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Comments

  • val61
    val61 Member Posts: 969
    edited September 2009

    Carolyn - I also have the allergan 20's, and hope to have pics up the end of this week. 

    Love that cute pooch!

  • DENRulzBC
    DENRulzBC Member Posts: 99
    edited September 2009

    CAROLYN - My implants are Allergan Style 20, my pics are posted too.  I'll bump mine like Linda. Good luck with your exchange.  HUGS, Dawn

    HI LINDA;o)!

  • 2Xsenough
    2Xsenough Member Posts: 48
    edited September 2009

    Hello ladies--I'm new to this topic but I think it's time to get informed. My PS said he's shooting for Dec. for my exchange. I had bilateral lat flap with TE's placed in July. The TE's are 550 talls and I have a 36 inch band. (large rib cage) I've had previous radiation and the surgery proceedure he did on me didn't take any new skin from my back; he just took the muscle forward through the mastectomy sites. So I can only go as big as my skin will allow. I'm hoping for a nice full B cup when I finish, and after spending my life till now wearing padded A's, a B sounds just wonderful. Anyway, I'm a little confused.There seems to be so many different types of implants. Is any one better than the next for someone like me that is only striving for a size B cup?

    Thanks,

    Bobbi

  • dani42
    dani42 Member Posts: 206
    edited September 2009

    You can count me in on having microcalcifications too and dense breasts.  I was monitored every 6 months for 15 years and the microcalcifications were only present toward the end. 

    MooreTennis, great news that you are fitting in your work wardrobe -unless you were looking for an excuse to go shopping!  I remember all of the emotions when it was time to return to work.  I was self conscious over everyone seeing me for the first time, because all of us expected bigger results than what I was given.  Oh, and the hardest adjustment of all, going through the day without touching my boobs!

    o2bhealthy- yeah for you!  Last chemo and an exchange date.Cool  So happy for you!  

  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 53
    edited September 2009
    Well thanks to all of you who responded to me i am going to check it out now you gals are great...Smile
  • Cheri2
    Cheri2 Member Posts: 185
    edited September 2009

    Estepp- I had calcifications!!  A DCIS- if your friend has access to her films (which she should request and carry with her everywhere until she finds her breast surgeon!!!) if they are in a complete circle -It looks like someone took a push pin and made dots in a perfect circle on the mammo- it is BAD!  If it is not a perfect circle it is not considered cancerous (or at least that is my understanding!)

    Deb- yes- I am so very blessed to listen to my gut and change doctors- it was stressful and exhausting at the time but I am so pleased.  I even showed my boobs to my long term chemical peel and botox nurse (her PS does not do recon) and she said- Cheri they look amazing and I am sooooo glad you switched- if I was ever to do recon I would go to him based on your boobs alone!!!  :)  It made my day to say the least!!!!  I made the right call and am so happy I did it.  It is hard to switch midway though!   I have one more surgery to go- under general.  I have to get a flap of skin removed under my arm pit!  I am also going to let him do the nip then as I will be under anyway- why not?  And I think I may even do lipo as well!!! Just on my torso as a kind of reward for this surgery!?  Not sure yet- but am thinking about it :)

  • MooreTennis
    MooreTennis Member Posts: 90
    edited September 2009

    My PS advised me to change the tape on my incisions every other day this week then start using silicone scar tape next week for 6 weeks. As I was removing the tape tonight there are 4-5 stitches poking through the incision on my left breast. They are the clear disposal stitches. Is this anything to worry about? Should I just retape as my PS advised? I just saw him Monday so surely these were showing then.

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited October 2009

    Yes Denise.. just re tape... sorry you got scared!

  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 509
    edited October 2009

    DAWN

    HELLO BACK AT YOU....

    Are you planning on going to the next TATA reunion?  I would love to meet you...

    Linda

  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 433
    edited October 2009

    OK where (what forum) is Friends  ((LOOK) in?

  • Jan1
    Jan1 Member Posts: 281
    edited October 2009

    O2bhealthy,  I will be thinking of you tomorrow, I hope it all goes well and that this end gives you relief.  I am so happy that you have your exchange date. 

    Cheri2, I too was a clustered microcalcification BC type DCIS with microinvasion.  I had never heard about the circular pattern type, but that is exactly what mine looked like, in the main area and 2 different smaller areas.  Wow, what we learn from each other.  I do have my films and have all my mammogram copies of films for comparison, just in case I move to another area. 

    Val, Woo Hoo on the bra's.  Didn't feel great to put a bra on and have it fit?    

