BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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bgud2me2 I am almost finished with reconstruction (just need tattoos). I turned 50 2 weeks after my last chemo. I don't think age should have anything to do with your decision. So far I'm glad I did although still getting used to the bigger size. My real ones were small. (Husband seems to like the new size though
)There are pros and cons for both. There are several types of reconstruction that don't require TE or implants. I know I wasn't a candidate for most of them (maybe none) because, according to my doctors I'm thin. (Not skinny, just thin ). Be sure you know about the other procedures when making your decision.
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bgud2me2 I never thought of not doing the reconstruction although I was flat for quite a while before i got the TEs and I did get a little used to it. As time got closer to getting the TEs I was sure I wanted to go forward. Take your time and think about it. It is a long process I am only 31/2 weeks since my exchange from TE to implant so the jury is still out on how they look. PS says it takes months for them to look right.In the end I think I will be glad I did it. Right now I just need to kick this sore throat I seem to get after surgery.0
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Hello. I am having a BMX on Monday Nov 21st. Hopefully NNS with TEs.I see that a number of women postponed recon. Was this due to needing radiation?There is a possibility that I could need radiation once the path on my tumors comes back. I hope not. Already had a SLNB. It was classified as "negative" although isolated tumor cells were found in each of the SNs.My question is several fold. Is it possible to have NSS without immediate recon?If one has immed recon with TEs but susequently needs radiation - what then? Can the TEs be removed or does the PS just do the best job he/she can after that?I am hoping that my nipples can be saved and that the immed recon can proceed without any radiation - but wondering what others' experiences have been. Thanks! amsk0
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Janice/AMSK Sorry... Down with a virus past two days...On my iPhone right now and will get back to you tomorrow.
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amsk I had delayed reconstruction but not by my choice. I was caught without health insurance when I was diagnosed so my choices of doctors and hospitals was a little limited by finding those that accept medicaid. The hospital I went to is excellent and covered everything, but they do not do any immediate reconstruction. I am not sure exactly why I think it is a few reasons some of them old school thinking, some politics, and some just not having the availability of plastic surgeons. They have only one PS and he only does surgery there one day a month. Sometimes I wish I was able to have immediate recon. When my pathology came back, I did end up needing chemo. That would mean if I had my TEs placed during my bmx I would have done my expansions during chemo.I did not need radiation. My oncologist says many of her patients do that no problem, seems like most of the women who post here have done that. Although my chemo and my expansions both went fairly well I am not sure what that would have been like, perhaps a lot to deal with at once. But then again it was one more surgery to deal with than most.0
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I just had my last fill yesterday. Hooray!!! My exchange is scheduled for the end of February. The last two fills have been for 30cc at a time because my skin is quite taut. Now there should be enough "room in the pocket" for the PS to go with a 425 or 450 cc implant - just as Whippetmom had sagely suggested months ago. (Thank you, thank you, thank you.)
Janice, although I personally had little discomfort, the nurses told me that, especially toward the end, smaller amounts with shorter time in between fills was less painful according to what other patients had reported to them.
My appointment with the the PS yesterday was wonderfully informative. Of course, now I have NEW questions. I am weighing the pros and cons of Rounds vs. 410s (Gummy Bears). PS is happy with both and has had patients who love each and others who have exchanged one for the other. Rounds have more upper pole fullness and squishiness; Gummy Bears more of a natural slope and are firmer. Does fat graphing give more of a natural slope to the rounds? Or only fill in divots? Is it permanent? What are the best sources of info or pics out there for us reconstructed gals?
I will be shopping for the Thanksgiving Feast today. All the very best to the ladies here.
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Amsk I had my TEs placed at BMX (skin sparing only). I had 3 expansions before chemo. My PS and Onc do not support expansions during chemo so I still had to wait for the remaining (7, my PS fills slowly) expansions till 1 month after chemo. I know several women that needed radiation that were treated at the same place as me. Again the PS waited till their skin healed before expanding. Also I think they had some saline put in at bmx/mx but was not allowed to be expanded at all till after rads.
BTW we all pretty much thought I would need rads going into surgery. It wasn't till I met with both my onc/rad onc that I found out they were giving me a pass although I was in a gray area. I think if I had rads they might have removed some of the saline from the first few expansions.
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Whippetmom -- so sorry you've been down for the count. Hope you are feeling better!
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Whippetmom, I thought something must be wrong. I usually see you posting everyday. I sure hope you are feeling better soon.
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Thanks so much everyone. I feel better today. Just have a nose running like a sieve.
But I am on vacation with my family - our annual Thanksgiving week trip - and so all is good. 
Urban_Mom: Based on what I know about your build and what you hope to achieve, silicone rounds would be my choice for you.
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This is for you Wmom
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Oh.....YUMMMMM Thank you so much Lago!
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I don't know what key I hit which made the letters that large and cannot figure out how to do it again, but I like it!
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Wmom...I don't know if you can get super lyzine plus where you live, but, if you can it is amazing. Everytime I feel a cold coming on I take super lyzine. It works. I' haven't had the flu in several years.
