BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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I agree with tlc40 above: be mentally prepared if you are having delayed TEs. I was filled to 350ccs at BMX and it was *fantastic* to wake up afterwards and still have something on my chest!
But 5 months after BMX, I had to have my right TE removed ... Oh my. I didn't realize I had never processed the loss of my breasts until I saw myself post-TE removal with my lovely foob on the left and my sad little pile of skin on the right. I burst into tears! It made me wonder if I ever would have fully processed the loss if I hadn't had this set-back - so for that, I am thankful. I did feel a little blue for the first 2 days post- TE removal, but then I was fine. It's just something you have to get through. Best of luck to you!
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tlc40 I had a skin sparing bmx in august and then i had TEs placed in March. The hospital I go to is a learning hospital because I am on medicaid. They don't do any immediate reconstruction. Plus the PS schedule gets booked very quickly and I had to go on a waiting list.
I woke up from my bmx almost paralyzed with fear abut what I might find I was left with and what pain I might feel. In the end the pain for me was not that bad the drugs really did help for me. Then when they came to change the bandage I was afraid to look and was actually pleasantly surprised. There was so much skin left I still had my cleavage, I was a 36DD. After I got home and looked in the mirror I felt like I looked so much thinner. So I embraced my temporary situation and hit the gym hard about a month after my surgery.
Two months after that surgery I had chemo. I got myself on the waiting list to have my TE surgery one month after my surgery but it was another 3 months before my PS was available.
It's been 4 months since my TE surgery. I have now had five fills and my PS thinks just one more, which wont be until August 2nd due to more schedule issues.
But I my PS is happy with how I am doing. I healed very well after both surgeries. I did not have any complications. I was back at the gym again about 6 weeks after my TE surgery.
I think the issue some PS have is that you don't know at the time of a bmx if you will need chemo or radiaton and some feel that it could inhibit healing. I often wished that my TEs were placed during my bmx eliminating a surgery. But I think my healing went better this way. Perhaps it would have been faster to have had my fills during chemo, but it would have been another discomfort during a time of unpredictable side effects.
So in the end it's fine, the end result should be just a good.
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Carrol2 My PS would not do any expansions during chemo. Matter a fact he wouldn't start any expansions until my onc cleared me and my blood work was good. I had 3 expansions before and 7 about 6 weeks PFC. (My PS fills slower than yours).
I haven't heard that the outcome would be effected if you wait till after the bmx/mx for TE's to be placed. It's just an additional surgery. I know Carrol2 was up and running faster than I was after my bmx/TE.
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Hi gals. Totally new to all this. Will have a mastectomy and one nipple cannot be spared. Do you have implants and they are making nipples from other tissue or are you getting nipple tattoos? Thanks for the help.
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Wondering who is considering NOT doing nips... Or is there anyone who did them and would reconsider..??? I always thought I would... Saw my cousin this weekend she did not do nips.... Right now all I want to do is be done so I'm not sure!
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LMichele -- I'm going to do it but I am taking my time
I had my exchange in May 2010 and probably won't do the nip/areola (I'm a uni) until December 2011/January 2012... I am enjoying NOT having to have surgery OR recover But being a uni, for me, it feels weird to just leave things as is (with one nip). That said, there are many women who opt for 3D tattoos instead of doing nips. It looks really great. You can see examples of very good work done by Vinnie Myers in Baltimore, MD (google his name to find his site). 0 -
hi MIchele...i had a bilateral and following my exchange this past March just had my nipple surgery two weeks ago. The doc used the skin right there at each breast. Then I will get tattoos down the road to add the areola and color. But I have seen some 3d tattoos that look great as well. Explore all over and take your time in deciding what you want. You have a lot on your plate right now and just remember- you can change your mind between now and then. Good luck and keep us all posted- we care:)
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Ok that's the second time I heard of a fab doc in Baltimore, prob the same one.... I heard of someone a very well known doc in my area who went to Baltimore... Hmmm... Plus oddly enough my hubby has gotten reassigned from Philly to Maryland as of two weeks ago... Karma???? It's pretty early on for me I am still in TE's but just wanna be done... Thank you for info!
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Thank you Annette!
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LMichelle - I 'decided' I was done then when I found out my insurance was going away ... I decided three weeks later to go for it. Do not regret it at all. There was something rather healing for me to look down and see a hint of a nip in a bra. Made me feel almost physically whole again.
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LMichelle: My cousin had BMX and no nips, just tattoos. She said, "I've spent the last 20 years trying to keep the headlights off!" I am thinking along those lines as well. I like the idea of a 3D tattoo instead of more construction. Each person is different. Check out photos and see what you like best and what will work for you.
~Julie
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LMichelle - Vinnie Myers in Baltimore is NOT a doctor -- he's a tattoo artist
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Heidenia: I didn't have rads and they made my areola from a bikini area skin graft (can't see it in underwear) and the nipple from my own breast skin with a modified C/V flap. Very happy with the results. I am a Uni, so I wanted them to be the best possible match to my natural side. Hope this helps.
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Hi,
I successfully read the first 51 pages of this thread and finally decided to ask for recommendations for myself!
I had a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy last month and the PS used Siltex Med Height Contour TE-Style 6200 #354-6212. If I have the information correct, this would be 350cc 11.7x10x6.6I am 5'7" tall and weigh 118lbs. My ribcage is about 29-30". I'm not sure I'm measuring it right but that has to be pretty close.
My PS uses Mentor and I was wondering what you might recommend. I was barely a 34A before but would love to finally have some curves if possible. So far my expansion has being going great.
I don't want to rub anyone the wrong way by saying this as I know some struggle with their weight, but I've always been so darn skinny and would love it if somehow going bigger would not make me look so skinny. Would a larger chest make a difference anyway? Maybe that doesn't make any sense.
