BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
-
Fearlessfoot: Well, my main concern with a complete submuscular is that the IM fold is often ill-defined. Also, I have been told that it renders a more taut, band-like sensation - and this is per my own sister, whose results I have seen "up close and personal." I honestly feel that TEs are the way to go, unless you are fine being quite small and if you are a good candidate for this procedure. Many plastic surgeons here in the states say that there are limitations to the one-step and that there really are not that many candidates for this procedure that they see in practice. Also, I have personally not heard of the one-step being successful without Alloderm or another ADM. The most successful one-steps, in my humble opinion are those performed at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, by Deborah Bash, MD and her colleagues. They use what they call an "allo-bra" approach, whereby the entire pocket is lined with Alloderm.
Scroll down to Page 27....
https://www.breastsurgeons.org/upload/ASBS_Official_Proceedings_2010.pdf
Deborah
0 -
Carrol2,
Thanks for the info. My right te has never shifted or gave me any trouble, but the left was already removed and replaced three months later because of an infection and when it shifted I thought I was in trouble again. The PS also confirmed that everything was ok, but it is reasuring to hear from other ladies in this forum that have experienced the same issues.
0 -
whippetmom: Deborah, thank you for your counsel and the references to the Allo-Bra. I look forward to discussing the pros and cons with my PS. It is so helpful to have this resource to gather the information! Can you give me your idea of what size Mentor silicon gel cohesive might correspond to a regular B-cup on my frame? Measurements: under bra line rib cage: 30 inches, height: 5'7", weight: 133 lbs. Would it help if I sent you a photo? Can you please explain how to access the photo section that has been referred to?
0 -
whippetmom: Thanks for link to official proceedings from ASBS 2010 which were very interesting. Lots of relevant studies to my questions that I've marked to read later. I tried to find access to 2011 proceedings -- just to get the latest stuff -- but could not locate. Do you have that link as well?
0 -
Deborah, I am on the other side of TE replacement. Pain wise, miserable, but so glad I did it!
Before and After shot: http://greenmonkeytales.blogspot.com/2012/04/why-i-did-what-i-did.html
0 -
Thank you all! Here are my stats! I am 5' 6" and weigh 117. My rib cage measurement is 32 inches. I currently have tissue expanders. They are Mentor, but I don't know the style. I have 300 and 330 ccs currently. Because I run, play softball, golf etc., I talked my PS into placing the expanders completely above the muscle, so he would not cut my pectoralis major and use it for coverage with Alloderm at the bottom. My TEs are completely subdermal with an "Alloderm" bra completely covering them and holding them in place. I will have fat grafting done when my implants are placed to provide a better transition between the implants and chest wall and hopefully better coverage of any rippling. I will have saline Mentor implants. My PS will not work with silicone because of the studies about migration even with the newest cohesive gels.
0 -
Also, I am totally okay with looking like a B cup without a bra on. It works better for my activities to be smaller without a bra. I have always worn the Victoria's Secret bras in a 32C and looked bigger with my clothes on but been able to flatten myself out with a good sports bra for sports. I hope my implants will do that also! Thank you so much for your help!
0 -
Wow GreenMonkey -- the difference is like night and day!
0 -
Fearlessfoot: At least 425 ccs in a high profile smooth round silicone implant. However, in Europe, the docs have access to the anatomical Allergan 410 and Mentor CPG - which are only in clinical trials here with limited access. So, if your PS has the intention to use one of these, it would be a bit different in terms of sizing - measured in grams, not cubic centimeters. With anatomicals, something at least in the mid 300 gram range. Contact nowheregirl or Lilah regarding the pictures forum. You can certainly email me a photo. I will send you a private message with my email address.
Deborah
0 -
lawyerrunnergirl: You have a fairly large ribcage in comparison to your height and weight. You might be a candidate for a moderate plus profile implant - around 350 or 375 ccs. I like Allergan midrange profile implants better than Mentors - more options for sizing. So Allergan 371 ccs is what might be good. I think a width of at least 13.0 cm would be good on your frame. It all depends on the width of your TEs though. I cannot determine the width, without the style and volume information.
EDITED: I just saw your subsequent post where you state you wore a 32C bra. Your ribcage circumference cannot be 32 if you wore a 32 band bra. You must be around 29 inches - no more than 30...???
0 -
Green Monkey: I love it! I LOVE your pictorial PROOF of shoddy workmanship. What a difference and I hope you send DD these two photos.....
0 -
Thank you whippet mom for the advice. I feel better now about turning out at least close to my desired size. I see my PS in 3 weeks and will see what he is thinking then.
