BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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Be patient Vickie and "step away from the mirror".....
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I know - - I know- - Darn It I know.
Yea, Tina it is hard to explain soft. Maybe because I had dense breast too and they were never soft. But, they are pretty soft now and you said they get even softer. Wow
Anybody have implants for 1 or more years, I am curious too, as to how they feel now compared to when you first got them. I kind of understand that they change a lot the first few months but then do they just kind of stay the same after that?
Oh, I am banned from mirrors- I don't think I want to do that to myself. So, thanks for the reminder.
Vickie
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I've had mine for almost 3 months. Still feel squishier but I too had dense ones before. They also get cold when it's cool out.
and they do change a lot.
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I feel cold when I drink something cold, it is only on one side and it doesn't feel bad just cold. I guess we will see how the winter goes. I am hoping it doesn't get much colder that could be uncomfortable. My cold feels more like it is the lungs or some inner part not the foobs.
Vickie
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littlegreekdish-I have the same questions about being ideal weight before exchange. I had lost 50lbs 2years before my dx. I year before my dx, I had a tummy tuck and breast lift. I was a D cup and weighed 118 lbs. I felt good about myself for the first time in years. I gained up to 150lbs during chemo and I am trying like crazy to get the weight off before nipple reconstruction. I have lost 13lbs but have so much more to go! I never thought I would gain weight with cancer. Add chemo induced menopause to the mix and it makes it soooo much harder to lose. My oncologist insists that alot of it is fluid.....let's hope he is right!!!!
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Virokie - I had a similar type feeling after my BMX. It was so weird, like the cold stuff was going down a different way or the insulation was gone (I guess in some ways it was). It went away but not sure how long it took. So many weird things!!!
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emersongrace I put on up to 14+ lbs on chemo. 1/2 of it was water gain. My onc put me on a very small dose of diuretic a few months after chemo because my legs and tummy were really bloated. It helped a lot. I finally stopped taking it about a month ago.
Now I know I didn't have the same challenge as you but you will lose that weight. It's just a slow process. Just don't give up. BTW 118 sounds really tiny. I did weight that back in 2004 and I was worried about being too thin.
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virokie - Yes, I had that weird feeling when I drank something cold. It felt like a waterfall on the inside of my chest wall. But, I'd forgotten about it until you just wrote that so I just realized I don't have that feeling anymore. So, it lasted about 5 months or so for me.0
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lago-I was going through a divorce at the time and that was my lowest weight. I am 5'5 so I would be happy just to see the 120's again! I just want to be close to a normal weight before my exchange. It's hard to decide on implant size because it seems that all my weight is in my torso. Did you lose the weight before your exchange? I had 350cc implants with my breast lift and loved them. Now the same PS thinks I need 700 or 800 silicone implants to be the same size I was before. He says that since the breast tissue was removed I would need that size. I don't want to be unhappy with the end result and I think if I can be close to my ideal weight that might change the size of implant I need. I feel so shallow worrying about it but I just want to get it right.
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emersongrace I'm 5'6" and currently 130/129 lbs. On chemo I went as high as 142! At exchange I was about 134 but I gain my weight below the belly button. I also was pretty small on top. I used to be an A/B cup. My implants are allergen style 15 397cc. I measure a 31" band.
So in my case I could have weighed 120 or 142 it wouldn't have made a difference because my upper body never changed size. It sounds like our frames are very different. No way could I have 700-800 cc implants. I would be a Barbie for sure.
I have small shoulders.0 -
vickie - I can say that a year later my implants are softer now than when I first got them. I don't think they will change anymore. And my left isn't quite as soft as my right. It's always been like that, not sure the why.
I almost flipped last Fall during the first cold spell ... the implants get very cold. Had a tough time getting used to it last winter. They're always cold. I wore a lot of fleece vests over my chest just to try to keep them warm. It's not as shocking now as it was then beause I've kind of gotten used to it ... but didn't expect them to be so cold!
