Kaiser?

Thanks!

I had my exchange surgery this morning at Mercy Hospital Edmond Oklahoma. It was fast. They treat me so well. They all have good sense of humor and make it great. I'm wrapped for 3 days. I am drunk. Isn't that what you do on your birthday? I'll unwrap Friday morning. This old decrepit 66 year old biddy is very happy she chose reconstruction.

I had exchange yesterday. I'm bandaged and wrapped in an ace bandage. I just readjusted the wrap as it was wrinkled up and uncomfortable so I peeked under the wraps. I'm suppose to leave them on until Friday then put a "soft bra" on. First, I look so flat. I got 440 cc implants. And second, I don't own a bra....will have to go buy some tomorrow. Don't have a clue of what to get.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Rascal - don't spend a lot of money on bras yet. It will take 3-6 months before you can see what your implants will really look like. In the mean time, check with your PS to see what he will allow. Some say no underwire, some say only underwire. I bought Danskin & Fruit of the Loom bras at WalMart to get me through the first 6 weeks. Then get professionally measured, since 90% of us were wearing the wrong size already, and implants don't translate very well to traditional bra sizes.

Deb - I'd ask your doctor. He/she may not want you in the heat. Otherwise I was healed enough to make a trip.

Rascalsmom and DebAL please ask your doctor about what to wear or not wear for bras. I had a lot of swelling post exchange, so my PS just wanted me in the soft surgical bra for about 10 days. 

I agree about asking your surgeon--call them and bug them. I used a zip up (made for post surgery) camisole, and then switched to zip front sports bras.

https://www.target.com/s/zip+front+sports+bra

Thank you everyone, I'm just ready to get this done. My expanders have been full since before chemo..got my last one in 2 days before I started as he wouldn't fill during. They really haven't bothered me too much until lately. Not sure if it's the heat or what. Just seem to notice them more now. I appreciate all the advice!

Hi Maggie! I can't believe we haven't " met" before on another thread given our similar timelines but maybe we have and I forgot. A friend mentioned what you said..maybe I'm focusing on it more now since chemo is over. I did really well with chemo and didn't have any side effects to deal with but maybe that is the case. I feel since my last TC on 6/2 I'm retaining a little more fluid everywhere..not terrible.. in the chest area too so I thought it was that. My exchange is August 9th so we can go through it together! I was schedule for July 18th but that was just at the 6 week mark from my last chemo. PS would have done it but said if it's no hardship on my end to wait a few weeks he would prefer to postpone. Did you do ok with chemo? My hair is growing back but I will still look like my dad for awhile. Hope you are doing well!

DebAl, I posted a few questions on the April Chemo site and really appreciated all the helpful tips that were offered.  It is a great group.  After the first infusion, the MO tweaked some of my RX for side effects and that helped a lot for the subsequent rounds.  I still get very tired by late afternoon, but I'm doing well.  I'm also noticing water retention.  That would certainly account for the more bothersome expanders. As for hair, I did the Penguin Cold Caps.  Unfortunately, I didn't see the success that so many experienced.  But, I still have hair, though extremely thin. 

 I was a bit concerned about having the exchange surgery too soon post chemo, but my BS, MO, and PS all agree that 7 weeks between is fine. My surgery is scheduled as outpatient.  Is this typical? 

Star, I was always told I act like my dad. Now I get to look like him too. He has since passed but would be proud of how I'm trying to get through all this. I miss him.

Maggie, the April group is awesome and I like checking back in. As far a water retention: my feet by the end of the day. A little in my hands etc and a little bit all over I think. Things just feel more full in the chest area too. I did not have this till about 2 weeks after last treatment. Glad your meds were tweaked and that it helped. Sorry about your cold caps but glad you were able to hang on to some of your hair. I think you are fine at 7 weeks too. My PS would have kept my 6 week date but I could tell if I was good with waiting he would prefer that. I will be 9 weeks out. Yes, typically outpatient and about an hour for the procedure. I'm also having fat grafting at the same time. It will be nice to compare notes with our surgeries. Not looking forward to all the activity restrictions since I'm back to normal there but will be glad to have this part done! Enjoy your weekend!