BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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Hey Dulcigirl, that picture looks like me - just smaller, but is a good illustration of the difference between my 740 cc TE and the smaller looking 800 cc implant. Width and height make a big difference but the biggest change comes with time as the implants settle in.
Enerva, you're going to get quite a present from Santa this year! Congrats on your upcoming exchange after having TE's for 9 months.
Sweet&Special, it's good for people to read stories from women who had good experiences like you and are happy with the outcome. Sometimes reading these threads, you'd think reconstruction is one problem after another, but we have to remember that happy people tend not to post their success. Glad you did.0 -
Aviva-
Congrats on being done with fills!! Has Madry's office given you a date yet? Jenn has her preop a week from today and mine is a week from tomorrow.
Dulcigirl-
omg too funny! from a fellow OCDer0 -
My family got a bit tired of them sitting on the bathroom counter. My sister and bc buddies graciously evaluated them for me. (After they stopped laughing.) In the end my props helped me decide it was worth it to have a revision. So far I'm very glad I did. The new ones are more comfortable and much more "me."0 -
Dulcigirl! Oh my gosh...that is fabulous! But with the lighting and on your granite counter, those socks look like lovely artistic stone boobies.0 -
Dulcigirl, love the visuals! Wish I would have thought of that to explain to friends and family.
one year ago: just home from mx and recon. A year later, so different! Had 2-month follow up with my darling Dr Z - she's really pleased with it all. Spoke with office nurses - mentioned BCO and was told lots of their patients follow along (but I bet you already knew that Whippet Mom). This "adventure" SO different from the first one..... A great big THANK YOU and sending you lots of hugs for all your support, advice and wisdom!0 -
Ha!!! "Faux boobies" and "faux granite." (It's just laminate countertop.) What cracked me up was when I tied the knots and thought they looked like giant nipples! At least I THOUGHT they did....haven't seen nipples in so long!!
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I have been reading on these forums since I was diagnosed in June and have since gone through two lumpectomies and a bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders. I have found all the discussions helpful, but am not usually the type to post. However, I am now losing sleep over selecting my implant type for my exchange surgery on November 20th. I am very analytical (and emotional), and controlling and I can't just leave it to the plastic surgeon. Anyway, they're recommending Natrelle 410 FF 425 or 475cc to fill out any hollowness in the upper pole, give a natural shape and avoid rippling. I like all the pros, but I'm worried about firmness and the ability to put them in a bra and have some cleavage. They said they'd also do a round Natrelle 20 if I want. I'm so confused!
I am 5'2" and about 125lbs. Prior to surgery I wore a 30 or 32 DDD bra. It was so hard to find and I always felt to big for my frame. My ribcage currently measures 29.5 - 30". I have Natrelle Tissue Expanders (133FX-13-T). They have a volume of 550cc but I stopped filling at 350cc as I'm happy with the size. Other than them being a bit wide, I like how I look in clothes. I know with the anatomicals they will be just as wide. The rounds should be narrower in the 400-500cc range. But then I guess he has to do work internally to narrow the pocket. And how much bigger should they put in?
Anyway, enough rambling. If anyone can help suggest what might work best for me, I'd appreciate it. I need to call the doctor so they can order the implants. Thanks!0 -
catey I see him on Tuesday, have seen Jeanie for two wells now for fills. So as long as he has no issues with how they are I should get on the schedule... In figuring mid Jan, that would be 8 weeks.... I'm psyched!0 -
imadancer: You really need 450 gms in Allergan 410 Style FX - not FF. You need to match the projection of the TEs. If that pocket is not precise, you will increase your risk of rotation and I have seen a lot of rotated anatomicals. I would not go with the FF. Unless your PS had access to the 410s PRIOR to FDA approval - unless he had them in clinical trials - he will not be able to get the "X" style implants. I do not think they are yet approved. So if he can get the 450 FX, yes, that would be the implant to use. Instead, I would go with Allergan Style 20 - 500 ccs, and no need to narrow the pockets. You need more implant volume to compensate for what you have with the TEs, and 500 ccs would likely put you about where you are currently. You might be able to use Style 20, 475 ccs, without narrowing the pockets. Placed under the pectoralis muscle, the anatomicals are going to look the same as the smooth silicone rounds. They are not going to be more "natural" looking than the rounds.
