BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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Violet... Too funny! Amazing how different drs are. Yes, lavender lined paper!
Good luck tomorrow!0 -
violet, if it helps, i was somewhat nervous re exchange until a few weeks before and then i was frantic looking everwhere, stressed, etc. I think a lot of us get that way..esp since there were a couple of options for me..I was trying to figure it out on my own.. :P I started to post on pic forum, but had trouble with photos as they were taken with my phone and I can't seem to change it to proper resolution for forum..(*&^^&)!! grrr... I am 5'2ish about 118#, ribcage 28..my TEs were 13 width allergan filled to 500cc. Options were allergan extra high profile style 45s from 450-550cc and sientra anatomicals high profile round base 425cc. Both had great projection (that was one of my priorities). I was okay with Sientras as they were VERY soft compared to other anatomicals I "handled" in office...just worried re size as 425cc was largest that round base comes in. I have been msging/posting with some ladies on Sientra forum which was helpful too and also msging/posting with ladies that have 45s. It came down to literally the night before as I was in a whirlwind that it just came to me that I want ps to do whatever is most natural for my body and did not want to be all boob-which is what he cautioned me about for my fills to 500cc. Even tho all along during fills I told ps that I didnt want to be too small and kept filling. ultimately it came down to my skin being paper thin and skin too taught/stressed and not looking right with 45s, that he went with the sientras. I am two weeks post op and ultimately very happy with shape/feel/look of them. The right side with the pocket work is still sore kinda under armpit area; especially with certain movements. The right also has some more upper fullness than left and not sure if related to swelling/surgery or just that pocket is slightly narrower thus "pushing" implant up causing more upper pole fullness?? I see ps today so will see what he thinks. I can tell a slight difference in appearance in clothes, but I am STARING at them! My sisters came for a surprise visit last week and they could not...until I made them STARE at them!! lol! My sister had breast augmentation and states one is bigger than the other; which was true before augmentation as well... and most people have one larger than the other..which I did too before bmx..but you wouldn't know it in clothes..that is my main concern. I am still wearing soft adjustable front closure corset from surgery...so maybe regular bra would be different? Anyways..good luck at pre op..feel free to PM if any questions! Good Luck and BREATHE!!
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mama: Thanks...I'm gonna shower & finish my notes for PS...
ANYONE:
WHAT other ?'s should I ask? Does she do revisions? ETC.
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Thank you for responding back so quickly. My expander is style 133mv-15 filled to 530 cc's. It is wide too
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skhill: I am going to PM you with some information. I feel that you need a second opinion.
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Great, I really appreciate any info you can give me. I asked him about the pockets being too big and he said it wasn't a problem. The implant I have now slides under my arm unless I wear a bra and it is worse at night in bed so I wear one 24/7. Before we discussed going smaller I had told him about it sliding and.he said he would move it over and put a stitch in.
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Hello again! I'm not sure about the size of my expander, but my base measurement is 14 cm if that helps. I have my pre-op on Friday but I would like to go in with some idea of what I want. I wish I had been more prepared, it just snuck up on me! What projection would you recommend? My upper pole is very full with the expander, it makes it look unnatural but not too much so. And I think my PS is planning on using a smooth round silicone implant, I think he is partial to Natrelle.
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ashell: You are a unilateral and the goal with a single MX is to achieve symmetry with the native breast. So the implant will be chosen based on the width and projection achieved with the native breast. I have no way of knowing what that might be. It sounds as though you are augmenting the native breast, and so it all depends on what style and volume your PS will use on the native side. Where did you get the information that your TE has a width of 14.0 cm? There is a 133 SV TE by Allergan which has 375 ccs and a base width of 14.0 cm, so this could be your TE. But I would suggest you call your PS tomorrow and ask his nurse to look in your chart and tell you exactly which style and volume TE is recorded therein. Let me know when you find out.
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Thank you so much, Whippetmom!!! Yes, I am from Canada. I do feel reassured now that he knows what he is doing. I have two weeks more to wait to get this started. When I tell people that I am having this surgery, I am sure that some of them wonder why I would go into more surgery voluntarily, and not just one surgery but two separated by many possible painful fills. But I find comfort here in this forum knowing that so many of you have gone down this same path. I don't know anyone here at all in this rural area of New Brunswick who has done this.
So thank you to all for your wisdom and encouragement. We are so blessed to have a forum such as this!! And Whippetmom, you are over the top! I hope you know each day how much your giving means to all.
