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BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101

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Comments

  • rebetata
    rebetata Member Posts: 213

    MBJ I am doing great. I really don't post too much but I do read up and check on everyone. Thank you for asking.



    Deborah did you send me a PM I got one but cannot get it to open?



    Rebecca

  • rowan
    rowan Member Posts: 131

    Whippetmom--Wow, that makes a lot more sense.  Now I'm starting to get it.  That's probably why it hurt so much in the beginning in the middle of my foobs, over the breastbone.  Very tender.  As they started to get fuller the edges weren't so pronounced and the pain decreased in that area. Thanks.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    rowan....yes....they are like a deflated football.....and those rough edges are smoothed out as air goes into the football!Wink
  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    Rebecca....Was not me.  They are making some changes to private messaging....

    I did not get back to the desert....obviously....Wink  I will let you know if I make it out in July.....Cool

  • rebetata
    rebetata Member Posts: 213

    Thanks for getting back to me Deborah. I will plan to sneak up to Vegas in case you don't come in July. It is 107 here today so maybe better you didn't come.LOL



    When is the Vegas trip?



    Rebecca

  • fighter33
    fighter33 Member Posts: 9

    Hello everyone. I am totally new this site and this is my absolute first post. I just got my implants on june 1st. Its a mentor high profile 325cc's. I am very disappointed with this size, much smaller than I expected.

    About me, 5'4'' , 127lbs, ribcage 28". Now before BMX i was a 34A. But when I first met with my PS he ask what size I wanted to be and I said a C cup and he said okay. He never mentioned that this may not be possible, so I went like 5 mos. thinking I was gonna now be a c cup. at my last fill in may, he told me there was no way i would be a c cup...(I also told him at my first fill i wanted a c cup and he said okay)...nevertheless I had a natrelle style 133mv 250ccs and he filled them to 370ccs...this was like a small b on me. I was happy with that. I knew he was bringing a few sizes to the switch including 375 and 400...i was hoping for 400 but would have settled with 375...i couldn't beleive he put in 325...also, when filled to 370 my skin was not tight at all.  

    So, yes, now I am an A cup, as I was, but they now look like flat hamburger buns, very little projection..and now i can't even wear VS push up bras like I use too...so it's almost like being smaller than I was :( 

     I just wanted to get some input as to whether I should just settle for what I have or is there something I could possibly do...

    also can someone explain to me further what fat grafting is all about...i only have a slight idea...i was wondering could I do fat grafting at this point to enhance projection?

    thanks for any input... 

  • Estel
    Estel Member Posts: 2,780

    fighter33 - Hello!  Welcome to the site! 

    I'm no expert ... whippetmom will come along soon.  I just want to encourage you.  I'm an inch taller, weigh a little less, but we have the same ribcage circumference.  I had my exchange surgery to 325cc implants last July.  I think we had the same exact expander.  I was overfilled to 310cc's.  I doubt very seriously you're an A cup.  I wear a 30D or a 32C.  It's still very early out from your exchange.  Like you, I don't have the projection that I expected or wanted.  BUT it does get better with time.  Your pec muscle right now is very tight and over the next 3-6 months that muscle will relax and you will get more projection than you have right now.  Relax a little (I know it's hard) and wait.  Time is your friend ... a little patience!  Wink

    If after six months you're still not happy and you want to go bigger, go in for a revision.  But let time be your friend right now. 

    Peace to you!  [[[hugs]]]

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    fighter:  I think that it also depends on which style of implant your PS used.  Do you have that information?  A high profile, moderate profile, moderate plus?  I would personally have recommended 400 ccs for your frame - which would not be at all unreasonable for you to aspire to with your TEs.  You have plenty of time to plan your next "move", if revisions are in your future.  So, as Dawne-Hope suggests, give it a little time.  But let's go over your implant details.....

  • fighter33
    fighter33 Member Posts: 9

    Hey guys..thanks so much for your input...my implants are mentor smooth round high profile gel.

    Dawne-Hope..you seem to be a lil bit smaller than me? I never had a 30 band size bra..but i don't know, I just did online bra calculations...so I am not sure...but I have to say, just hearing from you guys has put a smile on my faceSmile and added hope

    I will give it a lil time as you guys suggested....

  • Estel
    Estel Member Posts: 2,780

    fighter33 - Good!  Hope is a good thing!  Laughing

    There are women on here who have had fat grafting that can respond to that question. 

    With a 28 inch rib circumference, a 34 band is too big!  It's strange and a little sad, really, that I didn't get properly fitted for a bra until after my lumpectomy.  It really hurt where I had the surgery so I went for a fitting and I'd been wearing a 34B but was sized a 32C.  I've learned since then that a majority women are wearing too big of a band size and too small of a cup size. Some of those bra calculators do NOT work for reconstructed breasts.  On one of them I measured a -A cup!  LOL!  Crazy!  There is a whole bra thread that is called "Bras 101: The Great Post-Exchange Debate" that provides a lot of helpful information and I think in the header there is a link to a bra calculator that works for some women who have had reconstructed breasts, although it didn't work for me.  (I think I'm an anomoly!)  ;) 

    Blessings to you, fighter!  You're in great hands with whippetmom!   