0 -
Thank you for the advice, Whippet Mom! I guess I'll see what my TE's look like at 350 and 375, and maybe that will help, but you've given me a good ball park number to shoot for. I remeasured my rib cage after your e-mail with my shirt off to double check, and I got 31 inches without the shirt in the way (around my ribcage just below my breasts). I've always thought I had a very small ribcage and that my bra size was right since my measurement was 32 and my bra band size was 32. I wear the Victoria's Secret 32Cs on the middle hooks.
0 -
lawyerrunnergirl: You are supposed to wear your bra on the tightest hook to start out with and then move to the middle and then the loosest hook, as the bra stretches out. Something is off here with measurements. Go to the Bras 101 thread and talk to Val about this and let's sort out this measurement issue...
0 -
mammalou - You are most welcome!
0 -
Green Monkey....Did you fill out the "Breast Q"???
http://www.mskcc.org/news/magazine/december-2009/life-after-breast-reconstruction
0 -
Yes, I do start on the loosest hooks first and then move to the tighter ones as the bras stretch. My favorites are just all on the middle hooks at this point. I promise that I am a 32C. The 34C's won't work because they're too loose around the ribcage, even on the tightest hooks, so they ride up and don't support. I was fitted for the prescription bra that I'm currently wearing, and it is a 32C also. My 300 and 330 TEs are already filling out the cups pretty well.
0 -
.
0 -
lawyerrunnergirl - If your ribcage is 32 inches, a 32 inch band bra would be too tight and since you say you start on the loosest hook, your ribcage measurement must be less than 32 inches. I too wore a 32 C in a Victoria's Secret bra and my ribcage is 28.5 inches. I now where a 30 band size bra (not Victoria's Secret) to give me the lateral support that I need with the implants.
Measure under your ribcage without clothes and without a bra. Make sure you are not holding your breath when you measure and use a soft measuring tape.
0 -
LOL! I probably was holding my breath! Thank you! I will try measuring again.
0 -
Measure just under your breasts, not under your rib cage, that didn't make much sense.
0 -
No problem! I heard what you meant!
0 -
Got my call from PS today.. Recon and lift/reduction on May 11.. Look forward to getting it done
0 -
I have had 550 cc's in each of my TE's. my ps thinks thats enough. I'm going to ask for a little more because my chest looks like it belongs to a mutilated male body builder. they are not round or reminding me of a stripper as so many women have said of theirs. I feel flat and smashed. I wasw a DD [ overflowing, i'm surre bigger] and I would like to be a D now. I am 5'3, weigh 128 pounds and have a wide ribcage. I see women with only 2 or 300 cc's and their mounds look alot more curvy and breastlike than mine do. will they look better and more feminine after exchange?
0 -
vickiblum: What IS your ribcage circumference? And also, what style and volume are your TEs? You need to read the header to this thread - expecially #3. You say you have 550 ccs, but is that an Allergan 300 cc TE overfilled by 250, a 400 cc overfilled by 150, a 500 cc TE overfilled by 50, or one of Mentor's TEs, which gives us another set of options.
0 -
DH, thank you for helping lawyerrunner with her ribcage measurements. Something is off there....
0 -
Okay, I measured again last night, at home this time instead of at the office, with a better tape measure, and I made sure not to hold my breath. You guys were right! My ribcage measurement was 30 inches! Thank you all for the coaching!
0 -
whippet; i'mim the middle of nowhere living in a camper and don'tr have access to a tape measure until I go to the ps on thursday and I would like input before then if possible. the doc put in [i think] mentors 700cc but i only have 550 in each of them. my mounds are so ugly especially after one of them flipped on its side and somehow lowered the pocket[one mound is significantly lower than the other. also the unflipped mound is very hard. the doctor said that is from scarring from hematoma directly after surgery. The one with the slipped TE has alot of drooping of the skin under from seromas that the ps says he thinks he can fix. can he?
0 -
Whippet, Thanks for the reminder. I had done part one and missed part two so I sent them a nice email and included the pictures.
0 -
Hi Whippetmom & everyone, can I ask for your advice? I recently had revision surgery due to rippling and migrating implants. My PS put in Mentor 375 Smooth Round High Profile Silicone. I am skinny and the implants feel huge, just too big for my body. I feel as if I am walking around with torpedos on my chest and think that the projection and upper pole fullness is way too much.
Also, one of the implants sits quite a bit higher than the other (which may - or may not - even out over time, according to PS).
I am athletic and normally run and exercise a lot, and feel pretty miserable right now. PS says he could exchange them for smaller implants later on and suggests Mentor 325s. I feel lost and don't know what to do. Any advice, suggestions, thoughts would be very, very appreciated!
0
