BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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just saying: Whippetmom and all the sweet BCO sistahs are the best! Just saying!0 -
mnmbeck - I wasn't able to wear my old bras with the TEs. They were just too firm to work with my VS slightly pushup bras. REgarding your PS's comment about when you're happy with the way you look and your clothes fit that you'll be done, I would recommend being expanded a bit more at that point, unless you intend to exchange to implants that are larger (more ccs) than your TE size. YOu tend to lose some size/projection with implants because they fit differently than the TEs. I call it a more 'relaxed' fit. The TEs have a firm/rigid back so all the expansion goes out instead of into your ribs. The implants are soft all over and kind of mold themselves to your ribcage, so the same volume implant relaxes into position where the TE stands at attention. Make sense? I think someone used an analogy comparing an upside down cereal bowl (TE) on your chest to a water balloon (implant).0 -
Oh, mnmbeck - I sure did try on my old bras with my TEs in! It was like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole - literally! Or a size 10 foot into a size 8 shoe... LOL!!!
Also, ladies, keep in mind that unless you've had nipple/areola sparing surgery, or nipple reconstruction, your newly-created breast is probably going to be flatter than your native breast (even with good projection) and may not fill up the very end of the bra cup.
There are a few ways around this: 1) take a look at some of the bra threads here on BCO and see which brands and models work especially well with recon; 2) look for bras with underwires and stretchy cups instead of harder molded ones, and 3) try a "reducer" type bra. This just means that the cup itself is much shallower than regulars bras and may conform to you better.0 -
I'm wondering at the fill level average when coming out of the OR. PS have consulted with said 300cc. Think he said averages 75-100cc fills each time. For some one with know muscle problems, may just have to take that more slowly. Mostly I'm concerned at having that much fill right away. I know each of us are different, just looking for input.0 -
I actually feel that I like the size I am now after the last fill which is 500. So if I have one more fill then I would be 600 total and then the implant would be 500-550. The ps does use Allergan and we talked about that brand. He mentioned high profile style so I'll ask him if he was talking about Allergan for that because there is another brand he mentioned as well. I don't want to go bigger than 600 for the overfill and the ps said the same thing. I appreciate your feedback and worried about going smaller than 500 implant.0 -
Galsal,
I woke up from BMX with 150 cc's in each TE. My fills after that were 50-60 every two weeks. Everyone IS different. I was on the smaller side originally. I don't know how much difference that makes. But if you know you struggle already I would err on the side of caution. It's not a race!! I remember telling my PS I was surprised at the shape I already had with the 150 and he said he would have liked to do more, but that my BS gets mad at him if he does that to "her girls." Lol. (They work together a lot and do some friendly teasing.) I was very glad he had not added more as it was quite an adjustment without any extra pressure!0 -
I had no fill in the OR. The TE stayed flat until the drains came out at 3 weeks. Then fills started - 180 cc, 240 cc, 100 cc, 80 cc, 80 cc - all with no pain, just uncomfortable & tight for a few hours. Then came a 60 cc fill and everything changed. I was in pain for two days. There was supposed to be one more to get me to 800 cc's, but I told him no more. 740 cc's would have to do.
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Thanks for the input Ladies!0 -
350cc in each for me at "installation", then 50cc every 2-4 weeks to 500cc (it was my call as to how close together to schedule the fills). Actually had some removed once, not because of pain but because I had necrosis issues relating to the sentinel node biopsy and my PS wanted to take some pressure off that side.
Hope everyone is having a peaceful holiday season!
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100cc each side for me, then 100cc at 2, 3 and 4 weeks out and I was miserable the entire time. Then I found this site and we slowed down to 50cc every week or two or three plus my pain med got switched to Neurontin. I was fine after that, over-expanded my 600cc capacity TEs to750 and exchanged to 750 HP Allergans and love 'em.
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I had 60cc at time of TE placement and 60cc every week starting 2 weeks after BMX until I got to 300cc. I was about a B cup before bc, and after exchange (mentor HP smooth round 325cc) I look about the same (which was what I wanted).0 -
I had 360/300 cc place at surgery. My PS said he usually does 50cc every week or so. I did not get my first fill until 2 weeks post op...and I was in such pain. He just put 30cc in the 'low' side. Then, I saw him again 10 days later. STILL in excruciating pain, so he did only that one side again....just 25cc this time to even me out a bit. Then, I did not see him for two weeks. During that time, he set me up with a Physical Therapist who changed my life....seriously! She did myofascial release, and some great exercises with me. At 4 weeks post surgery, I was still taking a narcotic, muscle relaxer, or both every 4-6 hours around the clock . Within 48 hours of starting PT, I was taking nothing. I went back to PS for a fill at the 2 week mark and gave him permission for "the usual", since I was feeling SO much better! He only did 30cc on each side to see if I tolerated it. So....at 7 1/2 weeks post surgery, I have only had a fill of 30cc on one side, and 85cc on the other. Pretty slow! But, my PS just feels like it's silly to go fast and make people miserable. This is not a race! I told him I have been reading stories of women having fills of 100 or 120 cc's at once. He promised he would never do that to me....or anybody else! It sounds like people have tolerated those fills very, very well. So, if your PS wants to do that, don't sweat it. Everyone is SO different! For me, slow and steady has been the right call. I can't wait to get these TE's out, but I also don't want to feel like I felt before, either. So...maybe my experience is a little different from other experiences. But, it gives you another perspective. If you have problems, remember....it's YOUR call. You tell your PS to slow down if you need to. My PS tells me "at this point, YOU call the shots." It feels good to have a little control!!
