BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
-
Lilah....I only lament that I cannot have a search feature for private messages. It takes me forever sometimes to go back and find something - like the name of a PS someone sent me but I forgot to put it on my referral list. Drives me crazy....
0 -
whippetmom: Thank you so much!! You are so wonderful to help everyone. I told my PS's PA today that everyone refers to you as the "breast whisperer" and she thought that was fantastic.
I had my second fill of another 100ccs in each TE and am now at 250ccs total. I told her today my goal if my skin permits would be to have a 400-425cc HP implant. She didn't seem to resistant at all but did say that I need to take in consideration that the TE is shaped more like a football and the implant is perfectly round. So going to an implant that is essentially 2.5" taller may or may not work. I think I understood what she was saying but am not sure how a round implant will sit in the pocket differently than a more football shaped TE. But she was happy to attempt to get me there if everything appeared it would co-operate so that was good.
MBJ: Thank you so much for responding! It was really nice to hear from someone shaped like me that they liked their outcome. I hope I'm as happy as you when this is all over! Thanks again for your feedback.
0 -
bcs2011: You need at least 12.7 cm in width and so 450 ccs in a high profile implant [Mentor] would be the minimum. But I personally feel you need a little more width - at least 13.0 cm -which is why I recommended 500 ccs. The low height TEs can look pretty wide, because there is such negligible expansion in the upper pole. So they can look oddly shaped and cartoonishly large, and you have to remember that the implants will not look like the TEs - especially the low height TEs. The implants will have nowhere near the projection of those TEs. If you are wanting to err smaller, I would recommend 450 ccs in a midrange style implant - so that you can gain some additional width.
0 -
loveb: I had a 535 cc football shaped TE and now have a 550 cc round HP -- mine was wider as I am broader through the chest area but it worked. Good luck-you are in good hands with Whippetmom!
0 -
Whippetmom, You are great! you have no idea how much you have helped. I can't think of anyone else I could possibly ask these questions. Thank you So much.
0 -
bcs2011: Glad to help. Just for reference, I am 5'4" 125 pounds and my ribcage is 30 inches. My implants are Style 20 - 550 ccs. I am smaller than you and I handle this size just fine. I think you could easily handle 550 ccs - but I don't want to push the envelope, since I don't know what your PS is willing to do in terms of size. I also feel that you are on the fence about being too small vs. too large and so 500 ccs is a "safe" number for you.
0 -
MBJ: Actually, your TE had a volume of 400 ccs and you were overfilled to 535 ccs. So your implant is 150 ccs larger than your TE!
Newbies: Overfill is sometimes done for for a myriad of reasons: For assurance of good implant coverage, expanding out the skin a bit more so that a larger implant can be used, in order to achieve ptosis [droop], especially in unilateral recon. It is not necessary in all cases - but for those who are small-breasted prior to MX, it often is necessary, so that there is good skin closure over the implant and also to achieve ptosis.
0 -
Actually.... my photo IS a picture of me sneaking around a corner.... trying to get my CELL PHONE back from my granddaughter..... and she took my picture.......LOL....... good eye Whippet!
And yes....... it is my hair..... I seem to be on a " no cut hair after chemo" protest....... LOL... we'll see what happens... In my profession, I might cut it all off tomorrow...
I also........ bow down to the " master of all PM's" You win the award my sweet dear friend!
0 -
Don't cut it before Vegas!
0 -
Hello Whippetmom, I am back from my exchange surgery and feel very happy. I have posted my first quick snapshots of the new "girls". Please let me know what you think! Deborah, I sooo appreciate the advice and support you have given on selecting my implant sizes. My PS is a real peach and very endearing! He even ordered the implants that I brought up for consideration and ended up using them as they worked best for me. (see details on photo forum).
0 -
Redsky: Perfection!
0 -
Whippetmom
Your guidance please. A little about my current situation. BMX 3/28 DCIS no chemo no rads. TEs placed at time of BMX mentor medium ht contour profile 354-6214 550cc. Currently fully filled to 570cc (PS states he does not over fill as a general practice states he likes to get it right the first time). He took a ton of measurements prior to surgery. I am 140lbs 5'5" 35" ribcage and wore a 36D prior to BMX. Due to some personal/work reasons I have chosen to delay my exchange until Oct. I have really had a pretty easy time with the entire process. Fully healed and not feeling much discomfort at all with TEs (aside from some aching when the weather changes, I can now predict rain storms with better accuracy than the TV weatherman). I have an appointment with PS in mid
Aug to review next steps which I am assuming means sizing. I have stated to him before and at every visit that I would like to be as similar in size as before BC and even a little smaller is ok. When he hears this he flips immediately to my pre pictures and says ok. The TEs are rather far apart now and the one side is slightly "bigger" than the other with a small divot also. Would like to know what you would suggest in terms of implant size. I will post pictures within the next few days (currently on
a different computer) to show my TE journey. Thanks in advance for your input greatly appreciated. Liz0 -
Liz: Are you sure your ribcage is 35 inches? Measure again, nice and snug under the TEs. I think it should be less than 35" if you have been wearing a 36 band bra.