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whippetmom: URGENT! Please HELP!
I saw PS yesterday--went fabulous, as she was in a great mood, very patient, chatted for about 40 min etc. BUT, I just NOW realized I agreed to something I was mistaken about, as far as PROJECTION/implants go!
She/WE decided to go with the SIENTRA smooth rounds--no teardrops cuz so much extra work/longer recovery (I have wedddings to attend end of June). BUT, *I* was mistaken & was going off of the projections for Sientra TEARDROPS, instead of the Proj. for Sientra round smooth (way low projection)!!!!! ACK! MY mistake.Remember my stats: super petite/tiny boned (5'2"-100-104 lbs-age 47)
TE's -12 cm/5.3 project. width/Allergan 133LV-12 (low height)/fill capacity 200cc's- I'm filled to 330 cc's.
Whippetmon: YOU had suggested implant choices as: either Allergan 20's/12 width/5.2 project.w/425 cc volume
OR Sientra smooth round base teardrop/shaped-11.9 width/5.7 project./370 cc volume (if I was insisting on teardrop
).BUT, the Sientra smooth round (non-shaped/non-textured) that I agreed upon ONLY have a 4.6 projection!!! I JUST realized this!!! HELP! THAT project. is going to be way too LOW, right?
My PS really likes how Sientra's smooth round (non-text./NOT shaped or teardrops) hold their shape better & they seem to be a happy medium for ME btwn, getting reg. smooth rounds from other makers & going w/ a teardrop/shaped implant, that is why she wants to use them & they kinda allow for a tear-dropish fit. We didn't talk about the low project. cuz I THOUGHT we were going off the proj. for the Sientra teardrops!
Other options:
The smooth round Mentor Memory Gel would only give me 4.8 project. w/ 375 cc volume (I only looked at these last night). And PS thought the Allergan 45's would look Stripper-Boob-ish on me/way too-too round (11.9 width/5.7 project, BUT 500 cc volume--too big for my skin)
***The 410's Gummie teardrops were OFF the table cuz the LX/MX--ALL of the "extra full projections" are NOT available yet).
I MUST call the PS office immediately to change my mind IF I should, as they are ordering my implants ASAP.
WHAT do you think? Anyone's comments are also appreciated!!
Thank you x 100!!
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Hi Violet_1
My PS went with the allergan 120-440 which also has a 4.6 projection. I'm 9" taller than you and about fifty lbs heavier, and it is definitely not too low for me. I was actually extremely relieved to find that my surgeon hadn't gone any bigger. Any more of a projection would have made me uncomfortable with the appearance. I suppose it depends your ultimate goal and what your body type is. I personally wanted to be as close to where I began in terms of overall size with just a little more perkiness.
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Moni: Thanks for responding! It's just that I thought it would be 5.7 project! And at least Allergan 20's are 5.2 projection...My TE's are 5.3 project,--whatever that MEANS...or determines...?
Waiting for PS to call me back...hope WM comes to the rescue soon...;)
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ALSO, are the Mentor Memory gel smooth round ULTRA high projection STILL not available in the U.S.?
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Hi violet - Glad the appointment went (basically) well!
Please forgive me, but I am going to jump in here with an observation/concern from one "BC sister" to another. It's obvious that you are doing everything within your power to guarantee the best possible outcome for yourself. You are asking questions, talking to your PS, doing research.....all good! However, it sounds like you are ruling out certain implants based on expected healing time and upcoming social events. If you took the "I HAVE to be finished by the end of June" part out of the equation, would you feel your options open up? I hate to think that you are making decisions based on a time limit. The weddings will be over at the end of June, but you will be living with your reconstruction for the rest of your life. I'm all for positive thinking, but even if you make a decision based on quickest healing time there are no guarantees. If you are really torn about this would having the exchange after June be a consideration?
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Tina: Thanks. Well, I have a June 28th wedding-best friend's daughter's...but MOST important is MY daughter's wedding which is July 10-14 in L.A. there's no way I can post-pone surgery until after mid-July.
BUT, in general, IF PS does the teardrop Sientras, I WILL have to have lots & lots of extra cutting/longer recovery/more pain, etc. BUT, that's not the only issue...she's just thinking the teardrops might not be good for me...too flat up top?not enough cleavage......???
I'm still waiting for PS to call me back...but Coordinator said they haven't ordered the implants yet, so not to freak out...;) HA!
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Violet, I agree with Tina!
