BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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I didn't know there was any such thing as permanent implants that were expanded with saline after surgery. You learn something new every day.
My experience is limited. I had a double mastectomy Aug 23 with permanent implants. Then Sept 6 I went back to surgery to have one implant removed and a tissue expander placed, due to infection. I have another surgery Dec 6 to exchange the TE for a new, smaller implant and to replace the nice healed implant with a smaller one to match.
The one implant I've had for 2 1/2 months is a saline 800 cc D cup size. It's been soft since the beginning, especially when the minimal swelling went down. It feels just like my natural breast felt. It looked odd at first but after a couple days became quite natural looking and hasn't changed.
The TE side is filled to 740 cc's and looks like you said yours looks...like a ball stuck on my chest. (A pretty fat softball size for me.) It is very firm, looks several sizes larger than the other side, and feels nothing like the permanent implant even though both have saline.
Sorry I can't be of anymore help. Maybe someone else with more experience can answer your questions.0 -
Hi Stelina are your implants saline? i hear that saline implants are a bit hard compared to silicone?
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My PS says to expect that the Allergan 410 silicone implants I'm getting will be harder than the saline implant I have.0 -
Hi, Stellina -
Let's see... you had your MX six weeks ago, and at the same time, you had a permanent adjustable implant inserted, am I right?
I would venture a guess that you still may have some swelling going on, or that your implant is in the process of dropping and fluffing. Immediately after surgery, the implant tends to ride "high and tight" against your chest. As your internal tissues heal, the implant slowly drops into the pocket the PS created for it, and then conforms more to your ribcage, and looks and feels more natural. This process can take weeks or months.
What does your PS say? How long does he or she want you to wait for additional fills? I thought it was usually a few months to give you time to heal, and to adjust to the size of your newly-created breast. Do you have a port that will eventually be removed?
As for filling implants all the way, no, I don't believe it is necessary as long as they have the minimum amount. My saline implants are 700ccs, but can be filled to 750ccs. They look and feel just fine not being filled to the max.
Enerva - I haven't done any silicone squeezing comparisons, but my salines feel pretty darn squishy!!!
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Alibeths....We were not talking about ultra full projection style implants. We were talking about high profile implants. If your 400s are HPs, the ultras are too narrow for you.0 -
Stellina: Your PS likely used Mentor Spectrum expandables....and in a thin, slightly built person, you almost need to fill to capacity, or you have a problem with rippling - pretty significant rippling. But if you want to send me photos....I can see what is going on. PM me if you want my email address.0 -
Weety..... I will go look for photos now...0 -
HI There, Been hanging out for a while, but I am getting close to my final fill and exchange surgery is scheduled for 12/30. My Rads end this weds. 11/13!!! My final fill is scheduled for 11/19 so I will then have about 6 weeks until surgery. We did the expansion pre-rads when the skin and muscle were happier! Depending on my perm implant size I may need one more fill.
So Whippetmom, I come to you for advice now! Here is my info:
I was a 40C when this all started. Although after feeding 4 kids, they were a saggy 40C !! My ribcage measures about 37-37.5 inches. I am 5'9" and between 190-200 pounds depending on the day!
Right Mastectomy (tumor side) on 5/20 where they removed 582cc of tissue. TE placed is a NATRELLE Style 133V 500cc. It is currently filled to 720cc and is almost done being radiated.
Left Mastectomy on 9/18 where they removed 527cc of tissue. Same style expander currently filled to 660cc and I go for another fill tomorrow.
I had Areola sparing on both sides and the scars are barely visible. I discussed with my PS about cutting in the under crease instead of going back through the areola and risking the scarring. He agreed that the scars look great and that might be the way to go. He was against sparing anything to begin with and is very happy with how it turned out. I actually showed up to surgery with a sketch and said "why can't you cut here?". We reached a nice compromise!!! He is afraid that the left is going to be lower in the end, but I told him they were not level when I first walked through his doors!
I don't plan to have the nipple projection surgery, I may have a 3D tattoo of just the nipple on my own areola.
