BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
-
I'm scheduled for my exchange on 4/19 and I was wondering if one of you wise women might be able to give me a ballpark guesstimate of where I might end up size-wise with my basic info. We're going with a 500cc moderate plus round silicone implant. I'm 5'11", about 150 lbs, with a fairly broad chest but medium rib cage. Prior to surgery I was a 36C and I had a skin-sparing BMX, in which @ 360g and 380g (left and right, respectively) of tissue was taken. I currently wear a US 10 on top and 6 on bottom. Most of my upper body width is in my upper back (lats), shoulders, and pectoral region. My bodyfat generally sits around 15%. Any idea what I should expect when I wake up with the new girls?
0 -
Congrats on your upcoming exchange!! Can you also give your measurement around your ribcage? (Right below your breasts where your bra band sits.) that helps the experts with size opinions! It is also very helpful if you can tell what style and size your tissue expanders are.
0 -
Thanks for replying Dulcigirl.
My ribcage measurement is 33" and my expanders are at 470cc right now. My expanders are Natrelle style 133 (catalogue number 133fv-12-t) and they were overfilled (from what I understand these were only supposed to go to 400). The choice to go with 500s for the permanent implants was made based on the base diameter of the implant, rather than the projection. I just have no idea what to expect of these new additions. I know the final outcome can vary a lot but I haven't put on a bra since I still had my original breasts, so I have absolutely no clue what to expect.
0 -
It's hard to say until they've settled and I am NOT an expert. But I can share my own experience while you wait for Whippetmom, etc to share their incredible knowledge. There are so many things to factor into the equation that works for each one of us...so please remember my experience will be different from yours.
I am 5'6, about 150lbs, my ribcage is now 31. I had short-height expanders with a width of 13 overfilled to 560 and 610. I now have Allergan implants style 45's (a narrower base style) of 800cc's. Going into surgery I had anticipated waking up to 650 or 700cc's but my PS said when he tried them they just did not give projection.
Sizing for bras after reconstruction is interesting. I had hoped to be a full C. I think I look like a D, but my new bra (7 weeks after exchange) is a 34G. Yikes!! That is 4 D's!! I am learning to NOT think about sizes but just look for a good fit. Implants are wider than originals. Cup sizes go up to accomodate that width.
What size do you hope to be? Are you happy with the size of your TE's? I think most of us find that the implants look smaller than the TE's at least as far as projection goes.
Now, the boards are generally quiet over the weekend, so if you don't get your answer in the next few days you may want to try again or PM Whippetmom with your measurements, etc. She has blessed so many of us with her knowledge and willingness to share!!0 -
I don't really care too much about my final size, as long as they don't get in my way or draw unwanted attention. I've gotten used to the size of the TEs, but it's taken some time. The only thing I really don't like is the space between them, which is why we decided to go with the bigger ones.
More than anything I just want to remain proportionate. I have no desire to be a busty gal, but at my height, I don't know what size implant would get me to that point. I suppose I'll get used to whatever I end up with, but I just would like to have some idea of what that might be. It's so hard to tell, holding the implants in your hand, what they'll end up looking like on your chest.
0 -
Hi, I'm 5'6", 155 lbs. rib measurement 31 1/2 ". My shoulders are narrow and I have a waist, but I have a Lopez butt: (:
My TE's were filled to 440...10% overfilled. I wanted to be a full "B"...small "C".
I have 400 cc Naturelle High Profile and they are exactly what I wanted. I am 61 and I am sure in my younger years, I would have probably wanted a little larger, but for my life now, they are Perfect. I thought they would be too full in the upper pole at first, but they dropped and fluffed and look so natural now. It took 3 months for everything to settle down.
Most TE's are too far apart and that's something you can talk to your PS about.
Mine were and I ask the implants to be closer and that wasn't a problem. She fixed it with the pocket work at exchange. WHIPPETMOM will be your expert , but DULCIGIRL is great also. Just wanted to relate my experience for you. Good luck!0 -
Hi Whippetmom
Wanted to see if you could give me your expert opinion on what type of implant you would recommend for me? I had my 4th and final fill last week and have a surgery date set for 04/24 for exchange.
I'm 5'4", 150 lbs, 30" rib cage. I have Sientra 310 double chamber TE. My PS knows i would like the highly cohesive tear drop gummy implants. Just not sure of size yet.
I'm overfiled to 530 cc on right and 480 cc on left (have slight concave issue to my ribcage that was discovered during BMX). She says implants will be different sized due to this issue. I'm guessing she is going to stay with Sientra as that is the sample she showed me.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated! Thanks!
Jen0 -
monicaelise: Your TEs are pretty narrow for your frame. So I think that 500 ccs is much better in terms of volume, But here are some options:
1. I personally think you could use even more width - around 14.0 cm, and so what might work also, would be a midrange profile style, to wit: Allergan Style 15, 492 ccs or 533 ccs. If your PS uses Mentor implants, the size would be 500 ccs in the MODERATE PLUS PROFILE STYLE.