I personally think you would be happiest with around 650 ccs in a smooth, round high profile silicone implant. Question: Do you like the volume/size of your TEs currently?
0 -
Whippetmom
Was not measuring tightly when I remeasured I am coming in at just under 34" (I did wear the 36 bras at the last hook).
I do like where I am now with the TEs except that they are wide apart and a little too much on the sides but better than when first getting filled (felt like my entire TE was in my armpit). DH likes where I am also he says reminds him of when we were newly married before kids and breastfeeding
Thanks for your help
Liz0 -
Liz: Your TEs are displaced laterally. The implants will be moved in closer to the sternum, and you will not have the "armpit intrusion" you have currently. So I will stick with my recommendation of 650 ccs HPs. Perhaps 700 ccs....it depends on your skin envelope. You were large pre-BMX and so the skin has to be filled up with implant to some extent. Depends on how much skin was excised at the time of BMX. Post photos when you have a chance and we can see if the numbers need revising.
0 -
Ok ladies, I am now about 10 days post exchange and thinks look sooo much better. Whippetmom, remember the picture I emailed you post 2 days? I think the tape and dressing deformed the skin?? I have a feeling my PS did NOT apply the post operative dressing, I wish I would have taken a photo of it. Reguardless things now look quite good, implants are symetrical and the space between them seems nice and now smooth and I look in the mirror and feel good. Best of all it looks like I will fill out a C cup perfectly ( I was a saggy D before BC). I always had to buy underwire minimizer bras, now I can pick lined or unlined bras depending on the look I want .
0 -
Christine....I am so glad to hear that there is much improvement. Typically, time is all we need to see some welcome changes. Do you want to email me photos?
0 -
Whippetmom
Thanks the advice and reassurances. I will let you know when I get the pictures on the forum. Hopefully later this week. Thanks so much for your help very much appreciated. Liz0 -
I had my pre-exchange appointment yesterday. Just posted some updated pix on the picture forum...
0 -
Looking good Tina. Now on to E-Day!
0 -
Need your help! I am trying to figure out what implant I need. BMX NSM 6/27/11 with TE's. DCIS in 2004 lumpectomy, but no rad or chemo. Ongoing biopsies and a lumpectomy 1/2011. Height: 5'8" Weight: 160 (and losing 10 more lbs) Ribcage: 34" TE: Allergan 133FX-13. Filled at the end of surgery with 350ccs on right and 300 ccs on left. Ouch! I would like to end up with a full B-cup. I have pictures of myself before surgery and today if you would like to see them. Let me know how to post to the picture forum. PS states he does not over fill. I really appreciate your help with this!
0 -
Lindsey:
Your TEs have a width of 13.0 cm, and so your implants need to have a base width of at least that amount, and possibly a bit wider. So if you were hoping for high profile implants, you would need at least 500ccs - Allergan Style 20. The option your PS might be considering instead is Style 15 - which is a midrange profile style implant. You would need at least 421 ccs in that style. However, I personally think you will need at least 457 ccs to 471 ccs in Style 15, in order to achieve the "B" cup appearance you hope to achieve. Send me a private message and let me know the name of your PS, as since you are in LA, and this might tell me his recon technique - TE to implant preferences.
0 -
Hello Deborah,
What a kind and wonderful service you provide for us gals. It is overwhelmingly selfless and it's such an excellent resource to those of us who can't absorb it all during the PS office visits. Hopefully I can provide enough info for you.
I had BMX one month ago with Allergan 133 MV 300 ml expanders. At surgery, 90 ml was inserted, and I have had two 30 ml fills since. That puts me at 150 ml currently. As-is, they look very similar to my A-cup which I started with. I don't really want them any bigger than a full A-cup, although my surgeon has twice mentioned that I can go a bit bigger, but I say no.
He states he WILL overfill, and I should anticipate 2 more fills of 30 or 40 ml each. I should note he has access to the 'gummy bears' which have a nice teardrop shape, correct?
About me: 5'2"; 105 lbs; 27-1/2" ribcage, 40 years old, not skinny - medium-boned and trim.
Thank you so much in advance for taking a look at my stats here. And thank you for what you've done for so many cancer patients here.
Kindly, Sara
0 -
Sara: If your PS uses anatomicals, the selection of same is in large part predicated upon the dimensions of the TE as compared to the specific gummy bear style and volume. The most obvious choice, in your case, would be 295 grams in Allergan 410 - MF - which is a moderate height, full projection style in the anatomical line up. It would also be an appropriate size for your frame and for your desire to remain on the smaller side. Many plastic surgeons who use anatomicals do overfill and so you may appear quite larger than you will with the implants.
Glad to help!
0 -
I just looked up my pre-BMX measurements. 2/11/10
Left: IMF to nipple = 7cm, nipple to sternum = 12.5cm
Right: IMF to nip = 8cm, nip to sternum = 11.5
Ptosis grade 2
TEs were 3cm by 15cm 130MB 133 MV-13S. They were textured. 2/19/10
They were expanded to 700. That PS's notes planned for #20-700/750s (Allegan I think). These HURT!!
