BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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Thanks, Deborah. As far as I can tell, it had been 2 1/2 weeks since the last fill, and it was 60 cc's. Ten days before they had done 90 cc's, which was miserable, although there was no bruising, nor with any earlier fills.
I guess what worried me was: Was I starting to bruise because the TE was getting full and the skin was more stretched? They tell me I'm 120cc's away from full on a 500-550 cc TE.
Anyway, it's reassuring to hear that it does happen. Thanks.
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My PS says the Mentor moderate plus is the same as the moderate in Allergan, so I am confused.
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Am still waiting to speak to a former patient of my PS who is extremely active who had the neurectomy. I just can't trust a Dr. telling me it will be okay, so will let you know. I did speak to one of his former patients who had a LMX and who is an aerialist by profession. It took her some work but she is back on the trapeze after the single MX w/ neurectomy. I want to speak with one more though. The TEs are new, model 7100. They have tabs for the PS to suture them onto your body so they don't migrate!
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MBJ: Do not go by the "description" of the styles. The MPP in Allergan is Style 15. Look at the dimensions, not the description. The moderate profile in Allergan is Style 10. I do not know of any PS who has used the style 10 on a MX reconstruction. Style 15 and Style 20 are the two most commonly used styles, followed by Style 45.
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Oh Good!! I imagine I will get the most projection from the 15 or 20's! All I could think ofthe last two days was matronly--I have never been that LOL!!! And neither have you, BTW!! Thank you for clearing this up!
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joan: I would not do more than 50 ccs every ten days. There is no rush to finish this process. Because the bruising is right at the port site, it seems more likely it is the mechanics of the pressure of the needle in that area. Perhaps if the needle does not go in at the right angle, there is more pressure on the tissues...I do not know. Make sure the PS or technician is using the magna-finder external locating device to find the injection site, and not just palpating the area with fingers to find the injection site Wait until the bruising/skin discoloration is resolved before you get another fill.
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Hi Ladies,
I have question- I am about 12 weeks out from BI MX with TE in. My left side has been itching under my skin and feels sort of irritated. It's been like this off an on. I can't scratch the itch because it's inside. I feel quite frequently. I don't feel any of this on the right. Is this normal and part of healing?
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orchid: I will be very interested in knowing how the pectoral neurectomy ameliorates the implant animation most of us experience after MX. It is uncomfortable enough trying to scoop icecream out of a carton, and so I cannot fathom trying to swing from a trapeze after MX. Of course, the latter could be deadly anyway, at my age.
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Deborah: You would look great in the Trapeze Leotard though
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Only if it was a hoodie/footie, MBJ.
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Deborah, LOL!! You are too cute!
I just went to Timtam's site and Fumi is shutting down the picture site!
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joan- There is a product called Arnica which can help with the bruising. You take it a day or two before until a few days afterwards and it can prevent or even lessen bruising. Hurleygirly and I have both used it with much success. It is available at most health food stores and maybe even drug stores.
sweetie2040- I had that same under the skin itching feeling with my TE's and have had it post exchange as well. It's maddening sometimes isn't it? I haven't done much research but I think it has to do with the nerves regenerating just like the phantom pains that some women have. I don't have it nearly as much as I used to so I do think it gets better with time. I don't know why some of us get it and some don't but I can definitely empathize with you!
So sad about Timtam's site!
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Thanks for the tip on arnica--I've heard of it, but I always forget about it.
I was given neurontin for nerve pain--mainly stinging--it helped sooo much. I wonder if that would help with the itching?
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joansf- That's so funny that you brought up neurontin! I was just reading about it yesterday. They are actually prescribing it to help with hot flashes for those of us who cannot take hormones. I was going to speak to my GP about it as BC seems to have pushed me head first into menopause. If it helped with the pain from the nerves regenerating as well what a bonus!!!
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ARNICA WORKS!
I grow all my own herbs and am kind of a geek in my own naturals world here... I had outer eye surgery... some bruising.. lasting a week and only a week. It should have lasted 2-3 weeks.
Arnica works!
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whippetmom: The PS said he cuts usually three out of five or six nerves of the Major Pecs. Now you've got me concerned, as I teach healthy cooking classes publicly and privately, and do some catering as well, which is all very dependent upon upper body strength. Didn't realize that recon w/ implants would affect my work to that extent. Does everyone with recon implants have this experience, such as when scooping ice cream? Not sure if I mentioned I spoke to the PS assistant and these Siltex Low Height 7100s are new. They have tabs that the PS uses to suture them down so they won't drift. If you want to see the aerialist, who had a SMX, send me a PM and I'll send you the link to her site. They perform regularly around the south land.0
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kate33--I was skeptical that neurontin would help hot flashes. I went from using hormone replacement therapy to having to stop as of my diagnosis and now I'm on an aromatase inhibitor.
Meanwhile, I'd had night sweats for years despite the HRT. They have stopped--completely!--with neurontin, and so far I'm not having a problem with hot flashes. I think it's just a miracle drug.
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orchidgal: The "animation" issue is a sensory and cosmetic issue rather than a functional issue. It feels strange and looks strange, but most women who have undergone breast implant - based reconstruction recover all upper body strength they had prior to MX. I think that the purpose of the pectoral neurectomies will be to ameliorate if not eradicate the animation aspects aforementioned. So this will not be a concern for you.
