BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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Layla: The Benedryl does not apply towards Femara. The inhibition is just with Tamoxifen. Lovely little Tamoxifen.
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Kimmygal: Could you send me photos please? I will PM you my private email address....
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Whipetmom, from what i've read its possible tension on the skin under two different tegaderm dressings. He won't commit to my suggestion fully yet. Drains still in, drat! Even though I'm under 20 ml daily, he doesn't want to press our luck with any seroma formation by pulling them too early. I go back next Wednesday. I guess I'm glad he's cautious, just wish they could appreciate how much these drains are the pits, literally.
I did get to shower today, yippee! I feel so clean
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I have been following here for the last month or two leading up to my exchange that was 8/24. I had posted on another thread and someone suggested I post here. Whippetmom I welcome your input. I know I am early out of exchange and I'm seeing that quite a few of you have been uphappy early on so I am wondering how much of my unhappiness is actually psychological. I was expanded to 475 ccs after my bmx in march, I had mentor 500cc Hp silicone implants placed and am not happy. For my size ( 5'2, 125lbs), both my te's and the implant projection are fine.... not really unhappy with that aspect as both are larger than what I had previously. I have noticeable ripples/waves when I raise my arms on both breasts straight down the middle. Ive had areas where I can see and feel the edge of the implant poking out.....the latest area has moved right under by incision on the right. On the left I can literally run my finger on the outline of my breast and watch almost like an air bubble move along the outline......strange but true! When I went for my post op my bs seemed pleased however some of the poking areas ( the one that has moved to under the incision hadn't appeared yet and rippling wasn't that noticeable....or I hadn't noticed it yet). My ps said all was fine. I am however still on the fence about it all. It hasn't quite been 2 weeks yet but several times between the itchiness I cant scratch, the feeling of being poked with a hot poker from the inside out.....and visually not being happy....if I could, I would rip them off myself!
So I guess my question(s) is.... will the ripples go away once they settle some, or will it get worse? Will it always feel like I have a foreign object in my body? And how soon is too soon to be thinking about trying/wanting to fix it. (I know it takes awhile for things to settle) I guess my fear is that although I trust my ps, she intimidates me to the point where although she listens she also looks at me with a what do you expect attitude or tells me its all normal. I am not ungrateful and I'm just glad the Bc is gone but I'm feeling like I'm just going to have to accept what ever outcome I get. I guess I feel ungrateful when I express my unhappiness like I really don't have a choice. Any and all input gladly welcomed.0 -
LILBLUXOXO - I'm sorry you're feeling so discouraged. It's such a long process and to feel frustrated and unhappy with the final result just plain sucks. It does take a while for things to heal and settle in. I think the "foreign object" feeling should go away with time, but I think it's odd if that didn't start until you got the implants - did you feel that with the tissue expanders? Also, the "red hot poker" feeling and the feeling that things are moving around - that doesn't sound quite right. Did your PS have to do a lot of pocket revision or scar removal during the exchange? Unfortunately, rippling typically does not get better with time.
If you have questions and your PS intimidates you it might be worthwhile just going for a second opinion. Whippetmom keeps a list of docs and could possibly give you a name. However, I doubt anyone will do anything until things have a chance to settle in unless there is some medical urgency.
You shouldn't feel ungrateful just because you're having difficulty adjusting to the new you. I think that's pretty normal. Don't beat yourself up for having questions!
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I too noticed some of what you speak regarding the implants but once they dropped and fluffed those irregular feelings and appearance somewhat disappeared. Mine was done april 8th and it took me at least 3 months to fluff. No, they will lnever look as smooth or feel as good as the old pair of boobs I had. You are smart to communicate with others who had this procedure. keep posting.
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LILBLUX: A couple of questions. Did your PS use Alloderm? What style and volume of TE did your PS use? ]Read #3 in the header to this thread] I would just like to know if perhaps the pockets created are substantially larger than the implants. As Tina mentioned above, I have a list of names....
Deborah
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Yes, you can always email me photos, as kayb mentioned....PM me if you would like to do so.
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LILBLUXOXO - where in PA are you? I'm about an hour northeast of Philly. Sorry you are so unhappy. I hope you find answers and solutions to your concerns.
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Jamie: Who was your PS? I know you are happy with your results....
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LILBLUXOXO - I am two weeks post-exchange today. Overall, I'm pleased, but concerned that Lefty is much more swollen than Righty.
My PS says it's because of all the pocket work he did while he was in there.