    Laura,  I hope your friend is OK, 

    Jan

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited October 2009

    Double or Nothing:  I PM'd you with instructions on how to contact Timtam

    Val:  WHOOOOZA!  32 D OR 30 DD?  Good gracious!

  • kittycat
    kittycat Member Posts: 1,155
    edited October 2009

    Interesting about the calcifications,  Mine were linear, which I think are also bad - well, they must have been since I was dx with DCIS! 

    How long after your last fill did most of you have your exchange???  Do you have to wait?  I should have asked my PS this question, but didn't think of it! 

  • kittycat
    kittycat Member Posts: 1,155
    edited October 2009

    I have a lot of upper pole fullness.  So much, in fact, my PS was laughing about it on my last fill!  We laugh a lot during my visits!!!  Anyway, I had the upper pole thing pre BMX, when I had breast aug implants but not before implants. 

  • samiam40
    samiam40 Member Posts: 93
    edited October 2009

    Denise, I have them too.   Pretty sure they are stiches that dissolve.  Thanks for the info about scar prevention.  Mine didn't say much about that topic!  I think I'll go with what your ps advises.

  • EvaPerone
    EvaPerone Member Posts: 14
    edited October 2009

    Kittycat: My PS insists on waiting one month between last fill and exchange - Hopkins protocol.

  • val61
    val61 Member Posts: 969
    edited October 2009

    Okay........had my dh take a couple pics last night when he changed my drain hole silvadine dressings - such fun!  Just posted the pics on the forum........let me know what y'all think!

    Deborah - I SWEAR they don't seem that big!!!!  Well.....maybe a little bit......LOL!

  • debragood
    debragood Member Posts: 11
    edited October 2009

    Hi all.   I have my exchange surgery on 11/16.  Can anyone send me a link to the picture site and let me know how to get a password?  I think I want gummy bears but the picture site would help a lot.  Thanks very much.

     Warmly,

    Deb 

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited October 2009

    Laura:  That is SO AWESOME!  I am so thrilled to hear that your PS would take her.  Oh I hope this all works out...thank you so much for doing that for her.  We have such a great networking system going here...I am just floored by what goes on here at Exchange City. 

    But what did I forget?  ME?  Forget something? [I ALWAYS do!!!]  It was hard to see anything in that room of ours.  It looked like a crime scene after being ransacked by international thieves.  LOL!!!  

    Laura, I just love you.  I could listen to you talk all day long...you are on my "most interesting people" list now...

    Val:  They are beautiful.  You are not "TINY" any longer!  What a great result!

    Deb:  Here is the link to PM Timtam:

    http://community.breastcancer.org/member/11047/profile

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited October 2009

    (((((((((((((((((Deborah)))))))))))))))))

    That was very very nice of you to say...I wish we could have had more time to talk..all of us..:)

    I hope this works out GREAT for Teresa...

    off to check out VALS DD's bahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

  • MillieD
    MillieD Member Posts: 24
    edited October 2009

    Hi Guys.  I cancelled my fills for tomorrow cause I have been in so much pain from expanders.  My "turtles" glow in the dark.  I'm up to 600ccs.  I wanted to be a small "D" but I think my body is telling me to stop.  What do you think?  I'm 5'5" 158 lbs.  I figured if i have to go through this i might as well get what i want.  PS agrees with me also. He said there is no rush.  Wait another week or so and he'll put in a little at a time.  I don't even want to touch them right now and it's been 3 weeks.  I was up to 660ccs and he had to take out 60 (three weeks ago) cause i thought my chest was going to explode.  I couldn't go to work for a week.  I still have to take pain meds ocassionally.  Should I keep looking forward to the big picture or just give up?  So far he says my exchange won't be until January so that I have time.  I value your opinions.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited October 2009
    Bobbi:  With your 550 tall height tissue expanders, I presume you mean you are filled to 550 cc's currently?  I cannot get into the Mentor website for some reason today, so I cannot verify the dimensions of that TE - as you did not specify which one you have.  But Allergan's 500 cc full height TE has a width of 13.0 cm and a projection of 5.7 if variable and probably up to 7.0 cm if a "extra full" version.  You have the option of two recommended styles - the high profile and the moderate plus profile implants. [Forget about the standard "moderate" style - you would hate the lack of projection.]  We presume you are intending on silicone implants?  With your ribcage dimensions, you will likely be a candidate for an implant width of 15.0 cm or more.  The high profile style would require at least a 750 cc implant to gain enough width....but then this might make you larger than you want.  A moderate plus profile implant might be more appropriate in that case,  The Style 15 [I am using Allergan b/c I cannot get into the Mentor website] at 616 cc's has a width of 15.2 cm and projection of 4.9 cm and the 659 cc's has a width of 15.4 cm and a projection of 5.0 cm.  I think that 659 cc's might be a nice size for you.  So many other factors go into determining the "size" outcome after breast reconstruction.  Your ribcage, body habitus and other features unique to you personally will have bearing.  So "cup" size is difficult to predict.  I will say that going a little larger is always recommended, as getting projection and volume with reconstruction is entirely different than it is with augmentation. You can go on the pictures forum and look at other women who have builds and vital statistics similar to yours to get a somewhat better idea of what to expect with various implant styles and sizes. 
  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited October 2009

