BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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Oh, and here are my stats: height 5'7, weight 135, ribcage 32 inches. I am 45 years old. /maria
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Maria_8 : hi I am facing BMX 16may. I am similar to you in height and weight, rib cage 30, but I could not call myself skinny. I am older and flabbier. But I am at loss as to what size implants to ask for. I am quite large chested now 34DD, but hang low. I want to go much smaller like a B cup, will I be happy? I think a lot depends on the outcome, how well it is done and how it fits. What size bra do you fit now and what were you before? It seems like such an unknowable thing. But so important to one's sstisfaction to pick the right size ! CORRECTION: the PS picks the size, I take it, but can our input help them make the right decision?
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Hello everyone,
I am hoping for help with regard to sizing. I am 5' 7", 135 lbs with 31 in rib cage. I have Allergan 400 cc TE's, style 133MV. I am currently at 420 cc's. I'd like to be a full B. Any recommendations? My PS overfills by 60 cc's. I think I am doing the natrelle 410 gummy bear implants, not sure if that part matters. Thanks in advance for any advice!
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Hi Fearlessfoot! before BMX my bra size was 34B. In some brands 36B. Now with the new implants...I honestly don't know. I guess I am scared to find out. I squeeze myself into a 34C sports bra most days, but it both looks and feels too tight. (ps: I love your avatar. From Copenhagen?)
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How can I get assistance with implant size, my PS is rather evasive predicting the implant size and says I should look at how the TE look to determine when I'm ready for implants? I asked for the medical card for my TE but was told by the PS that because its a temporary implant there is no card. The only info I have is they are 450cc capacity and AlloMax 6" x 16" sheets where used to create the pocket. I had bilateral mastectomies 6/17/12 with immed.reconstruction not knowing that the chest margin was not clear on the pathology report and I then needed 4 months chemo and 36 radiation treatments on the left breast which finished Feb 22nd. Since March 22 my PS has been re expanding using 50cc each side weekly, I at 520cc each side and my next appointment is in 2 weeks. My tentative exchange surgery date is June 19th. Thanks for any assistance you can give me. I am 5' 4" 135 lbs and 35" rib cage measurement. I used to wear Victoria Secret 36C withthe push up feature.
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I am having my MX (right side) the end of May and am not sure at all about recon & TE - is there a thread to a group the tell general experiences from TEs & recon - glad they did it - terrible exp. just some help w/ the decisions - just not sure if I want to go thru w/ recon
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I had TE done with my UMX in February. I really wasn't given any other choices and at the time I didn't know there were other choices, it all happened so fast. At first I wondered if it was worth it because they were uncomfortable for 8 weeks, but now they are fine.. I am one more fill from being done and am hoping for exchange surgery in August and symmetry surgery for the other breast in October.
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Mamasabi
I had a uni-MX Feb 23 with immediate TE placement. I have not had any problems with the TE, and the PS says it looks great. I am scheduled for implant exchange surgery Jul 5 with lift to the native breast. At this point I am glad I have gone this route, I hope in the future that I feel the same way. I am 55 and I know that down the road revisions and MRIs might be called for, so that is a concern. I just didn't think I was ready to be without a breast at this time, it gives me more confidence as a woman.
What ever you decide it needs to be your decision, and if you are not ready for reconstruction take your time and you can always do it later.
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mamasabi, all of our experiences are so different. There are lots of decisions to make but number one is the cancer. Once you know your treatment plan (lumpectomy, mastectomy, dr.) then there are all these reconstructive decisions. but you don't have to have immediate reconstruction. I put all my energy into the cancer and because I had my surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering I had to pick a plastic surgeon that worked with my breast surgeon. In the end I picked the "top" breast surgeon at MSK. The "head" surgeon and he did a terrible job. So terrible that I had to have them removed and redone. I'm sitting in bed now, a week out, in pain, because a doctor did a terrible job placing my Tissue Expanders. not to scare you, I'm not the norm.