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Galsal: It all varies. There is no set amount. Some plastic surgeons do not like to start fills until a week or even up to a few weeks after the TEs are inserted. I came out of surgery with 300 ccs in my TEs.0 -
Whippetmom, sent you PM0 -
Thanks bunches....it's helpful!0 -
Each time I got a fill, the PS had no amount in mind. He said it would depend on the capillary refill response. He would touch the skin and see how long it took for the white outline of his finger to turn pink when he lifted it.
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Hi Ladies,
I have a question and was wondering if anyone might help me. Those with implants now...how long until swelling goes down? Are you happy with results?
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Hi Reality,
It took over two months for all of my swelling to resolve according to my PS at my followups.
I had a revision to my current style/size and am very happy and looking forward to nips/tats and being "done."0 -
Thank you for your reply Dulcigirl
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Hi Reality - I wasn't 'noticeably' swollen after my exchange but as time has passed I realize that there was a touch of swelling. I'm very happy with my implants and will be getting a nip-tuck in 2014 to remove the 'mud flaps' (extra skin, flab under the arms that blended in with the native breasts but now kind of spoils the look of the new, well-defined girls).
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RealityCheck - like Dulcigirl, I think Righty behaved nicely and was all dropped and fluffed within 1 - 2 months (I'd have to go back and check my pics). But Lefty was ornery, and stayed quite swollen - up to my collarbone - for five months. The PS described it as "excess fluid from the surgery that may or may not resolve...." HUH?
Finally found an awesome Myofascial Release Therapist who worked on my "vise grip" issues, and at the same time, did LE-type massages on Lefty's swelling. She made it disappear in five visits.
Sometimes it just takes time and patience; other times, you need to demand intervention to find out the cause.0 -
I posted this in the Exchange City forum but have not heard from anyone so I will post it here too:
I have a question for the ladies that have had myofacial release. What exactly does this entail? Where/what are the therapists touching? What should I look for when searching for a therapist who does this? I have done PT, am having Graston technique massage on my arm, am swimming/practicing yoga regularly, and stretching daily, but my pecs are still extremely tight and am looking for relief. My regular massage therapist told me that she does not do breast massage, however, she does work on my upper chest but it is not helping enough for me.0 -
Thank you for your replies SweetandSpecial and Blessings. I guess just having patience through all this will help.0 -
hi Reality Check, I'm probably the worst case scenario. My bilateral exchange was Mid-April. I had the removal of bilateral mud flaps surgery that Sweet and Special talks about on July 5th (mine was for pain reasons first, looks second). While she was there PS did a lot of pocket work and removal of scar tissue on right side only. The left side (no pocket work scar removal done) healed pretty quickly and the swelling probably was gone at the end of two months, maybe just a little more. The right side is another story entirely. I still have lots of pain and some swelling near the IMF area BUT this I am sad to say is probably due to life circumstances. I'm the "what NOT to do" case. After the last surgery, told to take it easy. Life demanded more of me: about 2 and a half weeks after surgery I was helping to downsize, pack and move my parents closer to where I live (mom has Alzheimer's and it had to be done then before mom worsened). I'm also right-handed so I know I used that arm more than I should have.