Current implants are Mentor smooth, round, HP 350-7004BC on both sides. 2/17/11
Left: IMF to nip = 5cm, nip to sternum = 6cm
Right: IMF to nip = 5.5cm, nip to sternum = 4.5cm
Measurements 7/28/11
Ribcage = 30" (similar to b4)
Waist = 29.5" (similar to b4, but thickening slightly)
Bust = 38.5" (similar to b4, but not certain)
Armpits (above bust) = 34" (similar to b4, but I'm not certain)
Hips = 40.5" ( same as b4)
Height 5'6" (same as b4)
Weight 150 lbs (about same as b4, but getting heavier)
What do I need to be a full C?0 -
If you had Allergan MV-13s, your TEs were only 400 ccs - overfilled to 700 ccs. They were NOT 15.0 cm in width - they were 13.0 cm in width. [Why your PS used this size of TE is unknown.] Your implants are Mentor HPs - 700 ccs. You should not be smaller than you were with the TEs, because no matter how much "overfill" there is with the TEs. the "footprint" is for only 400 ccs. So you had 13.0 cm wide TEs and your implants are 14.5 cm wide. Your TEs had a projection of 5.6 cm and your implants - 5.8 cm. Overfill merely adds height and a bit of projection to the TE - the width remains the same. I am not clear why your PS needed to overfill this much, but presumably it was to get you into this larger implant and to provide some natural droop.
I am not clear if you feel you are too large or too small?
0 -
Deborah - Thank you so much! I'm afraid a lot of this is over my head, and even tried to google some of this before bugging you again. However I have failed us both! Anatomicals? What are those? Based on the TE's that are in me now, does that mean that the gummies would not be an option for the pocket that is currently being created? When you say 295 grams, is that corresponding with ML's? As in I have only 150 ml filled now - there's no possible way to go up to 295 ml? My skin would bust open; and also, would you be able to tell me more about this "Allergan 410 - MF."
Are there any websites to go to to learn more about all these terminologies?
Lastly, what does "moderate height" mean? And "full projection"?
I'm just hoping to have a norma-looking, small-sized foobs of a healthy woman and not a porn star. I was kind of excited about the gummy possibility because that seemed more like a teardrop - more of an honest shape.
Hope I am not taking too many liberties with all the questions. Sadly I understand very little of it!
Kindly,Sara
whippetmom wrote:Sara: If your PS uses anatomicals, the selection of same is in large part predicated upon the dimensions of the TE as compared to the specific gummy bear style and volume. The most obvious choice, in your case, would be 295 grams in Allergan 410 - MF - which is a moderate height, full projection style in the anatomical line up. It would also be an appropriate size for your frame and for your desire to remain on the smaller side. Many plastic surgeons who use anatomicals do overfill and so you may appear quite larger than you will with the implants.Glad to help!
0 -
There's a theory that smaller implants might help some of my pain issues. If nothing else works by December, I'm going to get smaller ones. However, I dont want to look bad with too small for my frame or too large. I really intended to be a C cup anyway -- not a DD (or G as Linda's says I am). I want to have a better plan in mind this time if it comes to surgery again. Thank you for your help!!
0 -
Biology Brain: Okay....but just to reiterate: Your implants are 700 ccs - not 800 ccs. I PM'd you with further information. I think you should check out the Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome thread here on bc.org. You could downsize to Style 15 - 533 ccs - 575 ccs preferably, and still maintain the width you need.
Deborah
0 -
Sara: Gummy bears are anatomicals, which refers to their shape - anatomically reproducing the shape of the natural breast. Allergan is the manufacturer and "410" is the style number of the gummy bear implants.
Round vs. anatomically shaped implants:
Sara: Your tissue expanders have the following dimensions: 12.0 cm width by 11.0 cm height by 5.2 cm projection. The gummy bear implant needs to come as close as possible to "mirroring" those dimensions. If not, because it is teardrop shaped, it can rotate in the pocket or become displaced and malform the pocket. The Allergan 410 MF [moderate height, full projection] in 295 grams, is: 12.0 cm wide by 11.1 cm height by 4.8 cm projection. You can see all of the tissue expander sizes and dimensions and implant sizes and dimensions here:
http://www.allergan.com/assets/pdf/natrelle_catalog.pdf
Your TEs have a volume of 300 ccs. Even though you only have 150 ccs at present, the TEs still have the footprint of a 300 cc volume TEs. It is like a deflated football, with all of its sharp edges. Although deflated, the football width does not change. The shape is essentially predetermined - it just needs to be filled to capacity. As long as your skin is healthy, you will be able to fill to 300 ccs. Grams to cubic centimeters is loosely similar. Let's say you were getting smooth silicone rounds - I would recommend Allergan Style 15 - 304 ccs, based on the dimensions of that implant.
Deborah
0
