BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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Pink: Well let me also be clear in stating that "drop and fluff" is a term coined by women going through breast augmentation. Plastic surgeons will usually get a glazed expression on their face if you use the term "drop and fluff". So the irradiated breast tends to sit up higher and tighter in the pocket than the prophy side. Can it drop a little over time? Yes. You don't want to unnaturally raise the IMF of the prophy side, just to get symmetry. The goal is to get the rads breast to soften and respond more like a normal breast, to get happy someday in that pocket and drop a little. I think fat graft transfer is the best bet. Massaging it will help. Finding the best and latest and greatest skin cream will help. I recommended an implant stabilizer band to one gal and she bought one and used it. She declares it has brought that implant down into a better position. This is what she bought: [Scroll down on the page...the picture and order form is quite a ways down for some reason] But it is a cheap investment if it could help.
http://www.makemeheal.com/mmh/product.do?id=33512
Deborah
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Thanks, Deborah. So, now I'm at 360 and 410, and basically, I think I'm done. My VS 36C (one of about 6 I just bought) that I wore to my visit is now too small. I thought I was too big in it as I was leaving the office, 'cause I looked like my native D's ( though it was oddly comforting, but I want to be smaller). In my shelf tank, I think that I am at the size I want to be. Now my TE's look like TE's - there is a pretty sharp drop-off between the TE and my sternum. Is this how the implants will be? I need to get some pics hopefully soon so you can get a better idea of how things look. I am worried that these numbers are much smaller than what I read on this thread is the norm, and that I might be jumping the gun. I really don't want to be too big, though, because I don't think my native breasts were proportionate on my frame.
I am meeting actually with both PSs next week. Can you tell me based on the above, with my 28" ribcage and my Dermaspan TE's what you would recommend for me in a mentor smooth round? I don't have the dimensions of the TE on me now, but I can dig them up again ( I can't imagine that you might have had more than a couple hundred PMs since mine :-)
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Pink: I just looked at your previous posts to me and found the TE details. So it was relatively easy! You are the gal with the TE width and volume I queried as being appropriate for your frame. So your TEs are underfilled but you still have a 14.0 cm width we need to address. This, as I stated previously, will necessitate a 600 cc high profile Mentor or a 500 cc moderate plus profile Mentor. Your implants will not be much larger [if larger at all] than the TEs - especially if you went with the Mentor MPP 500s. The TEs, although underfilled, have the "footprint" of essentially a 500 cc TE. The TEs are rigid and protrude from the chest wall in a way the implants, which compress, will not. You might even look smaller with the 500s.
Could you PM me after your appointment with the referral PS? I will be so interesting in knowing what you learn...
Deborah
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Mine wants to use implant exact same size as I am filled to (600 cc). Does that sound right? Seems there should be some wiggle room or something.....?
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Thanks, Deborah.
Do you mind explaining what the difference between the high profile and moderate plus will mean for me? Also, I don't think I want to be smaller than I am right now. My PS wants to overfill, so I am thinking I'll see what I look like after next fill, then decide if I want one more. I am thinking this is it, though, if I can be how I am now. Honestly, I am still very confused about the width thing - as long as I have been following this thread, I still don't know very much about implants, can't keep all the info straight in my head!!
Is it that I will need a certain width of implant because of his choice of TE? I was looking yesterday, and noticed that my "breasts" are actually nicely placed (not going into my armpits, or too close together), and that maybe my radiated side is ever-so-slightly higher than the other side. It is a bit like someone cut 1/3 off of one end of a grapefruit and stuck it on my chest, but that's the nature of the beast, I think.
One thing I am also wondering is timing of the surgery. My breast surgeon advised me that I should not let the PS talk me into having recon before 12-18 mos after rads. My PS says 6 mos, and that's what I seem to be hearing from everyone here. Is it really necessary to wait more than 6 mos after rads, and how does one decide? I respect my BS very much, but at the time, didn't even know what kind of recon I was having, and neither did he. His reasoning was that the skin can continue to change and my immediate result may not be what it will be later on down the line. I would appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this topic as well.
Thanks!!
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Fearless - You will have "wiggle room." Not to worry....You need to look at dimensions, not volume.