I do have one question as well, if the TE is only 11.7cm, does that mean I can not get any implant with a width wider than 11.7?
Thank you very much for your time!!
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Thanks so much! Checking out that link now. Best! Heidi
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Thanks so much! I am so new at all this it will take a little time to understand! My doc has totally left the decision up to me re UNI or BILAT mx. Though the diagnosis bar here only reports one diagnosis I actually have DCIS and Mucinous carcinoma and LCIS all in the same breast. I am leaning toward just getting it taken off since I have 3 distinct issues in one breast. May I ask how you decided to do just one? My doc said it is up to me but of course "we could be revisiting this issue on the other breast in the future possibly.". Thoughts? Thanks for your time.
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Please could you advise me, I am having my expanders out very soon and implants put in, I weigh 141 lbs, 5ft 7 inches tall and chest measurement 30 inches under the TEs. I have Naterelle TEs 300, filled to 400cc, 133MV-12-T.
My PS said 370 to 420 cc final silicone implant, I am kind of worried about whether they will look okay, I was hoping for any advice, I was hoping for a full B/small C cup.
Whippetmom, if you are out there I would be grateful for your opinion!!
Thank you everyone!
Ali
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loveb: You need implants with a width to at least match, if not exceed the width of your TEs. So within reason, skin expansion permitting, yes, nearly all of us have implants which exceed the width of our implants, and most of us have implants which exceed the volume of our TEs. Having a bit more "heft" in the upper extremity can indeed give the impression of not being so "rail thin". I feel that you will be most happy with smooth round silicone implants, style and volume as follows:
Recommendation #1
High profile - 400 ccs or 425 ccs.
Recommendation #2
Moderate plus profile - 325 ccs or 350 ccs.
I would prefer the HPs for you though. All of this is entirely dependant upon your skin integrity as you expand. It would be best if we monitor your expansion and see what you think when you reach 300 ccs. Your PS can always overfill at this point - to give some extra room and implant coverage and to allow for a little ptosis. It probably will be necessary, since you were so small prior to BMX.
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Cindy: No - it does not matter if he uses Mentor. Some docs like Allergan TEs and Mentor implants and others, vice versa. It all depends on which mfr's rep they like best, IMHO....
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Hi there Breast Whisperer.....
Just droppin' in to say.... I luv ya sister.... and think you are amazing ! You are SUCH a huge help to women trying to figure this all out! Thank you ! 0 -
PS.......
and yet....... with ALL THE HELP YOU GIVE......... how is it.......... I STILL have MORE post than you.............LOL LOL LOL LOL
After much thought into this ( yeah right).... I came to the hypothesis.... that I just TALK TOO MUCH............
) LOL0 -
Heidenia -- I am also a uni and I chose to have only the single MX because all three of my doctors (onc, BS and PS) told me not to do a BMX. My BC was caught early and an MRI and mammogram showed no evidence of any sort of disease in my remaining breast, so perhaps that is why? I think it's a very personal choice that is so very difficult to make. Being a uni I can say the advantage is you still have feeling in the breast that remains but symmetry is more challenging (with reconstruction); symmetry can also be an issue with a BMX... but it seems to me from observing a lot of women here that it seems easier when both sides are implants (matching an implant to a real breast is where the challenge lies). Some women opt for BMX to simply never have the issue (hopefully) arise again; even a BMX is no guarantee, though, that it never will return. All in all it is a Hobson's Choice... no really good choice. So in the long run you have to choose what will give you the greatest peace of mind as well as greatest chance for a long and healthy (hopefully BC recurrence free) life.
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Laura: Oh, that photo looks JUST like you are peeking around the corner - checking in with me! LOL! Is that your HAIR? I cannot wait to see you in September!!!! My roomie....my buddy! I love you too! And whoa....but I have 3,602 private messages, so I am at chatty as you are my sweet!
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ALittleBitBritish: You need AT LEAST 425 ccs in Allergan Style 20 - smooth, round silicone high profile implants. Even at that, it seems small for your frame. I feel that you must have at least 12.0 cm in width with any style of implant and only the midrange profile - Allergan Style 15 - and Allergan Style 20 are really appropriate for you. You might get more width and thereby better fit in a bra, with 371 ccs in Style 15 - 397 ccs would be fine also. Run some of these numbers by your PS. Find out exactly which style of implant he is referring to because 370 ccs and 420 ccs are not numbers which we use around these parts.
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Cindy: The difference between Mentor's projection numbers and Allergan's is negligible. I happen to prefer Allergan's projection numbers in certain volumes - but the only style which is totally out of whack is Mentor's ultra full projection style implant, as compared to Allergan's Style 45. I think you are going to be fine with Mentor...
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Heidenia: I have sent you a private message!
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Whippetmom, I wanted to thank you for all your advice so far. I am reaching my final fills and have a question. As I said I am 5"4" 140 lbs with a 34" rib cage with style 7100 Low Ht Contour profile 350cc. I have been thinking high profile smooth round 500cc (as you recomended). I am right now at 425cc filled TE and feeling pretty large. But my question is how much of a difference is the size from TE to implant ( does the cc in the TE look anything like the cc in the implants?). I hope im making sence. Just trying to picture me with the 450cc instead of the 500cc I dont want to look to big but again I dont want to be to small. Thank you!
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Whippetmom: 3,602 PMs!?!? I sit in awe.
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loveb: Speaking for myself I was always rail thin up until the last few years and even then I was pretty much straight up and down except for my behind--I went from a B to a C and it completely, finally gave me some nice curves! For the first time in my life I have cleavage-so yes, it's possible. Because they go under the muscle it also looks quite natural.
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