BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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mahometmom: Before you freak out....
do you want to email me photos privately? I can tell you what to expect and whether this is truly swelling....PM me if so. Or post photos on the pictures forum. Remember, this is something which can be remedied....Deborah
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Whats your email I will send
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It CAN be swelling Mahometmom -- I had a reduction and there was a LOT of swelling such that my reduced side seemed much larger than my implant side. It evened out but it did take a few months for ALL the swelling to abate. (I did see significantly less swelling after a month, however.) You're still fresh out of the OR.... so need to give it some time. DO share your photos with Whippetmom, though, she will be able to speak more specifically to your case.
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mahometmom62 Mine changed a lot in the first 6 weeks. I swear one of mine boobie prizes was square. They are both nice and round now. I too was a bit shocked at the beginning. You really do have to give it some time.
My left does sit lower and has no ptosis. My PS agrees and will do some pocket work at nipple reconstruction to fix this.
Remember that this isn't an exact science. Sometimes even the best most experience PS will need to make some adjustments. It's not always a first shot deal but I will admit I had a ton of swelling in the beginning. I looked like crap compared to what I look like now. My exchange was June 24th.
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I'm having tissue expanders placed on September 27th after delaying reconstruction for about 18 months. No radiation, bilateral mastectomy. My ribcage is 39.5 inches and I am 5'10" and weigh 212 lbs (trying to lose weight, but it's slow since my hysterectomy).
Is there anything else that you'd need to know to give me a ball park of the cc's I would need? I don't know yet what type of TEs are going in. Should I know that before the surgery?
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Turtle... It would be important to know the mgr, style and volume of the TEs your PS is ordering. You need 700 to 800 ccs in silicone if you are using silicone . Call the office and ask the nurse to find out what he ordered for surgery. Are you measuring your ribcage under the bra line, nice and tight with the tape?
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Sorry,y iPhone self-corrected... I need the mfr, not the mgr...
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I did it with a regular measuring metal tape before, now found a paper tape thing like in a sewing kit and it's at 39 inches, nice and tight. I'll call them or email my PS to find out what she plans on using. I am willing to bet they just have a bunch of them and are going to decide when they talk to me before the surgery. She measured me a little bit but not a lot since I still wasn't sure I was going to go through with recon.
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Turtle....So just wanted to verify that ribcage - and yes - implants in the 700 ccs to 800 ccs. What bra size are you now? Will give me some idea re: how much of a skin envelope you will have after BMX. But when you find out which TE style and volume have been ordered, we can assess further.
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Hello - I am new here and would like input from the wise Whippetmom on sizing. I am so glad that I found this forum just before my exchange sugery. I hope I remember all the information required.
I'm not sure where to begin; I had my first mastectomy on my left side in 2005, then found dcis on my right side this year. I had surgery on May 10/11 - mastectomy on the right with bilateral TE.
I am going to see my PS tomorrow for what might be my last fill before my exchange surgery.
I am 5'1" (on a good day) - my weight is ..ready.....158 lbs (trying to lose at least 20lbs of the 30 gained from being on steroids a while ago) my Ribcage is 34 1/2" and my waist is 351/2". My bra size was 36-38 C.
My TE's are: Mentor - Siltex Med. Height Style 6200 - 550cc (354.6214).
My fills are at : left = 620 and right = 700 (the last time I went for a fill I told my PS that I was at 480left and 540right...he said that 500's should be good in a contour shape, we would discuss size on next appt., that day I was filled w/60 on each) When I got home and added up my fills again I realized I am at 620 left and 700 right, so I don't know if I will be filled tomorrow. I do not want to be any smaller than I am right now. I would like to protrude at least 1/2 an inch more, so I will let my PS know. He also mentioned that he doesn't really need to overfill too much.
My TE's are wide and seem to be going towards my under arms.(they kinda look like the coconuts that some talk about) they do not protrude alot - my left (older side) is higher than my right, not a lot - the right does look more natural but I do also have a big gap in my cleavage area- at least 3 fingers wide. I did tell my PS last visit and he mentioned it can be fixed at ES but not too close as to touch, which is fine with me.
What do you think about sizes for my short__frame, the cleavage gap, and under arm issues or any advice I can get before my ES.
I would also like to get permission to view the pictures forum just to see what the different sizes actually look like.
It is so nice to have this site to go to and thank you for listening to me ramble on.
Silvana
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I already had my mastectomies...april of 2010. i don't have a pocket at all. I was not going to do reconstruction, but I changed my mind. I can PM you a picture if you want, or you can look at the photos on my blog thing in my signature. But keep in mind that was 10 lbs lighter. i can send you some more recent ones if you need them. But no pocket.Not really any loose skin much at all. A little bit.
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sava7 : what does your PS mean by "contour implant" ? Very important to know if he is talking about gummy bear/ Allergan 410s, because any other "contour" shaped implant would not be advisable. So clear that one up. So before we discuss sizes, I need to know if we are planning for 410s...is your PS in clinical trials for this implant?
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I posted this on a few threads but I though I should share here too. Really bad step off!
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Omg lago what a great costume.
