Final implants after tissue expanders

savvysma

Hi, I had a nipple sparing mastectomy in July 2010 and just had my tissue expanders exchanged for high profile silicone implants 2 days ago on November 9th. I had to get a skin graph for one of my nipples because the pathology report in July showed less than a 2mm margin. I havent been able to see that breast yet but the other one looks like a big hamburger bun. It's like I have no cleavage and it has a 1 inch fold on the bottom. I know he did this to make them look more natural but I hate them (so far). Dawne I saw your post, you think theyll come out a bit? I guess I was thinking I would get a round attractive breast. These look kind of flat and fat....They dont look at all like the TE. My doctor is irritated that I dont like them.
Right now they move less than half an inch as I try to create cleavage, do they move more in a push up bra in a few months?

Heatherbelle

Congrats on having your
Congrats on having your exchange surgery, I'm having mine in 4 days. I've heard that they change, settle & "fluff" for weeks after your initial surgery & been told not to get discouraged with your initial look as they will change. I think once the swelling goes down, they settle into place & fluff out you will like them more
*hugs*
Heather

savvysma

Heatherbelle said:

Congrats on having your
Congrats on having your exchange surgery, I'm having mine in 4 days. I've heard that they change, settle & "fluff" for weeks after your initial surgery & been told not to get discouraged with your initial look as they will change. I think once the swelling goes down, they settle into place & fluff out you will like them more
*hugs*
Heather

Thanks, Make sure you let us
Thanks, Make sure you let us know how it goes. Good luck. This surgery is so much more manageable than the first one.

Dawne.Hope

they change!
Dear savvysma -

It takes AT LEAST three months for the implants to settle in but it can take up to six months. Yes, they're flat like a hamburger bun, but you're only two days out!

I'd encourage you to keep a photo journal because it is fascinating how they change from week to week. The swelling will go down, your pectoral muscle will relax and they will drop a little. As the muscle relaxes, they get a little bigger. The TE's, as we all know are hard as a rock therefore you get more projection. The TE's are hard, the implants are soft so you're not going to have the projection of the TE's. With a MX, we will never have the projection that women get who have augmentations with implants because we don't have the breast tissue behind the implant, all we have is the implant.

Don't worry about cleavage at this point. You need to let the pocket heal. In three months, you can think about a push-up bra but don't worry about that right now, you need to heal and the implant needs to settle in the pocket your PS created. I've heard they get softer and more pliable over time.

If you still hate them in a few months, you have the option of getting a revision. But most PS's won't touch you (for a revision) for 3-6 months.

Hang in there. It's only been 2 days! Give it some time, step away from the mirror ... we all get obsessive with our new foobs and look at them with scrutiny right after our exchange. Let them relax and see how they look in a few months!

VickiSam

Dawne.Hope said:

they change!
Dear savvysma -

It takes AT LEAST three months for the implants to settle in but it can take up to six months. Yes, they're flat like a hamburger bun, but you're only two days out!

I'd encourage you to keep a photo journal because it is fascinating how they change from week to week. The swelling will go down, your pectoral muscle will relax and they will drop a little. As the muscle relaxes, they get a little bigger. The TE's, as we all know are hard as a rock therefore you get more projection. The TE's are hard, the implants are soft so you're not going to have the projection of the TE's. With a MX, we will never have the projection that women get who have augmentations with implants because we don't have the breast tissue behind the implant, all we have is the implant.

Don't worry about cleavage at this point. You need to let the pocket heal. In three months, you can think about a push-up bra but don't worry about that right now, you need to heal and the implant needs to settle in the pocket your PS created. I've heard they get softer and more pliable over time.

If you still hate them in a few months, you have the option of getting a revision. But most PS's won't touch you (for a revision) for 3-6 months.

Hang in there. It's only been 2 days! Give it some time, step away from the mirror ... we all get obsessive with our new foobs and look at them with scrutiny right after our exchange. Let them relax and see how they look in a few months!

Yes they do.. In fact back in late July .. Dawne.Hope was
our cheer leader and fact finding ' Warrior '. There were 4 of us breast cancer Warriors going in for our 'exchange' within a 1.5 week time frame, and we all had concerns .. in fact - I was freaking out .. thinking that my new ta'ta's did not look as large 'big' as I had discussed with Plastic Surgeon and hoped for. 850 cc's is not 'big' enough ! ???? Hahahahah .. solid size C cup.

And yes, if there are any lifts, increase/decrease to your new breasts .. your surgeon will have you wait .. 3-6 months which allows your body and tissue time to heal and adjust.

EXCELLENT advise .. Miss Dawne Hope!



Vicki Sam

savvysma

Heatherbelle said:

Congrats on having your
Congrats on having your exchange surgery, I'm having mine in 4 days. I've heard that they change, settle & "fluff" for weeks after your initial surgery & been told not to get discouraged with your initial look as they will change. I think once the swelling goes down, they settle into place & fluff out you will like them more
*hugs*
Heather

I hope everything is going
I hope everything is going well for you today!!!!!!