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BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101

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Comments

  • tangles
    tangles Member Posts: 211

    Violet you must feel Ok if your posting. I am worried about the recovery. Although I have to have lymph nodes removed at the same time. My PS only uses Allergan so I am getting Allergan 20. I choose to not do the gummie for several reasons. Teardrop and also size. I have been in Pain with the TE since Jan 8th surgery. I guess I have jut been un lucky as they hurt me so so bad and others have no problems with them. My PS said they look fine and so did the cancer surgeon so I guess its just me. I pray everyday this pain will go away once I have my exchange. I regret everyday even having the TE put in. I hope I can look back and say it was worth it someday soon!!

  • thirdgenerationmomof2
    thirdgenerationmomof2 Member Posts: 65

    Hi ladies! Violet congrats on your exchange. Thanks for posting your details. Many women will want to hear/see results for Sientra rounds.



    I'm home from exchange and resting..surgery went great! Just a bit of soreness on right side under breast from pocket work. Other than that, no pain and shocked at how real/soft they feel! Woohoo!



    Whippetmom: My PS used the Mentor smooth round high profile implants (400 on left and 450 on right to gain symmetry). She tried on Sientra tear drops but biggest size that had been approved was 400 and she was not happy with size or projection. She knew I did not want to go smaller than my TE and decided on the Mentors instead. Just like you suggested would be best on me! :)



    Can't wait to shower and see them tomorrow! Hope they look fabulous because they feel fabulous!



    Jen

  • Steadfast
    Steadfast Member Posts: 4

    Deborah: I have a Mentor 6200, 275 cc TE, width 10.7, height 9.3, projection 6.2. I am currently expanded to 260cc.  Looking at my expanders, there is a 2" gap between the left & right TE, and at 260cc - the sides of my TE have not protruded any wider than the frontal view of my chest.

    My PS proposed shaped silicone implants (Allergan FF 410, 255 cc or 290 cc). I do not prefer shaped implants and also think that the size would be small after shrinkage.  I have communicated that I preferred smooth round cohesive gel implants and he suggested Allergan style 20, 300cc.  Today he informed me that my TE is smaller than my chest Surprised and there is room for a bigger implant (perhaps Allergan style 20, to 325cc). 

    I wanted to get to a C cup with a good projection and do not think 260cc or 300cc will get me there after reading various blogs. Sientra Smooth Round gummy bear implants (Violet's post) sounds like a good compromise so I don't have to get fat grafting with the high projection, and gummy bears being highly cohesive is a favorable choice.  HELP!  Cry  

    (My stats for bloggers: 5'1", Weigh 107-109Lbs, Ribcage 27", Waist 27", Hips 35", Petite Size 2, bony chest and relatively thin chest viewing from the side, BMX)

    Violet: Thanks for sharing!  It is nerve wrecking for me to make a decision on the size esp. after my PS stated that he is conservative with sizes.  It is very encouraging to know that you are happy with the implants.  Praying for your speedy recovery!!  Hugs...

  • tangles
    tangles Member Posts: 211

    thirdgen, so glad to hear you feel good. Gives me hope! Happy healing!!!

  • violet_1
    violet_1 Member Posts: 335

    Tina, I will eventually post my pics...will have my boyfriend take pics this weekend of me. Hope it's not too complicated to post them..;)

  • Steadfast
    Steadfast Member Posts: 4

    Violet: Thanks again for your info!  You have just motivated me to explore the Sientra website.  I think it's Brazilian.  Did you get the smooth round with High or Moderate Projection?  I'm guessing it's HP.  And is it the "High-Strength cohesive silicone gel" type?  I know the highly cohesive silicone gel is also known as gummy bear.  If it is just "cohesive silicone gel", it is not a gummy bear.  PS wanted to use Allergan Style 410 which I just realized it's a gummy bear implant.  I like the idea of using gummy bears, but I am not comfortable with tear-drop/shaped implant as (to my best knowledge) tear-drop shaped implant was approved for use in the USA only since 2012, it would take a well experienced PS to ease my nerves.  Personally for me, your choice of using a round gummy bear is a good contender against the Allergan Style FF 410 tear-drop highly cohesive gel (gummy bear) and Allergan Style 20 HP cohesive gel.  It sounds like it's the best of both styles. I am keen to hear good news once the swelling goes down. 

