BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
-
Monday'sChild: Wow, thanks for telling me about your experience, it is really helping me a lot.
TinaT: Hey girl! Thanks for sharing that you have moderate plus too. All this info is great. Thanks!
It's funny, I have been reading these boards since my diagnosis in December 2010, and only NOW does all this implant sizing make sense!
0 -
Hi again whippitmom. I had my second surgery and now have 690cc gummies. I do not know what to think. They sit high on my chest and touch in the middle. The problem may be that they are gummies. I do not think they look natural. Is it possible to have natural looking implants? I will have someone take a photo and PM it to you. I assume since they are gummies that they will not drop and fluff. They do not look horrible though so I either have to learn to like them or try another PS and get the round implants.
0 -
We will be starting a novena Tuesday Aug.14th . I have asked Frank to pick the novena. Please, keep him in your prayers daily as he is being chemo challenged at present. The herceptin has stopped working. We have many members that are having condition changes on the Catholic thread and throughout BCO right now. Please , join us on the 14th.
A Novena is prayers said daily for 9 days with stating the intention of your prayer. An intention can be for a person , group, or a thought. This will be posted on threads also. You don't need to be Catholic. Prayer is Prayer. If something in the prayer doesn't fit your belief system, substitute or omit that portion. We are an Ecumenical group which means inclusive of all.
Send your intentions to me by Pm or post on Catholic thread on sunday (preferrably) or monday and I will combine them into a one list. It takes awhile to do the composite list, thats why I ask that intentions be sent on Sunday, Pax Sheila(sassy)
0 -
janice: I received your emails and I think you have a great result. The anatomicals are firmer and I understand that they will relax and soften up in time, although perhaps it takes a bit longer. You can always swap them out at some later date for rounds, although with what I am hearing about the Allergan "Inspira" round implants, now approved in Canada, I would wait until we have them here before switching. I will post any updates I have about them as they come to my attention.
Deborah0 -
janice: I received your emails and I think you have a great result. The anatomicals are firmer and I understand that they will relax and soften up in time, although perhaps it takes a bit longer. You can always swap them out at some later date for rounds, although with what I am hearing about the Allergan "Inspira" round implants, now approved in Canada, I would wait until we have them here before switching. I will post any updates I have about them as they come to my attention.
Deborah0 -
janice: I received your emails and I think you have a great result. The anatomicals are firmer and I understand that they will relax and soften up in time, although perhaps it takes a bit longer. You can always swap them out at some later date for rounds, although with what I am hearing about the Allergan "Inspira" round implants, now approved in Canada, I would wait until we have them here before switching. I will post any updates I have about them as they come to my attention.
Deborah0 -
janice: I received your emails and I think you have a great result. The anatomicals are firmer and I understand that they will relax and soften up in time, although perhaps it takes a bit longer. You can always swap them out at some later date for rounds, although with what I am hearing about the Allergan "Inspira" round implants, now approved in Canada, I would wait until we have them here before switching. I will post any updates I have about them as they come to my attention.
Deborah0 -
janice: I received your emails and I think you have a great result. The anatomicals are firmer and I understand that they will relax and soften up in time, although perhaps it takes a bit longer. You can always swap them out at some later date for rounds, although with what I am hearing about the Allergan "Inspira" round implants, now approved in Canada, I would wait until we have them here before switching. I will post any updates I have about them as they come to my attention.
Deborah0 -
Wow -- someone having a glitch?
0 -
That was scary.....I think Janice got the message though....
0 -
LOL yes Deborah!
0 -
Whippetmom
Hi, I am having bmx with aloderm shelf and te's on sept. 28.They ate going to be silicone. I do not and did not know to ask about overfills. I am 5'2" and weigh 125lbs. I wear a 34 c now. I was hoping to stay about the same. Any advice ?0 -
Novena notification update:I unintentionally made it sound as if the novena was just for Frank. Franks change of condition triggered us to want to do a novena. The novena is for all of us on BCO and others that are added by members. The link below goes to the working copy of the combined list of intentions,If those unfamilar with a novena would like to take a look and see how it's being put together. The next paragraph is the first intention.
Dear God---May all, of many Faiths, come together in prayer and support of each other. Jesus Christ,Mother Mary , and the Holy Court of Heaven, hear our prayers for all the sisters and brothers of BCO in this there time of need. Strengthen them and their families and let them not despair. Heal them if you will, or guide them to understanding and acceptance of your plan.
community.breastcancer.org/for...
