BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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Jtapp I have the alloderm and TE, but cant answer your question as I am getting my exchange tomorrow!
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oooooooh Tangles - soon to be an exchange graduate and crossed over to the squishy side!!!! I'm so excited for you! Prayers for a successful transition, speedy recovery and thrilled happiness with the implants
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Wishing you the best tomorrow Tangles and hoping the relief is immediately noticeable after your exchange!
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Tangles.. I agree with Sweetandspecial! Sending you hugs and prayers! You will feel so better tomorrow. Check back and let us know how you're doing.
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Maddy: I would not go any larger. You only could go up to 800 ccs with silicone rounds - and 50 ccs will not make enough of a difference to warrant opening up the pocket. I just do not advise it at all.
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Jtapp9: Yes, the Alloderm does serve to support the lower pole in breast reconstruction. Not everyone needs it though and some plastic surgeons do not use it. I have Alloderm '"slings" or "hammocks" bilaterally and I am happy with my results.
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Whippetmom, thanks so much! Came to that very same conclusion today when Dr Z's nurse showed me samples and Dr Z so agreed, not worth the difference. Same nurse gave the best description of my mudflap pain: at best, it feels like a good pinch, I said at worse, it feels like the extra skin/tissue is being smashed in a vice (kind of like a mammogram). Dr Z said she hasn't had a patient with this same problem who doesn't feel remarkably better afterwards. This makes me feel better, like I'm doing the right thing. Plus she'll do a couple other little things while she's there (move same side up, remove a slight crease). Officially: excision of excess bilateral sub axillary tissue and capsulorrhaphy. Sounds scary!
Again, Whippetmom, you really know your stuff!!0 -
tangles, you are the lady I need to follow! I have pretty large, droopy breasts. I want to be smaller in the end in hopes of getting a little more perkiness out of the girls
. Would be nice if they would look forward instead of at the ground...lol0 -
Thanks whippetmom! I shall return in a few weeks after my expanders are in place.
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Tangles hope your surgery went well..
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Tangles the exchange surgery was an absolute breeze. I had surgery at 10 am and was home by 3pm. My PS did not use drains and that has made the recovery much easier. The right side (prophylactic) side does not bother me at all. I do find myself having some occasional muscle spasms in the left (radiated) side. I will tell you I have a hard time not touching them constantly...the are so wonderfully squishy and jiggly it is simply amazing....those TE's were miserable.
I could probably go back to work by this coming Monday....but took an extra week because I deserve it!
I have experienced some sporadic depression. Everyone has told me my PS is the best in the area and I believe them and have always been pleased with his work. I expected them to look different right out of the gate. I thought they would be round...they continue to be wide and flat like the TE's were only soft. There is a lot of swelling and I keep hearing they need a chance to drop and fluff, but I keep worrying they won't. I feel ridiculous crying over how my stupid foobs look when I damn near died from cancer...I just cant help it.
Sorry Tangles...this was supposed to be about you. Compared to what you have been through this should be a walk in the park. As far as the residuals from chemo....My MO told me five weeks after I stopped Taxotere and Carboplatin I would begin to feel better...he had it to the darn day. I still have Herceptin every 21 days...but it was only the TE's that were keeping me from feeling better. Once the TE's are out you should begin to feel better each day.
GET YOUR SQUISHY'S GIRL...THEY FEEL WONDERFUL!
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AFTER THE EXCHANGE:
Just remember that just after the exchange, the implants can look misshapen and flattened out and sometimes downright bizarre! You need to give it a week to ten days, sometimes longer. Many of us and I mean MANY of us go through a period of sadness and depression after the exchange. It is an emotional journey we have been on since diagnosis and we suddenly seem to start experiencing all of the emotions we have placed on hold throughout the mastectomy and TE expansion process. So just rest in knowing that we have been there and we know what you are going through right now. Try to avoid obsessing over the appearance of your new breasts. Feel free to ask any questions or voice your concerns, but it is quite normal - what you are experiencing at this point in your reconstruction journey.0 -
Whippetmom,
3 weeks? Mine didn't take any great shape until about 6 weeks. I was feeling a bit disappointed with the outcome too but knew that everyone said to be patient. It's been around 9 weeks (?) now - exchange on 4/19 and just finally feeling like they're really starting to look good.
I'd almost suggest that you copy your post above and put on the header of this topic - in bold! No judging for at least 6 weeks!! If it works earlier, great, but then there'll be no big surprises.
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Exchange went OK. I can for sure tell I have more pain on the side all the lymph glands were removed then on the other side. My PS said if gauze is bloody change it so I did in which I peeked. Yup they look so so much flatter and like pancakes, but I dont care they are not ROCKS anymore and thats all that matters to me!!! Im up and around but very sore and stiff...