  • violet_1
    violet_1 Member Posts: 335

    Steadfast:  Yes, I have the High Profile Sientra smooth rounds, BUT the Sientra teardrops round or oval base offer (& are available) a higher projection in their teardrops than the smooth rounds like I have, just so you know--see their website. And yes, they are highly cohesive gels--gummies. IF I wanted a bit more projection, we could've used the Sientra Teardrops...but it would've required way more cutting for me, more painful recovery, etc. So, I chose the smooth rounds. {I also have 2 upcoming summer weddings I did NOT want to miss--but that wasn't the main reason}.

    My PS also likes the 410 Gummies, BUT right now, the super-duper Highest Projections they make (the _X's) are NOT available/not through FDA approval yet, unless you are part of a Clinical Trial. So, that's another reason we didn't use the 410's. Also, most women & PS's say the 410's are THE firmest/hardest of ALL the implants, & some ladies don't like that stiffness.

    As far as you worrying about your PS not having enough experience using ANY teardrop gummies, you'd have to ask him/her about that. The Sientras are also rather "new" to the market HERE in the U.S. It is usually more work/takes more skill--or at least experience, for the PS to place any teardrops. Do you have specific teardrop-type TE's? Sientra makes their own. I didn't, so that is why it would've taken more cutting away of scar tissue & then extra pocket work for ME to get teardrops.

    What are your stats & TE width? You can look on their charts & get an idea of what the projection & cc volume would be for you according to the width you need to match up. It is all so individual as to which type implant/fill volume would look best on each of us, ya know? I might have very well went with the 410's IF the X's were available due to their high projection...not sure. BUT, I think the Sientra smooth rounds were def. the happy-medium for ME Cool. The Allergan 20's @ 425 fill volume (which matches my width of 12)would've given me a little more projection (5.2) & bit more cc volume than the Sientra smooth rounds I have, but ultimately, I wanted a firmer highly cohesive gummie implant that could perform LIKE a teardrop--hold it's shape perhaps better (who knows!) than a reg. smooth round.

    I'm petite, and only have so much skin to work with...we are all different...;) I hope to post pics this weekend, but please KNOW that I'm fresh-off-the-table, so keep that in mind, the implants haven't had time to relax/drop/fluff/change yet. However, I love them already...;)

    Hope this long! post helps some...LOL!

  • violet_1
    violet_1 Member Posts: 335

    P.S. -IF I don't get a chance to figure out how to post to pic forum, I can email ladies pics this weekend...:) PM me if you are interested.

    I'm in some pain, so I might not be up to dealing w/ the pic forum yet...e-mailing pics is easy.

  • violet_1
    violet_1 Member Posts: 335

    Steadfast, sorry--I am just now reading your stats...above post...;)

  • violet_1
    violet_1 Member Posts: 335

    thirdgen: Cool on the Mentor implants...I saw the Mentor Memory Gel smooth rounds chart in ultra high profile for my width of 12...would've been 6.1 project.! & 535 cc volume! I would've POPPED my stitches...er, no way those suckers would've fit ME...;)My PS laughed when she showed them to me & my tiny frame...:) Would've been Stripper boobs on Moi...;)

    Great that YOU are prob. much bigger than ME...but I'm happy that mine look so natural so early--am stunned!...& I can still wear a lightly padded push-up bra in the future...try & get a "C" look...:) LOL!

  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 2,631

    Violet -- it's not hard to post photos on the Picture Forum.  Just resize them to a web size (if they are too large they don't post) and attach to your post. 

  • tinat
    tinat Member Posts: 2,235

    Violet - Regarding the picutre forum - just below the text box you'll see a button that says "More Post Options".  You can then "Browse" your system to select your photo and then hit the "Attach (and add more)" button until you've attached all desired photos.  I recommend saving your photos for yourself in hi-res or however you normally save pictures and make and save a resized copy of each to post on the web. 

    Goodnight all!

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    Steadfast: I agree about going with the Sientra smooth rounds. You are in the right volume range for Sientra rounds. I would recommend the Sientra Smooth Round High Projection 335 ccs or 355 ccs. With the projection differential, your PS could really use either and have excellent skin closure over the implant.

  • Bishops2003
    Bishops2003 Member Posts: 16

    Just wanted to share my satisfaction with my shaped natrelle 410's that I got yesterday! Style mm, 280cc's. I am 33, 5'10, 120 lbs, rib cage 33" and have always done ballet and yoga. I wanted to regain that lithe, fit look and these little twins are perfect.

