BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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AZ85048,
Thank you!!! My ps just called to see how I'm doing. I noticed some drainage and odor from prophylactic side today.
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Mommyathome
If you can't find your voice when you see the DR then bring someone who can speak on your behalf. The Drs MUST follow our lead-not the other way around unless what you're suggesting is harmful, which it's not. Slow and easy fills are the way to go!
We're all here for you!
Babs0 -
Mommyathome
If you can't find your voice when you see the DR then bring someone who can speak on your behalf. The Drs MUST follow our lead-not the other way around unless what you're suggesting is harmful, which it's not. Slow and easy fills are the way to go!
We're all here for you!
Babs0 -
Thanks babs!
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Wow, Mommy...even after BMX I was permitted to shower after a few days. That was even from a Veterans Admin hospital too! I agree, have PS take some CC out of you if it's tHAT uncomfortable or at the very best wait a week or so to begin small fills!
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Don't know if I posted it here, but my PS's assistant said that the tight, white Tshirt test is a good way to check your foobs in clothes -- If you don't have a tight white Tshirt I suggest using a camisole or something tighter than your average shirt. But white is best. Then just look in the mirror - if you like what you see, then you're ready
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bc101 ~ Thanks! I'll give that a try. :-)
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Every PS is different. Mine said no showers until 48 hours after the drains were out...6 long weeks for me!
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Mommy....try this.....walk into the PS surgeon and when they come in with those gigantic syringes, just say "100 cc was way too much for me. I've decided I am willing to try 50cc this time and see if I tolerate that better. I am not willing to experience what I did last time."
If the PS disagrees, or tries to tell you a million reasons why your idea is ridiculous (a common surgeon practice), just say again, "I understand what you are saying, but I am just not willing to go there again. I'll try 50cc. I am hoping it won't be even less next time."
And, if the PS says "I am not doing 50....it's 100 or nothing (I can't imagine this ever happening), then just tell him, "OK....like I said, I'm not willing to do 100, so I guess we are done for today."
It's not about having a backbone.....think of it as protecting yourself!!! Imagine if it was one of your children....you would come out roaring like a lion to protect one of them! You deserve that protection, too!
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Precisely...it's about speaking up to protect your own self...I love this idea of mnmbeck!!!
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Mnmbeck,
I haven't had a fill yet. My first fill was canceled because I fell on flipping ice!!! I got 300cc and 500cc at BMx surgery.
But I like your approach. I'm going to stress I want to be comfortable and will only do the 50cc the first time. Then we can go from there but absurdly not comfortable w 100cc. Just starting to get comfortable with Tes as they are now don't want to stretch too much at once.
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I love my husband and he's been my rock through this, but I expressed my anxiety about the fills and how I've gotten so much support from all of you and he says, well u have to trust your doctor. Everyone is different. Maybe some can't handle 100cc but my dr feels I can.... I do trust my team, but how does she know I can handle 100 if I don't?? Yes I had a lot at BMx but I was highly medicated, numbed, etc. this will be different!
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Galsal,
I've had some drainage from the incision today and it has an odor. She's concerned about infection. When I went to my appt on Tuesday last week she said no shower too that she thought it was a little moist and she was concerned for me to shower. Kinda sucks but husband does a good job w a sponge bath lol
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Tell your DH to flake off. Sort of like my grown son said I didn't need to be on BCO because it was only women whining about problems. Right!! I could never have imagined the support I've received from all the ladies on this site through every step of the first & now the second journey.
Of course you trust your team, but you still have to advocate for yourself. Neither your doc nor your DH have any idea what this kind of pain is like. We do....
Edited to say - sorry I don't mean to put down your husband, but...
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Minustwo,
Thanks and no need to apologize I got ur point. I was just thinking tonight as I am laying here in my recliner because I can't sleep, wow I feel pretty good tonight. I don't want to mess that up with over doing fills etc. the feeling good and slowly getting to the end result sounds heavenly!!!
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Mommy, I hope you are planning to see your doctor Monday a.m. Even if you can't get an appointment, I'd go sit there until they see you. The drainage is bad news and the odor is even more bad news. Girl, I worry you've got an infection. You said your drains were taken out the first week. That's soon. The pain you feel could be from fluid build up because the drains came out too soon. How many cc's were they putting out a day when they were taken out? A build up of fluid can lead to a seroma which can lead to an infection too. Have you ever been on an antibiotic since the surgery? If so, the doctor will surely change it to something else.
Take it from someone who has been through it, you DON'T want an infection. Your problem needs to be cleared up before you even think about fills! Even if you didn't have this drainage, you shouldn't get a fill when you are still in so much pain that you are still on narcotics this far out.