So, if you want an intention added for you , or someonelse please PM me any time now. Probably should put this link in your favorites to refer to on Aug 14th. At this point we are leaning towards ST Peregrine Patron saint of Cancer as two members are willing to take the intentions to ST Peregrines shrine near Pheonix Az.
Sorry for muddling up the first communication. It all seemed logical at the time. It was only after multiple messages received that I realized the problem Thanks for your involvement. SAS
The prayer that will be added is said once a day and the intentions are said once a day
0 -
Dakota: If you are having TEs placed after the BMX, they will not be silicone. Perhaps you are referring to the implants the PS will use at the time of the exchange, after fills are complete? I anticipate that he will be using tissue expanders which will enable him to get you to around 400 ccs to 475 ccs in smooth, round silicone implants - high profile. Perhaps he intends to use a moderate plus/midrange profile implant, and in that case, you could be in the 350 to 400 cc range. You could call your doctor's office and ask which styles and volume ranges of TEs have been ordered for your surgery.
Deborah
0 -
Whippetmom
I'm sorry u are correct. The silicone implants will be done at the exchange surgery. Does the aloderm shelf make sense??? I will call the office and see what that have ordered for me thanks for the info
0 -
Dakota - An Alloderm "sling" makes sense....essentially a hammock for the TEs and later for the implants. But I knew what you meant.....
0 -
The ps I saw does not go right to silicone implant...
0 -
ThisTooShallPass, Blessings , Lilah - thank you all for your replies to my questions.
I had some time not thinking about my recon / BC etc, & enjoyed myself in the rare occurence of Sunshine in London (!!) and got immersed into the Olympics, so hence my delayed thanks.
Now Ive read your replies, I am now going to discuss with my PS the pro's of having rounds put in, instead of anatomicals, as I really dont think I will cope well with the firmness of the 'gummie' . I think my PS likes to use Anatomicals as he thinks they reduce CC contracture.. Im a hugging-kinda-girl, and self-consciously notice the solidness of my TE's when hugging friends, partner etc.
ThisTooShallPass - I think, similiar to you I have a bit of 'padding', being quite muscley. I cant see the edges of my TE's as my skin / muscle covers it. So maybe I wont get the 'top circles'... but I'm sure that that is a small compromise for softness.
Blessings, your gym experience sounds wonderful - very supportive of your re-intro to exercising. What kind of exercises did the gym director prescribe?
Warmly, BW
0 -
So, I'm a newcomer looking to get all the info I can before I do anything. So far, only had biopsy done (left breast). Dx was DCIS, stage 0, grade 3. Only two options I'm looking at. Internal rad (savi applicator) and bmx (nipple/skin conserving) with implants. I have a great female bc surgeon (well respected by her peers). Met with RO today, and unfortunately he's not so enthused about internals as I am small and with lx, would pretty much wipe out good portion of tissue I do have. It can be done, but I'm in the cautionary category. So, as you can see I'm looking at everything possible prior to meeting with ps on 9/7. I see great info to ask him about from whippetmom -- thanks. But, really at this point the gummy bears and anatomicals are foreign to me. I want a smidge larger than what I am now, with natural look and feel. But, more importantly, SAFE! Suggestions on where to start my research??
0 -
Vik11 -- not sure at all where to do research or what you are researching specifically. Whippetmom is an excellent resource. The important thing is the interview with your PS about what you want/what can be done. I am not familiar with internal rads but it sounds less invasive (in a way) than regular radiation. The issue of implants and radiated skin is definitely something to look into and discuss with your PS. Some women end up, after radiation, with skin that is too damaged for the stretching (even with skin-saving) that the TE/implant reconstruction requires. So that is certainly one consideration.
Buddha -- glad you got to enjoy some sun and the Olympics! I watched from here and loved it. Gummies are NOT as hard or unforgiving as TEs (which are generally overexpanded saline so VERY hard). But they are definitely firmer than smooth rounds. It's a tough decision!
0 -
Vik11, If your dx is only DCIS, Stage 0, high grade, why do you need a BMX and radiation. I had the same diagnosis and had a UMX and do not need any radiation or chemo. DCIS is a non- invasive cancer and if it is removed, there is nothing to radiate. Look on the boards under DCIS. There is a lot of great information there to help you make an informed decision.
