BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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Turtle...Okay....so just make sure you get that little card with the TE info IN THE HOSPITAL after the surgery....
All will be well. Most of us did not have all of this advance planning and information as you have....sometimes it can be crazy-making to have too much information....
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Annicemd: Do you want to remain an A cup on the native side and match this as closely as possible, or are you willing to have a small implant on the native breast, which is essentially an augmentation on that side? Because it is honestly easier to get symmetry if you augment that native breast a bit. So yes, a tissue expander on the MX side. Since you are in the UK, your PS can use Allergan 410s or Mentor CPGs and so there is specific sizing if this anatomical shaped implant is used. The TE should be selected based on where the PS is wanting to go with the implant at a later date. I think you need to be in the lower 200 gram range for the anatomical implants.
But I do agree that the question regarding how much skin was spared is important. Have you seen a PS yet? I wish Midnightstar was still around - she was tiny and had a very good result and she is in the UK. We might be able to find her though. Anyone keep in touch with her?
Deborah
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nurserhonda....I figured you would love him! I have seen his work and I have read his clinical abstracts. I think that $2,500 is money well-spent to get the best. Congratulations!
Deborah
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whippetmom - re midnightstar, we follow each on Twitter and I can contact her there if need be. I think she checks in here, so if we PM her she might respond.0
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Would you mind contacting her D-H and ask her the name and location of her PS. It was a female, as I recall? Thanks so much....and then PM our UK newbie with the info....??? You are a PEACH!
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Thank you so much for the info which I will pass on to my PS when I see her. I did not have skin sparing, the BS talked about LD flaps at the time but nothing was agreed. I got a massive seroma, literally bigger than my native breast after the Mx and got some stretch marks around the scar which I am v upset about as I managed 2 pregnancies with NO stretch marks! It doesnt look great! I guess if not enough skin we will have to see if my PS can conjure up enough abdo skin for a diep but I am not that hopeful! I don't thin the S-gap and other new flap procedures are available here In UK yet. I have heard alloderm can be used in this situation but again a bit confused about that, anyone know if alloderm might be suitable??
I would like to go bigger so will need some work on the native side too.
Thank you so much for all the info I feel my consultation with PS will be so much better if I am armed with the knowledge
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Thank you Whippetmom for your advise. At end of expansions almost and trying to decide right implant size. Have a tentative exchange date set for Nov 29th. See PS on Friday to discuss my options.
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New to this discussion board and trying to get ten posts to be able to view pics. Just found this site yesterday and am going to explore more today.
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Ladies, thank you so much for sharing. I read your posts and know I am not alone and can do this. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions for me I would surely appreciate it. I am 42, BMX late May and as stated earlier near end of my expansions (currently expanded to 440 ccs). I was a AA cup prior to BMX. I thought originally I wanted to be a full B, Small C. My PS has offered the Allergan Style 15, 371 cc that would probably give m e the full B, Small C. I am worried about the Style 15 not giving me enough projection though. Anyone have style 15's? If I go up into Style 20's I am worried about maybe being to big. He offered the 500 ccs which would make me a D cup. I am also considering the 450ccs. I have a gap between the breasts I also hope to have him bring together some. Reconstruction is supposed to be my bonus in all this and it seems I am in between implants. Praying I will come to some kind of answer of which one to use.
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Kickitmom -- read the header of this thread and post the info that Whippetmom needs if you haven't already. She will be able to help you if you give her that info.
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Thank you Lilah! Currently in the process of working with Whippetmom. She is great and it is nice to talk to someone besides my PS that understands. Coming from a AA I feel like I have gone through puberty a second time trying to get used to having full breasts. I am definitely enjoying being more busted, but don't like breasts in my armpits (my TEs are wide and I have caves for armpits). The PS says that is how breasts are and that my TEs don't move, but my implants will and it won't be so bad. I am just trying to communicate with him as much as possible how I want it all to come out. This seems to be a tough time, but being able to communicate with others is godsend
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LMAO!!! at the level on the 6000 cc breasts.