Re: showers My PS didn't want the incisions to get wet for the first week so my husband wrapped my chest in Saran wrap and used a hand held shower. After the 1 week check up, PS said showers were fine, just let the water flow over the incisions and drains (I had 4), no soap, don't rub, pat dry. I've heard several women say their docs had them shower in the hospital, letting the water run over the incisions.
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Sandra,
My ps is away til tues but I emailed her pictures. I had 42cc aspirated last week. That drain came out at 6 days I was down to 30cc drainage when she pulled it. The pain is actually ok right now it's more discomfort.... I'm trying to go far in between the dialaudid my bs said no rush. I plan to call my bs tomorrow just to fill her in on what happened today and tell her I'm seeing ps Tuesday. The ps said based on the pic it didn't seem infected but didn't want to take a chance. I've been on antibiotic til yesterday and I'm back on it today.... Doxycycline
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So I guess no one is without TE here?
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As a substitute PS said when I have an encapsulated seroma burst this past summer, a picture can only tell so but that seeing can change every thing about what a picture shows. Please - do be cautious. Can't recall how long your PS was out of town. You have an appt tomorrow right?
Please dont feel we are pushing you. I've had problems along the way but not infection...thanks be to GOD! How wonderful you have a supportive spouse. Don't let that stop you from playing out the let's go slow scenario mnm wrote for you. If it's taken you this long to feel where you should have been weeks ago, it's time to advocate for yourself. Oh I'd be like you if I'd had a large fill at placement surgery! My TEs were placed this past Thurs AM and filled to 60cc each. I've been able to whittle down the pain meds...thank God for that! If it had been a large fill at placement, I'd NOT be where I am now.
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littlecalico, this isn't always the case. I've been on here a number of times in the past two years and only got TEs this past Thursday.
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Galsal: thanks for your answer
Were you told by your surgeon that you would get TE in the course of the procedure? Because mine seems to dislike them (says they're a pain in the ass for both the surgeon and the patient) but he did not tell me exactly how the skin would stretch without them. So I'm a bit worried... I've only been told that I would have at least one surgery, maybe another depending on the outcome of the first. (I'm getting implants: silicone I think)
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Also, I have small breasts/breast (ugh, I hate how language can't work this out!) and told him I wanted a larger size; he said he would do it but according to my morphology. That's it.. he said talking sizes did not make sense. I understand but...So what, surprise surprise when I wake up??
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Littlecalico, my PS was very detailed with everything. My TE were fine and I had several fills of 25cc to 70cc every three weeks. TE are uncomfortable but I think necessary. I was A cup before, now B after the implants, and that is what I told him I wanted to be. They removed 450gr/cc at BMX and my implants are 550cc/gr each, bigger than what they removed and that gave me a B cup.
Your PS will know how many cc to put if he goes the immediate recon route.
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Am I getting it right that perhaps your PS is talking about the one-step implants where they will fill the implants once in you and close it off when the size is reached? This is my first experience so I can't tell you much, calico. Questions do get answered here, just not always as quickly as you might desire. Breathe, girl just breathe through it all.
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Galsal,
Yes I am seeing my ps tomorrow. Unfortunately it is supposed to snow again here!!! I don't care we will just drive slow I can't miss this appt!!!! We have to drive about 30-40 minutes not bad but this stretch of the highway always sucks during storms. But my appt is first thing so maybe I'll get lucky!!! I know I'll be sure not to fall this flipping time!!
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calico, post your question on Exchange City too. Someone may have info for you there.
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calico, it sounds like you may be talking about one-step direct to implant, without TEs? If so, I think you need to talk with your doctor about your size expectations as generally they only put in a smaller or "equal-size" implant with one-step...not bigger. TEs are used to stretch muscle and skin to accomodate an implant so that someone smaller CAN go bigger, and while I know many who have done direct to implant it was only be going smaller or staying the same size as it is very important not to stress the skin "overnight". I don't want to be bigger (I am 32DD) and indeed want smaller but am still going to get TEs to allow my muscle and skin time to heal and recover...and stretch as even staying same size or smaller my implants will be a lot for my pectoral to handle overnight.
I am very concerned that you have "no idea" what you may wake up with. Your PS should be very willing to discuss this with you!
Direct to implant can be a great option...but only for the right candidates.
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Hi, everyone--
I am new here (this is my first post), and I am so glad to have found this place! (If this should be in a different place, please feel free to move it and let me know.) I am almost 3 weeks post bilateral mastectomy, no reconstruction at this point. My plan is to have tissue expanders placed in 6-8 weeks, and then do a slow fill over the next six months, but I have a lot of questions about how this will work and what kind of permanent implants I should choose (as well as size). Again, if I should be posting in a different section, I will be glad to. Thanks!
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hi and welcome Paula. This is a good place, and you should read the top portion of the main page, and also can contact Whippetmom who is our guru of implants. There is also good general information on the information pages here at bc.o!
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Thank you! I did read the information, and will send Whippetmom a message too--I definitely need help!
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