BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
-
sweetie: I do remember feeling that I was a fair amount smaller after the exchange.I was either expanded to 420 or 480.. I don't remember for sure. This was 10 years ago. I felt I was a little too big at that size of expansion, but when I got the exchange to a 400 cc low profile, I was very disappointed. I looked a lot smaller, but part of the problem was that they used a low profile. implant on me. When I exchanged to the high profile 475, it looked great.The low profile had a low side profile like a hamburger, but the high profile made all the difference. And, I think you can go to a 475cc high profile with being expanded to 400cc. If you go too much more in expansion, you will possibly have ripples.But, I was changed from a 400cc low profile to a 475cc high profile implant with no problem.
0 -
sweetie: I do remember feeling that I was a fair amount smaller after the exchange.I was either expanded to 420 or 480.. I don't remember for sure. This was 10 years ago. I felt I was a little too big at that size of expansion, but when I got the exchange to a 400 cc low profile, I was very disappointed. I looked a lot smaller, but part of the problem was that they used a low profile. implant on me. When I exchanged to the high profile 475, it looked great.The low profile had a low side profile like a hamburger, but the high profile made all the difference. And, I think you can go to a 475cc high profile with being expanded to 400cc. If you go too much more in expansion, you will possibly have ripples.But, I was changed from a 400cc low profile to a 475cc high profile implant with no problem.
0 -
joiedevivre-Thanks for the insight. I will call the office this week to schedule my surgery and I am going to see if it it is possible to get me into a 475 HP, those dimensions are actually a little smaller than my TE so it seems possible. I already see ripples now with my current expansion so I wonder if thats means I will have those same ripples with the implant or if he uses a bigger implant will that help? Did you just have the revision to the new size and was it because it was time to change the implant out?
0 -
sweetie- whippetmom is the expert on here but I wanted to tell you what my PS told me. She said the implants will appear about 25 cc's smaller than the same volume in your TE's. I was expanded to 365 and went with 375 implants. At first I thought I had gone too small but as they've been "dropping and fluffing" they seem bigger now. I just got measured at Nordstrom's for bras and I was a 32D. Definitely see what Deborah (whippetmom) thinks. She really knows her stuff!
0 -
joie: There was another woman on this site who changed out her expander and it made a world of difference, so if he messed up he should correct it! Deborah?
0 -
sweetie: You will lose about 25 ccs however, the high profile will give you more projection. Being a uni he used a high profile on my MX side and a midrange on my natural side. I was expanded to 535 and he put in a 550 HP. It looks smaller than the TE. My PS asked me right before we went into surgery if I liked the size of the TE and I said yes, bigger please and he just laughed. It will take a couple more months before I will truly know how big they are but they feel light, not heavy at all, and because of Deborah, they fit my frame perfectly! I did not have any rippling but he used fat grafting when he did the exchange. This should help with the rippling. So will Alloderm.
0 -
Hi Deborah, Ladies, I'm back.... Thank you so much for praying for me, the surgery went well, I'm a bit dizzy and tired so I will just update you and go back to bed... Deborah, the PS put in 133FV-13 TEs... that what it says on the little card that he gave me after the surgery. he also said he was able to fit the larger implants (I guess larger then 400cc?...). what do you think?
0 -
Kate and MJ- I understand what your saying. I am just concerned because I am at 400cc's and he won't expand anymore and is saying he will get me in a 440-460 range. I just want to make sure at that size I will at least look like I do with the TE. If not I am going to have to push him to see if he can go up to 475. I did mention to him several times about over expanding and the how the implants look smaller and he just said it's not always necessary to over expand. I know he basically does a lot more gummies and I know with those he doesn' t like to over expand either because the pocket has to be tight. At this point though I am considering the rounds and when I told him that he still didn't want to over expand and just stopped me at 400. I asked about fat grafting and they are not yet doing in his office but are looking into to for the future. I do see ripples now already so I wonder if a larger implant takes care of that or not.
Kate, I'm glad you looking and feeling good. 32D, really!! Your pics encouraged me a lot about the rounds!
MBJ so do you know what cup size you are now?
0 -
Sweetie: I am guessing I am a 36 C or D but I need to drop and fluff still, plus, I m just peeking inside the bra which has a ton of gauze everywhere, so it's a bit difficult to measure with all of this stuff in the way. I will get a pro measure at Nordstroms as soon as my 2 week wait is up. Many PS's don't overexpand but can still get a larger implant in. My PS said he overexpands then does a much smaller implant to get a natural look. But I think with reconstruction this doesn't always work and going bigger is better. I was very pleased he went to 550 because when we first met he was talking 375 cc's! I would have been an A!
0 -
Sweetie -- some PS's overexpand and some don't. Does your PS use allergan (I can't remember). I also wonder whether he does partial or full submuscular implantation -- if partial, that might explain why he doesn't need to overexpand.