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Annicemd: MStar also has a YouTube video showing the expansion process. She had radiation to the chest wall fro a prior cancer and was able to get a fabulous result and she was also petite and an A cup. I went from an A/B to a C/D/DD depennding on the bra but look like a C. I didn't have radiation but I did augment the natural side to get symmetry. I had a bit of belly fat to work with but for the most part I am pretty skinny and didn't have the option of a flap.
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whippetmom: Thank you for getting back to me right away. I don't know what type of implant my PS will be using and he is not involved in a clinical trial. I am looking for the literature that I was given on my first appt., I think in Canada the two types they use are Allergan and Mentor - Does the mentor also have a contour shaped implant. ?-- He mentioned a contour shape would be more natural looking, but did not say he was going to use contour implant or what type at this point.. I'm not sure if he is going to use the allergan 410's or mentor. I will know more when I find my literature and get back to you.
Can you please tell me why contour shaped implants other than allergan410 would not be advisable and also could you let me know what you think I should be getting? I went yesterday for a fill and will be going again in two weeks. I am very close to the end of my fills. So I now have 680 left and 760 on right.
As soon as I get the information on the types of implants they can use I will send it to you.
Also, I would like to be able to see pictures of the different sized implants on different body shapes, if I can have access to view pic forum or if anyone knows of other web sites I can go to.
Thank you
Silvana
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kickitmom - I have Allergan Style 15 in 533cc (14cm diameter). My exchange was almost 4 weeks ago and I'm really happy so far. I didn't go into it with a bra size or cup size in mind, just wanted to look like "myself" with a tad more fullness. PS took Styles 15, 20, and even 45 into surgery and knew from our discussions that I wouldn't like the 20s or 45s once he tested them on me. I am on the picture forum so when you get there you can see. Of course, the shape of your ribcage, your height and weight, the pocket created, your skin integrity, etc all come into play - that's why the PS usually takes a variety of implants in to see what looks best. Getting your hopes and expectations across is of utmost importance so make sure he/she hears you!
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Thank you Tina T! So happy to read you are through your exchange and are very happy so far with the outcome. I want to feel "myself" (if possible) but not look like my old self - since I was so small busted. So this whole being busted thing is new to me
I can't find information on the picture forum anywhere. When and where will I be able to access it? Who monitors it? 0 -
I was diagnosed with B
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I was disgnosed with BC in May 2010 on my right breast.. I went thru chemo for 6 months, had my breast removed in Jan 2011, had radiation for 33 treatments, and completed all in June 2011. I am free of cancer now. I chose to have my left breast removed and to have reconstructive plastic surgery between 6 to 12 months after the radiation. My Breast Surgeon referred me to a PS. My oncologist also referred me to a PS. I am going to have a consultation with both of them. I have read mosst of the threads and also your very informative info on implants, etc. I don't know what TE is. I made a list of most everything I read that I didn't know about and should ask the PS. I guess I will hae to choose which one I want to do the reconstruction. The first one was seen last week. He told me that I would be having a latissimus dorsi flap done on my right breast due to the fact that my skin is so tight from the mastectomy. Then, extenders would be inserted and eveery two weeks I would have fills done. That's about all I know.
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Poopsie2 TE is tissue expanders. If skin is tight a more modern approach is to do a diep flap which uses only fat and skin and not muscle which is used in the lat dorsi flap. With the latter the recovery is much harder apparently which is why I am not keen!
BW
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New to the thread-just starting the reconstruction phase with TE's and Gummies if I can get to the size I want post rads. Thanks for all of the great information and plan on getting whippetmom advice!
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Whipplemom: I have been following this site since my diagnosis. I had a bilateral mastectomy in April 2011 and mx133 700cc TE placed. My PS overfilled them to 750cc. I need advice because my exchange has been scheduled for October 14th. After reading all the posts, I believe that I need Allergan 45 800 cc implants. I am 5'5 and weigh 130lbs. Do you think that size will work for me. Also, I would like to get on the picture site so I can get an idea of what the 800cc implants look like on someone my size. Would love your input. Thank you!0
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Wow, lot's of Oct. exchanges. I find that I am excited to hear how everything goes for you ladies, I certainly hope the best for everyone.
