BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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My PS surgeon said that I have no control over my disease but total control over the treatment. Keeping that in mind... He can be as surgeon-like as the next ass, but this is how I handle every visit ( Disclaimer: I am a physician but PS is not my forte!) I go prepared to every encounter with a list of questions to make certain we don't get off track. Asking questions until I understand exactly what is being planned and why is the only control that I have (beyond active participation in decisions that require my input). I have reminded him more than once that I need to participate in treatment decisions, just like he stated at our first visit. He also appreciates that my understanding, in depth, of what will be done to my body is part of feeling in control.
I realize we all have differing degrees of wanting to know the nitty-gritty details (heck, I want to be awake when he marks my chest at exchange). Find your comfort zone. Express your wants and rationale to your docs. Any doctor who cannot handle sharing this type of info can be replaced. This IS the standard of medical practice today. Do not accept anything less, but you must do your part.0 -
The first PS I saw I left in tears and was considering not doing reconstruction. Even his nurse was pushy and didn't make me feel good. I was already scared because of my diagnosis and he made me feel more scared.
The 2nd PS I saw (and the one I hired) was the 1st doctor I saw since I was diagnosed that actually made me feel better and calmed me down. I mean I was so scared back then. Don't get me wrong I love my BS too but I didn't go through the typical channels/procedure to get my information so the PS' were the first doctors I spoke with in person after diagnosis.
My PS is a very kind man. He will answer any question I ask. He always pats me one the back too which is very calming. He is quirky like most of the PS but very kind. He is urber smart too but had never shown any arrogance. But I must say I know 2 people that go to that 1st PS I saw. They love him. So just because one PS is right for one person doesn't mean they will be right for you. Or maybe he was just having a bad day… or we both were having a bad day.
Fat Grafting. My PS does it but I totally understand about lumps being confused as breast cancer. 2 weeks after my exchange with fat grafting I felt a lump right where my tumor was. I did see both my onc and PS that day. I saw my onc first. She felt it too. It moved around so she didn't seem too concerned but said if my PS didn't know what it was she wanted me to make an appointment with my BS. My PS said it was from the fat grafting. It's not there anymore. Y our PS should know what s/he did to you and what's fat and what isn't. BTW fat grafting seems to be an interest of my PS. He does it in the face too.
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Thank you all for your suport and words of encouragment. Im a quiet person to begin with so It took me a wiel to decide on asking about what she (my ps) thought about this size on me becuse I was concerned about projection. Oh well I need to get over this its all I can think about. I need to find a doctor that answers question not take offense to them says my hb.
MBJ,pinkbutterfly,slinky,robo47,whippetmom: how do you recomend this phone call to a new ps go? what should I say to make the apointment? Just very nervouse. I feel that because I have my ex in they may not want to touch me.
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bcs2011, I would say "hello, my name is----", I would like to make an appt with ___". I had a BMX and have expanders in, but I would like to meet with the doctor to get a second opinion".
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Bcs2011~ I noticed you are in WA. My PS is in Tacoma and specializes in reconstruction. I also noticed he had pix of where he "fixed" other PS's work. I asked him TONS of questions and he never seemed put out or offended. Just in case you are willing to travel south and need a recommendation
You can pm me.0 -
bcs: I called two different hospitals (after asking aroudn fro recommendations) and told them I was getting a 2nd and 3rd opinion. Easy peasy.
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Slinky, thanks for the encouragement! I am so afraid to make that call, but I'm doing it on Monday. This is the time to get it right, if possible, before it becomes a "revision."
Bcs2011, I'm like you...I'm pretty quiet, and don't want my PS to feel like I'm questioning his expertise, yet I have some nagging fears or doubts that I think need to be cleared up. When I went in after my exchange pre-op, I asked a lot of questions, with pen and paper in hand, and he FLEW through them, without giving me a chance to write anything down. So, I basically left there as confused as I was when I went in, if not more so... I should have just pulled out my list from Whippetmom and asked him to write the response for each question!
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bcs/Susan....Yes....PERFECT! Thank you Susan for coming here and reading this. I have a PS in Vancouver - none in Seattle/Kirkland/Bellevue. But Tacoma is an easy commute for the exchange. Also Susan, please PM me with your PS info/details for my files. And bcs - please PM Susan ASAP and get an appointment with her PS!
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RoBo: Pretty funny! I would do it!!! LOL!
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I told my PS that I was getting info and advise online from whippetmom on here and her background because he wanted to know why I was asking such detailed questions and why I would need to know what brand the width of my expander the suggested volume. He was a little nervous about the whole malpractice thing but I assured him that I trusted him 100% but that I that I get nervous and I like to know as much info as I can, it helps me feel like there will be no surprises then. He understood that. From day one I asked a million questions every time I saw him, even as I woke up from my expander surgery. But he did not tell me the width or expected volume. I do have two more appointments with him before the surgery though. One to meet at his private practice where he has more info to share with me and one for the actual preop at the hospital.
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Carrol my PS didn't write down in his notes what size I was getting till my pre-op appointment. I spoke with the scheduler to find out what size(s) she order. I'm sure your PS has an idea of what he will be using but I bet a lot has to do with how the expansion outcome too.0
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Cindy: Watch what you ask for! Just let me know the date! I am going with my cousin on Tuesday to her pre-op "marking" appointment with her PS, prior to BMX the following day....