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I also got the cold sensation across my chest wall on swallowing, very weird sensation and we thought it was oesophagitis but treatment for that made no difference. I have only had uMx and not had implants yet so I guess it must be a nerve that gets tweaked during mx that causes it. I am 3 months out from surg now and the sensation is nearly gone or at least I hardly notice it now. Not looking forward to the cold in the implants during the cold weather though, which seems to be a different thing!
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Thank you, Dear Whippetmom, and God bless you for all that you do.
On the cold: is that the feeling of being cold, or that the implants feel cold to the touch? It is surprising, to me, because I always thought that the pec muscles overlying the implants would be warm.
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Annicemd - I too had that weird sensation down my chest when drinking cold things after my MX. I don't notice it anymore but it is super weird. You're correct that the cold implant is a different sensation than the cold when you drink. Falls in the category: things they don't tell you about a MX. 0
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Hi. I'm sure this has been posted somewhere here before, but wanted to ask if there is a 'general' rule of restriction post exchange?? I am scheduled for exchange 10/27 and can't meet with my PS until 10/3 for getting my long list of questions answsered. The main thing I wanted to ask is what kind of "physical restriction" if any did you all experience? I'm trying to see if I can be at a work function the next night, for example, or whether I can continue an exercise program (I'm in livestrong pilot program) and I figured I wouldn't be able to lift /arm exercise but could continue with abs, lower body - but for how long after exchange??
any guidance or your experience(s) would be appreciated - I do realize my situation is individual and I will have to confer with my PS on his instructions, but I'm just trying to gauge some general guidelines as I am planning my calendar.
thanks much, Catherine
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Catherine you really need to check with your PS on this but you won't be able to do any heavy lifting or anything that puts strain on that area. I remember even for the first 10 days they didn't want me to swing my arms or do power walks (but they did want me to walk). Even my stretches for LE were limited to light reach type stuff. I was not allowed to return to work (even if I had a job) till after my post op appointment 3 days later.0
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Lago, thanks so much. I had a feeling that there would be some restriction - just not sure how much. I am thinking i might need to postpone surgery / exchange to better accomodate the possible restrictions. I will follow up with my PS - he's just impossible to get on the phone and I'm impatient waiting till the 3rd. I certainly don't want to do ANYTHING to compromise the exchange once it is done. Thanks again.
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olearca - I was instructed (edited here to say NOT) to lift/push/pull more than 3 pounds for the first 2 weeks. Then, it was "start low and go slow". Reaching over head was OK (some PS don't allow), but no real stretching. Driving was based more on pain med use (I only needed Norco for a few days when I got home) and by feeling OK to make sudden moves, turning to look for traffic, etc. However, the car doors are an issue.
Is your PS or his PA available by email? If not, perhaps the surgery scheduler has a printout of restrictions that they can send to you?
So....you'll feel ready to get on with things and it will be much harder to remember the rules because your body won't necessarily remind you until it's too late
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Olearca - you need to give yourself at least a week but it also depends on your surgeon.
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I've posted on the "gummie" site, but wanted to thank everyone here for sharing their thoughts & experiences.
My exchange on 9/13 went well. Got a scopolamine patch so didn't have such horrible nausea issues after anesthesia. I'm now the proud owner of two 410 gummies - 455LX (low height-extra full projection). Drains were pulled today but I don't see the PS for 8 weeks. I'm hoping these are small enough, but hard to tell with the swelling. So far they look mostly symetrical. Still a fair amount of pain on one side where extra pocket cutting & stitching was required. I'll wear the surgical bra for "awhile" and was told not to go to underwire for 6-8 weeks. I can raise my arms but no lifting over 1/2 gal milk carton, no pulling/pushing and I'm supposed to do mostly nothing for another 4-5 days to prevent seromas. Exercise is limitted for at least another week. Driving is OK since I'm off pain meds.
BUT THANK HEAVENS the TEs are gone. I never knew how much they hurt until I had to stop taking asprin 2 weeks before surgery.
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lago-Thanks for the info! You are just a little bit taller than me so I should be fine if I get to 120's. My exchange is October 14th and I hope to be low 130's by then. I have been running alot and I have been having alot of swelling around my TE's. I can't wait to get these hard rocks off my chest! Are you happy with your size? Do you ever wish you had gone bigger?