This morning I saw my MO, who examined me carefully. She asked if I had noticed any crepitus (noises) on the swollen side. She said that the swelling looked totally normal (in fact, DH and I thought it had started going down a bit), but in some of her patients, post-surgical swelling creates both fluid and air pockets under the skin, and some ladies have reported hearing "Rice Krispies" type sounds when they ran their fingers over their implants. She said the body will absorb both the fluid and the air, in time.
She showed me how to do a breast-self exam now that I have implants, and showed me exactly where I would feel strange bubbly areas, or scar tissue areas, and to memorize what my "new normal" was so I could detect anything new in the future.
I've given myself 3 - 6 months before I make any kind of judgement call about some of the other issues I have. I think sometimes it takes that long for everything to settle. (Except maybe ripples....sorry, don't have any experience with that.)
Wishing you the best...
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John T Louis out of Phoenixville Hospital.
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Jamie - Thank you. I'll look him up!
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I like his credentials Jamie. He was in Florida previously - had a very successful practice there but moved back to PA to be near family. I have added him to my list.
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Yes, I'm so glad he did move back to PA!! He does some cosmetic work, but his main focus is reconstruction. He told me he likes to help people.
Both he and my BS have been wonderful. I really can't recommend them highly enough. 0 -
Thanks Jamie.
I was always reluctant to post the names of any plastic surgeons on this thread, but as long as the posts are positive, this can be very beneficial if someone us using the "SEARCH" feature on bc.org. It would be against the rules and guidelines of bc.org to post anything defamatory about a medical professional, and so I always hope that any controversial comments about a medical professional will be provided via private messaging, either to me or to someone inquiring about any specific medical provider.
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Omg...after posting I took a nap and woke up to all of your replies.....THANK YOU all so much, wasn't expecting that!
I am right outside of good sol's Pittsburgh Pa so I'm using Magee Womens Hospital and Pittsburgh Aesthetics.
I believe I had Allergan TE's filled to 475cc's (I believe width was 12.5 or 13.) exchanged to the Mentor HP smooth round (I believe its style 20) silicone implants. Unfortunately I do not know and PS never said if pocket work or scar tissue removal was done at time of exchange. Alloderm was used with te placement again I just believe on the bottom to make a sling but I'm not sure if it was used again for the exchange. Come to think about it, Alloderm wasn't even talked about until I asked if it was going to be used.
Ive had the iron bra, foreign object feeling with the te's. The overall pain subsided once the fills were completed. As with it all I do know that it takes time.... probably a long time before that feeling of contentment comes along. And as of this surgery as weird as it may be, once the implants were placed I have noticed feeling in areas I had forgotten about because I hadn't felt nothing in so long. I do understand the nerve regenerating but the zaps and hot poker from within feeling and overall newly sensitivity I don't know how to take....what ever it is shoots down my arms. My drs. reaction was hmmmm that's odd! When I commented that my incisions were highly sensitive after exchange she looked at me like I was crazy! So far everything that was of concern was according to her normal. So I guess she knows best and I'm just normally healing and this is what it'll be. I guess if I were in it just for the aesthetics I'd have a say or atleast that's how I feel. I guess as long as I keep them covered it'll be fine. And finally just so you all know I was not expecting beauty queen results. Id rather have my teenie tiny flat chest back.0 -
Hi all,
I've been away for awhile but wanted to drop in and say hello to all the regulars here and to welcome our new gals.. Yeah to those who have exchanged!
I've had so much pain from my TEs, so I can totally relate to Lilblu.. I had the same hot searing pains. My old PS put me on Hydrocodone-12 a day, and Valium-3 or 4 a day. Of course I itched like crazy, so had to down Benadryl continuously. I could not go to the bathroom so had to down laxatives and stool softeners. Always had a headache so bought out all of the OTC meds I could think of. I cried and slept all the time- except at night, and when I called my PS she would just ask if I was regularly taking my meds. I had to stop the Amiridex because I could not handle those side effects too. I was a total mess. I had to go on disability at work because I could not drive or function.
After getting some advice from Whippetmom , I changed PSs and he immediately recommended physical therapy. I've had about 7 sessions so far and am starting to get my life back. My PT specializes in therapy for BC patients and she's been a life saver. I no longer have those searing, hot pains and I am almost completely off the narcotics. I'll resume fills tomorrow.
So Lilblu, you may want to ask your PS about PT. Sorry I can't help with your other items but Blessings gave some great info that may help.
Night all and sweet dreams.