0 -
The user 'Beesie' is so knowledgeable about DCIS. She helped me so much when I was trying to figure out what to do.
Here is one of many threads on DCIS. This one is especially about it and getting a mx.
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topic/770759?page=6#idx_1730 -
Vk11
Good luck. Get the info. The girls are correct if it is dcis.0 -
Vik11 -- Oh gosh I get an F for careful reading... didn't notice the DCIS diagnosis. If that is what you're researching there is of course a lot to find out there about the variety of treatment and what is best. Most women who have a lumpectomy only are also advised to have radiation; many who have mastectomy (whether uni or bilateral) will be able to skip radiation, especially when there are no nodes involved and the cancer is not close to the chest wall.
I will add, though, that when I was at the same point as you -- having had a biopsy -- my diagnosis was DCIS and no nodes (because nodes had not been checked)... and I was ER/PR negative (do you know your pathology report?) Then I had a lumpectomy and, when they took a larger sample of breast tissue, it turned out my cancer was invasive... and that it was HER2+ and I needed chemo. After a second lumpectomy, when nodes were checked, it turned out I had one node. So my question to you is: are you zero nodes because the nodes were check and found cancer-free? And do you know your pathology (ER/PR/HER2 status)? These are things to find out.
0 -
vik11: Also, it all depends on your PS, as to whether you even have access to "gummy bear" anatomicals. The PS needs to be in clinical trials with the Allergan 410 or Mentor CPG - OR - you need to be in Canada or Europe. But if you are small and bony chested [small ribcage and little breast tissue] I recommend silicone rounds. The anatomicals are very firm and can be very rigid on a small frame.
0 -
Mooleen --
I have been on the dcis thread for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately just because it's dcis doesn't mean you don't need rad. Mine is a grade three which means it's aggresive. I refuse external rad, which leaves internal. I was leaning toward the Savi applicator and saw RO yesterday. The downside to this is I am small breasted and lx will not leave much tissue anyway, so will be close to a virtual mx. The RO said it could be done, but was not 100% comfortable with it since so little tissue would be left. The thing about dcis and doing nothing but lx, is that if there is recurrence, 50% of the time it's invasive, and being grade 3, it would be aggresive. I've done a lot of research on this from all angles. RO wasn't positive about cosmetic outcome doing lx and internal. My bs is great and I really trust her. She's highly regarded and when I asked her what she would do, she said she had a scare some time back and without hesitation said if she ever got bc, she'd do mx and implants. Have heard this from other bc professionals. Something to consider. Also, don't know ER/PR path as facility who did biopsy did not check!? No node involvement. Had a BSGI yesterday which confirmed this.
Dawn-Hope --
I'm familiar with beesie and, yes, she's great. She has a lot to offer as far as info and insight. There are a lot of great ladies on the "refusing radiation" thread. The have really helped me. Shayne and infobabe in particular.
Lilah --
Sorry to hear about your outcome after lx. You can see by my posts above, my nodes appear to be clear, bsgi confirmed yesterday.
Whippetmom --
I'm not in Canada and it doesn't matter as the gummies don't sound right for me. The rounds sound more like what I'm after. I'm a young 55 yr. old who's pretty active and social with friends and family and various get-togethers and events thru our golf club and good golfing friends. So, want the most natural looking and feeling as possible. Think the firmer ones would change my golf swing!? Lol0 -
Yes vik, like doorstops!
Edited to state: If you are very small breasted, as vik appears to be, the anatomical implants can be very tight and rigid and "fixed" on the chest wall. Not in all cases, but in most it seems....
0 -
What are "gunmies" I'm confused ...lol
0 -
Dakota: Anatomical "gummy bear" implants are the Allergan 410 or Mentor CPG - only in clinical trials in the U.S. and not yet FDA approved. You can read about them here.
http://www.implantinfo.com/media/news/articles.aspx?ArticleId=158
There is also a thread here on bc.org entitled "All About Gummies"....
Vik: You might ask your PS about Sientra implants though. They have been recently FDA approved and they have a stable cohesive gel and there is a tear-drop/anatomical shape in their lineup. From what I have heard, they would not be as firm or rigid as their Allergan/Mentor counterparts.
0 -
Thanks for the link I will check it out
0
