BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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Thank you sweetandspecial...thank goodness for these boards. I am soooo tired of thinking of nothing but the foobs and bc stuff.
GreenCowgirl - the PS I am going to see for the second opinion does sgap as well. I am seriously thinking of starting from scratch. I had tissue placed over the implants, and still have a ton of rippling....and I hate how it feels moving under my muscle! I am very active, and refinish furniture and paint in my spare time; the large (580s) implant under my muscles is very uncomfortable. It reminds me of the feeling you get when someone scratches their nails on a chalkboard.
I thought I was informed going in...but obviously was not. What I feel really bad about is putting my DH and family through yet another major surgery. I had the BMX in Feb, then a laparotomy in July. I JUST got back to work from the laparotomy Wednesday. Thank goodness I work for a great company and have an awesome boss. But, I do feel for DH, who ends up having to run kids around the first week or so, chauffeur me to appointments, miss time from work. But, I need to have this done right so I can move on.
Oh, and they are cold...at the bottom...so odd. I guess the lack of fat. Maybe I can come up with a cupholder to insert and keep my drink cold
I think for some, many women, these implants work, but I think it is definitely not a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. I think that is what my PS was hoping for.
When is your next appointment? I am curious what your PS will have to say for himself.
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Mom - you mentioned something I notice is different with my implants than with the TEs. My skin was always warm with the TEs but with the implants it's now definitely cool toward the outside lower part of the horizontal scar.
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My implants are warm all over. They feel really normal. I guess I just got alot of fat and thick skin.
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Sweetand Special, Momo5kids, It does my heart good to feel the compassion from you both and the many other wonderful gals on this forum. My fears mingled with my major dissapointment are more surgery can cause increased lymphadema problems(already a problem since i had full radiation in 2010) I feel numbness in that right arm with this current surgery. I really needed this to be done right the first time, because now i feel stuck. Just as momof5 stated, putting family,DH through these surgeries, not to mention the long healing time and never feeling like its over. we drive to mayo/rochester whic is 7 hour round trip, so its hard on everyone. Also sick of thinking about foobs at this point, yet still so angry about the whole mess. Ive been told for so long to hang on through the T/E and BMX recovery because i would get this nice prize of nicely reconstructed breasts. Sadly not the case, but more surgery to what end and at the expense of causing my body further problems.
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Momo5kids We seem to share the same opinion about the natrelle 410 and the stress these endless surgeries/appts put on our family ans selves. My next appt is oct 8 with PS so im sure he will be a treat. My hub put a call into our first PS(he is still not doing surgeries due to accident)and get his take on everything. I also called my breast cancer Doc from Mayo who was wonderful and kind through this scary bc process. Her nurse called me and we discussed the issues, which i wasn't able to hold back my tears of course. She is getting all my questions addressed and will call me back today. She said she was soo sorry and devestated that things have turned out like this for me, she was compassionate. She wondered what the PS had to say, i told her after chasing him dowm he did not want to further discuss til clinic. She wanted to know what his attitude was like and i said he was annoyed becasue i was questioning him and not acting thrilled with what he had done. I dont even know what implant was used and no implant card was given to me. She is getting me answers on the fat necrosis blame, future necrosis with fat grafting,what i can do about it and finding which Doc i should continue with Well that is something at least, im not letting them bulldoze me and get away with the poor patient treatment. Haven't we been through enough already? Nothing every seems to go easy, guess i gotta pull up my big girl panties and keep fighting.
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Green and mama: My heart just breaks for you two. I can't imagine the aggravation and heartache you must be going through after all you've already been through.
I defininitely understand your frustration, Green, not wanting to have to go through any more surgeries. You may want to just hear what the MOs nurse has to say and maybe they can refer you to a good PS for another opinion. Also, you may be able to get the PS to let you wait awhile before having any surgeries so you can have time to recuperate from all these past surgeries and ordeals. You really deserve to have the best look possible and you deserve to be happy with what you have and feel good about the way you look. Please don't give up and just accept what you've got. You will be so much happier if you do fight. Hugs to you both.0 -
Since I have one implant and one TE, I'm able to make a good comparison. The implant is always warm and the TE is too. Don't notice a difference at all. I live in a very warm climate so perhaps this winter will be different.
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Sweet, I was just going to say that. My TE's are almost hot to the touch, like they have a fever.
