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BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101

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Comments

  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Member Posts: 173

    Thanks, 2nd time around. I am by far probably one of the least experienced as I am fairly new to all this myself. I have learned so much from this site and it seems like once you are dx you begin a crash course on all this and you certainly learn fast.



    Dianarose, I sure hope you will be able to get some satisfaction. It's bad enough having to go through bmx much less having to be disappointed with your implants. You should at least be able to feel good about it. 2nd time is right, though. It does take a while for them to fluff. I see that everywhere on here.



    I haven't had my exchange yet. I plan on having an in-depth discussion with my PS about what I'm expecting.

  • BCT2013
    BCT2013 Member Posts: 8

    Hi Chinnymae, thank you for sharing! No one is butting in! I am grateful for everyone who chime in and share! We all learn from each other. I only wish I had started on this sooner!



    So is there a way to contact whippetmomam/Deborah on help with implant? I was hoping that she sees my post and answer my question as well. I am new, so I don't know if we can directly ask someone?



    I am so happy for you 2nd_time_around and MNSusan that both of you are happy with you implants! Thank you for the clarifications!



    The cohesive implant site has amazing before and after pictures, but nothing beats hearing from you all!



    Thank you all again!

  • thirdgenerationmomof2
    thirdgenerationmomof2 Member Posts: 65

    Hi BCT2013 like 2nd time said contact Whippetmom for help with your implants. She is our implant goddess! Lol.....you can post a message on this thread or send her a PM. She will need to know your height, weight, rib cage size (measurement just under your breasts) and your TE info (type, manufacturer, model no and fill size). She can then recommend some implants that match your body. I also sent her pics of me in my TE. She was able to see what I was dealing with and made her recommendations.



    I just had my exchange 2-1/2 weeks ago and the implants my PS chose (Mentor round high profile memory gels) in 400 and 450 cc was exactly what Whippetmom was recommending. In just this short time I can see a change in their appearance. They are starting to round out more and fluff a bit. Can't wait to see how they look in a few months when they are all settled into their pockets!



    Hugs,



    Jen

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    Orange73: You need to give me the details again....height, weight, ribcage and the manufacturer, style and volume of your TEs....

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    BCT2013: If your PS is considering Allergan 410 anatomicals, the criteria is that the implant is chosen to fit the pocket created by the TEs, or, as Susan stated, there is a risk of rotation. With your TEs, the choice would be Allergan MF 375 grams or possibly 420 grams, and perhaps....perhaps, the MX 410 grams.



    Honestly, the one thing I have not even had time to research, but have heard from some gals, is that not ALL styles of Allergan 410 anatomicals are currently available. So please ask your PS which exact styles of the 410 are "accessible" at this time.



    If you went with Allergan Style 20, you would want 500 ccs. This is a smooth, round, silicone high profile implant. You could also go with a lower profile - the midrange profile - same smooth round, etc...397 ccs. It is very common and typical to have implants with a greater volume than the TEs.

  • BCT2013
    BCT2013 Member Posts: 8

    Thank you thirdgenerationmomof2! Will do!

    Thank you 2nd time around! You read my mind for sending me the instruction on how to do PM!!! =)

  • BCT2013
    BCT2013 Member Posts: 8

    Thank you so much Whippetmom for super fast response!  I will be sure to ask ps about the diff types that you mentioned!  

    some ladies describes anatomical implants with round base of x inches, is that still the allergan 410?  all of 410 have round base right?  I looked up the link you had, the length is the "A" measurement (width of the implant, looking straight on at it) right?

  • BCT2013
    BCT2013 Member Posts: 8

    Hi Jen!  I got my rec from Whippetmom, she is super fast  =)so wonderful to hear you love your implants!  can't wait until I am at that stage!  one step at a time!

    hugs!

  • MondaysChild
    MondaysChild Member Posts: 161

    Whippetmom, of the 12 styles of Allergan 410 implants, only four are now approved by the FDA.  The other eight remain available only to those in the clinical trials.

    The four approved are:

    MM (moderate height/moderate projection)

    MF (moderate height/full projection)

    FM (full height/moderate projection)

    FF (full height/full projection)

    Not yet approved are the low height, low projection, and the extra full projection.  So the eight not approved are:

    LL, LM, LF, LX, ML, MX, FL, FX.