YES the Mentor ultras are available in the U.S now, but I think your PS would agree that good skin closure over the implants might be a concern. My preference is still Allergan Style 20 425 ccs.0 -
Whippetmom: OK, thanks sooo much!
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whippetmom: Sorry --hope I'm not a PITA...another ?
my TE's are 5.3 projection--not sure HOW that plays into things...IF I HAD to have a 4.6 - 4.8 projection in whatever implant Sientra or Mentor, is that going to be too FLAT? Not enough decent projection?
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Violet- I'm not sure what your PS has told you, but I found the recovery time almost the same for my Sientra teardrop as it was was for my round gel that I switched from. My PS had to do a lot of internal pocketwork when I swapped out the round for the Sientra and I was a bit more sore, but only for a few days. And not sore enough to consider that a big factor deciding between one style of implant or another. If your surgery is scheduled soon, you'll be ready for your daughter's wedding mid-July. The exchange surgery isn't that big a deal in either case. I went to a formal event (backless gown with appropriate bra) 9 days after my first exchange and definitely could have done so after the exchange with the Sientra. As far as projection goes, the volume of both types of my implants was almost identical. The Naturelle was 339cc and 4.0cm projection and the Sientra was 330cc and 4.5cm in projection. The difference is 5mm, so about 3/16". Check a ruler, it's almost negligible. In my case, because of the firmer nature of the Sientra, I have better projection with that implant, more than you would think with only 3/16" difference. The softer implant flattened out more under my pec and too much of the volume sat too high. Could be because I had strong pecs. On me the look was hamburger bun-y and I had a natural breast to match so i switched.
I agree with TinaT. Get the look you want. In my experience having had both, I wouldn't be afraid of the recovery time on either style.
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Violet: The Sientra smooth round, as blanviper stated, is only 5 millimeters less projection. It IS the true "gummy bear'" implant and so if you want the latest and greatest, follow your doctor's desires are go with Sientra. I just was advocating for the Style 20, because you are fixated on projection and volume. Ask your PS to order BOTH and use the one that looks best.
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Ok...sigh...but Allergan 20 proj. is - 5.2 (great)...big difference than the round @ 4.6 -4.8...AND the Sientra shaped/teardrop is 5.9 project..even though a smaller cc volume...!!! Soooo confusing! Sigh...
And, Blan. I guess cuz my TE's weren't for teardrops, specifically, there'd be a lot more cutting w/ teardrops (maybe cuz i have low height TE's???)...BUT, I can get then Sientra shaped if I want...just not sure if shaped will be good for me--just love the project. #'s!
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violet - I don't know how much it would help as it might be like comparing apple to oranges, but I will try to update my picture forum thread later today or tomorrow. I recently had a revision to Natrelle Style 20 smooth round silicones (550cc/13.5cm diameter/5.6cm projection). I am much taller than you, but slender. I have plenty of projection, but I don't know how much other factors contribute to that. I have no history of radiatied skin, my PS instilled quite a large volume (350cc) at TE placement, and we took it pretty slow during the expansion phase due to post-MX healing issues (unrelated to reconstruction). Perhaps my pec muscle got a better stretch than usual so I never experienced the "squashed" hamburger bun look that others describe.
Hang in there!
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I just wanted to let everyone know a few details my PS let me know of in regards to his practice of a longer wait than many I've heard of here between final fill and exchange. He had previously done a very good job of diagraming and explaining how, after TE placement, the body creates the 'capsule' around the TE, which is basically scar tissue. Once scar tissue is formed it requires a length of time to mature, he indicated a minimum 6-8 weeks. This maturation process contintues through the expansion process. If the capsule or scar tissue is not given enough time to properly mature after expansion before being disturbed by exchange surgery it can lead to various problems (including but not limited to capsular contraction) which could eventually result in revision surgery being required.
This came up again last week when we decided I was done expanding and we were talking about a ballpark time frame for exchange surgery. He requires 3-4 months after final fill. Three months would put me in mid-july but it will be at least early august because of his vacation schedule. I mentioned a couple of 5K events that I intended to run this summer, one in July and one in August. I also mentioned that I'd either have to give up the August race if I had surgery earlier that month or I'd have to postpone surgery until September if I didn't want to give up the race. He said something that made a lot of sense to me now that I understand why he waits longer for exchange surgery. 'Let me put it this way. It's never too late to do this surgery, but you can definitely do it too soon.'