0 -
venus: So glad you are doing well! You have 500 cc TEs! That is excellent! It will be no problem getting you where you need to be volume-wise at the time of the exchange.
sweetie: Show your PS the dimensions of the TEs vs. the dimensions of the Style 20, 475 cc implant. Ask him..."what do you need to do to get me to a 475 cc implant?"
joie: PM me with a list of all of the Health Net approved plastic surgeons and I will help you find one. In the interim, why don't you email me a photo of what is going on with your TEs so that I can verify that they might or might not be a problem for you. I do not want you to go through another surgery needlessly.
0 -
Whippetmom, Thanks so much for all your great info. Is pocket revision necessary when you go smaller? Will there be a chance the implant can move more with out pocket revision? I know the nipple placement will probally be off if I go smaller. I have appoinments next month Sept with PS and BS. I guess I will start there. Thanks again for all your help.
Di
0 -
I am so confused about all this... I WAS a 36D/DD depending on which brand I bought. All I want is to look the same as I did pre-BMX. I had initially thought I would do the DIEP, and still am thinking I would like to.. Except the nurses, and even my BS looked skeptical. Apparently I "too thin". HA! I don't think so! And my Onc. told me he'd like me to lose 15 lbs in order to achieve my "ideal wieght".
Anyways, I have an appt with the PS on 9/6 for an initial consultatation. And would like to appear as tho I have at least *some* knowledge about reconstruction. My BS told me "the 410's are beautiful". I have no idea what cc I should be thinking about, how that correlates to approx breast cup size. Nor do I completely understand the whole projection vs. round.
I will keep reading... I'm slowly trying to get thru this whole thread, but those listed above are my questions so far! I will have more time to read once the kids go back to school! haha!!
(((Hugs and Healing thoughts to Everyone)))
Anne
0 -
Anne: What is your height, weight, ribcage circumference - measuring under the bra line?
Personally, I would get at least two consultations - and one with someone very experienced in the microvascular procedures - and then one who does a whopping amount of implant-based breast reconstruction procedures. There is no reason you should not be able to return to your same size prior to MX - especially if you have the skin flaps. Did you have rads - and this is why you have a delayed reconstruction? If you had rads, there are some other thoughts and recommendations. But post your vital statistics and let's see where approximately you should be volume-wise with implants.
Deborah
0 -
Di: Yes, unless the pocket is narrowed to accomodate the smaller implant, it will move around in the pocket and will naturally tend to migrate laterally, towards the armpits. You want to have your nipples in the right place after all of this...after going through the effort to preserve them. Otherwise, you might as well have had them attached to your forehead. So allow your PS to get you to the volume necessary to permit the proper location of the nipples on the breast mound.
0 -
Hi Whippet!
Height is 5'3", weight is 140lb (or was pre BMX...so about that or a little less), and ribcage is 33in.
I waited on recon, because the wait for BMX w/recon delayed my surgery minimum 4 mos, possibly to 6. And I just wanted to get it over with and deal with the recon later. It was too much for me to even THINK about reconstruction, when I was still wrapping my mind around having cancer... and all I wanted to do, was to get it out, beat the cancer. My breasts took a backseat.
I may be undergoing chemo, but I won't know for about another 2 weeks when I get the test results. So those results will determine whether I can start recon right away, or wait until after chemo.
0 -
Anne: So you are going to need tissue expanders with a width of 13.0 cm, with a recommended fill volume of 500 ccs or even 600 ccs, depending on the style of TE. I believe that high profile, smooth round silicone implants with a volume of at least 500 ccs or preferably 550 ccs would be nice on your frame. This would be a high profile smooth silicone implant. If you are opting for the anatomicals and your PS has access to same, a different formula for expansion will be required. You would then want anatomicals in the mid to high 400 cc range I believe.
0 -
Thanks Whippet!!
And that would put me about the same size? Thanks so much, this helps me narrow my research.
P.S. what are anatomicals?
0 -
Anne: The "410s" are anatomically shaped implants - the true cohesive gel gummy bear implants. Your BS mentioned them to you. Not all plastic surgeons have access to them, as they are not yet approved by the FDA. Those that do have them are involved in clinical trials with the Allergan 410s.
Deborah
0 -
MJB-that sounds like a perfect size. I tried bras on today just to see where I was at in the TE and I was less than a full B in some of them and in a lacey stretch one I was a C. I am thinking now I really wish I could be at least a full C. I can't wait for you to see how you look too! Will you be posting pics?
Lilah-he uses Allergan with alloderm. I don't know how he placed it. Should I ask him?
Whippetmom-I wish ask him. I think I will schedule another appointment before surgery to go over this. I kept telling him I wanted to go bigger but he didn't want to add any more cc's.