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goldie - yeah, my TEs were always warm, that's why it surprises me to have these cool spots now with the implants. Therre must be good circulation there because skin color is fine, it's just cool to the touch in a couple of areas. Maybe it'll just take time.
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My implants always feel warm. I am guessing that it is because I had fat grafting at time of exchange?
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My implants (silicone) feel cold to the touch after I ride my bike or do my hour walk. My body does not notice that they are cold. But when I'm washing up in the shower there is quite a temp difference. I have not yet figured out if it is that my body temp warms up with exercise and they don't OR the airflow from riding/fast walking cools them. Lol. Science experiment!!!
Anyhoo...they warm back up in the shower. No biggie...just weird!0 -
thanks for your reply whippetmom. Your a gem of knowledge
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Hi. I've been diagnosed with breast cancer and will soon be having a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction for implants. All of this is so overwhelming. I was first very interested in DIEP, but then began to question myself with putting myself through the extra surgery at 59 years old. So I saw a PS and he is planning 800cc Allergen (I think?). I'm 5'8" and weigh about 195 lbs. My ribcage measures 38. With this info...is there any size info you can help me with? I thought I might treat myself with perky breasts that have cleavage and would look good in
t-shirt-type tops with low scoop neckline. Is there anything else I should be telling my PS? I feel lost at this point. I've had 3 surgeries already and have only focused on the cancer and not on reconstruction. Thank you0 -
Welcome CJKLOSE - Sorry you have to be here, but these discussion boards should be very helpful no matter which way you decide to go. When you say immediate reconstruction do you mean direct to implants or that you will have tissue expanders placed after your mastectomy? Are you having nipple-sparing surgery? Are you having a breast lift along with reconstruction? Do you have a history of radiation to the breast skin? All these things come into play with reconstruction.
It is overwhelming, but the more you educate yourself and communicate with your PS the better chance you'll have an outcome that both you are happy with. Implant reconstruction isn't necessarily "easier" than flap surgery - both have advantages and disadvantages.
Keep asking questions here and of your PS. Best wishes!!!
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Hi TinaT and thanks. I am getting the tissue expanders and they are removing all the breast tissue and keeping the skin and attempting to keep the nipple. He did mention lifting the breast. So far no radiation in the plan nor have I had it in the past. Thx again
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CJ - read through the header at the top of the page. If you provide Whippetmom with all the information listed there she can help you with a recommendation on implant style/size if that's the direction you want to go (she's an absolute angel). I got the implants she recommended and am tickled with the results. I wore a close-fitted black sleeveless turtleneck today and my bosom looks awesome if I do say so myself.
A for DIEP vs implants that's something you just have to keep asking questions about to make your decision. I'm sure there are flap threads on these discussion boards where you could get some feedback from ladies that went that route. I personally decided against it because I'm very active and like working out and didn't want to compromise my abdominal or back muscles. When I mentioned that my PS simply said 'Well, then, that options not going to work for you at all.'
As Tina said, I'm sorry you have to be here but you've landed in a great support community. We're all on the same journey, just different paths. Take a deep breath, don't freak out too badly......there is life and happiness to be found on the other side of this experience
. Hugs to you as you try to understand your options and make your treatment decisions.0 -
Hi sweetandspecial - I may be misinterpreting your post, but I just want to clarify something about DIEP for newbies out there. There are flap surgeries that move muscle along with fat, enabling the PS to leave blood vessels attached. However, DIEP involves removing fat and skin only (no muscle) and re-establishing blood flow in the chest by reattaching the harvested tissue to different blood vessles. The abdominal muscles are not disturbed in DIEP and should not be negatively affected.
Sorry, the reason I mention this is because I still read of women who only find out after the fact that they were only offered the reconstruction options their PS could perform rather than all the options actually available to them. This includes flap surgeries like DIEP, which are only performed by vascular microsurgeons in surgical suites equipped to do microsurgery, as well as nipple-sparing mastectomy.
Sorry to be a butt-insky
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momof5kids: It sounds very much like your anatomicals have rotated - or one has rotated in the pocket. This is my angst with anatomicals. I have seen far too many rotated and distorted implants.
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CJKLOSE: In addition to what Tina mentioned, 800 ccs in a high profile smooth round silicone implant, or even the ultra full projection Allergan Style 45 in 800 ccs, would be the minimum size I would recommend for your frame. It is also the largest style offered in Allergan or Mentor. So clarify with your PS what else he has planned, as per Tina's suggestion.