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Pink: You will prefer high profile 600s if you want to mirror what you have with your TEs. The moderate plus profile style has a lower projection - do not protrude as much from the chest wall. It would be something you would note on side view more than frontal. It all depends on what your PS is willing to do, since you are underfilled.
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Deborah ~ I'm glad you mentioned the "glazed look" from the PS if you mention "drop & fluff", as that is the response I got from mine. LOL! It made me worried for a sec that he hadn't heard that before.
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Lol! What? "Drop & Fluff" isn't a medical term?
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Mine glazed over too. But my NEW PS said that my right 'clearly hasnt dropped'....well, THERE ya go.!
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I'm not looking forward to having one foob higher than the other, but I'll just be glad to have my TE's out. Nearing the end and starting to get a little sore.
So it's a given that a radiated side will be higher? What if you have had alloderm?
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Fearless, one of mine is higher than the other and I didn't even had Rads. BTW my PS said last time "they haven't dropped yet." Guess some PS know about dropping
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Fearless_One - I don't think it is a given. I only radiated my axilla and superclavical not my chest, so my left (cancer side) breast was not radiated. So in a way, it can be considered that neither side was radiated. Yet I am lopsided, but it is my right (non-cancer side) which is higher. My PS says if it doesn't drop in the next few months I can have it "revised". Don't know if I will or not. It is not noticeable when I wear a bra. I've got time to wait and decide.0
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Im not radiated either and slightly lopsided....only a CM however so I am not considering a revision for that.
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Re: Unevenness -- regardless of whether you've had radiation or not, Uni's have certain differences simply because of the differences between how natural breast tissue (which remains on the native side) sits on the chest and how an implant sits on the chest. Implants are good facsimiles but not exact replicas. For BMX recons there can still be unevenness due to the natural shape of the chest (which is bifurcated, resulting in two halves that are not identical). In some women there are bigger differences than in others. In most women the difference are small (like Sue's one cm).
Fearless -- send a PM to Estepp... she had radiation and can probably tell you more from that personal perspective.
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On the topic of "dropping," I feel like my TEs sit a bit lower than I like. I wonder if I should ask ps to let the implants sit a bit higher (if that's even possible) - does "the drop" refer to the whole implant?
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Pinkbutterfly, my TE's seem a little low, too. They still look pretty good, but I did notice they were a bit low.
Well, unless I am really not happy after my exchange, I'm done. I just don't want any more surgery for now. It seems never ending. I'd rather settle for a little asymetry.
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Amen Fearless_One... I agree with you 100%
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I really want to Thank all you ladies for being here and posting all this valuable information.
I have been waiting to get some information about my T.E.s, so I could ask some questions and get ready for the next step- Implants. I guess it is never too late to take control.
I am 5'4'', I weight 190, I have a 38'' rib cage. My T.E's are Mentor Siltex 7200, recommended fill 700cc, they are over filled to 720.
The only problems I have had with the T.E.'s is that something seems to be rubbing under my arms. When I am at home I walk around with my elbows up as if I were a chicken, it just doesn't rub so much when I do that and when I sleep, I am put my hands up over my head. I am wondering if the T.E.'s are too wide. It never even occurred to me to ask P.S.. Thank God, for this sight. Might be a good question.
I am also concerned if there are any problems that occur with the implants when you loose that much weight and if I might be able to do anything so that I don't have problems.
I think that is the information that ya'll needed, to help with my next step. I will be posting some pictures but it might be a couple of days.
I am excited to hear about the ladies that have had their exchanges this week and those who will be having their exchanges in the next few weeks and I can't wait to hear the out-come. YEA!!!!!
Thanks Again,
Vickie
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virokie: You must have the Mentor 7200s in the 650 cc volume. There is no 700 cc volume in that style. From there it jumps up to 800 ccs. Do you want to verify for me?
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What exactly does "overfill" mean? Why is it done, and is there a "specific look" that comes with overfilling an implant? I keep hearing the term, but I have no clue to what it means. thanks!
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Well, after 3 fills, I'm now at 375 cc's and very round. While I was torn earlier-look at my posts from May, I now, for the first time, have round breasts that don't sag, so I'm going to go with round silicone implants. I'm looking to go back to my 36B size I was pre-op. My PS says one more 75 cc fill and we should be ready for the exchange surgery-after, of course, all the swelling goes down.