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Hi - You seem smart as a, well, whip(pet) -- very smart!
I don't know how I'm supposed to get the sizing info (I didn't see where to go in Exchange City) so I'm writing the info to you here if that's ok.
Under my braline I measured 31". I am almost 5'4" and about 130 but i'm plan on losing weight...I'm up to 330 ccs already. And my TEs are Allergens, Ref. 133 FV -12.
I'm scheduled for one or two more fills but think this may be big enough but it's so hard to judge -- they are so ROUND and HARD right now. What size would I be? I'd be happy with a B (I used to be a DD). Can you figure it out or direct me to how I can ? Many thanks and god bless, M.
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Thanks Deborah once again for the good advice. (dreft great idea didn't think of that) I just bought this months Real Simple magazine which has an article "road test sports bras" for anyone who is interested' so I'm going to try one of those. (Fortunately the redness has cleared so may have been bra or dermatitis as you suggested as I have had that before.).
Joan I also had a bruise once after expansion where needle was inserted and it went away.
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mint - I have the same TEs as you and am filled to 360ccs - I think I'm going to get one more fill!! Good luck - no idea what cup size that will be.
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mint: If your skin is doing well with expansion, you should fill up to your recommended capacity of 400 ccs with your TEs and perhaps a little overfill. Do not focus on bra size, because if you tell your PS you want to be a "B" cup, you will end up with tiny little nubs on your chest. Here is what would work for you:
High Profile
450 - 475 ccs [and this would be Allergan Natrelle Style 20 as Mentor does not have this latter size] or
500 ccs Either Allergan or Mentor
Moderate Plus Profile
421 ccs - Allergan Style 15
457 ccs - Allergan Style 15
[NOTE: Mentor also has the MPP style, but the dimensions of Allergan are better - better projection]
You need more implant volume after MX in order to get a sufficient breast mound. The MPPs give a more athletic appearance because they are lower in profile than the HPs. Go over these options with your PS. The majority of us who have smooth silicone rounds have implants with greater volume than were our TEs. You and I have nearly identical statistics - same ribcage circumference, same height, I am only 5 pounds less - and I had the same TEs. I was filled to 425 ccs [25 ccs overfill] and my implants are Allergan Natrelle Style 20 high profile - 550 ccs. But my skin was very responsive to expansion. I imagine you have pretty sufficient flaps also, since you were a DD cup prior to MX.
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Whippetmom: I'm basically the same body size as you, mint, and vmudrow. I have 330 ccs on one side and 360 ccs on the other. They do not look like "little tiny nubs" on my chest. You might want to send a picture of yours to mint and vmudrow so that they can see what 550 ccs look like. If mint was previously a DD, then that could well be a size she will like.
Did you ever get your tfeather? Hope all worked out well. Mine are faded, especially the right side. I think it's from abrasion from the pec animation.
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Double: If mint tells her PS she wants a "B" cup, she could end up with implants with a volume in the 300 cc range and this would be too small for her chest wall. A natural or augmented DD cup is just not the same as a reconstructed DD cup. Not the same at all. You will look smaller as a reconstructed DD cup. Much smaller. I was a C cup prior to MX and I wear a DD cup now. However, my clothes fit the same and, in fact, some fit better because I have a lower profile and no spillage over the cups. I look smaller in clothing than I did prior to MX. It is a connundrum, but one we want to consider.
I have not done anything additional yet to the tats. I think I am going to have Judy touch them up in Vegas.
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I'll second what Deborah said... I was a DD-DDD prior to reconstruction. Now I'm a D and look MUCH smaller (like half the size). I even still fit in a few of my old DD bras and it is definitely NOT the same (though only the stretchy ones, otherwise the cup wrinkles). In fact, my reduction/lift side fills the D cup better than my implant side. It's like I'm a full D on reduction side and small D on MX side.
And I've got 685 cc's on the implant side.
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whippetmom & orchidgal
I've had trouble finding information on working out after all this is over and you all have helped me. Thank you. It's especially encouraging that "most women will gain all upper-body strength prior to MX." My plastic surgeon assured me of that back in November when I saw him the first time, but I've begun to doubt it. The whole weird pec.movement thing concerned me too. I feel better reading your conversation. Thank you.
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Dawne-Hope: I want to add though, that there are things I can do but I do not want to do after MX - e.g., push-ups. Push-ups were part of my exercise routine prior to MX but I don't do them now because it is such an odd sensation.0
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Dawne-Hope: I've been searching for information as you have - what effect can I expect Mx + implants to have on what I do now? Whippetmom says push-ups produce an odd sensation but that she has the same upper body strength as pre-Mx, and I've heard the same from others. Still, I wonder if there is anything I can ask my PS to do or not do so that I can optimize my post-Mx life, e.g., so that I will still be able to push up from the floor into a backbend. Or, do I actually consider no implants because of the potential loss of strength and mobility? Thanks for anyone's advice.
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yogamom - At first, I was totally against having reconstruction simply b/c I wanted to do everything (weight lifting, yoga, pilates) that I had been doing. I was assured by two different doctors that I would be able to. Since then, I've had A LOT of trouble finding information for BMX ladies. Hope someone can help you. Best of luck to you.
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yogamom: Why don't you PM orchidgal, whose post is on this page, and ask her about the procedure her PS will perform in order to address this issue of pectoral animation.0