    Millie:  I just do not think it is worth running the risk of compromise to your skin integrity to continue with expansions when you have the tautness you are describing, unless you could delay and have one more fill of 50 cc's - one month from now.   That said, if you are at 600 cc's, you should be able to exchange to a 650 cc or 700 cc implant.  I think you could be happy with a volume of around 700 cc's...You may have to show your PS the numbers - confirming for him that the dimensions of your TE's would correspond to an implant of 100 cc's greater in volume than the TE's.  Many of us an exchange to implants which are 100 cc's [or more] greater than the volume in the TE's. If your PS is one who is rigid about his methods - overexpands and then exchanges to an implant of smaller dimensions, you may need to rethink your desires for a specific size. Maintaining skin integrity is really important.  I think you are probably looking at a moderate plus profile implant - which should be nice for your frame. If you could get the details on your TE's - brand, style [short height, mid height or full height]  and recommended fill capacity, we could help you come up with the dimensions of your TE's. Also, please provide your ribcage dimensions.

  • MillieD
    MillieD Member Posts: 24
    edited October 2009

    Hi Whimpetmom.  I have 133MV Tissue expanders 500cc

    Ref 33MV-14

    SN 14173563

    Allergan

    Does that help you?  I believe he mentioned a 14 chest wall???? I'm not sure what the 14 was.

  • Alo123
    Alo123 Member Posts: 72
    edited October 2009

    I know this questions has probably been answered a million times....but here goes. 

    What type of follow up after chemo and reconstruction is standard.....mammogram, MRI.....?  And at what point ....how many months..how often?

  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 1,089
    edited October 2009

    Thank you ladies for all the great replies and encouragement...Found Estepps pics under 'well burnt' top secret code name...Estepp your recon is awesome...thank you so much for sharing.  No decision has been made yet for me on Rads because it was such a grey area...Onc wanted to finish Chemo before referring to Rad Onc...of course no Rads until after exchange anyway because of the metal in the TE...

    So far really mild SE's from last chemo yesterday...Yay!!!

  • 2Xsenough
    2Xsenough Member Posts: 48
    edited October 2009

    Whippet--Thank you so much for your info. You are the resident authority on this, aren't you? To clarify: I have Mentor TE's, 550 tall, that is what my surgery report tells me. I am currently filled to 300cc, with three or four more fills to go. I am 5'5" and weigh 140. Do you still think I should look at the moderate profile plus? I have very narrow hips and surely don't want to look top heavy. I golf and swim, and at 64, am fairly athletic for my age.

     What are the drawbacks for saline implants? I think I'm partial to silicone but I don't know anything about them. Are more of you ladies going for silicone? Are any of you around my size and have photos on the forum I could look at?

    Thanks all, for your help.

    Bobbi

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited October 2009

    Bobbi:  Yes, the proportions are confusing.  You sound trim and fit.  It is the ribcage dimension which is perplexing.  I am going to PM you for additional information.

    Practically all of us here [90% or more] have silicone implants or are intending to get silicone implants. 

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    edited October 2009

    Millie:  Yes, you have TE's with a width of 14.0 cm.  They are moderate height, variable projection implants - 14.0 cm wide by 6.0 cm projection. So your PS would be looking at implants with a width greater than 14.0 cm - close to 15.0 cm or more.  What I said above would still apply

    So many things going on here today...exciting!!

    But somehow I feel I am getting confused with all of these different ribcage measurements and dimensions I am throwing out..not to mention the PM's I am getting..let me know if you are perplexed.....LOL

    Millie....Oh I know what it is...I still need your ribcage dimensions.  Measure the circumference under your bra line....

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 2,966
    edited October 2009

    She's backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.... our little

    " Breast Whisperer"

    Wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

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