BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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I am 2 months post TE. He filled me to 500cc during surgery (had a skin sparring MX 16 months ago). My TE are a half moon shape. He says this will give me a more natural shape. I had one fill about 4 weeks ago. I think is will be happy where I am.
My question is that one my TE appears to moving. When I woke up this morning it felt like it sideways (long side was going up on down). When I stood up everything shifted back into place. I also think that the TE has flipped so that the metal plate where they fill is now on the bottom of my breast not near my nipple. I got out a magnet today to see if I was right. I think I am. Has anyone had this problem. I didn't think they should move this much. Didn't have time to call the doc today but will tomorrow. Just wanted to see if any of you experts had any thoughts.
I am also wondering if all TE are a crescent shaped. I am not a petit person and am filled to 550cc and would fit into a 38C type bra I would imagine. When I read about smaller women being filled to 600-700cc, I imagine them being quite large. I am sure we are not using the same comparison.
thanks.
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thanks whippetmom i'll keep posting.
fyi started getting a little sore last night and this morning. nothing terrible but enough to keep from the gym today.
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Isseymom: The crescent-shaped TEs your PS used are probably the short-height or low-height Allergan or Mentor tissue expanders - and are termed "crescentric tissue expanders." are used often - perhaps not as much as the moderate height style of TE - but I think that if I had my druthers, the low height TEs would be used more often. They have the benefit of expanding the lower pole, where projection naturally occurs, and limiting or avoiding expansion of the delicate tissues in the upper pole. Rotation, malposition - possibly a greater risk with the low-height TEs....but certainly it can happen with any tissue expander. If it is distorting the pocket - expanding inappropriately, it should be removed and replaced. Your PS will keep an eye on it. The recent advent of the suture tabs [Mentor TEs] helps prevent rotation and malposition, but very few surgeons seem to be using them - probably using up their current stock before reordering the newer CPX models. When you present for your next fill, confirm all of this with the PS.0
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Deborah - my TE photos are now out on the picture forum. Im at 415 now and look to get my last fill on Tuesday and I can update you then. PS thinks the skin quality is great. Ill be getting a 350 in the natural side - Tuesday will determine the final numbers....I will probably ask to try on some samples again just to make sure Ill like it.
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whippetmom: I sent you a PM with my stats and my photos are on the picture forum. I don't remember if I included this in my message. My PS used 600cc expanders and filled to 350cc at surgery. I've been a little nervous thinking that he planned to fill to 600cc as I came out of surgery feeling like I was only slightly smaller than my natural breasts. However, at my last appointment he mentioned that the amount of fill I have now IS pretty comparable to the calculated volume of the removed breast tissue. I expressed pre-surgery that I wanted to be about the same size, maybe a little fuller so I guess that why he used 600cc TEs (to give me size options). His method is to continue to fill until I like what I see, then expand once more. From what you've heard from others, it is unusual to use that much larger of a tissue expander? I wonder if that partly explains why I am so much fuller at the bottom, I don't seem to have that flattened hamburger-bun look with my TEs.
Any thoughts or observations or suggested questions for my visit next week? I was supposed to go today, but my dang wound took a little backstep in healing again so will wait until next week.
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TinaT - Sorry you're having such a time of it! Praying for complete healing! xo
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Dawne-Hope: Thanks, just a minor setback, nothing serious. Last week that healing area was looking filled in and just about done. I travel 3 hours each way to my PS and have made about 10 trips in the past 3 months
. We discussed and he thought it would be OK to put a little of the saline back in the expander at my recheck last week and I said "go for it!" However, it was enough to separate the edges of the wound a bit. After I emailed pictures he decided we should hold off. Oh well...... 0 -
TinaT - I hear you on the travels ... mine wasn't quite that far .. but close at about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Lots of mileage on the car! Glad he's being careful! We have to keep reminding ourselves ... the fill process isn't a race ... as badly as we want them gone! Hang in there! xo 0
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Dawne-Hope: Thanks for the good thoughts. Yes, my car knows the way right to the parking garage at the clinic! It doesn't always take 3 hours, but the traffic is so unpredictable that we allow that plus a little extra and sometimes make it just on time.
Have a lovely day!
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Tina: You look superfabuloso! But I never received a PM from you! There was a snafu/glitch with our inboxes on Tuesday/Wednesday and it might have been lost during that downtime. So could you resend your vital statistics, including your ribcage circumference. Also, could you find out which style of TEs you have - low height, moderate height, full height? I doubt you have full height, based on your description of your TEs....but I want to get your dimensions. Dimensions vary based on the style of TE.
