BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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violet -
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paige-allyson: If your PS "codes" the revision correctly when submitted for coverage, there should be no issue with a revision. You can so "smaller", e.g., lower volume, but there are considerations to be made when changing the base width. Do you want to get your data for me? I would need to know the exact style and volume of your implants.
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violet. I do not think you are going to get anything further from your PS. I think you need to let it be and know that you have given ample voice to your concerns and your desires. Ultimately, we all really need to let it go, because so many things are determined DURING the exchange surgery when we are out cold and incommunicado. So trust that she will do what is best, based on your communications and what she finds will look best during surgery.
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whippetmom: Yup. And I DO think she'll do a good job, as far as the exchange goes.
I've just NEVER in my life had a doctor act/say the unprofessional things she's done/said before...unethical & inappropriate... talking about other patients to me sev. times, etc. And, she really crossed the line today with her specific words to me. I didn't even share everything here. I'm still just stunned. She seems to have a lot of anger in her. I'm sure it didn't help that she called me back at the end of a long day for her--but that's still no excuse for her behavior. I am not taking it personally--it is simply just who she is and I'm not going to change her, nor try. But she is something else, lemme tell ya.
Although, I might need to scout out another PS for the future in case things get even worse and I decide I have to fire her. I hope it doesn't come to that. But, I probably should prepare just in case.
I am still excited about getting my exchange! Thanks for everyone's help and support
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FYI - I just updated my thread on the picture forum if anyone cares to see Natrelle Style 20 smooth round implants...
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TinaT posting here as well to thank you for the pictures. Thanks also to whippetmom for her recommendations and the time she devotes to this forum. I will be having exchange on Mon. with the Natrelle style 20 500 or 550 (matching whippetmom's pick of course:)
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I had my exchange yesterday 5-9-13. Feeling sore, but taking pain meds every 4 hrs. It is not as bad as I thought it would be so far. I just can't sleep. I ended up getting Mentor 650cc high profile. I am trying to peek at them!! From what I see they look wide and flat. Is that normal?? Glad it is behind me!
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Violet -- take a deep breath
-- it sounds like your PS is just making a joke (which is pretty funny)... but I'll grant you I wasn't there. You have, as Whippetmom said, amply communicated what you want. I assume your exchange is soon and I wish you fabulous results. 0 -
Lilah:...I am ok this morning...Um, am going to Nordstrom this morning to get my dress altered for the upcoming weddings, so THAT ought to take my mind off of things...
I did the whole Personal Shopper experience---soooo fun! AND, it's FREE--they don't even allow tips! Very cool, they have several dresses laid out, shoes, handbags, jewelry, etc...It's been a Fabulous Experience! I highly recommend it! We also did the same for my beau...he went last weekend & he ended up w. the most amazing Hugo Boss suit! To. Die. For. I'm a bad influence on him, as he had NEVER set foot inside of Nordstrom (at least to buy anything)...
.So happy for all of you that just had your exchanges or are, like ME, almost ready to go!
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Whippetmom- Yes thank you! I'll need to hunt down my info- might take a couple of days.
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Hello WhippetMom
....awaiting my exchange surgery - but have found I am getting a bit obsessed with what implants are going in (surgery scheduled for 6/14/13-pre-surgery appt 5/28/13) and my final outcome.
My PS and everyone in his office has been great and I will address my concerns during my pre-op appt - but...just to double check:
My stats: 5'11' / 145 lbs / rib cage 30" / BWD 13"
Left side only tissue expander (with alloderm sewn in): Allergen 133MV-13 400cc volume-overfilled to 430cc
Surgery only - no rads and no chemo
I am happy with the relative size/shape of the TE and it is pretty much in a good position on my chest-not under my armpit at all-just a tad of side boob. I was wearing a band for about a month so it has dropped/moved over a bit to fill out the lower pole. I had a UMX so an implant will be put into my right side to match. I am concerned about matching projection - my native right side is more conical than 1/2 grapefruit and I dont want too much side boob. For the exchange on the left side-I am thinking that Allergen #20 high-proile 500cc may be best.? NOW - for the matching side - how do they do it to match? And how do they get the best symmetry? My path report weight of breast was 226gms - but it included my NAC. I was wearing 36a/34b and my native side's projection is not that much less than the TE side. My skin is somewhat tight-(good for looking younger-not for reconstruction) but in the waiting period - my skin has responded rather well-not shiny and I can pinch about 2cms in the TE surface area. Is this enough to go up from the 430cc expander volume to the high profile 500cc?
Now waiting for my exchange surgery on 6/14/13. The TE size I am now fits my body well as I am tall and even though my ribcage is a bit narrow for my height - I have broad shoulders with an athletic to slim build.