Vickie
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Whippetmom,
Well, getting close to my next PS visit, and hopefully close to exchange. I think I am suffering from boob greed. I thought I was done 2 fills ago, and I still feel like I need 1 more (+ 1 to overfill?). I am asymmetrical with my TE's, which are not filled to the same volume because my PS thought my chest wall was uneven. However, my smaller-volume TE is, not surprisingly, smaller than the larger one. I wonder if it's because of the shape of the TE that I am trying to compensate with a larger size? I just feel like I am not quite fitting into clothes the way I would like. And I am not happy with the asymmetry. It's actually my radiated side that is larger. I don't know if he has done this purposely to stretch the skin - like I have posted before, he doesn't like to talk, and in the end he just cuts me off and leaves. Anyhow, tomorrow is his last chance, because if he cannot convince me that he can get close to what I want (or that he even cares what I want), I am going to see the other PS that you referred me to and not coming back. I really wish that I loved one of them like some of the ladies here have posted, but, I guess true love is hard to find...for a PS.
My question is this: does a larger implant, when squeezed into a bra, give the appearance of more projection? Also, is it better to go smaller rather than larger with radiated skin? I have been on the picture forum, but because we are all different shapes/sizes, it is hard for me to know how someone my size would look with a certain size implant. I am 5'2'" with a 28 1/2" ribcage and 118 lbs. I currently have Dermaspan expanders filled to 410 in the left and 360 in the right. Can anyone point me to a thread on the pic forum that might help?
Ok, that was more than one question. I guess I was on a roll.
Thanks!
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christine47: Thanks for the support. I did see my PS the other day and gave him the fill amount, also told him my feelings about the TE going towards my armpits and not enough in the middle. He will adjust them in final exchange. I am near the end of my fills and it is becoming more painful the day after fill and at night. Is this normal? They do protrude more now which makes my tummy look smaller. I think that's what I was waiting for.(yeah) Thanks Silvana
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littlegreekdish - Hi, are you having unilateral or bilateral surgery? As you've probably read the implants will not change in size with the ups and downs of weight change. If bilateral it probably won't matter much unless there's a significant weight loss after surgery (which would make them look larger on your body by comparison). It sounds trickier if you're only having surgery on one side. The natural breast would change with weight ups and downs, but the implant side wouldn't.
My weight was also up a bit during the post-MX and TE phase. I worked really hard to get closer to my goal weight by the time of exchange so my PS could "audition" those implants during surgery while I was at a weight I was happy with. Probably didn't matter all that much, but in my mind it was a way to help determine the best implants for me.
It's nerve-wracking and exciting, isn't it???
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It's been 4 weeks today since my exchange surgery and I'm still a happy camper! I just posted an update in the photo forum...
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Pink: I think that creating more room on the rads side is a good idea - because the skin is going to want to retract more when the PS removes the TE and the rads side typically ends up a little tighter and smaller than the prophy side. So not a bad idea at all to do so. Take a look at Dawne-Hope's, lago's, Val61's, denrulzbc's orchidgal's, hurliegirly's photos on the pic forum. Those are the gals with your approx height/weight/ribcage -especially ribcage - I can think of on the pic forum.....
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Tina T: It is so good to hear that things are going so well for you. Very encouraging.
I took my wrap off yesterday and was told to not wear a bra. Today I am worried because they just look flat with a slight protrusion. I still have pain under my arms but truthfully I think that that is only because I had the T.E.s rubbing for so long, I don't think the implants are rubbing but its still sore. There is a lot of space between cleavage but that is how my natural breast look so maybe that's a good thing. I know not to freak out at this point but it is hard not to.
On the positive side- Even though I am still scared to touch them, when I do they are so soft. I never imagined that they would be so soft. Yea!!! I know be patient. be patient. be patient.
I would love to hear how other's who recently had exchanges are doing with their implants.
Thanks Ya'll
Vickie
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virokie - Yep, it's kinda creepy to really poke at them. I had very dense, firm breasts so these definitely feel different. Not softer,necessarily, but more fluidy (is that a word?). And definitely not as hard as the TEs (which I didn't really mind) and not as hard as they were right after exchange.
....be patient...be patient...be patient.......
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