Deborah0 -
Maddy: Dr. "Z" does fabulous face lifts....according to my dental hygienist. Putting that in my memory file for future consideration.0 -
Whippetmom,
I am in the position of making a decision between lumpectomy with radiation vs. double mastectomy. With the survival rates being equal, I am now looking at other aspects of both options, including aesthetic results, to help make my decision. I currently have 500 cc saline implants that I had done two years ago. I love the size I am right now (32DD). I am considering double mastectomy because of problems with radiating on implants, my plastic surgeon was very vocal about the issues with contracture, etc., and against radiation. However, if I have a mastectomy, I am afraid I am going to end up much smaller than I am now, be very disappointed, and feel I over-treated my situation.
I am 5'10" and 135lbs, with broad shoulders. I carry the 500ccs well. My plastic surgeon told me yesterday there was no way for her to tell if I can get close to my size now, because she didn't know how much original breast tissue I had before implants, and the implants only go up to 800cc. I was a large A/small B before. I am just needing some guidance in terms of what may be achieved after double mastectomy, because I want to be confident in my final decision. Please let me know if you have any recommendations either way. I am torn! Thank you so much!0 -
Thank you so much for your reply. My PS does not have access to the FX. He has many many years experience, but not with the 410s so perhaps I should not be the guinea pig! So you don't think 500cc in a round would make me look huge given that I'm only filled to 350 and am happy?0 -
wow! You ladies are awesome for sharing.0 -
I know..My PS said he put in more then he took out!!! I am going to wait 3 months to heal then have expanders put in. These 400 CC implants are 2 small....I am thinking 500. My ps surgeon said these will be outpatient surgery and MUCH easier bc already stretche muscle....0 -
hello my ladies......i was directed to this forum....just wanted to know if anyone here had reconstruction after radiation without TE...i had infection and TE was removed followed by radiatiation...PS didnt tell me that i would not have to mamy choices but DIEP ??? but im sure there is other options right??? maybe start with fat grafting and then try implants?? please let me know if anyone has any suggestions i dumped my PS cause he didnt really care so i am interviewing few PS before i make any desicions please help0 -
Alibeths...yes....stick with 500 ccs.0 -
patriciahurtado....I think you should also pose this question on one of the radiation forum threads, or start your own thread in that forum. I am a huge advocate of fat graft transfer after radiation. I have a thread on that topic entitled "Fat Graft Transfer and the Radiated Breast".....
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/70/topic/744891?page=4#idx_93
Some of the links might be old or broken and so let me know if you need further information. PM me if you need some PS names...0 -
imadancer: You might only have 350 ccs in your 550 cc TEs, but you have the footprint of those 550 ccs, no matter what volume you have currently. You have 13.0 cm width currently. With your fill level, you are just minus a little of the height and projection you would have if filled to capacity.
So here are the numbers for comparison:
Your 550 cc FX TEs:.............13.0 cm width and 6.7 cm projection
Allergan Style 20 - 500 ccs: 13.0 cm width and 5.2 cm projection
So let's assume you only have 6.0 cm projection currently, because you are underfilled, you still have more projection than you will have with the implants. The volume and distribution of the much more pliable implant will compensate somewhat, but you do need more implant to approximate what you have with your TEs. I do feel that this, or the Style 20, 475 ccs, would be the right options for you.
Deborah0 -
Thank you! I feel better now.0 -
I had my exchange surgery 2 weeks ago and ended up going slightly larger than originally planned. My 250 ccTE was filled to 300, and the plan was to put in a 325 implant. During the surgery, though, my PS said that when he put in the 350, it just "looked right" to him so that is what I ended up with. He did have to modify the original pocket since it was wider than the original TE.
Whippetmom, I just sent you new pics to look at. I'm a little concerned that it might be too wide for my ribcage and want to get your opinion on that and how it looks overall! Thanks!0 -
Thanks WHippetmom....Would you suggest sticking with the ULTRA high profile?? He uses Mentor Gel.0 -
Hi all~
I haven't posted in awhile and I wanted to say hello. I am 10 weeks post my exchange surgery and I'm feeling great. I am finally squishing my new foobs around; I was afraid to before lol. I haven't found a bra that fits yet so I'm wearing soft new balance sports bras which are quite comfortable. I am nervous to get back to the gym but I know it's just in my head. This weekend I plan to conquer it by doing a spin class.
My shooting pains have pretty much stopped; here and there I feel a bit sore but it's nothing. My only side effect are muscle spasms in my chest when I am in cold weather.
I'm also so happy to say I don't have the fear that my foobs will slip off me at anytime any longer:) they are the new me!
Sending hugs to all.0 -
Karoline Thanks for letting us know how you feel after 10 weeks. It give me a smile i am looking forward to my exchange and to start feeling like my old me again. Hope you continue to feel great and good luck at the spinning class i haven't been able to to those for almost 2 years now.