So, listening to your PS is important as I think (I know) I did some damage. Just found out Friday during PT I have a big bit of scar tissue right near chest muscle (and probably affecting nerves) which explains why I have swelling at times. Have been told myofascial release massage techniques might be of some assistance, my PT tried some and it seemed to help (as well as heat, especially before stretching and exercise). Please remember I'm the exception.0 -
2nd Time,
Have you read the signs to watch for lymphedema as well? Overdoing can cause a flair...arms, trunks, hands can be affected. It's good to know precautions as well as what to watch for and there arevmany great threads here. Many PT's do not have a good undertanding of it.0 -
Hi Dulcigirl, thanks for the reminder (and for others). I know I have LE from the 1996 mx (and complete removal of axillary lymph nodes on that side) so much we didn't know back then! Every winter since then I was in complete agony and I deliberately wore a loose medical alert bracelet on that arm to inform everyone in event of emergency not to use that arm (and I could easily tell how swollen my wrist was by how many fingers I could insert between bracelet chain and my wrist). Have had LE sleeves on that arm for several years. After exchange, was determined I have slight LE on the current mx side but it's not as bad as the other side. I'm seeing BS tomorrow and we're going to discuss this. Also, I don't want to jinx anything but last winter after 1st stage recon I didn't get the severe pain I used to get in my arm and arm pit area. I also have a whole lot more feeling back. I don't really care why this is happening, I'll just accept the improvement!0 -
LoriDNY....to answer your question....I was having so much pain that I was taking narcotics/muscle relaxers around the clock for 4 weeks. Once I started PT and she did 1 1/2 hours of work with me, I never took medication again. I don't know if this is typical, so don't count on it, but it has been life changing for me.
I would describe myofascial release as feeling kind of like a 'massage.' Actually, it reminds me a little of when I have gone to a chiropractor.....she starts feeling around slowly and then stops in exactly the place that it really hurts. I don't tell her...she just feels it. And she gently moves that tissue around. It is very gentle....more gentle than massage, I think. Not painful at all. To be honest, I had a hard time connecting my increased mobility and decreased pain to whatever she did. It didn't seem like life changing stuff she was doing! She works around the implants, mainly...but also up and down my arm and near my armpit. I have 'cording' down the arm where they took the lymph nodes, so she is trying to help with that, now.
If you have the chance to see a PT who specializes in breast reconstruction, please do. It helps if they are knowledgeable about lymphedema. While she is doing her massage thing, we chat. I have learned more from her about this whole process than anyone. She also has watched my BS/PS doing surgery a few times, so she can tell me EXACTLY what they do and why I feel certain things in certain places. It's been amazing.
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LoriWNY---I also had myofascial release therapy for the neverending pain after mx and ex. Three months after mx I was still on flexeril nonstop. I started doing PT and it helped a bit. Once I got back most of my ROM, I did improve. My PS told me when I had the exchange, all pain would dissapear. He was wrong. It continued and I continued flexeril along with PT. Then a couple of months after EX I found my massage therapist. I had been told by a doctor friend that one of the biggest causes of pain after MX is scar tissue build up, specifically from where the drains were. I was a Uni so I only had the pain on one side and it just happened to be right where the drains were! I went to this girl for myofascial release and on the first day, I laid on my good side and she started to strongly massage along my ribs on the MX side. I was shocked when I started feeling this "popping" feeling which felt like popping bubble wrap! She said it was the scar tissue breaking up! It doesn't hurt but it does require some force. I saw her once a week for 3 months and by then was pretty well back to normal. She doesn't massage the actual breast but would work along my ribcage and then soften my pec muscle up under the arm (VERY important for getting rid of pain also). She even massaged my chest above the breast to get the implant to soften and drop and did a great job of that! Usually your problem areas are along the ribs and under the arm and keeping the pec muscle soft. I was showed some exercises by PT which I will need to do possibly forever. I'm not 100% pain free...I have moments when the pec muscle decides to spasm, usually when it's really cold and I'm all hunched over to keep warm. But I can quickly massage the muscle up under the arm and it relaxes pretty quickly.
Finding a good myofacial release therapist is paramount to success. The first one I went to gave me a usual light massage. I had been told that you should come out of these sessions a bit "sore" so I knew this person wasn't the right one. Then I found my girl and knew on the first day that she would help. She works in a spa in a gym that also offers special memberships to cancer survivors if referred by their doctor. They have a trainer specifically for breast cancer patients. And they have a PT department. So you can go in get PT, attend a class where they exercise your specific needs, then get a massage afterwards! All in one place!
So ask around and it may take a couple of tries. Good luck and let me know how it goes.0 -
Google "myofacial release therapy" and add the name of your city. Physical therapists or massage therapists who have been trained in this method will come up. I found a massage therapist who coincidently works for my physical therapist (whom I see for stroke rehab.) She has done wonders with the muscles under my arm and on my chest. I had an infection and parts of three muscles were removed along with nearly all the soft tissue under my arm and along side my foob. I could see and feel the softening of the muscles from the first day with her. She is very gentle. One day when she was ill, another therapist took over. OUCH. It felt like Velcro being pulled apart. I was miserably sore and felt bruised for at least a week. Make sure your provider has been trained in myofacial release therapy. It's not just strong massage.
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I'm home! Def different from MX but I'm sore and going to take advantage of pain killers tonight. Now just have to wait for Thursday to lose the bandages! Thank you all so much for your support!0