If you want to look and read, I have a blog that cronicals my cancer steps.
http://greenmonkeytales.blogspot.com/p/top-blog-posts.html
my advice is start with your head, then go with your gut and if your gut is wrong, forgive yourself.
wishing you all the best! Shannon aka monkey
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mamasabi, all of our experiences are so different. There are lots of decisions to make but number one is the cancer. Once you know your treatment plan (lumpectomy, mastectomy, dr.) then there are all these reconstructive decisions. but you don't have to have immediate reconstruction. I put all my energy into the cancer and because I had my surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering I had to pick a plastic surgeon that worked with my breast surgeon. In the end I picked the "top" breast surgeon at MSK. The "head" surgeon and he did a terrible job. So terrible that I had to have them removed and redone. I'm sitting in bed now, a week out, in pain, because a doctor did a terrible job placing my Tissue Expanders. not to scare you, I'm not the norm.
If you want to look and read, I have a blog that cronicals my cancer steps.
http://greenmonkeytales.blogspot.com/p/top-blog-posts.html
my advice is start with your head, then go with your gut and if your gut is wrong, forgive yourself.
wishing you all the best! Shannon aka monkey
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Janiceg415, we have the same diagnosis and had UMX on the same day. I had a little complication so my fills didn't start until I was 8 weeks in. Now things are great and I look forward to the end of my journey. My PS doesn't do the lift at the same time, but a couple months later. I do have an implant in the other breast and am having it downsized. I guess he wants to see what my final size is so he can match them. Makes sense I guess. Good luck to you.
Greenmonkey, my husband received cancer treatment and surgery at Sloan and my experience with them was not very good either. He had stage 4 kidney cancer and they never did tell him he was dying. They never told us there was mets in the liver and lungs. The staff in the hospital were very cold and if my life depended on it I would never go to Sloan.0 -
I tried to get an appt at Sloan & they wouldn't take me because I already had my surgery, 1 day post op I tried to call. They said the soonest I could get an appointment was too late because they won't see patients 6 weeks post surgery. In the beginning of my journey I was not well informed on seeing an Oncologist before my surgery, all I know was that I wanted the cancer out yesterday!!!! Anyway, it sounds like it was a good idea I didn't wind up there.
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Tenaj, I lived on LI in N.Babylon for 21 years. When my husband passed in 2001 I returned to my home state of Montana. Where do you I've on LI?
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Tenaj and Mooleen, THAT is terrible!!! that makes me angry. ugh... sorry but, bullshit.
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lawyerrunnergirl: You will be fine in the 400 cc to 425 cc range with implants. I would say nothing smaller than 375 ccs.
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vicki: If your TEs are 700s, something is going on with your TEs, to appear so flat with 500 plus ccs. With your height and weight, and I imagine around a 31 inch ribcage, 550 ccs to 650 ccs in a high profile smooth round silicone implant should be sufficient, implant-wise, to get you where you want to be. Perhaps 500 ccs in a midrange-plus profile style implant - if an HP is not appropriate. If your PS is a skilled and professional plastic surgeon who is board certified and has considerable experience with breast reconstruction, he should be able to "fix" most issues. However, if you have had complications with the TE or TEs, e.g., if one or both are malfunctioning and/or improperly placed, you should get a second opinion. If a second opinion is not an option, you need to have a serious heart-to-heart with your current PS regarding what he has planned for you and write it all down and come back here to discuss. Okay? Ask him what size implant he intends to use. Ask him what STYLE he intends to you. Ask which MANUFACTURER he intends to use. You have every right to know what foreign device is going into your body.
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Okay gals....I see a lot of ribcage measurements which are "off" to me. So if you have a ribcage anomaly, you need to let me know this - a protruding ribcage - kyphosis - something which makes the ribcage measurement different in some way. You need to measure right under the breast - under the IM fold. The tape measure should be snug.
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debb: Your PS is not telling you the truth, which is a bit strange. Every IMPLANTED device is registered and must be registered by law. ALL TISSUE EXPANDERS ARE TEMPORARY AND ALL MANUFACTURERS PROVIDE A CARD TO BE GIVEN TO THE PATIENT AFTER SURGERY. If he tossed the card or lost the card, it still must, by law, be documented in the medical record with the catalogue number, style number, etc of YOUR tissue expander. But if it is a Mentor 450 ccs -and if you truly have a ribcage measurement of 35 inches, your TEs might be low height Mentor 450s. So you would need at least 500 ccs in a moderate plus profile style implant - possibly 550 ccs. If a HP style is used, you would need 600 ccs in a high profile smooth round silicone implant. These are just some possibilities....