Big hugs
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Karonine,
Great news. I wish more people would post their positive experiences too. Sometimes when you read, you think complications are the norm...but I know that's not true, at least as far as the statistics go. So it's refreshing to get a first hand report. Good luck on your "new normal."0 -
Old-timer here, just chiming in!!! I had my BMX in December 2011, and my Exchange in August 2012. Fortunately, I had quite a bit of time between my dx and BMX, and I came here to BCO every day to soak up information.
One of THE most important threads I visited was this one. I can't imagine going into something as important as deciding on implants without the incredibly valuable information that whippetmom gave me. She provided me with the technical details necessary to communicate with my PS on his level.
Prior to BMX, I was very overweight, and the Original Girls were huge, and drooped to my waist. The PS put in TEs to fit my body size at that time. But my MO encouraged me to lose weight, and that would change the size of the implants.
Whippetmom took so much time to research and explain to me not only which implants would be appropriate, but also suggested a procedure (lateral capsulorraphy) that my PS had not brought up.
In the end, he put in the exact implants that whippetmom had suggested, and also performed the extra procedure - which saved my "narrower than the TEs" implants from migrating to my armpits.
It's been over a year now. I have 700cc saline implants (the PS only used saline) and even though I had some challenges in the beginning, I am SO happy now. I lost the weight, and still my implants are the perfect size. In fact, I am wearing many of my old bras. Where the Old Girls bulged out unattractively, the New Girls fit perfectly. In my mind, they are not FOOBS, they are my BREASTS.
So ladies just starting this process, have faith, and listen to what whippetmom suggests. Be proactive, and make sure your PS hears your concerns and answers your questions. But most of all, BE PATIENT!!! This is not a process that can be rushed, and good results can take time.
Wishing you all the best....0 -
Blesssings - what a blessing to have you chime in.....two thumbs up on your perspective
! Very nice to hear from you, honeybun.
KarolineH - I've been back to the gym for several weeks now. Haven't quite worked up to the old schedule (lazy got to be a habit during the 6 weeks of exchange recovery) but I'm really able to do everything I was doing before, from calisthenics to weght lifting to pushups and bear crawls and jogging, you name it. We do soooo much total body stuff in the class I'm in - I never cease to be amazed at the wild and crazy ways our instructor figures out to make us wonderfully miserable for 60 minutes 3x a week! The pecs will probably always feel a little strange when they flex but you do get used to it. It's our new normal - and I'm not going to quit working out just because things feel different! I need to exercise to feel good, look good, stay strong and flexible, and sleep better. Glad your happy and feeling good!0 -
Karoline, check with your PS on the pain. I had none and recently started. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like a large needle was poking me on the rib side next to the cancer side just a few nights ago. I went to the PS and she said that its just scar tissue being pulled in whatever position I was in. harmless but painful.0 -
Hello, ladies!
A newbie here, as my descirption at the end of my message mentions, I have already had the reconstruction end September: a mentor with a capacity of 195 cc (the second smallest size available). For the moment, it is filled with 90 cc and I feel very uncomfortable with it. It feels huge for me! It feels hard. It just seems in the way. :S
My questions are:
1. Will it get more comfortable with time? (comfortable = softer)
2. Will the shape get a more "breast-like"? (Now I have the impression that I have a larger tennis ball cut in half inside my breast.)
3. Must these implants really be filled to their maximum or is it ok to just have them half filled?
Thank you for your kind answers!
Best wishes to you all and have a pleasant week!
Stellina!
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Stellina,
I believe what you are describing is tissue expanders. They are not permanent so I'm confused by your statistics at the bottom. You say you've gotten fills?0 -
Helo, S. andra!
Thanks for the reply!
In fact, the expanders were not available at the time of the surgery and the onc was pressing since my tumor had the aggressivity factors that scared the hell out of me: grade 3, Her2 ++ and ki-67 of 80%.
So the plastic surgeon told me to have the permanent implants, also inflatable. Since I did not want to stay without a breast for so many months, I opted for immediate reconstruction. And I was ok as long as it was filled to 25%, it's the 50% that I can't handle... even though it looks quite symmetrical, I must admit. I also measured my chest and it has the almost the same circumference as before mastectomy (well, maybe half an inch less).
Maybe I have this strong reaction because I have been a rather flat-chested woman and am not used to have o more pronounced bust?
But how long does it take for it to become softer? And must it really be filled completely? :S
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