BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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But Dawne-Hope, your TEs were 250 ccs, right? So your implants are 75 ccs greater than the original volume of your TEs. The overfill is just icing on the cake - it is done so that there is good insurance of skin coverage and in hopes that the PS will get a little ptosis.
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whippetmom - Yes, my TE's were 250cc. Thanks. I didn't understand it at the time ... but the light just clicked on in my brain! I get it. Thanks!
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Whippetmom, I'm five foot, eleven inches.
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Lillian -- you should chat with MBJ. She too is tall (I believe taller than you at 6 feet). She is a uni who augmented her native side to match her reconstructed MX side.
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Wow, Lillian, can you spare a couple of your inches in height to me, I am a short squirt of 5' 1/2"- and I think that half inch is me stretching. Although I htink I was supposed to be much taller as I have a ribcage of a sumo wrestler and feet that could easily serve as canoes:)
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Hi Lillian! Wow, I am 6' and 155, so I have a bit more padding then you (wide shoulders and some extra padding in the tummy/butt), but I am 30" underneath my breasts and my PS filled my 400 TE's to 535 and put in 550 on my MX side. I don't know what size you were before, but I look like a full B or C in clothes but I am actually a 34D-DD or 36C-D.
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MBJ, when you went from the 535 in your TE to your 550 implant, did you seem a lot smaller, or were you still about the same size?
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Lillian: If your TEs are also by Allergan, then they are likely 400 cc TEs, which are overfilled to 475 ccs. Does that sound right? If so, 500 ccs should be just fine. Read what I wrote above in my comment to Dawne-Hope - that second paragraph was actually in response to your comment. I forgot to insert your screen name there. So 500 ccs or 550 ccs would be very nice on your frame and get you where you need to be. If you have been to the pictures forum, you need to look at MBJ's photos. She has a similar build - same height as you.
Deborah
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Oops....I scrolled down to see that MBJ had already responded to your post!
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annette: I agree! If I could just add another measely three inches, I would not have to lose the ten pounds I need to lose before summer.
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Deborah- we can snatch some from MBJ and Lillian- they'll never notice! Man, I finally measured my rib cage...it is HUGE 32 inches-the only good thing is when I lose MY 10 pounds it really shows I have lost weight. As I posted on picture forum, I am, alas, a MOOSE. A petite moose, but a moose just the same:)
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annettek - SHUT UP girl!
You're not a moose! 32 inches is not huge! You look great! I think all of us feel huge after our surgeries and everything we've been through ... we've sat on our rears recovering! Relax, sistah! You look great! 
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dawne- but if one feels a little mooselike, for the moment, one is:) hahaha I love you guys:)
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You guys make me laugh wanting some of our height. I always wanted to be several inches shorter. I've learned with a bit of age and life experience to be happy with my height, with everything about me (almost everything anyway)--even my great big feet.
Whippetmom, so do you think that I won't notice that much decrease in size if I get 500 implants?
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Annetek: I've seen your pictures-NOT A MOOSE!!!!
Lillian: My PS was trying to get me to the size of my TE--Because it isn't hard like a TE so I don't think the projection is the same, however, I do think it is pretty close. I wished I could have gotten to 600's (they looked this big until the swelling went down) but not enough to get a revision. My clothes fit perfect now, so any larger I think I would have had some issues.
I edited this to add: If I wear a padded, push up bra I have the same projection as my TE's.
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MBJ, I'm hoping to be able to view your pictures soon. I think that will really help me. I'm so glad to have found someone with a build similar to mine going through this!
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Does anyone already have the tear drop Allergan 410 implants? Any feedback would be appreciated. Sounds like each hospital in the research study gets a limitted supply each quarter. I've been reading the lit & one of the drawbacks is they could migrate so the shape could be upside down. Then more surgery required to remove, and ?? My PS says no 'sling', & don't worry, & this is the same PS that says no bra, so I'm a little concerned.
Since I'm new to the boards, will someone please let me know if there might be an earlier discussion I can find.
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MinusTwo -- I have a gummy (I'm a uni) and it is great. It's firm -- firmer than my natural breast -- but certainly soft (and squeezable) compared with a TE; it has a lovely shape and has not (and will not) move. I can manipulate it slightly (say to push together with my other breast to make a bigger cleavage) but it pretty much wants to stay where it is. I don't know the percentages but I think migration is not that common. The Allergan 410 has a textured surface so it adheres to the inner cavity (as I understand it) and once you've healed from surgery it stays put. There's a thread here on BCO called All About Gummies where a lot of us have discussed the pros and cons of the Allergan 410. If I were not a uni I would probably not wear a bra... but since I am I need one for the other side.
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Lilah":
Thanks for the input. I'll go review the Gummie site too.
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I am at week 5 just had my second fill today. I feel fine just a little tight.