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Lago ~ I'm guessing high profile smooth round Allergan 6000 cc.
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they are so perky! Definetly silicone rounds-need a bit of ft grafting though, lol.
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If the couple goes their separate ways then it becomes the worst case of uni-boob (symmastia) I've ever seen.
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I'm thinking that IMF would never pass the ruler test!
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That's what I was thinking......where's the level?
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Exactly what I was thinking......where's my level?
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Lago, you find the funniest things. Maybe I can look like that after fat grafting next week.
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Hi just wondered if I could get advice from whippetmom and/or other sisters with more experience in this journey than me. I have had left mx on 1st July 2011 and delayed recon at the advice of my BS as staging was difficult as I have multifocal disease. Turns out I have early stage and no chemo so now my treatment is done and I want to go ahead with recon. I have not yet seen a PS but my concern is what type of recon to do. I am 5" 2, around 100 lbs, ribcage 30", waist 24 i.e I am tiny. My right breast is A cup. I don't have much excess skin on abdo to consider diep flap so it seems TE and then exchange would be ideal but I don't really understand all the terminology and wonder if I am missing something and not sure about the skin stretching issues etc. Do my thoughts make sense or am I likely to have problems. I am only 42 and hate seeing my Mx and now feel quite desperate to do recon. Thanks so much for your advice and wisdom.
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Silvana,
I am sure whippetmom can help you once you provide this info she needs. She was right on target for my implants (so was my PS). I am not exactly the same size as you, but not thin like some of the ladies on this site. I am about 145-150 (trying to loose a few pounds with exercise and diet) and 5'2". I was exchanged to 600cc Allergan high profile round silicones. They look great and I see them before my tummy and toes, if you know what I mean. I was worried my PS might go to small. I also kept track of my fills, maybe you need to remind your PS of what you have calculated?
Good luck!
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Annicemd I'm taller than you but I too have a petite body. Basically I'm shortwaisted (petite) with long legs and arms. Lets not talk about how I find pants long enough. I have no fat on my upper body. No way could I even do DIEP for one small breast.
Anyway I'm 5'6" and measure 31 band. I was wearing about an A cup when I was 42 but then graduated to an A/B but still not very full. I went bigger for reconstruction. I'm in Allergen style 15 (moderate profile) 497CC. I'm 49+1 now but I was 49 when this all started. I'm quite happy with the way I turned out. Yes they can stretch your skin quite a bit if it's in good shape. Your PS should be able to tell you but I would think, being only 42 and no rads that you should be fine.
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Annicemd - Do you know what kind of masectomy you had ... was it a skin-sparing MX or is your scar nice and tight with no loose skin? You're so tiny that if they didn't leave some extra skin from your MX ... it might be tough to go the TE route.
You could private message whippetmom and send her some photos so she can see if you have sufficient skin flaps.
xoxo
edited to add: *delete*
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lago-Loved the pic....what a great Halloween costume and simple too (some fabric and a couple of beach balls)!
whippetmom-I do believe you are the one that recommended Dr. Maxwell to me. I owe you a huge cyber hug!! I absolutely loved him. He came across as a very confident surgeon and assured me that everything would turn out great. He recommended latissimus flap, Alloderm and TE and then mastopexy on remaining breast. He spent 40 min with me, took photos, measurements and also did a computerized image of what I would look like afterward. I will be out around $2500 because he is out of network to all insurance companies, but do not mind paying this at all. I feel like I will be getting the best results possible by going to him. Second opinions are very worth while!!!! Cannot believe the difference between Dr. Maxwell and the PS I saw last week. Unbelievable.
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Annicemd: I saw a woman on line that because she had rads and her breast skin could not be stretched much, her Dr. put a TE on her back! She had posted a picture and it was kind of bizarre, but I thought it was amazing too. I guess they will do a skin graft when they have enough skin. Also, my sister had BMX with delayed recon in the 1990's (she later had them removed -- just a couple of years ago -- because she had a lot of problems -- these were old style, not like today's!) She had no excess skin and she was very petite at the time too. She was 44 and her expansions went very well and she when from an A to a C cup. I think everyone is different and we each will have very different experiences. It is so important to get a PS you feel comfortable with. Since I am a larger gal, I will end up with close to the largest silicon implant they make and will probably end up a cup size smaller that I was originally, but I am ok with that. I am lucky to have the PS that I have because he tells me everytihing and we discuss everything. He is well know for taking the time to give you the best aethestics possible.
Good luck!
Phyllis
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Well, I asked my PS what TEs she would be using. They use Mentor or Allergan. And most of that is decided that day, as they will do a lot of measuring the width of my ribcage, etc. Then she asked if I was really ready for this surgery, as I have emailed her four times in the last month. (this didn't surprise me, as people said she's an EXCELLENT surgeon but bedside manner, not so fab). I responded that yes, i am ready, but just trying to be prepared. lol.
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Lago, that is totally SICK! LOL! And 6000 ccs - Susan nailed it!
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Turtle -- just tell your PS you ask a lot of questions as part of your process.
Lago -- LOL great photo.
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