2. In Allergan Style 20, which is a high profile style implant, the 500 ccs your PS proposed, or 550 ccs, which I think is even better. It would be the same volume if your PS uses Mentor.
Sounds like you are in the ballpark. Talk to your PS and let me know her thoughts.
Deborah0 -
Jen: Are you saying you have the Sientra 310ACX TEs? This would mean the volume is 125/185 ccs and you have a width of 10.9 cm. These are very narrow TEs for your frame, if so, and I feel you need more width with future implalnts. So this makes it difficult to size out teardrop or anatomical implants, because the pocket needs to approximate the dimensions of the implant. Can you confirm that this is your TE?
0 -
Hi Ladies... Had my exchange pre-op appt today: is it no surprise that PS recommended the same implants that Whippetmom did? Now, because of my delayed recon Dr said there's a good possibility final result might be smaller due to scar tissue and other factors and what she finds when she gets in there, but the ones Whippetmom recommended are the targets.
Whippetmom and so many others... I hope you realize how much stress you take out of this process exchange process. It's so overwhelming but the knowledge and support you all bring makes this process so much more sane and easier! Thank you so much for all the support from you wonderful ladies!0 -
yay pre op! so your day is actually here!!
0 -
Hi Whippetmom,
Thank you so much for the info. I ended up seeing my PS yesterday (I "spit" a stitch over the weekend and he wanted to check on it), and we're definitely going with the 500cc high profile. The orginal plan had been a 440cc, but as you ...and he...and I.. felt, they'd be entirely too narrow. My TEs have shifted toward the front over the past couple of weeks so the gap isn't as bad as it was for the first three months, but it's still quite pronounced. A little over a centimeter of width on each side and opening the pockets should put us where we want to be. Apparently, a good bit of my "ribcage" measurement is actually the result of lat development, so the actual width of my chest is about on par with a woman of average height with a medium frame.
A week and a half and we'll get to see how they fit!
0 -
monicaelise... Do I remember your exchange date is 4/19? Me too!
0 -
2nd_time_around
Yep! I'm excited, but getting a little nervous too. Not thrilled about more recovery time or bras again (my current surgeon is pro-bra, I wish these guys would come to some sort of consensus), or the 7:15 am surgery time (seriously, who makes these schedules??), but I am extremely (with a big "E") excited about nearing the finish line. I'm also very pleased this is going to be an outpatient procedure. It certainly has been a long haul...
How are you feeling? Have you decided on what you're going with?
Oh, and congrats!! We're almost there.
0 -
Hi Whippetmom! I had my last fill yesterday, here in FL, and will meet with my MN surgeon when we get back up north in a few weeks. My TEs are Sientra 20799-470ACX, 12.7w x 14.8h x 5.5 projection. They're now filled to 620ccs. I'm 57 yo, 5'4", 147 lbs, rib cage is 32.5". Although my PS participated in the Sientra study and wrote a paper for them, she isn't using their implants. She mentioned the Style 45s at one point, but I haven't seen her since early Feb. What do you think would look nice?
0 -
monicaelise....In that case, 500 ccs in a HP implant will be a very good fit for you. Nothing smaller. And it needs to be SMOOTH round.....not SILTEX or TEXTURED....just verify before the exchange.
Deborah0 -
2ndtimearound: This is exactly why so many of us are still here on bc.org....helping to pave the way for those women who come after us in diagnosis and reconstruction.
Edited to add: Pro-bra is a good thing in my estimation. .....0 -
MNSusan: I think Style 45s would be fine for you, but I just feel that you need a tad bit more width on your frame. I would rather see 550 ccs in Style 20. I think Style 45 would work fine, but you would need at bare minimum of 600 ccs in that style, and I just think that you could use at least 13.0 to 14.0 cm in width. But discuss this additional width issue with your PS. Otherwise, it sounds as if you are nicely on track for your exchange surgery!
Deborah0 -
Hi Whippetmom,
I have a call into my PS office to find out for sure what TE I have. I could have sworn she told me Sentra 310 double chamber. I know for a fact they are double chamber because one fill she used both chambers to fill me. I kind of feel they are too narrow too. When I had fills they were just like swollen mellons on my chest. They never were spread out or went under my armpits.
I'll let you know for sure once I hear back.
Thank you!!
Jen0 -
Whippetmom... PS said she'll be sending me home in surgical bra for first couple of weeks (based upon progress @ post-op visit) but NO UW bras for 3-4 months. Liked Genie and post-mx bras (front hook & eye deal) for sleeping. Unless I got that wrong. Most details after surgery.
0 -
Monicaelise... Feeling relieved now that my decision is made: silicone! My PS uses Allergan TE's and Mentor implants, no choice there (and no brand loyalty - wants the best for patients). She's planning smooth round implants and because of DMX and recent MX she's aiming on 700 cc's (and depending on scar tissue) that may change. These were the exact ones our implant guru, Whippetmom, had already recommended. Like most PS's, she has several options brought to surgery.