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Had my visit with the PS today. Long story short, I got another 60 cc's each side, putting me at 420 on the right ( non-radiated side) and 470 on the radiated side. He said that would be it for me, even if I wanted to be bigger, because he didn't think I could stretch anymore. Overall, I think I am happy with this size. He said he thought 450 mentor smooth round, moderate plus or high profile, would take a few in with him to see what looks best on me. We talked about fat grafting, I have a bad step-off on the radiated side and am worried about capsular contracture, so he said he usually waits until he does the nipple, but he would do some at the exchange.
450 makes sense, based on the current volume of my TE's but I had been told by PS #2 that I would be in the range of 650. I think that you also recommended 650 for me, Deborah. So I am really worried, now, that I'm going to end up too small or too big.
Forgot to ask about width, left side is wider than the right, now rubs against my arm when I walk. I asked if he could move that side in, but he said not too much because he doesn't want them too close. Are there different widths for a given volume of implant? When is moderate plus preferred over high profile?
Deborah, what do you think?0 -
emersongrace Initally I thought I might of gone too big. I'm really happy with my size. Even my mom thinks I look great. Remember I was rather small before although it never bothered me because they were nice and perky.
I sent you a PM.
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Olearca -- I think Tina meant to write NOT to lift/push/pull more than 3 pounds
Re: cold foobs -- I honestly have to say that while my one implant can feel cool to the touch in winter if I seek it out, I never notice that it's cold. I really only did check it last winter because of all the chat. So I guess it depends whether you will notice or not. Or maybe if you only have one it's not quite as noticeable?
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Whippetmom...: I saw my PS yesterday, and this is what he suggested.... I have 475cc style 20 Natrelle on both sides. The right side looks great.but the left side looks much wider and flatter and also has two dents in it at the bottom because I had an infection and he decided that I should have the latismus muscle done on that side to support the thin skin after infection. I am not happy with the result of this latismus muscle. He suggested possibly going with the style 45 Natrelle which would be narrower and more projection since it is now flattened with the nuscle holding it down. i looked at the different measurements and the 460cc style 45 would be 11..4cm and projection of 5.9...the 500cc would be 11.9cm with projection of 5.7..The 475cc style 20 that I have is 12.6cm and projection of 5.5..My objection is that I am afraid it may make a difference on the height at the top part of the breast. It may not fill out as high as the other side, and I have already dealt with that problem before..At this time, they are both at the same height both at the top and at the bottom. I am afraid to lose that at the top and not look symetrical again..What is your suggestion? Am pretty confused about which way to go at this time..My ribcage is about 26 and I weigh about 102 lbs and am 51/2 feet tall and I do have about one finger's width between both in the middle which I like.. Help....Don't know which way to go..Thanking you in advance..
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Minus Two-OMG my PS is the same way. I know he's a God in the OR and his work is unbelievable but dang why so defensive when I have an oppinion. I mean I'm an OR nurse, I've done this surgery for patients, I know whats involved. Why is it to get a God of an PS we have to put up with their shi_ty behavior?
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survivor11 you don't have to put up with that behavior to get a great PS. I find my PS very approachable. Explains when I ask questions without protest. Actually he was the first MD that calmed me down after my diagnosis. How did he calm me down? He just answered my questions honestly. Granted he appears to be a kind and happy man who not only loves what he does but loves life…and thankful for all he has.
(The first PS I saw got me so upset I was in tears and considered not even doing reconstruction! He may be good but he scared the the shit out of me. Told me what my BS does isn't what's going to hurt it's what he does (putting in the TE's) that hurts a lot. Ironically I never took any meds, not even a tylenol after my BMX/TE placement. Granted that wasn't the thing that really got me upset but you get the idea.)
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So glad you two found "nice" PS's. Have only 11 days til exchange so I guess since I've put up with the "God" this long, I can finish it out, but when if I need any further work, I'm going to seek a new PS.
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survivor11 - Quality workmanship IS the most important thing. I'm not necessarily hung up on bedside manner unless a lack of it gets in the way of good communication between doctor and patient. That's a problem....
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