    Just wanted to thank everyone on this board for sharing- it really helped my decision. :)

  • andrea623
    andrea623 Member Posts: 572

    Bishops2003, I'm glad to hear you like the 410s. My PS wants to use them in me, but I've heard they're very firm. How do they feel? Are they more comfortable than the TEs?

  • Bishops2003
    Bishops2003 Member Posts: 16

    Way more comfortable then TE 's...and quite soft and squishy already- day two. I have very thin skin and could see every digit and wrinkle in the te's but I can't see any delineation or sign of these implants at all. I had pocket work on one side but other then that they have great shape already. I was all set to use sientra s but bc I wanted a small size my doc went with nutrelles, I am glad he did.

    Hope that helps,

    Shannon

  • andrea623
    andrea623 Member Posts: 572

    That's good to hear, Shannon.i have thin skin too, especially after rads. I hope my outcome is as good as your's!

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    Shannon...Congratulations! So glad you are happy with your results!

  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Member Posts: 173

    whippetmom: I have 650cc expanders. What is the largest size implant I can get with this size expander?

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    Chinneymae: The largest smooth round silicone implants would be 800 ccs. If you went to smooth round saline implants, you could get up to 960 ccs. I am not sure of the style of TE your PS used though, and the width of your TEs would be useful information for me in knowing which style of implant would be appropriate.

  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Member Posts: 173

    I will be going to the PS on June 3rd. I will get all the info regarding the TEs and let you know.



    Thanks

  • mcgis
    mcgis Member Posts: 74

    Hi!

    Perhaps this was mentioned in here at some point but can anyone tell me how many cc's in a TE will make an A cup in silicone, how many make a B cup, and how many make a C cup -- in general.

    I've read it could depend on your size. I'm 5'5" and 127#. Before my BMX I was a 34C/36B. 

    Thank you.

  • stepmic
    stepmic Member Posts: 67

    Hi,

    Had my tissue expander put in on Thursday (UMX last June, will have implant and reduction/lift of native breast when I get filled to a C cup). I was so sore but feeling much better now. Two weeks then bandages off and the long journey of fills start. I have seen mention of a picture forum here, would love to see what this might look like. How do I find or login to the picture forum, please.

    Thanks,
    Karen

  • Steadfast
    Steadfast Member Posts: 4

    Mcgis: I would agree with Whippetmom (point 4 top page) that it's hard to predict what an individual's cup size would be as everyone's different.  I'm 5'1" and 107-109 Lbs, my TE's width is 10.7.  My PS told me that a cup size for me is about 150cc.  I'm currently expanded to 260cc and my expanders still look like a full A cup.  Hmm...

  • thirdgenerationmomof2
    thirdgenerationmomof2 Member Posts: 65

    Hi Whippetmom:



    Was wondering if I can email you some after pics of my Mentor HP implants to see what you think and how they look on me compared to how my Sientra TE looked?



    My stats again are 5'4", 150#, 29-30" ribcage.



    Thanks! Always appreciate your comments and feedback.



    Jen

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 546

    Hi all,

    Two dys ago I had my exchange surgery (left side only) and i got the 500cc mentor smooth round moderate plus profile gel implant. My PS tried the high profile but it was too much for my frame.



    I am happy wth the results and the left side now matches the right pretty well, in overall size. the reconstructed side is a lot perkier!



    Now for a few weeks healing and then on to radiation. I am hopng that wont cause contraction and other problems, it is worrisome.



    Thank you all for so much advice, and to whippetmom for being our guru!

    :)

  • penguin1
    penguin1 Member Posts: 11

    Hi Everyone!

    Just had BMX with TEs last week... fell pretty good although the TEs feel like a sort of vest stuck under my skin.  I go to the PS Thursday for the first post op visit.  I'm wondering what questions I should be prepared with.  I have some ready to go, but I want to be as prepared as possible.  Iwould love any and all suggestions for questions.  Thanks so much.  I just love this forum and site, feel like I'm not alone for sure!  Thanks for your help!!

    Penguin1

  • 2nd_time_around
    2nd_time_around Member Posts: 14,084

    Hi Penguin... So sorry you are going thru all this. You might want to check out the Exchange City thread under Breast Reconstruction. A lot of info and support there

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    Jen...just sent you a PM!

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    stepmic: Lilah and nowhere girl are gatekeepers of the pictures forum. PM one of them for entrance info.

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