  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 2,631

    Fighter -- there are definitely a lot of changes your implants will go through in the next 3 - 6 months so hang in there.  Also re: bras -- check out a thread on this site called Bras 101: The Great Post Exchange Debate.  Val who started it has a formula for figuring out bra sizes for us gals with implants that will help you to do the right calculations.  The width of implants usually means a larger cup size than you might think.  Finally -- over time as you heal you should find that the implants soften (and your body around them) and you very likely will be able to wear push up bras again.  Anyway -- glad you're feeling better!  For what its worth, a lot of women feel worse/more depressed after the exchange (the switch, as you called it) than after the MX for a variety of reasons... but longer term most come to like their implants (and those who don't get revisions :)

  • fighter33
    fighter33 Member Posts: 9

    Lilah--its funny you mention that some feel worse after the exchange than after the MX, b/c that is definitely me. I had a very positive outlook and was in high spirits (most of the time) after BMX surgery and 6 rounds of chemo...my last treat was 4/21 and i have been having a lot of emotional ups and downs since then...i look worse now that i did two months ago, lost all my eyebrows, eyelashes and now have hugh really dark circles...from what i have just recently read, i now understand this is normal...

    I will check out the Bras 101 thread

    Dawne--I am thinking I should go to nordys to get a proper bra fitting, i heard they were good. Do you have any suggestions.

     thanks so much guys!! 

  • rowan
    rowan Member Posts: 131

    Welcome fighter33!  I'm waiting for my exchange in July.  I just wanted to say that I am glad you find us and hope for the best for you.

  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 3,671

    Hi Fighter:  I agree, so glad you found us!  You will change so much in the next few months!  It took my MX side almost 4 months to take it's "real" shape, up until then it looked small and smooshed.  I also had 6 round of chemo (TC) and then surgery.  What hospital did you get treatment at?

  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 2,631

    Fighter -- Yeah and I was one of those who got VERY depressed post exchange.  Now I could not be happier.  It is really more about postponing a lot of feelings and also about, immediately following exchange, just wanting to be normal again.  It simply takes a bit longer than that.  I DO feel normal again now... even though my reconstruction is not perfect it is pretty darn good and I just FEEL so much better (have hair again and energy, etc).  Be good to yourself and put on your "waiting" jacket for a bit longer :)  Or maybe its a patience coat?  Whatever.  Metaphor is getting tired fast.  Nordies is definitely a good place to go for a fitting.  But DO call ahead and make an appointment to see the "MX fitter" -- Nordies has fitters specially trained to deal with us recovering from BC and its aftermath but not ALL of its fitters have that training. 

  • jadeblue
    jadeblue Member Posts: 12

    After my first post-op fill 2 days ago, I've started thinking much more concretely about size and getting it right. I'm 5'2", 112 lbs. with prominent ribcage measuring 28.5". I'm currently at 160 cc with 275 cc expanders that PS will overfill to 300 cc if I want. He told me that anything between 200-300 would be a reasonable fill level for me. I'd like to push to the higher end (my husband's strong preference as well), but don't want to look unnatural or too obvious.

    Already at 160 cc, I'm nearly the size I was pre-op and I find it hard to imagine that I even CAN go to 300 without popping. But then I know that expander size is 10-20% larger than ultimate implant size, so for the right size implant I've probably got to go to what feels crazy-full for an expander, true? And why do surgeons overfill expanders? I haven't yet figured that one out. Confusing stuff. Any guidance would be welcome.

    How much saline is typically added per fill? I had 40 cc added on one side and 80 cc on other (to even them up post-op) and they're about equally uncomfortable. I'm assuming I've got probably 3 more weekly fills of 40-50 cc each. Does that sound right? Once I'm filled to the right level, how long do I stay like that before exchange? And if I go too far, can he take some out and/or go with smaller implant? 

    Also, I gather that cocoa butter helps scars heal, but my incisions are being reopened for exchange, so should I bother just yet? Any tips for avoiding capsular contractions? I've had adhesive caspulitis of shoulder, so I worry I'm at risk for that. Ack, so many questions. Thanks for your help! -Jade

  • fighter33
    fighter33 Member Posts: 9

    hi MBJ: I had my treatment at Cedars Sinai. How about u? Also, can you tell me more about fat grafting. I was wondering if I could have some fat grafting done at my nipple reconstruction surgery. I really don't know. But I sure do hope that come out a lil more like you guys are saying. In my mind, I am just starting to think, things will be much better next summer...then I will be able to take off my "waiting jacket"  :)

    i'm actually off to a nurse visit right now at my PS office :) 

  • takeadeepbreath
    takeadeepbreath Member Posts: 68

    Hey Jade--not sure if you are on the picture site yet but I am around the same size as you. I came out of NSM surgery with 120cc already in TE. My TES were size 250, filled to 330 (in 30 cc weekly increments) and exchanged to 350 and 375 implants. I am a solid 34B in bras (in some sytles I can do a C). The size is great on my 5'1" frame. My PS waits 6 weeks after final fill to do exchange but seems each Doc has their own rules for that one. My doc said don't bother dealing with scar after TE as it was exactly where he re-opened on exchange. Post exchange he has me doing a whole regiment of vitamin e, Mederma and Bioderm scar tape (plus massage-pushing down and in only).