I am happy with where I am expanded now. Just don't like how hard these coconuts are and they extend a little too far to the sides. PS plans to fix that and put a couple stitches in the sides and move them a little more towards center. I know my PS is planning to use round silicone implants, but I don't know what style. We have discussed 700, 750, and 800s. I never thought I would have to decide how big to make my boobs!
Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks in advance for your time and help!0 -
4sewwhat: There is more to the TE style than stated above. There should be two letters, e.g., SX, SV, MX, MV, FX, FV....or a number, such as 13 or 14 or 15....something like that.0 -
Hi I am new to the TE group. I started delayed reconstruction on November 8 when I had TE's places. I originally had my BMX in March 2011 and thought I would be happy flat. Sadly I was not flat just concaved and big dogears. So I ended up not feeling happy about myself and that was having bad effects on all aspects of my life.
On Friday I had Allergan 133FV-15 750cc placed. My PS has already put 75cc in them and we will start fills in three weeks if my woulds are healed enough. I am a plus sized lady 20-22 dress size, hight is 5,5" and I weigh 215 lbs my measurement around my chest is 42" I would be interested to hear what options I would have for implants, as I am 51 years old I don't want to end up with boobs that look like they belong to a person in there 20 - 30. I have put photos on the picture forum if anyone wants to see.
Kathy0 -
Oops! Sorry, only one card has a sticker.
Style 133SX
Ref 133SX-14
Thanks
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I know delayed reconstruction is when you wait, and 'immediate' is when you have the te placed during mx. But its not immediate reconstruction, its the beginning of the process. Everyone thinks oh, its immediate, so youre done (or, Ill be done). There should be a different term created for the process. Like bmx with reconstruction initialization, or something like that.0 -
How about "Temporary Reconstruction"? Technically that's what it is!
I came out if Mx with between 200-250cc so it wasn't really too bad. Still different though. I don't mind the TEs much but not going to miss them for sure!! If I want to wear a coconut bra again it will certainly be external0 -
I though what I had was immediate reconstruction. The plastic surgeon put in the implants as soon as the surgeon fished with the double mastectomy. Why would some docs call putting in TE's immediate reconstruction?0 -
only reason I can figure is because they save most of the skin and you have something when you wake up? It is not months or years later. Some people do go straight to perm implants depending on their treatment schedule too.
I am in my PS waiting room right now. I will ask him!!! We did discuss the plan pre Mx and I did know it was a "place holder" as I referred to it!0 -
I agree immediate is when they put the implants directly in, no te. But that seems to be much less of the time than reconstruction with te...so some type of more appropriate, less misinformative phrase should be used!0 -
Hi Whippetmom,
I am back from my PS appointment. Both expanders are now at 720cc. He and I had a long discussion about many things. I was mistaken and the left at removal was 518 so a 64cc difference. I asked and he agreed that the difference is probably because the BS left a thicker layer of fat tissue because it was the non cancer side. I can tell the difference and "pinch" more tissue on the underside of the left breast.
He has suggested that we do the right implant 50cc larger to make up the difference. I have until next Thursday to decide if I want 700 & 750 or 750 & 800. Unless you have another recommendation that I should talk to him about. That way he will know how much to make the final fill and then I can stretch, rest and settle until surgery.
He is still recommending round and I think smooth. He didn't say what brand or style, but he said I will need the pole (?) on the top of the right especially because I had a HUGE amount of tissue taken out with my node dissection and there is a crease there. I will have fat grafting down the road after the implants settle.
God love him, he tries to be so sweet too when he says I may have a donation site or two we could use!!!
Thanks you for all you help and what you do here for all of us! Please let me know if you need anymore info or pictures.
Thanks,
Lynne0 -
How about 'Mastectomy with staged reconstruction'??0 -
ooh I like that! or multistage reconstruction.0 -
4sewwhat: Okay, got it. So what do you think about your size currently? Do you want to have as much projection as possible? I am sort of thinking that Allergan Style 45 - 800 ccs, might be the best bet for you. I like your doctor's choice of TEs, by the way....
Deborah0 -
HI Deborah!
Thanks for getting back to me so quick! First off I have to say I love my PS! At first I just wasn't sure, but that was when my head was still spinning in the beginning. I also was not keen on the idea of anything foreign in my body. Then I got to thinking if I needed a new knee, I wouldn't think twice. That put it in perspective for me!