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LILBLUXOXO,
I am at patient at the Pittsburgh Aesthetics practice, too!!!! I also go to Magee! Kewl! My PS is Vu Nguyen, and he's also the attending PS at the VA where I work! He's wonderful!!! Small world!
I'm almost done expanding, so I'll be planning my exchange soon! Keep in touch!
MA
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Mariwyl nice to meet you....perhaps we will bump into each other there! I have De La Cruz. Yes very small world!!!
Digitalcowgirl I went back thru some threads, wow you've been thru alot. It helps to hear someone....somewhere...... can relate. I too had a hard time with the tissue expanders...mostly the fills. After the fills were done and I had the 3 months of waiting around for the exchange...I was some what ok. Well I had good days and bad days. Being cold and shivering set me off into muscle spasms and was by far the worst. The past week and a half once again there's a bunch more feelings to get use to. Physically and mentally its so much to get use to.... and its never ending because it always keeps changing.0 -
Cowgirl: Thank you for checking in and reassuring the newbies! So very glad you are getting your life back! Keep me posted on your progress!!!
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Anyone doing the implant massages? Do you have do those with salines? I got gels and I have to do those and it hurts. I forgot to ask my PS how many times a day to do it. I looked at various websites and found different PS have different methods of massage which are different from what I was told to do and they also have some doing every 2-3 hrs and some doing it a minute per session and some doing it 10second reps upto 10 sets per session and then after awhile its once or twice per day for life.(did you say "Life"?!!!!)0
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Hi Layla - I have silicone implants and I'm a "lifer". PS recommends that a good way to remember is to massage each time I use the restroom. I have been instructed to move them up/down then in (center)/out a few times. His PA said the point is to make the implants think the pocket is just a little big larger than it actually is. I've read that another good way to do that is to lie on your stomach to compress them from the front; that way they smoosh out in all directions, pushing a bit on the pocket. Or, put hands on hips and bring elbows forward which forces the pectoral muscles to flex and moves everything. I wasn't instructed to massage until about 6 weeks after exchange.
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Sleep on your stomach, Layla [eventually] and you will not need to massage. No, but seriously, I would not wish stomach sleeping on anyone. It is terrible for causing face and chest wrinkles.....
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My PS said he would recommend massage on my saline implants as soon as he was assured that all my internal sutures were healed. (He did a TON of pocket work at exchange two weeks ago.)
His method is simple - massage against gravity (move them UP and TOGETHER) and do it during my daily shower when my skin is soapy.
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whippetmom - I have a friend who chose no reconstruction at time of MX. She is now considering it and keeps asking if I'm comfortable sleeping prone with my implants. She won't consider implants if it means no sleeping on them due to PS orders or discomfort. I have had to report to her that it is NOT very comfortable for me, but I've never been comfy sleeping that way.
Is there typically more discomfort associated with implants than flaps?
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I just had my exchange this morning, and wondering what the cards mean that came with my new girls...I see a serial number and a lot number, but what does REF 350-5480BC mean? Is that the size or kind of implant? I had Mentor cohesive gels, with 535ccs in the left and 480ccs in the left.
I have been posting on Exchange city, but thought this might be a good place to ask this question...
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Well I dug around on the links above and think I found my own answer! Looks like my PS used the ultra high profile. He did tell my DH that he used something fairly new, so they must now be approved for the US. I had an idea of what was going to go in, but just told him the look I wanted and let him choose when he got in there. He has lots of experience and does really great work so I trusted his judgement on just about everything, and so far I am really pleased!
Whippetmom, do you think he chose a good size? I am 5'6 and 137 lbs, with my bra band being a 36. I was hoping not to lose the projection I liked with the TE. Thanks for all of the info on this site!0 -
Tina: I do not know about the comfort differential between flaps and implants, but I am comfortable sleeping on them. I know quite a few implant-based recon gals who are stomach sleepers and after three months, were able to revert back to their preferred sleeping position.
Deborah0 -
Rockinrobin: I think the size is fine if you are happy. I really would need to know about your TEs - style and volume - to know how your PS got to this point. There are several sizes and styles which would have worked on your frame and this is one of them. I think that the Mentor ultras can be a bit on the narrow side, but so many women hate to lose the projection they have grown accustomed to with their TEs and this is the next best option to approximate that appearance.
I would imagine though that you have been wearing the wrong band size for years and your ribcage should actually be around 30 inches - which means you should be wearing no larger than a 34 band bra. So go to the Bras 101 thread now and start looking for some pretty bras to support those implants.0