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Lago oh he did tell me what size i was getting. 650cc gel round implant. I have 650cc expanders filled to 700cc. I just don't know the width of my expander or the suggested fill volume, I never got this card a lot of people on here have said they got. He is thinking it will be a large C small D, I was a DD. Being smaller than I was seems like a good idea if they are nice and perky, even, and round, with good projection, placed high, I will be happy. I am trying not to expect too much, don't want to be let down.0
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Wanted to post my stats since exchange surgery: TEs: were 400, filled to 500. Implants were high profile mentor smooth rounds, 550. I am 5'3" and current weight is 118.
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Bcs,
I told the new PS up front that I was coming in for a second opinion, and my history with the expanders. He asked me whether my PS knew I was there, and I said no. I still have not made a final decision as to who I want doing my surgery, but I'm still a work in progress in terms of my expanders, and still going to my PS for that. I feel that I need to see them both again and get more questions answered before I decide.
I agree that sometimes they need to be reminded who's working for whom.0 -
Deborah: So sorry to hear about your cousin-it truly sucks to have this in your family! I hope all goes well and she is lucky to have you! We should get together before I move so that I can thank you in person for all of your extensive help with my recon. Hugs!!!
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Carrol I never got my expander card either. The nurse said it was probably in my file if I wanted it. I was given the card for the implants before I went home from surgery. My BS said small C for me and I'm wearing D's. You may be wearing larger than a DD. I'm sure you are going to be happy. These boobie prizes seem very perky. I even got beeped at with a "Whoo Hoo" yell today. Never knew how much men love boobs till I got these
Deborah that sucks about your cuz. I'm wishing her a SE free journey. Corinne Are you on the Illinios Ladies thread. We're planning a Chicago dinner get together. Would love to see you show off your boobie prizes.
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Deborah, so sorry to hear about your cousin joining the club... I'm thankful she has you there to help her through it!
Lago, sorry to hear about the fender bender! Hope you're not feeling any pain, and hope those airbags didn't go off!
Bcs, I just got off the phone after making an appointment for a second opinion. Yippee!!!! Maybe I got those shingles for a reason...
I would have LOVED to have been done with my exchange right now, but maybe I was being forced to wait... 0 -
Thanks YamahaMa. Car no damage. Air bags have never gone off. I've often wondered if they would if I really needed them. Had a headache & shoulder pain yesterday right after the accident. Took Aleve. Today just some slight stiffness/soreness in the shoulder. No meds today. I think I'll be fine.0
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OMG Lago...Laura [Estepp] just had an auto accident also...you girls be careful out there!
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Corinne: Very nice transition from TE to implants! I had the same volume TEs and the same volume implants as you. What is your ribcage circumference?
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MBJ: I would love to get together with you before you move. Let's plan something....
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I am 28". Is that about where you are too?
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Hi girls! Well, my redness has gone away in my breast. I finished my antibiotics yesterday. Still normal color today. When I saw my PS on Friday, he was concerned about my right breast (the one where I had capsulelotemy with Alloderm sling). It is starting to feel hard again! UGH! He did a capsulelotemy all the way around my breast. He said the scar capsule was not hardened, just tight. So now I'm doing massage. He wanted me to call them today to give them an update. He got on the phone himself and asked about the redness and hardness. I asked him how often I should be massaging (I'm pretty much doing this all day it seems). He said at least twice a day. He also recommended staying active. He suggested walking or doing the eliptical trainer. I did a 30 mintue walk around the neighborhood.
Do you girls have any suggestions? I will be so bummed if this breast doesn't drop and I have to go in for more revisions! I do love my PS though. He encourages me to ask a lot of questions and loved the article I sent him about Red Breast Syndrome!
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By the way, for those of you who are thinking about getting 2nd opinions, do what YOU need to do. YOU are the customer! I've seen 2 BS's, 2 BS's, 3 onco's and changed doctors over the years because I didn't like how I was treated. When I had my augmentation, I saw 8 PS's. Now that may be over the top, but I chose #7. Unfortunately, I didn't see my current PS or I would have chosen him. I have a couple doctor connections now, so I ask for their opinions. I love my PS and onco, so I always talk to them about other doctors. They are very honest. So is my PCP.
Good luck and ask questions. Good doctors encourage it!!!
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Corinne! 28 inches? Yikes... No, I have a 30 inch ribcage. Girlfriend, you are going to be a DD or E cup with that tiny ribcage!
EDITED TO STATE: Make that a triple D or E cup...
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kittycat - yay! so glad you're better on the whole redness issue ... sorry, though about the hardness.
For the first three months, my PS wanted me to massage 3x a day. I was like, "Really? I have a job ... what am I supposed to do ... go to the bathroom and take off my bra and massage my breasts during lunch?"
But a girl does what she has to! Seriously, though ... there is a video someone posted on here on how to do the massage ... also my left side was rather hard (much harder than the right after my exchange) and it did soften up as time wore on ... the massaging really does help! I only massage them 1x a day now, some nights I sleep on my stomach (that's gotta squish 'em pretty good), and I do the ellipitical 3 or 4 x week and now both sides are squishy. Hopefully yours will be too, with time. xo
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My PS has me massaging but not like the video. It's more pushing up and in with both hands cupping the lower/outer part of the breast (boobie prize).
The one I posted is from here: linky This little animated gif at the end still cracks me up. I do think this might be for augmentation. Not sure if its also used in reconstruction
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Well, I guess I know why my augmentation is screwed up, then! My PS had me massaging top down!
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It's obvious from the above animation that dark red fingernail polish is essential to the technique...
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