He filled the left to 720 today and told me to use that as a guide and then we would go 50cc bigger on the right to make up for the difference in the fat layer that was left on the non-cancer side. The left looks slightly bigger from the front and looking down on them with them filled the same. It was very strange laying flat on the table with my doctor sitting on his stool at my feet and looking to see how even they looked!
I am happy with where they are right now and I know they will drop some with the exchange to a more natural shape than the coconuts! So I am trying to envision when that happens if I would still have the projection. My clothes fit pretty well right now. Things pull a little across the bust but here again I think that is because of the current shape with the expanders.
We did discuss again where to do the exchange surgery from because the scar has healed so well. It took 3 people and 2 flashlights to find the scar to mark it for my rad boosts! My PS was very pleased to hear that!!
Thanks so much for your time and help! You are an angel to all of us here
Lynne0 -
Or maybe 'phased' reconstruction. 'Stage' is something that refers to the cancer we kicked ass on!0 -
Hi all,
I don't post much, but do read much. ;o) I had my exchange, Friday will be 3 weeks, and all went smoothly and healing great. Though I didn't have any problems or much discomfort it was nice getting those 820cc rocks out of my chest. I went back to work after 11 days. The only side affect is being tired.
For those of you getting anxious and stressing, don't. If you made it thru the BMX the exchange should be a breeze. So, hang in there and think positive.
I would like to thank whippetmom for her input. I did get the style 45's 800cc. I must admit at first I was a little disappointed. Having been a 36DDD before BMX and DD most of my life, I knew I would not be able to accomplish that with any implants, I thot I had dealt with it, but I guess not as much as I thot. I am better now. Things are starting to settle and got my stitches out yesterday. I did make a decision, after careful thot, reading and against my PS nurses advice, and got fitted with a good bra. I knew that wearing a bra or not wearing a bra was more of an opinion and since my PS was one that didn't express an opinion I made my own. I just couldn't get used to just a sports bra. It didn't have the support that I needed, wanted and was used to. I wore a bra for the first time today since my BMX. It was wonderful.
As far as what to call the procedure that is not delayed or immediate permanent implants. Mine was called, total mastectomy bilateral breast reconstruction with tissue expanders. They didn't specify immediate or delayed.
Anyway, wanted to share my story to show it can go smoothly and hope that it will for others reading.0 -
How about "Initial Reconstruction", meaning there's more to follow?0 -
I like both ideas. Phased indicates that there are multiple steps, so thats true too... mastectomy with multi-phase reconstruction. MPR. I was thinking three stage but some people will also do nip reconstruction and or tattoo, so thats more steps.... multi-phase covers it generically.0 -
thanks for all the positive feedback ladies.
Blessings2011 you are right. They are my new breasts and I should stop referring to them as "foobs". It would probably be more reassuring to all the new folks out there as well.
I agree about whippetmom~ I went with her suggestion and am the PERFECT size! Not to big and not to small; they are proportioned to my body. I also noticed they are now more rounded or softer? I'm not sure how to explain it but they have taken a shape that I love.
I wish I could offer more suggestions on the posts but I am not familiar with some. Thankfully we have many great ladies who are!0 -
Does anyone have any suggestions for body soaps and lotions. My skin I super dry so I stopped using bar soap. I have been using Palmers lotion to help with the stretch marks but I am not sure if its working. I haven't noticed a difference.
Thanks.0 -
Karoline - I started using BioOil during the TE phase on my breasts to keep my skin soft and supple during the expansion phase. I still use it after my daily shower on my breasts, but I did use it for a brief period all over my body (skin was peeling after a tropical trip last March) and it worked great to keep things moist rather than flaky. I'm not a big fan of lotions or oils in general (never had trouble with dry skin) but I do use my BioOil religiously now and keep one at home and one in my gym bag.0 -
Thanks sweetandspecial. I will give it a try.0 -
Karoline - you'll probably find it in the first aid section rather than bath and body. Not sure why, but that's where it is. I had trouble locating it the first time I bought it.0