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Mooleen
I will have to make certain that I understood the PS correctly - that he is doing it all at the same time. Not that I would want to go under anesthesia again, but it kind of makes sense that you would want the implant to settle before lifting the other side. I am still on the fence whether I should do anything with the unaffected breast. After all I am 55, and not going to be going out without a bra. What is your take on it?
GreenMonkey
You have had the worst possible outcomes from your initial surgery. I can't imagine going to a top doctor at a prestigous hospital and having such poor results. Did you change doctors or are you still working with the same one? I admire your free spirit and zaniness. Is that a word? I hope that the rest of this maddening journey starts to come around for you.
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Salutations Whippetmom, & all within the forum.
I am here as I am struggling to get straight answers from surgeons on the (UK) National health service.
I had MX with immediate recon in April 2010, performed by a breast surgeon, (I was not offered a plastic surgeon in this hospital Im afraid). He seemed to agree to my request to go up a modest size on my MX side, in order to have the left side augmented with small implant to age symetrically.
My Measurements:
I am a ribcage 31.5 inches / 80cm; cup size 35.
My remaining breast are small, widely set & fairly shallow above my remaining nipple, with small amount of droop below.
Measure to fit a 36A Bra, but wear a 34B for firmer fit, as my breasts do not fit/fill a 36A.
5 ft 8 inches. 158 lb - (naturally firm muscle tone, althetic build, with short torso, short waisted & longer muscular legs.Surgeon fitted me with:
Smooth Becker Expandable 25.00 350-0150, size 150cc. Gel vol:40cc, fills of 100, 50, & 20ml saline. total 170 ml.
This has left me with an orange-shaped contractured bulge where my breast was, and left me very unhappy. I also had pain & great discomfort in my chest & down my right arm, which is continuing 2 years later. I lost faith in the hospital & the surgeon ( I initially mis-disgnosed & discharged; only after my insistence to have my lump removed, was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma grade 2, DSIS intermediate, triple negative. at 41.)
I have appealed against this treatment & have transfered my care to another hospital, and on the waiting list for a plastic surgeon to have revision surgery within the next 2 months. Unlike when treated privately, NHS surgeons can be not forthcoming with much information prior to surgery, especially with regards to recon. Because I wish to increase a cup size & be symmetrical, I've found that both surgeons have assumed I want a 'big boob job', and wont discuss size with me. I've worked as a womens health physiotherapist, as well as now do bra fitting for a post surgery lingerie company and have seem with my own eyes the results & problems occuring as a women's body when she has one side reconstructed. Gravity changes to the 'good' side & difficulty in finding a bras, and that fits both sides, and lack of body image because of asymmetry are disheartening factors. Avoiding these, and more importantly to me feeling good about my body again, is difficult to communicate in the 7 minute consultations I have been offered. And if I dare ask too many questions, or suggest the issue with size or seeing an example of what an anotomical reconstruction looks like- that's it! Sharp tones, and brusque treatment, out the door.I find it unbelievable that women are asked to hand over without question the decision of how their body wil look for years after surgery, without even being given some examples. This is why I think forums like these are VITAL!
Like lawyerrunnergirl, I am exercise a lot, enjoying yoga & exercise classes & walking. I dont want to be huge, as this would hinder my lifestyle... just a fuller cup size than I am. But I do wish to have both sides worked on, for reasons above.
The surgeoon had ordered Allergan TE's for my surgery. (he didnt measure me, maybe he's just good at estimating, Im hoping!!!) and Ive managed to get the sizes covertly from his sectretary:
Allergen 67-133 MX11, 67-133 MX12, & 67-133 MX13.
Please can you help me to figure out what this may translate into - in cup size, or projection? Will this be natural looking? Luckily he will swap these for silicon pernamants. I would love if anyone could show me phots of the;re recon's too, to have an idea of what may be coming.Thanks so much!
