Cotton tank tops have saved me post explant!
I may have mentioned this before, but my incisions and my rib cage were so sore from the sports bra band at the bottom rolling up onto my incisions that I tried everything...gauge pads (didn't work well enough), different sports bras (what a waste of time!). Then I had the genius idea of using first aid tape to tape the bra band to my skin at the bottom to keep it from rolling up. It worked great...but I forgot that I have a reaction to medical tape and I broke out in a rash. Aaaaargh! Ok, so next idea was to wear a soft cotton tank top first, then put the bra over that thinking it would keep the band from rolling/creeping up under my breasts. It worked! I haven't gone a day without one yet. just a soft summer cotton tank...not the kind with a shelf bra I, or ribbed..just soft plain cotton like you would throw on in the summer for a shirt. I am 3.5 wks post explant and healing up really well. But my incisions get irritated if anything rubs on them so I am still doing my undershirt. Who cares! As long as I am comfortable.
2 and half weeks after explant
The procedure was pretty easy honestly. The recovery has been way easier than getting the implants in. I never took any of the Norco and just took 600mg of Advil every 8 hours for the first few days and a Valium a few times to help me sleep and stay relaxed. The incision sites look really good so far, but are sore. I have been massaging with lotion, coconut oil etc. as the nurse suggested. What is hard to figure out is how to keep the bottom band of a soft bra from rolling up onto the incision. I put gauge pads under the band initially and that was ok at first. Now I am wearing a super soft cotton tank top first, and then the bra on top of that. Genius!!! So far today this feels the best and seems to be keeping the bra band from rolling up. Yay! I tend to do too much too fast, as I am kind of impatient...but I felt so awesome about a week after the explant that I cleaned my house, went for a long, went grocery shopping and ended up really sore in my chest. I have since dialed it back a lot. My chest muscles are a bit angry and my breasts are a bit sore, but I haven't taken any Advil, so not unbearable. Still tired easily. But here's all the good news...upper back and neck pain is GONE...the bumps on the back of my arms are GONE. And, I am totally fine with having smaller breasts. Not bummed out at all. In fact, I just feel like my old self. I know I have a way to go and the look will change as the skin retracts over time, but overall I am so happy I did it. Wondering how long it has taken others of us to get back to the gym. Just going for a walk still makes me sore, so I am not ready yet. Thanks again to all on here who gave me the courage to do the explant. I am forever grateful.
tomorrow is the day!
I am sitting here and thinking wow...tomorrow is the day I get my implants out. Just wanted to say thanks again to all of you ladies who posted here and gave me the courage to go through with this. I am looking forward to it being over with and letting the healing begin. A tad bit nervous, but those who have posted that they had the removal under local said it was pretty much a breeze so that makes me feel a lot better. See ya on the other side!!!!