I had spent time thinking of priorities for my desired outcome and came up with a list of about a dozen items - all of which PS agrees are reasonable so she's pretty clear what I want. Even gave her paper copy of my desires (she thought that was funny). Told her I'm bringing printed instructions to surgery for her & anesthesiologist as I'm planning on a Xanax in the morning. Surgery isn't till 11 (her first of the day) and I'll be uber anxious. I'd prefer first thing in the morning but want what works best for PS.0 -
2nd time..what did u write? i was going to do the same ar my appt 4/15..as i either get shy or completely off track during visit and then have tons of questions after..!
0 -
Hi mamatwinz... I'm getting ready for a really busy morning and afternoon. I'll PM later, probably this evening. Will that work for you?
0 -
Thank you Deborah! I so value your opinion. You truly are our "Implant Whisperer." I'll let you know what my "up north" doc says in a few weeks. I'm excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I'm pretty sure its not a train!
0 -
2nd_time: I'm interested in what you documented as your expectations to give to the PS and bring to the OR too if you don't mind sharing. Thanks so much.
I see PS tomorrow for third overfill which will take me to 750cc (if he does another 50cc like the last two). I'm feeling MUCH more pleased with the size than I was at 600cc and am glad I decided to over-expand. With each overfill, though, they get firmer and firmer and a LOT more like the turtle shells we refer to.....not painful, just really, REALLY firm! Like it takes a really serious finger poke to push in on them
. I really don't mind as long as the extra size gets me to exchange satisfaction. PS did warn me that they would get 'hard as rocks'.Y'all have a great night!
0 -
Hi Whippetmom:
I got a response back from my PS today on my TE. I had the brand correct, just not the fill size.
This is what she told me:
Right breast: Sientra model 20799-310ACX (serial # 3984742)
Left breast: Sientra model 20799-310ACX (serial # 4021794)
I do have Alloderm slings placed at time of BMX. Not sure if that makes a difference? Also, does the Alloderm come out at time of exchange with the TE? Or do they stay in with the implants?
Thank you for any advice/insight you can give in regards to implants!
Jen0 -
Hi! This is my first time posting, but I've been reading this helpful site/forum for months
.I have TE/implant questions. I have Allergan TE style 133LV-12-T (200 cc fill capacity, but Doc. says she can fill to 600--even though we aren't going even close to that)...my ribcage measurement is 28 (I think--I just measured--might've been smaller before implants? Gonna ask Plast. Surgeon tomorrow @ my fill appoint.) I believe my TE's are low height? I am VERY petite at 5'2". I weigh 103-105 lbs/tiny boned..size 3 1/2 on my ring finger/size 0 jeans...;)I was a bra size A before surgery, prob. a small B in my 20's before breastfeeding.
I want to be med/full C looking when I'm done. I am very bony above my chest (you can see/feel my rib bones)...but, I want to make sure I end up w/ high projection...So, my PS is thinking of using the anatomically-styled implants--silicone, I think.
My Question is what do you think would be a few good choices for implants for me AND, how big should I be filled/over-filled in my TE's? After tomorrow's fill, I'll be at 270 cc's total--I had 90 cc's in at my bilateral MX surgery. I can only handle 30cc weekly fills at a time becasue my L. boob is always more tender. We tried 60 cc's on my 2nd fill & I took 3 weeks off--it was too much! My MX was Jan. 30th, 2012 & my PS requires you to wait 1 month before exchange surgery once the filling is done.
I know you ladies are experts at this...Whippetmom is infamous, apparently...;) so I wanted some good info./suggestions before I talk more about it to my PS. Thanks in advance!
0 -
Mamatwinz... sent you PM
sweetandspecial... sent you one as well
0 -
Well, after much soul-searching, stepping away from the mirror, doing my best to convince myself that my ripples didn't bother me, and several lengthy consults with my PS I decided to have revision surgery. Other than the ripples I was really very happy with my reconstruction so there were many sleepless nights deciding to put myself through surgery again. It was done on Monday. So far it looks great, but I fully realize there is swelling and that there will be changes ahead as things heal and settle in. My PS removed my Allergan Style 15 - 533cc smooth round implants and replaced them with Allergan Style 20 - 550cc smooth rounds. He narrowed the pockets to accommodate the footprint of the new implants and lined the pockets with SeriScaffold (silk support matrix). He also reduced the unscathed nipple to better match the one partially lost to necrosis after my NSM and removed the lumps that have been under watch via MRIs and ultrasounds. They had been determined to be scar tissue, but as long as he was in there he removed them.
It was really a gut-wrenching decision, but there's no turning back now
and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. 0 -
TinaT... Good you found a solution thats best for you. Hoping revision meets your expectations and you heal quickly!
0