0 -
Sweetie -- I was thinking that if he uses alloderm he may only do a partial sub-muscular placement (and uses the alloderm to hold the implant in place), which is why he doesn't need to expand larger than the implant. JUST a guess. You could ask if YOU are curious. I know my PS expands TEs around 150 cc's bigger than final implant so that she can get it into the pocket; she said she needs the extra room because gummies, being less squishy, are not as easy to slip into place.
0 -
Lilah-I think I will ask the nurse when I call. I like to ask her a lot of these type of questions and then save the "major" ones for him so as not to take up too much time. My impression is that he doesn't like to over expand very much. I know he said he doesn't even for gummies which is different than what your Dr. does. That makes me worry that in a gummy I would look even smaller. I don't really feel very big now, just about a B. Another questions is that I see ripples now. Does a bigger implant take care of the ripples? Will the skin retract after the implant is placed or is where it is stretched to now the way the pocket is going to be. If that is the case there seems to be room to put a bigger implant in right now, but so much if it retracts.
0 -
I think the skin retracts. I was expanded to 850 cc's and have a 685 cc implant and my skin is tight.
But my basic reaction to your list of questions is: you should bring them to your doctor. They are all reasonable questions and he will be able to answer them best.
0 -
Deborah! Bandages are off and they are lovely!!! I posted my new pics with an ace bandage at the top, but you can see they are a close match. Have to wear one of those sports bras with the band across the type for a few weeks, which stinks because it's 100 outside, but the size is perfect and I (and my husband) cannot thank you enough!!! There are minor issues to be addressed but he did a great job matching them, it's just going to take longer for my MX side to take shape!
Sweetie: Go look at my new pictures on TimTam's site. I am either a 36C or D cup right now but we shall see after the "drop and fluff"
. I had to order a compression bra so in the meantime I am wearing a soft, wireless C cup with an ace bandage at the top to hold my breasts down. This old bra is slightly small but I loosened the straps and the band isn't tight so it will do for now until I can get a proper measure and my bra in the mail. I measured one inch bigger around my breasts before the exchange and before my right side was augmeneted to match the left side. Right now I am 38" across and 9" from side to side and look like a full C in clothing (I have a 32" ribcage).0 -
MBJ: They ARE lovely! You are so very welcome....I was glad to help. I am just thrilled you got the results you hoped to achieve...
0 -
Deborah: I never would have spent the money to just have a "boob job" but since I didn't have a choice, thank you for making it so I had the best possible outcome. They really are pretty and they look smaller with the ace bandage on, too! They are much fuller without the huge step off and my PS says if I am religous about wearing the compression bra they will lay more naturally when they settle. I am so happy I could just cry and they are soooooo soft!
0 -
whippetmom, This is my first post, but I want to tell everyone on these discussion boards that I could not have made it this far without knowing all of you were out there... some days I feel like I may be going insane.
I had my first surgery in June,2010 a lumpectomy without clear margins. My IDC turned out to be not 1.8 cm but, instead 6cm Stage 11, grade 3. Becasue I live in a small community I went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN. for a second opinion and found that my cancer was ILC, 3 nodes of 20 were positive. The also found a very smal DCIS when doing an MRI. My PET scans came back clean so my diagnosis is ILC, 6cm, Stage IIIa, Grade 2, ER and PR +, HER2-. My course of treatment is a skin and nipple sparing mastectomy, 2 step recontruction with tissue expanders and hopefully implants. I am also having 5 weeks of radiation therapy and Arimidex for 5 years.
Sorry for be so long winded, I was hoping you could give me some advice on size of impant. Pre cancer I wore a 34 d to dd depending on the quality and cut of the bra
I am 53 yeras old, weigh 128 pounds, 5'5" tall. My chest diameter is 29 inches. My tissue expander is a Mentorr medium height 650 cc, 14.6 cm width, x 12.6 cm height x 7.6 cm projection.(they will be filling to 650cc) I hope to be a little smaller than I am now (perkier also after having 4 children). After reading all of the discussions I'm confused about how to explain what I'm hoping for and also what to do with my healthy breast that will need some revision to get symetry. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
0 -
Deborah,
You were right. As soon as I called one of the doctors you suggested the anxiety was gone. I'm told I'm a doer and since tomorrow is my last chemo I'm not going to have anything to "do". I'm not comprehending the TE's and implant lingo yet, but I would like to hear your suggestion. I'm 5'6" 175# and Ribcage 37".
0 -
Hi Flippy -- I too am a uni with NSM done in Jan with two-stage recon. Had my normal size augmented. Am currently deciding on a revision. Wish I had been on this board before my exchange so I could have educated myself and asked all the questions. But, I'm learning now and I'm so thankful for everyone here.
0 -
Grandmabubb - Hey, I notice you're from Southern Illinois! PM me because I'm down in that neck of the woods too!0
