BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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Donna - by any chance did you try more than few times to get in and fail? I think there is a firewall issue where, if you do that, it bans you. The good news: Timtam can help.
If for example you type the password wrong or forget the password you made and retype a few times that's all it takes to get locked out.
So DO send a PM or email to Timtam and I am sure she will fix it for ya
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heebie_jeebie: As Lilah mentioned above re: overfilling TEs for exchange to gummies...ask your PS how much he overfills...don't hesitate to tell him where you want to be size-wise and let him calculate what he needs to do to get you there...
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willid21:
Okay, clarify something for me. You currently have 325 cc implants, having been cosmetically augmented previously, correct? But what does your PS mean when he saids you are "about 550 cc total now"? Does he mean he will need to use implants with a volume of 550 ccs to match what you have with the 325s?
Referable to the TEs: I think the short height/low height would be best, but you probably need to stick with a 12 cm wide TE...which means an Allergan 133 SX - 350 ccs...which would be the largest short height TE he could use. It would be better to keep the TE at 12 cm width and use a 13.0 cm wide implant - e.g., 500 ccs or 550 ccs...if that is what the PS meant by his comment. With these short height TEs, it is pretty easy to swap out for implants with an additional 200 ccs, because the lower pole has expanded so nicely. That is just my preference. But I would definitely recommend against a full height TE.
Deborah
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Donna: Yes, overfilling does allow for more of a skin envelope for good closure, but it also is done for ptosis - or to achieve "droop". I just would not, in your case, want to overfill too much, because of your rads hx. So you might need to convince her to depart from her views on overfilling to the degree she likes, at the slightest sign of tissue intolerance. Try Timtam again, as Lilah suggested. If you need further help, let me know...
Deborah
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Thanks Deborah, yes I am happy with my current TE size (450cc) except they ride very high on my chest and wide under my arm and it does seem peculiar. I can only assume that when the implants are inserted they will be in a more natural position. If I like my current size, will that mean the I will get the 450cc implants?
p.s. I found another site, realself.com which has before and after photos...I will also send Timtam a message.
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You ARE the breast whisperer! Yes, you understood what I was trying to communicate. My augment was just 10 months ago. The implant pushed my breast tissue out and in my opinion helped me discover the lump during a self breast exam. Also, yes, the 550 was to get me where I am now. I'm wide enough but don't fill out the front of the cup of a bra or the lower poles well. I was hoping for more projection without looking like torpedos
I was considering 100cc more to be total volume of 650. Is that possible with the Allergan 133SX - 350 TE? This is so encouraging and Thank You for your help. A PS, that I decided against, said not to expect great results but it would be better than not having any reconstruction. It made me so happy to hear of all the women who are not only pleased with their results but want to go and tan their new beauties You go girls!0 -
Cookie: Welllllll....typically it takes at least 50 ccs, but more often 100 ccs additional volume with implants, to match what you have with your TEs. If you like the look at 450 ccs, I would at least swap them out for silicone round 500s or 550s. Going to realself.com to find photos is useless. Those gals have breast tissue in addition to implants.. The size of implants THEY have will never translate for us. We need more volume than they do, to achieve the same result. You need to get on our pictures forum.
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willlid21:
I feel that the SX with 350 ccs and perhaps a little overfill, could easily take you to 550 ccs. I think 650 ccs is pushing it, but I personally think 650 ccs would be pretty large for your frame. I am 5'4" 125 pounds, 30.5 inch ribcage and my implants are 550 ccs. I am a 34 DD. You would probably be a 32E or 32F with 350 ccs....
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Thanks Deborah, I'm starting to understand. I will get access to the photo forum.
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Thank you for sharing your knowledge Deborah. I know I don't want to be that large. I'm a 32d now and have a tough time finding bras. I'm much more at peace knowing this and seeing that my surgery is less than a week away, I'm especially thankful. Blessings to you.
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mom38: Go to the Bras 101 thread....we know where you can find 32D bras in abundance! But a 32D after breast reconstruction is entirely different than a 32D with a natural or augmented breast. The recon breast will look smaller. There is no spillage over the cup - the reconstructed breast will fill up the cup because of the width of the mound, but there will be diminished projection. The recon breast will never project like a natural or augmented breast. So it does take more volume than we think, to create the look we want to achieve. I am a DD cup, but I look the same in clothing as I did in my pre MX "C" cup bras. Keep us posted and report back after your surgery. Praying all goes well for you!
Deborah
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Hiya - I'm new to this forum. Just started my fills after BMX on 16 September. What is the 'photo forum' - I'd be interested to have a look. Do I just find it by searching on the forum 'search engine'?