Just food for thought. Not everyone who exchanges sooner than 3 months after final fill will have problems, but it might explain why some do. And some who do wait 3-4 months or even more for exchange will have problems. I'm sure some of it is related to genetics and then some folks just don't heal as well as others. I thought it was interesting and hadn't seen it explained like that on any of the threads that I follow so I thought I'd pass it on.
Love to all you lovely ladies
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Thanks, Tina! Still waiting for PS to call me back...but chilling out about everything...lol!
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hey violet, rplied to yer pm
i dont know if i mentioned my sientra anatomicals were 425cc, 5.8 projection. i am wearing cotton support bra now..front is like sports bra..and i have some cleavage, but am guessing it is not as significant/mobile as rounds as thry are not meant to move around like rounds. this bra is xs size because of my ribcage..but top is full! gosh i remember this last minute frenzy! hang in there...i cannot get my pics to format for forum..sorry!0 -
Violet- My TE was not teardrop nor meant for a teardrop shaped implant. I got my first implant before any of the anatomicals were FDA approved and my PS was not in the trials, so my first implant was a smooth round because that's all I could get. My PS really didn't have a problem with the TE and original implant being round and switching to a teardrop shape. He had more work to do when we switched but surgery time wasn't much longer. Since I've had both types and 2 exchange surgeries, I can tell you the difference in recovery time was negligible. The most painful thing was the fat grafting part.
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hi blan! you were such a great help to me when i was trying to figure it all out too! thank u!
my TEs were round as well..allergan.. i am still sore overall, but right side can shock me with suture pain if i pull/twist too much. i am two weeks out..well 2.5 i guess it would be now. my ps did a lit of work on right as that TE was in my armpit way too much and i asked him to move it. he popped one of the internal sutures in his office on the 29th, and boy that hurt for days..i should have just waited for it to dissolve, but it is gradually releasing now and i am stretching it too..it was much easier than bmx..even with pain and swelling now..MUCH easier!0 -
So. The PS called me back--uggggghhhh! She was definitely back to her old irritated self. She pretty much told me I was getting reallllly OCD about the whole thing--on a "psychiatric level"
and that I'm killing her & making her job really hard...and that I just need to trust her & let her do her job...otherwise, I might push her over the edge & she'll shoot herself in the head & then I'd have to get a new plastic surgeon!!!!! Oh My. Am NOT kidding.She was only a little bit joking but you could tell she is sooooo hating that I'm asking a last ?...I'm wondering...WTF?! She's mentioned in the past that she has PITA patients who always have something to complain about...UNprofessional a bit? GAH.
BUT, I do trust her skills...and she said she of course, has taken into account everything I want and will put in what's best in the OR...but CLEARLY she must have a stressful life/day.
She doesn't get WHY I insist on reading stuff/over-research...and th outcome has more to do w/ my body type/stats...I feel awful that I'm affecting her this way...but I don't ask 1/2 the stuff some of you have/notepads and all--she'd never allow for it...so weird...maybe she only likes the patients that don't research anything & are just quiet...
We left on such a good note YESTERDAY...so i feel like shet about today...:(
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I had my exchange surgery last March- bilateral, with lat flap on the radiated side. I've finally come to terms with that fact that I'm not happy with the result. My original breasts were a full B and I decided to go for a C with the reconstruction. Unfortunately they're actually a D, and the lat flap side is a bigger D than the non- lat flap. I'm going to talk to my PS this week but I wanted to check in here first. Can I get smaller implants at this stage of the game and have them paid for? I live in CT if that matters. I wish I'd said something sooner but I think I was so happy at first just to have breasts (delayed reconstruction almost 5 years) that it took a bit for it to sink in that it's too much of a good thing. My husband totally agrees they're too big. Thanks!
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Hi all, I just wanted to let you all know I have posted pics in the photo site showing where I started right after BMX but before LD surgery and expander placement, then again with expanders filled to 350cc (overfilled). I included photos after expander replacement with 500cc (not overfilled) front and side view and also one wearing a bra because I like the full look with a bra. I go in for exchange to implants on May 21, 2013. If anyone is close to my stats, 5'3" 130 to 135# , and ribcage 30" you can see where I am at now, and I will post photos again after the exchange. I'm a little uneven but PS says he'll fix that during surger. As I said before, Whippetmom was a great help and suggested I go with the Natrelle 20, 600cc or the 15, 492cc to achieve the fullness but more natural look I want.
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