I have 650cc expanders that were filled to 150cc in surgery, first fill was 80cc, second fill was 70CC bringing me to 300cc now on my way to 750cc.
I was told I can now exercise as much as I want, I don't have to wear a bra if i don't want to, and i have to massage them a few times a day.
posted on pic forum under Delayed Tissue Expander Surgery
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Carrol2 - Did they tell you why you should massage them?
I am having pain in one particular area on the right side and I wondered if massaging would help. Glad things are going so well for you on the fills. Keep it going!
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When I had my TEs, the PS said there wasn't much point in massaging them, but with the final implants that I should massage them after they heal a bit.
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westieluv well it's not really "massaging" per say it's kind of squishing them around to help free them from the scars so you don't get capsular contracture. Mine are not really that big yet but i asked him about this because i heard from other women doing it. You kind of squeeze them together, push down on the top and pinch the bottom, a few times a day.0
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Carrol2, I love it that you always ask the questions that I didn't. Love my PS, but never get this much info.
does anyone hear their TEs make squishy/squeaky noises when the are active, bend down, etc?? I know this sounds crazy, but I am completely serious.
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christine i go into every visit with my PS with a list of questions from what i have read here. He doesn't really say much not very chatty. I try to joke around with him but he is kind of dry toast. But he takes medicaid and I believe he is doing a great job. I just keep reading all the posts and then ask him if any of the issues apply to me.0
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"dry toast" I love that description. My next visit with my PS is next week, for my last fill, post chemo. I hope to schedule port removal and my exchange surgery, so I will have alot of questions. I need to get the specs on my TEs for sizing, etc. I am sure he will be excited when he sees my list, LOL. Fortunately he does a decent job of explaining things, usually before I ask.
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christine47 - Yes I have sloshing in my TEs. Particularly on the side that had the 8cm tumor & mostly when I bend over to dry my hair. In have 650 TEs and I am filled to 400 so far. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one.
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Hoping for some input...I am new the the site and need some advice. I was dx 1 year ago, double mastectomy, chemo, radiation -- cancer free and healing nicely.
My PS put in tissue expanders at time of my double mastectomy and I have expanded to 400 cc. I am 5'2, 118 lbs, small build and hoping to have reconstruction in October, 2011. I am really struggling with silicone vs. saline. PS is heavily recommending saline with a tear drop shape. I did some research and tear drop shape is for a "more mature breast"...I am only 38 years old!!! Also, he says he would not go any larger than 400 cc. I don't really even feel like this was the same size as I previous was. At times I feel like he looks at me and thinks...."you should be happy you are alive." Believe me I am blessed and thankful to be alive but I want to make the best decision possible for me.
I've heard from so many NOT to do saline, but silicone instead because of rippling, less natural, etc. Should I get a second opinion?
Any suggestions would be so greatly appreciated.
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faithorfear- if that is how you feel your PS regards you- you might just need a second opinion for it is BS...you do not owe anyone an explanation or apologize or think yourself ungrateful for wanting the best possible end result. One has nothing to do with the other. That is HIS job-to please you asthetically. The BS takes care of the cancer- the PS is supposed to make it look as good as possible. I opted for silicone-my PS does not do saliine as he feels the results are better with today's silicone implants. I have highprofile 550 round mentors (my TEs were 450s) and thanks to the surgeon's skill- a nice natural shape is emerging with a nice natural fold underneath (thanks to alloderm) yet not droopy in the least. I am 54 and I certinaly did not walk in and ask for old lady boobs! My old ones were a 36 long! These are a 36 full C.
Hell, after all that we have gone through I like having some perkiness going on. They don't look fake at all in the greater scheme of things- which is incredible when you think about it. So ask your questions and if he will not consider your requests- you have the right to change PS and you have plenty of time.God spare us from doctors who feel the need to scold us for actually being excited about our bodies after the travesty visited upon us.
Have a geat Sunday!
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faithorfearmom: Welcome! You know, 400 ccs to 450 ccs is what I would feel comfortable recommending for someone with your build. So this is not an issue. What is your ribcage circumference? [Measure around the ribcage, under the tissue expanders] Another factor though in sizing is certainly your pre-BMX breast size. If you were large-breasted previously, you might have sufficient skin envelopes - to the extent that 400 ccs might not be large enough. So give me the history as well in this regard. Silicone vs. saline. I cannot debate this here. Plenty of threads on this on bc.org. My preference is silicone for women who are thin and have thin skin or bony chest walls, as ripples are not so problematic as they are with saline. Also, if an anatomical/tear drop shape, the implant will be textured - further presenting a risk for traction rippling. One other gal here is slated to get tear-drop salines - I cannot remember who though. Nearly all of us around the reconstruction threads have silicone implants. If your PS is not interested in hearing what you WANT or what you think, a second opinion is in order.
Deborah
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