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Whippetmom: I think 2nd_time's suggestion is great. Let's get your words of wisdom in the header of this thread and also Exchange City so they're not buried here. You have a great perspective and the advice you give seems to always be spot on. Putting it in the thread header will make it available no matter which page someone happens to land on.
And know, once again, that we all truly appreciate the heart you have for this. If not for your work and words of wisdom, advice and comfort many of us would experience much more emotional trauma than necessary over the whole reconstruction process. Thank you!!!
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Yay Tangles- congratulations!
Mine (uni) was rather flat too at first but really has dropped and fluffed- I have good symmetry now and dont really need to wear a bra on days off work, which was mandatory with the TE due to the extreme asymmetry.
I am really happy with how the foob turned out. I hope you will be too. yay no TEs!
I am starting radiation tomorrow and really hoping it doesn't completely mess up this hard work that my surgeon and plastic surgeon did, saving the skin, stuffing with TE, fills, and then exchange which has healed nicely. Fingers crossed!!!
Good luck to all,
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Violet, I wouldnt mind having stripper boobs. However I got Mentor 600cc and round,gel. They are still square after a yr. The clinic's newly hired PS is gonna take those out when she does surg for the capsular contracture and get Natrelle 45 for me. Those are supposed to improve the projection. I hope they stay round. Anyone get the N45? It looks like their new style 410 teardrop is all the rage but I like upper pole fullness so that wont work for me. Hope everyones implants work out. I only had my old ones for a yr. I get my new ones July 1st and new drains.
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Layla, I have Style 45s, 700 ccs. Its taken almost six weeks for them to start settling into place. I like them a lot! Good luck to you!
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good luck science gal I am about a month behind you with the rads. Praying everyday for no complications!!
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Yep me too. Good luck to you!!!
"See" you on the summer rads board.0 -
Sciencegal... wishing you great success tomorrow! Sending ((hugs)) and prayers for you!
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Whippetmom...a great big THANK YOU for updating the header with the new info! I'm certain you'll save many from disappointment.
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Good luck with your rads, science girl! Fingers crossed for you!
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I ditto 2nd_time's comment above. Whippetmom, GREAT addition to the header. That will help set reasonable expectations for newcomers to this thread without the need to backtrack through posts to find all those details out. You do such a great job gently leading so many of us through the ups and downs regarding our eventual implants!
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Thank you Whippetmom! I will definitely keep your advice in mind after my exchange. It is so important! Before coming on to this thread, I too have great expectations for my post exchange experience. Now I will know to keep them in check.
I am now done with my fills, B Allergan TE, to 400cc. ps still recommends 410 for my implants. I finally got to feel the different types of implants. Guess outside of our bodies, can't tell what they will finally feel like. But 410s do feel softer than I expected. I had thought it would be firmer like the gummy candies. So just waiting for my exchange in 2 weeks!
Can't wait to be rid of these ROCKS!
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Thank you for the recommendation to place that info in the header girls!
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Welcome, Whippetmom! You just saved so many ladies much anguish......
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Whippetmom - hoping for some help. I have exchange surgery on August 2nd and am obsessing over size and need your expertise. I am 5'6" tall, 160 pounds, size 32 ribcage. I have Dermaspan Low Pole Plus, Full Height Tissue Expanders. TE dimensions are 13.0 x 11.9 x 5.4 cm. TE manufacturer volume recommendation for these is listed as 360 - 430cc. I am filled to approx. 520cc on left/450cc on right. My plastic surgeon uses Mentor implants at exchange. Prior to surgery I was a C cup, and hoping to stay approx. the same. I have Alloderm on both sides, and will have fat grafting at exchange. Suggestions for implants?
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BayouBabe: Well, you need, at the very least, Mentor high profile smooth silicone rounds with a volume of 500 ccs. I would prefer around 550 ccs for you, if it is possible. Because of the projection dimensions of the Dermaspan TEs though, it is likely your PS might have a moderate plus profile implant in mind. In that case, I would recommend at least 450 ccs....BEFORE the surgery, discuss the two different styles and volume ranges with him so that there are no surprises when you awake from the exchange surgery.
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Whippetmom - thank you! That is exactly what my surgeon and I discussed at my last appointment. He mentioned both mod plus and high profile; I told him I preferred the high profile as I like the projection of my most filled expander. He is planning on having three sizes on hand - 500, 550, and 600s and will go with what works best. I can stop second guessing and rest a little easier now. I will definitely discuss it again with him at my next pre-op appt. Breast cancer is enough of a surprise at this point in my life - no need for any more after waking from anesthesia! Thank you so much for your help and the peace of mind you have given me!
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