    In other words, only the two middle projections for the moderate and full heights 410s are approved. The moderate heights are slightly wider than the are tall.  The full height are slightly taller than they are wide. And nothing approved for the low (short) height 410s.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    MondaysChild: Thank you for posting the information about the Allergan 410s!

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    BCT: "Anatomicals" mean Allergan 410s. Sientra implants with a round base, oval base and classic base are "shaped" implants. In Sientra, the closest for you would be the shaped round base, high projection - 425 ccs.



  • nesw
    nesw Member Posts: 24

    I've been waiting on the Allergan 410MX implants for over a month. I was supposed to have my exchange on May 10 and I was supposed to be part of a clinical trial, but the trials were put on hold about five weeks ago and my PS can't even place an order for my implants.  Apparently, the FDA is deciding whether to continue the trials on the unapproved styles or approve them based on the completed trials of the original four. I don't know what's taking so long to make the decision, but my PS now has eight women in TE limbo waiting until he can order their 410s. He exclusively uses the LX, MX, FX styles (X=extra projection) for his reconstruction patients because they're placed beneath the pectorals. I've had these TE chunks of granite in my chest since December! They're starting to feel like a part of me.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    nesw: If it is protracted much longer, just ask him to use Allergan Style 45 in the appropriate width. I think it is crazy to think that the Allergan 410 is the "end all be all" implant for everyone. There are a plethora of articles written by plastic surgeons who have used the Allergan 410 who concur that this implant "is not for everyone" and will NOT replace the smooth silicone round implants which are appropriate in so many cases.













  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 1,801

    Anyone considering saline implants: I've had mine since August 2012 (Allergan Natrelle 68HP-700 Smooth Saline implants, filled to 700ccs)

    I like the fact that they look natural, feel natural, move naturally, and are warm all the time. I have a bit of ptosis, but that's natural at my age, and after major weight loss.

    I have no visible rippling when I'm upright. There are certain positions where if I lean over a certain way, I have seen a faint ripple.... but I had to catch it in the right light, and had to search for it.

    I actually didn't have a choice, as my PS does not use silicon implants. His reasoning is that saline implants are much easier to insert (deflated) at the time of exchange, and only require a small incision. They can also be filled independently to accommodate sizing variations in each breast. 

    I don't need regular MRIs to check for leaks as with silicone, and my PS says there is no reason they need to be replaced down the road unless there is an obvious problem.

    BTW, these are the exact make, model, and size implants that whippetmom recommended for me!!!! Wink

  • jm46
    jm46 Member Posts: 1

    Blessings2011: I initially considered saline implants because I didn't want to get the MRI's and I liked that they could be filled "to fit". I ended up getting the silicone Mentor high profiles instead because my doctor felt that due to my thin skin less rippling would show.

    Does anyone have any exp. with the Mentor ultra high profile 535's or 590's?

  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Member Posts: 173

    Whippetmon: I had another fill today. I am now at 600cc in both expanders. My PS said that he would probably go to about 750cc and then talk about exchange. He said he liked to put in a little smaller implant than expander so he's looking at maybe 700cc.



    I don't look very big now with the 600cc. It could be because it looks like the most of it is at the top of my chest.



    You had suggested the allergan style 45 800cc smooth round silicone for me. Should I suggest that to him? I do want to be happy with my results. Thanks.

  • tangles
    tangles Member Posts: 211

    So excited my exchange is one week from today! Counting down the minutes to get these horrible TE OUT!!!!!!!!

  • sweetandspecial
    sweetandspecial Member Posts: 1,669

    Tangles: I feel your excitement....hope it goes GREAT for you!!  48 days and counting for me.

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    Chinneymae:  I don't have a search feature in private messaging and it would take me too long to go back and find your stats again.  Refresh my memory about the style and volume of TEs you have...

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    Tangles, we are so excited it is but a week away!