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Greencowgirl: When you gather all of your information about your implants [and also information regarding the style and volume of your TEs] come back and let me know and we can brainstorm regarding where to go next.
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Chinneymae -- are your implants silicone or saline? Saline will take on your body temp. Silicone remains cool to the touch. At least usually!
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I experienced what TinaT said. I was only offered/informed about a tram flap procedure as an alternative to implants; I was never informed about or offered DIEP surgery probably because the thee PS's I saw did not perform DIEP. Had I known about it, I might have gone that route. I am still not comfortable with the silicone implants under my pecs.
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Whippetmom - I would not be shocked if it rotated. Shoot, the left is so loose, I could rotate by hand!! I am guessing I should not be able to move the left one all over lol
GreenCowGirl - a big hug!!! A know how you feel. At the suggestion of whippetmom and others, and as of last night DH, I am going to go get a second (third) opinion in Baltimore. My DH said not even to go back to the other PS. I am thinking I may end up with a flap surgery. Even if it's in conjunction with a small implant, anything has to be better than what I have now. Is there another PS you can see? Your PS sounds like he could care less. I don't get it. I am not a doctor, but PS is, or should be, somewhat of an art. As an artist, I am meticulous (to a fault) in what I do...I only want the best aesthetic outcomes, regardless of the time it takes - I would never provide a product to my client that I was not proud of! Obviously some of these PS see this as quick money. Feel free to PM me anytime.
I don't want to discourage anyone from getting implants, as they can be a wonderful option for many ladies. I just had a bad PS = bad experience.0 -
Lilah: I have silicone implants and they feel very warm. I haven't noticed any coolness at all. I must have thick skin.
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Wippetmom, I just sent you a PM. Thank you. And thank you, Lilah, for suggesting that I do that.
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Whippetmom I messaged you the details on this saga, but here is the TE fill left side filled to 750 as skin was loose and muscle very accomodating(she was a prior 34F) The right had raditaion in 2010 had not noticed any shrinkage til this year but skin and breast looked normal/great, much to PS suprise when they know you have rads in your past. Right Te was filled to 850cc to overstretch The TE's were 700cc in rounds (mentor maybe) They were center chest to armpit. Implant i finally found is natrelle 410 anatomical FF in size 755. An alloderm pocket was made for right as far as i know. PS was not forthcoming about much once he knew i was very dissapointed, and wanted to continue convo in clinic appt oct 8.
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Chimmymae I think you are right, not to just accept what ive been delt. Ive been so emotional broken the last couple days i felt like giving up to try and give my body some peace. However i cant look at myself in clothes or naked and not cry like crazy, so i know i cant leave it like this. I hate the burden it puts on DH, family,friends supporting me. I went into this surgery as my prize for making it through a second cancer Dx and deciding on BMX, barely living with TE's since feb and fighting a good fight, so its really shocking to be in this situation now. I so wanted a nice outcome for myself and for the other ladies being told no if they wanted implants after rads, so i could let them know Yes it can be done. I still think it can be done, should have been done, but i got caught in the perfect storm of changing PS before surgery then getting a PS that is not concerned about what i wanted out of this, and i should have seen the red flags but jsut wanted this painful journey to be over.
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Momo5 Thank you kindly and big huggs back to you. Will be messaging soon so we can share our burden together. I agree about the artist and my first PS was called just that and artist, he goes outside the box and creates beauty. He is the PS that was hit on his bike while traiing for an ironman. He is still healing, broke pelvis,legs,etc, not back in clinic yet, but i will be going to him for his opinion. I hopehe give his true opinion as the ps that made me a mess is his number 2 PS in the platics dept.
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I understand completely, Green. I hope you will get just what you are looking for because you so deserve it. I know your DH, friends and family would want you to be happy and they will continue to support you through all this. We are all here for you to vent off on and to encourage and support you. Hugs and prayers.
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Hi Goldie. Can you give me the brand name of the bio oil? I just searched at Costco but it didn't find anything. I'm having the TEs put in on oct 28 ( cancelled from Sep 23 due to cold). I'll need all the help I can get due to a breast lift 11 years ago that has complicated my chances of having breasts again. How soon did you start using the oil?
Thanks
Sue0