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Violet -- yay for a better day and shopping
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NLR: You have done your homework! Yes, Style 20, 500 ccs is the best option, as long as your native breast does not have too much droop. With unilaterals, overfill serves a good purpose, which is to allow additional expansion and stretch so that you will have sufficient ptosis to match the native breast. Your PS might use a moderate plus/midrange profile implant on the native side - like a Style 15 - so that he can get the width he needs without the projection.
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Hello everyone! “HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY” and for those who loss their mother “May God continue to bless you and your family with wonderful memories of the times you had together”.
As for me… I just returned from Boston last night and met with the plastic surgeon on May 8, 2013 regarding my reconstruction surgery when I receive my mastectomy on May 24, 2013. I am still very nervous as this was not an easy decision to make. I was given a choice to either go for another re incision with radiation (6-7.5weeks) or a mastectomy with no radiation. After thinking about it long a hard with my husband I chose the mastectomy with reconstruction.
I just want this cancer fight to end fast. I have been through so much since diagnosed last July 31/August 1, 2012. The cancer spread from my breast to my spine which has left me with a rod replacing half my spine.
We decided to go with the flap reconstruction (where they use my fat tissues from my belly and move it to the breast) then they will lift my left breast to try to match it with the new right breast. Not only am I going to have a scar on my back from my first of many surgeries but now on my belly but when I look back I will still be living and that is what’s more important in my book.
Once this surgery is completed I can now say “I am cancer free”! Those four words I long to say. I pray to God that this will be the end. I know my walk will never really be over as I now need to eat, exercise and make better healthy choices in hope there is no reoccurrence with this cancer or another other form of cancer.
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I agree with Whippetmom, even tho I have no medical training. We have to agree that logically the new foobs should be supported at least until they have settled into their "pockets".
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Whippetmom-I had a second opinion with another PS who said that he believed he could match my lat flap side with my prophy side and that he would also use anatomicals because of how the volume is distributed on my prophy side. He said he would make an incision where my lat flap is and dissect my skin enough to where he could make room for an implant to match the prophy side. When I told him about what my current PS wants to do (swap out the old prophy and replace it with a anatomical as well...but smaller), he agreed that we could do that too. However, he seemed pretty confident that he could stay close to my current size.
So, I went back to my current PS and asked him more questions. His reasoning for swapping out the old implant is because of my lat flap radiated side possibly limiting the size implant he can place, and that my prophy implant has dropped a lot and moved in towards my armpit. He said he would actually start his surgery by making an incision in the crease of my skin ( where the old incision was) and not place the incision where the lat flap incision is. His reasoning for this is so that he will have healthy skin for my nipple reconstruction, which he often does at the same time as swapping out the TE. However, I'm still hesitant on having the nipple reconstructed (because of my initial reconstruction not healing where the nipple was) but he said since I have new healthy skin from the lat flap, this should not be a problem.
That being said, now I'm concerned on where the best spot is to have the incision placed for my implant exchange. I feel that if my PS makes the incision where the fold is, that he may not have enough room to dissect and make more room for an implant as close to my current size as possible. Do you know where the best spot is to make the incision, and if placement is going to affect the size implant that is placed?
This reconstruction is driving me nuts!!!0 -
Shredbetty:
The concensus of opinion by the early pioneers in clinical trials with the Allergan 410 is that it takes a larger incision in order to place the anatomical than it does a silicone round. Whether that has some bearing, I do not know. I feel that you are going to be disappointed if you end up substantially smaller than you are currently. I also have changed my opinion regarding flap nipple creation. I regret having had it done personally, because it flattened out the center of the mound. I wish now that I had just gone the 3-D route. So that is just MY take and that nipple is flat and barely noticeable anyway. For some, it is an essential part of the journey and, if so, that is an important consideration.0 -
Thank you whippetmom. I'm starting to lean towards not having the nipple reconstruction and going with the 3d tattoo. I am going to talk with my PS today regarding placement of the incision and if it impacts the size implant he will place. It is a bit overwhelming when my doctor said he would have to place a smaller implant while my second opinion doctor said he could stay the same size. Other women may not be as concerned as I am, but my breasts, even though they are fake, mean a lot to me. As you know, being diagnosed with cancer was out of our control. I hate that I no longer have feeling in my breasts and that if I can have children, I won't be able to breast feed and have the breasts I was meant to have. I feel like some of this reconstruction is within my control, which is why I am being more vocal about everything.
