Implant

I am scheduled to get my implant in a week, and even though my doctor and I have discussed this eventuality for months, now that the time has arrived I find that I’m poorly prepared for what is to come. Perhaps it’s just anxiety but in thinking about this surgery I realized that I have dozens of questions that are keeping me awake at night, tossing and turning with worry. None of my friends have an implant, so they can’t relate or provide good information to allay my fears, so I’m hoping some of you good souls will be kind enough to provide me with the benefits of your experience in this process.

How long is recovery time after the surgery, and when can I go back to work. How will my life change after the procedure, will I still be able to do all the things I previously did. Will I be able to wear a bikini swimsuit again, or will the implant be obvious.

I’ve heard that you must keep your left arm below shoulder height for six weeks, why is this required, and why don’t you have to worry about the right arm, after all, they‘re augmenting both sides at the same time. Oh and the most important, will I have to answer questions from Perez Hilton during the contest ?

Thanks, you guys are great
Beauty Queen

6 Comments

hmmmm.....

by Angelie - 2009-04-30 01:04:17

I thought just about everyone in California is implanted with something or other......

Aiming? Now that's scary....Patch what exactly are you talking about? LOL!

Just call me idiot, or
Angelie

recovery

by Tracey_E - 2009-04-30 01:04:28

It's only the left arm because it's usually placed on the left side. The leads run from the device into the heart. Moving the arm too much can dislodge them until they've had a chance to grow into place.

Ask your surgeon about hiding it. Some surgeons make an effort to make it look good, some just slip it in under the skin. Mine is behind the breast and they put it in from the side, so it doesn't show even with a bikini. This is rare so it's unlikely your doctor has done it this way, but it's not unheard of either and he should be able to find out about it fairly easily. Regardless of where they put it, make it clear to them before that it matters to you how it looks.This can make them take a little extra care than they normally might.

Recovery... you'll be tired and sore for a few days. It should get better quickly after the first 3 or 4 days, you should be back to 100% by 4-6 weeks. But everyone is different! How good you feel and how quickly you recover depends a lot on your overall health and why you need the pm. I was bursting with energy from the time I woke up, was pacing the halls before they released me, desperate to burn off the endless energy.

Dont' worry...

by pezzypooh - 2009-04-30 06:04:30

I got my PM two and a half weeks ago and am totally shocked at how good things look. Mine was implanted just above my left breast - not right under the collar bone like many others. It is low enough that the incision/scar barely shows with most of my lower cut tops, and I have no bulge whatsoever. You can feel the PM under the skin, but you cannot see it. I highly recommend you talk to your surgeon about placement. I had no idea it could be lower and look so good...my surgeon just did it for me! Good luck!

Just wondering

by Angelie - 2009-04-30 12:04:11

Do you have a pacemaker already and are you getting another one, (if so you should know what it's like), or are you talking about breast implants?

Not sure really how to help you. I have a pacer, but other than that.....glad with what I was born with.....


LOL,

Angelie

Speedy recovery

by tuck3lin - 2009-04-30 12:04:12

I had the PM implant surgery on a Thursday and was back to work the following Monday. However, I work at a desk in front of a computer, so when you go back to work probably depends on the activity level of your job. If your job involves lifting, you'll be off longer. Two weeks after the surgery my doctor cleared me to start workouts again on the treadmill, but I held back to a fast walk or a slow run for a couple of months.

Six months later, I am now doing pretty much everything I did before the implant. Running, light weight lifting, skiing, throwing a football or frisbee, hiking, etc.

You need to keep your left arm below the shoulder because the PM is usually implanted on the left chest. You want to give your body a chance to form scar tissue over the wires that run from the PM device to the heart. If you raise your arm up too high you are moving your chest muscle too much which, in turn, moves the wires too much. Obviously, this doesn't apply to right arm. However, after a few weeks enough scar tissue has formed that nothing will move the wires from where they have seated themselves and you no longer need to be concerned about arm motion.

Can't give you an answer about the bikini because I am male. It wouldn't look good on me.

pacemaker

by jeanmarie - 2009-04-30 12:04:49

Hi, I have had two packemakers since 2001, there is a little scar on left side, I went back to work ten days after the implants and was told not to drive for 6 weeks, but I drove to work every day and was very careful using my right hand most of the time...you will be able to wear bathing suit how revealing you want to get is up to you....good luck

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