& Sorry to write so much, but thought it best to be thorough for you to put together a picture of me.
The best of health to all!
BuddhaWolf x
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Janice, I am 60 and I absolutely want the native breast done. I actually had a breast lift with implants at age 55. This was on my dime. That surgery really wasn't that bad. I had a tummy tuck at the same time, which was worse. I did have drains in my breasts, but again, it is not that bad. I guess I am a vane woman, but I liked my new breasts. This is an opportunity for me to replace the current implant and lift it up again, as it has sagged over the last 5 years. I don't have a man in my life. I am doing it for me.
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55, 60… this is young and even if it isn't why should you look the best you can. Why shouldn't things match. You're not asking to have 20 YO boobs. OK what do I know I never had ptosis till I did my reconstruction. Old ones were too little, firm/dense for gravity to have any effect (and no kids).
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Whippetmom: I measured my ribcage under the breasts again, I am closer to 31 than 32, it turns out. (79 cm). Would be so grateful for your input. Wrote posts yesterday about my situation.
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Kayb - Thanks for the welcome & for taking the time to advise me, very kind. I'm encouraged by your expereince of a better PS too.
Warmly, Buddhawolf.
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Lago - I think my Becker reconstruction is the same.. though I was over-expanded, I didnt gain any ptosis, just a small tight implant that hasnt dropped in the 2 years its been around.
Moleen - I think that if breasts are part of our body image, we will be influenced by theire changes or absence as time passes... not a bad think to be self-caring.
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Okay, thank you so much for the updated estimate!
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BuddhaWolf: Government-sponsored healthcare at its best! Horrors!
Well, I can tell you that two of the TEs your PS ordered will probably be fine. The Allergan 133MX-12 or MX13. The MX refers to a TE which has a moderate height and extra full projection. The number at the end of the two letters represents the width of the TE. The 12 cm width TE would be fine and a 13 cm width would be ideal. This translates to the following as far as implants are concerned, which is not rocket science, since where anatomicals are concerned, the anatomical style and volume used at the time of exchange, must correspond to the dimensions of the tissue expander. Therefore, we have as follows, as the best choice for either of these TE styles and volume ranges:
TE
MX12 - 400 ccs - 12 cm width and 11.0 cm height and 6.3 cm projection
IMPLANT
410MX - 325 grams: 12 cm width and 11.1 cm height and 5.7 cm projection.
TE:
MX13 - 500 ccs - 13 cm width and 12 cm height and 6.7 cm projection
IMPLANT
410MX - 410 grams - 13 cm width and 12.1 cm height and 6.1 cm projection
The selection of the TE in a unilateral SHOULD always be predicated upon the width of the native breast. The PS will then need to consider augmenting the native breast and lifting that breast as well, if necessary.
For your PMPS symptoms, there is a thread entitled "Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome" which has some valuable information. It is felt that somewhere in the range of 40% of women who have had breast surgery, e.g., mastectomies, will experience some degree of prolonged and protracted pain after surgery. It is in the "Before, During and After" forums.
Deborah
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Maria!!! So sorry I missed your post yesterday. This is what happens when I am reading posts from my iPhone. I saw one of the posts - but it was a statement, not a question. So, I honestly do not know why your implants seem so large to you. I would have probably recommended implants with a volume in the 400 cc range, if I were starting from scratch with you. If you were complaining about the size, without stating "too large" or "too small", I would have said..."on the small side for your frame." So it is all relative I suppose, our expectations referable to size. Do you want to send me photos privately? You can PM me for my email address if so. I would like for you to not do anything right now. Did your PS tell you that you have high profile implants or do you have a little Mentor ID card with this information?
EDITED: When I say "do nothing right now"...I mean...give it some time for adjustment. Do not rush right into another surgery.
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Maria: If you do feel you are too large, and you have every reason to have this opinion, I would recommend instead, a Mentor Smooth Round Gel Moderate Plus Profile Silicone Gel with a volume of 300 ccs. This would give you less volume and quite a bit less projection, which keeping the 12.0 cm width you need. Otherwise, you will start having rippling problems laterally, as well as lateral migration of the implants.
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Deborah, this is a full time job for you. We all owe you so much love and gratitude.
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