  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Member Posts: 173

    I'm sorry, Whippetmom: I have Allergan 650cc, 133FX-14-T. My PS put 400cc in each one at time of surgery and I had 100cc put in each one at first fill and another 100cc put in each one yesterday. I am 5'1" and weigh 220 with 39" ribcage. My PS said it would probably go up to 750cc and then put in a little smaller implant. Right now I have 600cc and I don't look very big, but most of it is at the top of my chest. He says I will be big. I just want to make sure I am happy with it.



    Thanks,

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    Okay, if the implants are up at the top of your chest, you might be better off with Allergan Style 20 - 750 ccs or Mentor HPs - 750 ccs. I don't think you will be happy with anything smaller, especially if you think you are on the small side currently. Your TEs are sufficient to get you to implants with a volume of 750 ccs.

  • Chinneymae
    Chinneymae Member Posts: 173

    Thanks!!

  • ckolendar
    ckolendar Member Posts: 9

    I just had exchange on 06.19.13 after a full year of TE's. The squishy's feel so good. I am wondering if anyone can give a guesstimate about what the finished size will be after the swelling has left and the dropping and fluffing has occurred. There is so much swelling right now it is impossible to tell what the heck is going on! I was an A cup before BMX and hoped to be a full C after implants, but in all honesty, am just thrilled to have breasts that are not filled with IDC!

    My rib cage is 38 inches, I am 5'5 and weigh 180#. My TE's were filled to 540cc's. My implants are Mentor memory gel moderate plus profile smooth round 700cc. I have lost 40 pounds over the last three months and my goal is to lose 40 more...I assume the weight loss will make the boobs appear bigger. yes?

    Appreciate any information I can get. This has been a long journey, full of unknowns!

  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,028

    ckolender...You need to wait a few weeks and then go to Nordstroms for a bra fitting. I would suggest trying Wacoal, Natori, and Chantelle bras. You will likely be a "C" cup. If you lose another 40 pounds, the implants will appear much larger on your frame.

  • ckolendar
    ckolendar Member Posts: 9

    thanks Whippetmom for your quick response. I will obsess less now!

  • tangles
    tangles Member Posts: 211

    ckolendar how did the exchange go? I am excited to get rid of these rocks they call TE, but I am also not looking forward to pain again. I am still in pain from the last Chemo 4 wks ago, so really nervous this will set me back even further!!

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 546

    Tangles the exchange is so much easier. I took a week off work but felt guilty, since I really could have gone back sooner.



    Good luck!

  • 2nd_time_around
    2nd_time_around Member Posts: 14,084

    Hi Whippetmom... Just wanting to run an idea by you: I am scheduled for a revision surgery primarily to remove my "mud flap" under my arm with is usually tender/sore and can get down-right painful at times. This surgery is scheduled for July 5th, my pre-op with fabulous PS Dr Z is on Monday. To refresh your memory, I have Mentor 750 HP round silicone implants. Most times I'm pretty happy with the implant size (i have cleavage after 16 years!), at other times, they seem small. I know losing weight would only help, but weight isn't coming off at all with Anastrozole (I get that checked on Monday with my MO too). Am wondering: what is your opinion is about me going larger at the same time? The other minor things we discussed is to remove the slight flap under the other side (not sore or bothersome at all, just for aesthetic reasons), move the mudflap side implant towards the center a bit (I've knocked it a couple times with my arm doing routine tasks) and up just a tad (she noticed there's a slight difference) and fix a slight dog-ear near my cleavage side. I keep debating the implant size with myself, like may as well leave it alone as I'm not horribly disappointed (and should be thankful it's better than before recon) to the size difference MAY make me happier, so why not? Would appreciate your opinion. I have photos I could send you via email from before exchange surgery (no photos yet after implants but mudflap can be seen) if you'd like.

  • Jtapp9
    Jtapp9 Member Posts: 34

    I have a question. I am having skin sparing BMX on July 18th. My PS uses alloderm at the bottom of the muscle as a "hammock" but he says he has better luck using TE first instead of direct implants. Everything heals better. So I will be getting partially filled TE. Will having the alloderm at the bottom make a difference in your calculations? If not then I will be back in a few weeks/months for advice :). Will it cause my eventual permanent implants to droop more?

    Thanks in advance.

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