Deborah
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whippetmom: Thanks! I got a PM from you the other day saying that you were on the road, but something weird did happen with the messages about that time. I've added my info to the picture forum, but I'll also PM you again.
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Isseymom-I did not have cresent shaped TE, but one of one also moved. It turned upside down so the magnet was on the bottom instead of the top. My PS manuallly turned it back into it's postion and it stayed that way for the duration of my fills. I am six months post exchange and having them move like that didn't affect anything in the long term.
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How do I go to the picture forum?
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okeefe7544: It's a separate site. You have to post here for a while before you can gain access. Then contact timtam, whippetmom, or MBJ to get access. I think there are a number of other moderators/gatekeepers as well. By the way - THANKS to all of you who keep the photo forum going!!!0
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Tina: Oh, now I do remember that exchange we had, but then your PM entirely disappeared, so out of sight, out of mind I guess. I am glad you mentioned it again. I don't want anyone to be left hanging, waiting for an answer!
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Whippetmom- Thanks for your thoughts and insight. It does not appear to be causing any issue with shape. When I stand up it looks normal. I will see what my PS thinks.
Sweetie2040 - It is great to know that I am not alone. It definately feels like it is upside down but that I could rotate it back into place. Of course I would not do that myself.
Love this site and all the insight you all provide.
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Hey ladies--just posted my "work in progress" from pre-surgery thru exchange on picture site, hopefully that "drop and fluff" thing helps even things out a bit!
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Hello everyone, I have posted my te's pics on the photo forum and I am concentrating on sizing right now. Currently filled to 300/350 ccs and have 275 medium ht. te's. I am aiming for a 400/450 high profile implant - hoping to get a proportional implant for my body frame and look like a small c in clothing post e-surgery. Opinions are welcome!
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Wahoo Cindy and Cameron!!!
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Deborah, no I don't have TE's yet. My BMX is scheduled for June 14'th and I will be seeing the PS one more time before then so am compiling a list of questions. The tear dropped shape silicone are not approved by the FDA yet (as you said, only the round ones are) but my PS is involved in a study that will work to get them approved, so they are an option for me.I will PM you with the other information you asked about (ribcage size etc). I'm in Boston for my daughter's graduation from BU today and tomorrow, so will send that to you when I get home (don't have a tape measure in the hotel!)
Thanks again. Pat
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Pat -- ok the tear drop shaped silicone implants that are not yet approved by the FDA ARE indeed the Allergen 410 gummies. I have one (I'm a uni) and I'm very happy with my results. The shape is nice. You should know, though, that gummies are firmer than regular silicone (in case that matters to you). Also I recommend that you check out the All About Gummies thread... a lot of women have been posting there the past few years about this particular implant. And though it is not approved yet in the US the Allergan 410 gummy has been in wide use in Canada and in Europe for over 10 years.
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you go cindy and cameron- we will all be in there watching- no mean feat rushing between ORs:)
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redskyatnight: Whippetmom will need your weight, height and under bust measurement to help you get you to where you want to be.
Cameron & Cindy: Wahooo for you! Yippee squishees are on their way!!!
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Thank you Whippetmom, got 450ml (not cc's ml is on card) high profile round mentor silicone implants. Still have bandages on and feeling itchy. Have 2 drain tubes that come out tomorrow. Did a little lypo in stomach. Anxious to see how they come out. I appreciate your help very much and to those who provided photos, made me feel much better going in to surgery. PS tried 475 and said everyone in surgery room said no. My chest does feel lighter and the bandages I notice have some give to them unlike the concrete barriers I was carrying. Good Luck to everyone!
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Lilah, Thank you for the input-I would've NEVER known. I will look into it more. My last appt. before surgery, with the PS is this Thursday, so I need to go with all my questions and concerns. I will check out the thread.
Pat
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Cameron and Cindy: Praying that everything went smoothly for you today....and that you will come here to give us all the details!
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yo hoo cameron and cindy....waitingo n the news (been resting since flying back and forth between the two of you....very tiring but it looked lke your surgeons did well!)
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Hi Whippetmom...my late response on the type of TE I have...the card in my wallet indicates 133MV...does this help?
Thank you!
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faithorfearmom: I sent you a private message!
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I had TE put in Feb. now he's been "filling" them, ouch and they're really big. I want to end up about a B cup I think, not a DD like before BC. This is a new PS, my old one, Dr. Schooler at USC butchered me so I'm not hoping for perfection just something acceptable. My exchange surgery is scheduled for June 7th and my last fill tomorrow. I'm going to ask him about what type and size of implants he has in mind and I'll post here to see what you think. thank you everyone for your help!
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