Thank you for answering all my questions. I greatly appreciate it and you truly have helped me!0 -
shredbetty007: I just want to validate your feelings about your breasts. Real or fake, my breasts have always and still mean a lot to me too, and I think I will still feel the same when I'm in my 60's, 70's and 80's. Some may feel it's shallow, but while my breasts don't define me, per se, they are definitely part of what makes me, me. Just like my eyes, nose, smile, hair and every other physical attribute I possess. It's all part of the whole package that makes me Lisa! I believe I'm older than you but I too think it totally sucks that part of the outcome of this the lack of sensual sensation that we now have to live with
. Yes, we're alive and, Lord willing, cancer free, and don't anyone think for a minute that I'm not eternally grateful to God for that. But my oh my, what we've had to give up in return for perky boobs.Once I got past the 6-8 week recovery from BMX/TE placement, I got very vocal and communicative with my PS about my desired results and even went so far as to tell him I expect to be his finest masterpiece. Thank you BC.org for giving me the information, knowledge and BC sistah support to feel empowered! I truly wish you the best of luck as you make the decisions necessary to achieve the outcome you desire. God bless.
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Shredbetty007 and Lisa Jayne... We all have the right to feel good about our bodies, as long as it can be achieved (meaning as far as our medical technology advances exist). We also have our own priorities. BC has taken enough from us so hopefully we can gain some sense of control and satisfaction over our own bodies.
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Hi everyone, I had my BMX on May 8th with TEs. I overheard the PS assistant say that they put in the largest TEs and put in 400ccs of saline in each one for a total of 800ccs.. I will be going back for my first appointment with the PS on May 20th. I will ask him what kind of TEs he put in. I am a short person but stout as well. I am seeking help with deciding the type of implants I need to go with. Does anyone know how to access or get to the picture forum?
Thanks,
Cyndy0 -
Hi Chinneymae, send a PM to Lilah or Nowheregirl and one of them will send you instructions for accessing the photo forum. There is some criteria but you will get the info.
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Thank you Lorij44.
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Lisa Jayne- I couldn't agree with you more! We have all been through so much and deserve to be heard when it comes to our surgeries, treatments, etc. Even though my breasts are fake, they make me feel like more of a woman. They always will. I ended up calling my PS again to make sure we had numerous implants on hand during my surgery. I feel so much better now that I was vocal about my concerns and feel like I have a big weight lifted off my shoulders. Hank you for the good luck wishes....right back atcha sista!!
Thank you as we'll 2nd time around!
Hugs to you all!!
Melanie0 -
Oh wow Deborah great new pic! I'm just peeking in to say good luck to everyone coming up on surgeries. I've had my natrelle 400ccs style 20 boobies for well over a year now, and I love them. It's so weird to comprehend having double mastectomies yet still having breasts! I never thought I'd feel normal again, and here I am. You'll be here too.
Best of luck ladies.
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Thanks Crescent for the words of encouragement. I CANT WAIT to feel normal again. I needed to hear that. Went to try on some clothes today and was very depressed with how they looked with these horrible TE in that are over inflated and the ten pounds the chemo has made me gain. One more treatment to go and then my exchange surgery June 25th. Counting down the days!!
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Tangles... Hang in there. It DOES get better!
4 weeks tomorrow I had my exchange, and it is getting better for me every day. My Mentor HP's are looking good, not so flat and wide as they have been. Saw my wonderful PS today, she's happy too. The only minor issue is I will need to schedule a revision surgery in the near future. This isn't for appearances but to remove a big flap of excess skin under my arm pit. Problem here is that is continues to collect fluid at times, this has been since mx. Like when it hit over 90 degrees those days and fluid would collect, I'd do manual lymph drainage but its really difficult to reach and gets painful. So tired of pain, I'd rather have the surgery and be done with it all. Oh, and did I say, I have cleavage (haven't for 16 years) and new bra shopping is becoming a life-changing experience after the years of prosthesis wearing! YAY!0 -
yahoo 2nd time!!!
)) soo happy for u!0 -
2ndtimearound: Yes....so glad to hear things are shaping up!
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Lol!
Thanks to you wonderful ladies, especially Ms Whippetmom! Can't begin to tell you what a wonderful impact in my life you have all made! Have found myself crying so many tears of joy lately - going thru so many emotions from the 1st mx so long ago to where I am now. Never realized how much less of a woman/person I felt for so many years, just thought I was doing what I needed to at the time to get on with life. It always hurt that I couldn't just go into a store (like "normal" ladies) to buy bras, spaghetti strap tops/dresses, swim suits.... I had to be mindful of the industrial prosthesis and bras. Yesterday, I went into Walmart, realized I could even get a bra off the shelf from them (yes, I've gotten my cheap "in-between" exchange and final result soft bras and wire-free that my PS advises from Walmart) and I even had a spiritual experience that I could wear one of those self-bra cami's that I never could. Not that I would, but I could. A whole new world has opened up for me. A bit ago, left a voice message for my PCP who's been trying to encourage me to get this surgery since I started with her 16 years ago (she's also had bc and recon), cried leaving the message how grateful I am for her planting a seed of an idea back then, and gently prodding me ever since.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest! Tee-hee
Edited for grammar correction and clarity (and correct auto correct errors)0
