BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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Thanks Lilah and Whippetmom. You confirmed what I thought (but wasn't sure) about massage and Gummies. Just wanted to be sure I was doing everything I can for best results. I am pleased with mine. More firm than I'd prefer, but they still squish. Love my PS. He is going to do some fat grafting in December to fix a little divot, fill in a little spot at the bottom of the cleavage, and plump the nipples. After that heals...tattoos and I'm done!
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Sweetie: I am sorry you feel you need a revision still. From what I understand, the 45's project much more but they are also very narrow, so there might be pocketwork involved. You can look up your size that you have and compare it with the 45's to see how much more. Not sure this will address any wrinkling but I would give FG one or two more tries as most of us with FG have had great results from this. Hugs!
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Sweetie: I have been pondering your dilemma and I have a suggestion. I think you should look into Allergan 410s - gummy bear implants. This implant would address the issue with the lack of upper pole dimension - a 410-FX - full height, extra full projection - style could be used - 495 grams - and you would meet the width you have now, but gain a lot of projection and height. Additionally, the gummy bear is "form stable", which means it tends to stay in place on the chest wall. It does not succomb to gravity as does the standard silicone gel round. I would go see Lilah and Claire's PS at MSK....for a consultation. There might be a PS in CT who has gummies - perhaps Dr. Restifo??? - you might call and ask. I don't know if you would be a candidate - your pockets would need to be pretty darn precise - but after really analyzing what has gone on with your expansion, I think this might be the best option. Fat grafting plus implant is another great option, but I don't think you have sufficient fat...
The 410FX-495 would be: 13.5 cm width, 14.0 cm height and 6.2 cm projection.
Deborah
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I had my exchange on Tuesday and am feeling really good. Mostly tired from surgery and having to sleep on my back again. Thank you all for your help and advice last week. I chose to go with Silicone and am loving how much softer they are already. It has been so long since I have had real boobs, I don't know if I really remember what they felt like plus they were drooping.
The implants were placed under the pec muscle. I guess my expanders were as well but the pec doesn't cover the entire expander. I had expanders that my PS helped create. They are shaped like a croissant roll (similar to other expanders). There was nothing in the upper pole area and thus not much of any under the pec. I am really having no pain or soreness in the pec area. Mostly on the sides as I had quite of bit of lateral positioning of my expanders and I think they had to do a lot of work to move them to the middle. So far so good. Also, someone asked about my having a NSM. I was large breasted and the tumor was no where near the nipple. My BS and oncolologist were fine with keeping the nipples. I am thrilled to have them as my breasts look real. The only surprise is that they are perpetually erect (I am not sure what the word is but they act like I am cold). They look better that way so I am fine. I am happy to be done/almost done.
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Issymom, yay for new squishy's!!!
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Do you remember the phase "over the shoulder boulder holders" as a description for a bra? This person must have had expanders!!!
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Issymom, thanks for the laugh tonight!!!
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MBJ-thanks for your support. The 45's would about the same or slightly larger than what I have now (500cc's style 20). I am meeting with two Dr's next week who both do fat grafting. I want to see what my options are with that.
Deborah-I know all about the gummy bears.Ironically my Dr. is in the gummy bear study and I could have had the tear drop implants from the beginning. I was going to have them but right before my exchange I decided on the rounds. My fear was they wouldn't look as full and round. I did ask him about switching out to the gummies and he said it would be a trade off. I would lose everything I like about the rounds, the softness and the roundness. He did say it may help with the rippling, but I still think my skin is overstretched. I do like the rounds so I think I'd rather go that route with fat grafting. Dr. Restifo does not do the gummies. My current Dr is the only one I know of in CT who does them.Do you still think style 45 is the best for me?I did read it a good style for women with very little tissue and who are thin.
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Issymom: Congratulations!!!
Lago: LOL!!!
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Slinky: I really hope you are able to resolve this to get the results you deserve. Hugs!
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Would someone please tell me what a "gummy" is?
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chiluvr: Everything you wanted to know about gummy bear implants...
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I think my PS may use these but they are called Natrelle silicone gel implants. Does that sound right?
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No, the gummies are different and as far as I know, still in trials with select ps's using them. Allergan Natrelle's are cohesive silicone gels but not the same as . Caryn
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Thanks Caryn!
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Got implants today. I had Mentor 550 over-filled to 720 T.E.'s. My implants are suppose to be 750 Mentor smooth high profile. This is the first day and I haven't seen them yet but they seem smaller than the 600cc T.E.'s, that I had, that's O.K.. I know it's early. From what I can tell they look good.
My card does not have cc's listed on it so I will ask PS on Wednesday to see if I did get 750's.
Whippetmom thanks for sharing your knowledge on all of this it really helped me make better decisions and I am really glad that I decided to go for the 750cc instead of 650cc (if that's what I got).
Everybody thanks for sharing your experiences it made all of this easier and I feel better prepared for things being different now than what they will be tomorrow and next week and next month.
It was really hard deciding all of this but so far so good.
Oh yea, it was a breeze, no pain. Might not go dancing tomorrow but I might go watch.