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I DO have Super Lysine! But I have it for the dogs! problem is-it's at home and we are out of town. I am going to Whole Foods or it's equivalent, here in Carlsbad. Thank you for the rec Eve!
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Lago:
Now that's a bowl of chicken soup!
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Great photo Lago!
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If only it was my chicken soup. Stole the photo. My chicken soup actually had the chicken broken up, no noodles but carrots, mushrooms, bok choy, broccoli, leeks and red potatoes (and of course parsnip and onion quartered ). If you ever want to lose weight and be healthy I highly recommend my chicken soup just don't add too many potatoes… and keep that skin on the potatoes. It's good fiber).
OK now back to boobies
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*suddenly craving chicken soup*
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Hi all - new to the forum but late in the "try to figure out my sizing" game. Had a bi lateral on 7-12- no radiation or chemo. Was very small breasted to begin with and would like to push up to a c cup or full b -PS not a cup size guy either.
I'm 5'6'' 138 lbs - 31 inches around the rib cage. I have allergan 133 sx (short height) expanders 350 cc capacity expanded to 450 cc's. The ps will not overexpand or put in something larger - so even swap. The projection on the TE's make me nervous - (feel gargantuan!?). I'm not "hung up" on the cup size either per se ....but am doubting my ability to choose, and my perspective....thoughts and help would be appreciated.
Impressive site and forum....
thanks.
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quadgirl,
I just exchanged from expanders to same-volume silcone implants. My projection is nowhere near what it was with expanders, and thank goodness. I think that will be even more true for you as you have short height expanders. The CCs in your implants will be spread over a large area so will go around and not just out.
Whippetmom can advise you on size, but I am betting she will confirm you will not feel large with 450cc silicone implants when everything settles in. While you might end up wearing about a 34C, you will likely look like a full B is my guess.
Edited to add: Get the complete model info for your expanders so Whippetmom will also have their width and other measurements.
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quadgirl: Well, your PS did overfill your TEs, if they are 350s overfilled to 450 ccs. And when you say he will swap out even-Steven, is he referring to 350 ccs or 450 ccs? Those short height extra full projection TEs look very strange - [sort of like those shelf-type contraptions worn by the serving wenchs at the Renassaince Fair ] but they are the style of TE which allows the PS to use a considerably larger size of implant. So there is no reason he could not consider a 500 cc implant, if your skin integrity is good and expansion has gone without a hitch. I'm just sayin'.....
So you need at least 425 ccs and if he can move you up to around 475 ccs, I think you would be very happy with the width and projection. I am referring to Allergan Style 20, high profile smooth round silicone implants, BTW. I am just wondering if your PS uses gummy bears - Allergan 410s...by some comments he has made to you about sizing. Find out...because gummies are pears and rounds are oranges.
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Tampa: I PM'd you!......
and quadgirl......she is right....
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Whippetmom:
The PS placed Mentor 350-1480 TEs
Height is 5'6" Weight 145 lbs Ribcage is 35".
Our plan is to expand until we go to the amount recommended by you (550cc).
Any other suggestions for me to chew on during my fills and what I should be keeping my eye on?
Thanks,
Patti
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quadgirl just in case you didn't get my PM: I don't know what my expanders were but I'm 5'6", 130lbs and 31" chest measurement. I'm sporting Allergen-Natrelle, style 15, 397cc. I would not want to be any bigger. I was pretty small before too and quite thin/bony on top. I have had additional fat transfer that has made me a bit fuller too.0
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Patti: You have Mentor Spectrum implants, which are not actually tissue expanders. They do expand out to 580 ccs at the max [I believe] and so I am wondering if your PS intends to leave them or to switch you out to silicone rounds after expansion is complete. The Spectrum implants can be left in and the port closed off. Just clarify for me. In any case, we can see how you feel about the size when you are fully expanded and go from there.
Deborah
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Nordstroms at South Coast Plaza is where I go Cindy. They are all good there, but you could call ahead and ask who works with breast recon patients most often. I do not know any names....since it was two years ago I was last fitted....
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I was thrilled to hear from my PS that I could drive as soon as I didn't need the prescription pain meds for my BMX. I started off on just short rides in about a week. The seatbelt hit in a uncomfortable spot and I would find myself kind of holding it away from from my chest. I had exchange surgery Nov. 10 and was able to drive around in a couple days. My skin was super painful to the touch on both sides after the BMX (for a very long time) and is so much less this time out. I know practically everyone says it goes much easier & I'm happy to be in the majority in this group. I wish you the best of luck in whatever direction you decide to go.
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Cindy... I could meet you at Nordies...
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Oh, that would be so much fun!
So 500 ccs was more than I expected, but after a week or so, they feel much squishier than the Mentor Spectrums I had. Did NOT like those. But they took out the drains today, and I was told "don't move for 72 hours.". I can feel myself swelling, and it doesnt feel so good. I am happy with my projection. I am about a C, was a DD before, but the silicones are heavier than the natural ones G-d gave me. Hoping the soreness from the darn removal abates soon! Good luck to all of you!0