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    Jade:  I think that 350 ccs is a good implant size to aspire to - a high profile, smooth round silicone implant.  Some other answers to your questions:

    Overfilling:  Some do and some do not overfill.  Overfilling is sometimes needed in order to stretch out taut skin so that a bit larger implant can be used, when the PS wants to insure he is going to have good skin coverage over the future implant, in order to get a little natural droop or ptosis.  The skin does retract when the TEs are removed and so this is just a little extra assurance in some cases.

    Saline fills:  50 ccs per fill - weekly or preferably every two weeks - is about average. I personally think that weekly is too soon, but that is my own personal feeling about the matter. Saline can be extracted, but it only really is effectively performed if done within a few days after the fill.  Wait until you have 300 ccs.  You likely will need that much - you will not "pop" and to get where you want to be - you will need to tolerate looking a bit top-heavy.  The implants will not look like the TEs!  Tell me more about your prominent ribcage.  Is this impacting your expansion?

    Edited to add the scar tx issue:  I do not advocate softening the scars with TEs.  Some have done it, but it just is one more thing which might threaten skin integrity during expansion....so I would not personally do it. 

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    fighter:  Well, you have the right style of implants....I just think that you need to go to Nordstroms and call first and schedule an appt with a qualified fitter.  Tell them you have had a BMX with implants.  Then, contact your insurance co and ask about reimbursement or coverage for bras.  Many women here have their bras at Nordies covered by insurance. 

  • tinat
    tinat Member Posts: 2,235
    jadeblue:  I asked my PS at the outset if I would be more prone to capsular contracture due to my history of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.  He said that they're two different processes so one is not a predictor of the other.
  • jadeblue
    jadeblue Member Posts: 12

    takeadeepbreath: Thanks for the info! Do you post on the picture forum under the same name? If so, I'll have to look you up. Have been trying to find posts on women with similar frame.

    @ whippetmom: Thanks for the great info. By "prominent rib cage" I just mean that there's not much adipose tissue over my ribs and they are visible. If this affects TE expansion, PS has not mentioned it yet. I have photos posted in picture forum under same user name, although I haven't gotten the 160 cc fill up there yet. I agree that weekly feels too frequent for fills and am slowing it down to 1.5 or 2 weeks at my own request. So, if I expand to 300 cc my implants will likely be... smaller? bigger? (I was guessing 275, but that's only a guess.)

    @ TinaT: THANKS SO MUCH! That's a huge relief.

    -jadeblue

  • takeadeepbreath
    takeadeepbreath Member Posts: 68

    jade---yup-I'm the same name on pic site ! holler if you can't find them...

  • jadeblue
    jadeblue Member Posts: 12
    @ takeadeepbreath: Found you! Wow, you look great. I aspire to look as nice as you (would have to hit the gym a bit first). You're right -- we are about same size/build. How come your implants are different sizes and yet you look so symmetrical?
  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 2,631

    Jade - the body is not perfectly symmetrical.  For some women, slightly different sizes help even us out.

  • Emaline
    Emaline Member Posts: 37

    Insurances may cover bras from Nordstroms??  Wow! I had no idea. I thought you had to go a specialty place, like Essentually Yours or Ida Joy's.

  • takeadeepbreath
    takeadeepbreath Member Posts: 68

    Jade-

    I think Lilah nailed it...I was not that even to begin with, one side was probably half a size bigger (A and A- !). I also think after 3 lumpectomies on the right boob the BS might have cored more aggressively on that side/left a bigger pocket to fill? I could be totally making that up, but its a theory!  They are actuallya bit more even now than they were in those pics (I will try and update over the weekend). Also--as folks will tell you here--if you look at the manufacturers site on the dimensions of the implants, the difference is neglible between my two implants. I had Natrelle style 20 which is considered High Profile.The  350 and 375 have identical projection (both are 4.9cm). The width on the 350 is 11.4cm and the 375 is 11.7 cm...i thought the same thing as you but when I  looked up the sizes, I realized it is literally 3/10 of a cm difference!

    Ilene

  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 2,631

    Some insurances will cover bras, yes.  Nordstrom, because they have trained MX fitters, have a number assigned to their store that makes them an insurance-approved MX specialty shop!  BUT whether YOUR insurance covers bras (and how it processes claims) will vary.  The nice thing is that if you call Nordstrom's and talk to the MX fitter, she will be knowledgeable about most insurance policies and may either be able to submit a claim FOR you to insurance or give you forms (with proper numbers filled in) to submit yourself.  If you are thinking of making a claim for a bra, call your insurance and ask what is covered and then call Nordstrom.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    Emaline....One gal on the recon forum who lives in New York, gets something like 16 bras a year covered by insurance.  Nordstroms has a department specifically set up for submitting insurance authorizations in the lingerie department.  They also sell prostheses and mastectomy bras.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028
    Oops....saw that Lilah posted an answer to this question....Wink

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