So, as for many of us, my decision has been changed by the procees and I'm holding my breath until the exchange surgery to be done with this.
By the way, please take the notion of not doing anything too strenuous even though you may feel great. I did (do), but on my vacation to the Cape, took a fall and when I had to pull myself up-exerted a lot of pressure on my breasts. I ended up moving my TE about 1-2 inches to the right. My PS said in the long run, it won't matter (after the implants), but I may look a little "lopsided" in the meantime. I don't really see it, but I have much more discomfort in that side when I get a fill.
Be careful out there! pat
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Sara: Read the header for this thread- top of the page- for the answer to your question.
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I thought I waited and got my homework done right. I am having the exchange anxiety that so many seem to go through. Must be part of the process
Thanks Vickie
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Vickie: Forget about fills. I just need to know the recommended volume of your TEs. If they are Mentor 7200s they are moderate height tissue expanders. You said they are 700s and I am saying that there are no 700s in that style - so they would be 650 ccs or 800 ccs. I need to know which volume. Here are the only implant volumes offered in that style:
If you do not have the card at home with that information, call your doctor's office on Monday. It will be documented in your chart.
Deborah
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Hey whippetmom
I have two weeks until my preop appointment where my doctor and I will determine which implants I will be getting and schedule the surgery. I am getting very nervous. I want to be sure I am communicating what I would like correctly. I think my expectations are a bit high, I feel like I don't know what to expect. I am hoping to get all the answers at this appointment and then post that info here and hopefully it will make sense to you that what i am getting will get me the results i would like. I am feeling a little sad right now because I am not going to be as large as I was. I thought I would be glad not to be a 36DD, I always thought they were too big but, as I got older I learned to embrace them. My husband loved them. Now I am so concerned how I will feel in the end, what my husband will think even though I know he loves me no matter what. I think the reality is starting to set in now that this is it and I will never be the same as I was. I think I was hoping that I would be better than I was, at least perkier. And I think in clothes perhaps it will look better. It's just so hard when having huge boobs was such a part of me and now that is gone I am feeling a bit out of sorts.
thanks for letting me vent . . .
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I have been very happy with my TE's until recently when they started the "overfill" phase. Should be scheduled for surgery within the month and my question is, how do the implants feel post surgery. I've gotten so use to feeling like I have two turtle shells on my chest, I can't believe they will ever fill any different.
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Carrol: You shouldn't lament what you had, because you have the skin laxity and the right TEs to get some ample breasts after all is said and done. I think you need 750 ccs in a high profile smooth round silicone implant. But I feel that the left side is done and the right side just needs to be filled a bit more for symmetry. But I think you need to discuss your sizing issues with your PS and just ask him to use at least 750 ccs in Style 20 - or Mentor's 750 cc equivalent. If you prefer the Style 45s, you would need the 800 cc volume in that style. It might be a tad bit narrow for your TEs, but perhaps it would work out fine. That is my recommendation at this point. Nothing smaller than 750 ccs.
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Carrol -- if it's any consolation I was like you... I was DD to DDD the last 15 years (a D when I was younger)... I followed the same curve as you... excited at first at being smaller then freaking out that I would be too small. I ended up a D and I am very happy... there is still plenty of me there but not TOO much. I did say to my PS at the end: "bigger is better"... and she did put in the largest size implant my body could take (685 ccs). I actually still wear DD in some bras. But it is a smaller D/DD (not as full as on top... thank goodness... and a smaller band too). Follow Whippetmom's guidance and do communicate with your PS what you want. As I recall your TEs are a great size... and if you are happy with that general size you can certainly achieve that look with implants. And don't worry too much about the numbers. Go by how you look and feel. xoxo
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whippetmom you think i can go to 750 or 800 cc implant if my TEs are only filled to 695cc? I think my PS overfills so I am expecting that i may have to be much smaller. He originally said the best he could get me to would be a large C small D.
Lilah I am not 100% happy with the TE size although it's hard to tell since I am so lopsided and they are so flat looking (hamburger bun). They are still smaller than I was. I like the one side that is really high i think if the other side matched it i might be happy. I just don't know. I wish i could try them on and see somehow like a dress or somehing lol.
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