Vickie
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Lago, you always have the best animated links!0
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Vickie: Your implant size should be just perfect! It takes at least ten days to two weeks before you can truly tell how they are going to look for the long-term.
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Think I will chime in with my PS experience last week. He just kept looking at my chest saying, "hmmm, hmmm, hmmm." I know my chest is messed up, but wanted to say WTC. So glad I have 2 more PS to see. He didn't seem to think I have enough skin to stretch to match remaining breast which is a C cup. He said "you may be sunk in a little here and there, but we can fix that by taking some off your back." I left his office in tears. My mastectomy side has very little loose skin because of post op infection and having to heal from inside out after wound vac was removed. I have an appt Monday with Dr. Patrick Maxwell in Nashville. Hope and pray he has better news. The only bad thing he is out of network to all insurances.
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nurseronda10, so sorry you had such an awful experience with that PS! Hope you have much better luck with the next two!0
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Hi all!
First time I have posted here, but have been reading posts here for a while. I had a BMX on July 21, 2011 with immediate recon with TE's. I am a plus size woman, so I have/had a lot of concerns about volume based on other comments I have seen from other plus women.
I have had a few problems along the way. About a week after surgery, I developed an infection on the right side near the drains. It cleared up within a few days of getting a new antibiotic, but the output on one of the drains increased dramatically. At about 5 weeks post op, I had 1 drain remaining on the left and none on the right. I developed a seroma on the right so I had surgery to drain it and to add a drain back to that side. I am now 8 weeks post op. I STILL have the original drain on the left and the new drain on the right. The one on the right will probably come out Monday as long as the output stays below 20cc's. The one of the left is still between 40 and 50 per day, so not sure when that will come out.
I came out of surgery with fills of 250cc's on the left and 300 on the right. I have had 4 other fills to date and am currently expanded to 655 on the left and 705 on the right. The left side pocket is higher than the right and is not as round as the right, but PS says he will fix that at exchange. I am ok with the size on the right. PS is thinking between 750 to 800 for the gel implants. He also offered to do a tummy tuck at the same time as exchange surgery at a very reduced fee. I am thinking that if I can swing it financially, I will go ahead and do that.
I can relate to many of your stories on PS's. I have an awesome PS now, but the 1st one I talked to had zero bedside manner. He totally did not have the time for me during the consult. He didn't even sit down to talk -- just stood in the room with one foot out the door. I started to ask questions about diep or tram flap and he cut me off saying I was too fat for that kind of surgery. I left his office crying. I talked to my BS and he referred me to my current PS whom I absolutely love. First consult took 2 hours where we discussed what my expectations were vs reality. He never even mentioned my weight as a factor, so I told him what the other PS had said to which he said, true, overweight women do have more problems with flap surgeries, but that would not necessarily make me a bad candidate. He had a greater concern for me due to the length of surgery and the fact that I have a history of afib, an arithmea and chronic respiratory problems. He did not discount my concerns about silicon implants, but showed me the information to prove that they were not the implants my sister had in the 1990's. His assistant showed me before and after photos for similar sized women with both implants and flap surgeries. I talk to him about things I have researched or read on bc.org and he always listens and answers my questions. I have total confidence in him and feel that I will have the best results possible for me in the end.
Currently, I am scheduled for exchange surgery on October 26 along with the tummy tuck. He wanted to get both booked and then if I decide to go ahead with the TT, we won't have to change any dates.
And I loved the exercise videos and laughed at all of the comments about them. Oh and the musical rendition "Do Your Boobs Hang Low" was hilarious. After all, our sense of humor will help us all get thru this journey!
Phyllis
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nurseronda: So sorry to hear about your experience! You might want to look innto NOLA dr's as I have seen some miraculous fixes coming out of there. It's a bit of travel for you but it might be worth it! Hugs!
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momof2- a PS who offers a tummy tuck with exchange, sounds like a keeper.
nurseronda--great that you are getting a second opinion. Don't get discouraged.
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momof2: Wow, I just forgot about implants when you said tummy tuck, sounds good. You have certainly gone through alot so very exciting on your upcoming exchange and TUMMY TUCK.
nurseronda: I certainly hope your second opinion goes well.
Vickie
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Ok girls please help with this. I had 685cc in my expander right side - surgery was on 9/8/11 PS told me I should have about 600 on exchange mentor high profile smooth. And my good side would be match which was a small A. I came out with 500cc in place of expander. And my good side got 400cc. Now my question is my good size looks a cup larger than my bad side? He said its swelling. Really? That much? I am freaking out. Cab anyone tell me about swelling? And their experience. I cannot have it that much bigger. And I wonder why I ended up with 500cc not 600? What caused that. I know I need to ask him..... But any advice from anyone here would be good. I am so disappointed.
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nurserhonda: I have a lot of names for you in TN - and one in Kentucky. If you want to PM me, we can go over the names and see if we can find someone in network. Trust me though, I think Dr. Maxwell is fabulous....but I just hate to see you gals out of pocket for what can be an expensive surgical journey.
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momoftwo: Good for you! My girlfriend was the benefit of a reduced rate lipo/tummy tuck with her exchange surgery, and it made a huge difference in how the implants appeared on her frame. As long as you are healthy and it is affordable, I say go for it...
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