Thanks, Jen
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Whippetmom- I read your comment to me on the pic forum about lateral support. What type of bra do you recommmend for this? My dr has me wearing the surgical for 24/7 for 2 weeks. He said no underwires. I was confused because a lot of Drs do recommend underwires. What do you think?
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Jen: Go to the Members List link in the upper right hand corner of this webpage - under your screen name, and look for Timtam. Send a private message to Timtam, with a little blurb about yourself, and she will let you into the forum. You have been posting here long enough. The pictures forum is a separate, private forum...which requires a passcode for entrance.
sweetie: As long as your surgical bra pushes the implants together, you are getting sufficient lateral support for the time being. If it is not doing that - and if it is only compressing and flattening them, just go to Kohls or a sporting goods store and find a Champion sports bra. You might need to try on several, but I am finding that this sports bra gives sufficient lateral support for the first stage bra after the exchange. You want it to push your implants inward - medially, keeping the implants out of your armpits. Go to the Bras 101 thread and look at Val's list and see if she has listed bras with lateral support.
Deborah
Edited to state: I posted some bras which would work for you on Val's Bras 101 thread...
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Sweetie -- my PS said no underwires (not forever but for months, anyway, as I am still underwire free after 5 months). She said the reasons were twofold: (1) if a wire pokes through you might not feel it until it's too late and (2) concern for the wires rubbing against sutures that are under the skin. I get great support from the various wire free bras I've found.
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Deborah-I get a lot of lateral support from the surgical bra. I don't mind wearing it but it squishes me in and it's not very attractive looking. I'm going to look for that bra you suggested.
Lilah-That makes sense. I have been looking through the Bra thread and getting ideas. Right now I don't know when to start buying since it's only a week out. I think I'll wait at least one more week before I try anything. I'm going to start at a local store and just try things on based on the guidelines posted on the bra thread. We'll see were that takes me. Right now I'm feeling like I'll be lucky to fit into a B cup.
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sweetie: Post photos in a week and let's see how things are settling. I agree to not spend a lot of money on a bra or sports bra for at least a few weeks. But one with good lateral support [try Kohls for Champion bras] which do not compress or flatten, would be a worthy purchase at this point.
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I don't know Sweetie - I think you will be surprised! Go to Nordstrom's when you DO go... and definitely wait another week at least!
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Yep...I agree with Lilah Sweetie! You will be surprised...
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Recovery: I would be very judicious and careful about using emollients after MX, simply because you do not want to run the risk of having some adverse reaction to a topically applied product. The gals who have had rads do have some methods they have used to keep the skin pliable and soft and you might want to ask this question on Exchange City - I know Laura [Estepp] will have some suggestions. Keeping the skin healthy and clean and free of bacteria and injury is important during the expansion process. Some products others have used that I am aware of: Palmer's Cocoa Butter lotion and Bio-Oil - both drugstore finds. I personally did not use any creams or lotions, because my skin is pretty thin and seemed to stretch very easily, and my PS felt that the use of creams or lotions might soften my skin, and make it more pliable and thereby stretch even further during the expansion process, perhaps causing too much droop or ptosis at the time of exchange. That was her premise and I just adhered to her suggestions.
But ask around, because I know a lot of gals did use certain products and were pleased with the results.
Deborah
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Whippetmom,
Thank you for your reply.
I would like to ask your advice again. I am worried since today my PS said " You have such nice projection now with the TEs, but the final implants will be wider and with less projection". My PS is so unaapproacheble, I was afraid to ask what she meant.
A little background. My stats are 5' 5", 147 lbs, 32" rib circumference.
I have in Mentor Siltex model 6200 expanders, medium height countur profile, model 354-6213.
They have projection 7 cm, height 10.8 cm and width 12.7 cm.
Now I am filled to 640 cc bilaterally and it looks very good. I would like to achieve a similar look with the final implants.
What do you think of the statement of my PS and what do you recommend?
I do not know how to upload pictures, I guess they would help.
All day I was thinking that I am so fortunate to have you to ask these questions.
Thank you,
Donna
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Whippetmom,
Forgot to mention, I had rads on the right side.
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Donna: The projection of the TEs cannot be replicated with breast implants. The exaggerated projection of the TEs serves a dual purpose, which is to stretch that portion of the breast sufflciently for skin closure and for droop, aka "ptosis." The closest you could come would be the Allergan Natrelle Style 45 smooth silicone round implant which is an ultra full projection style implant. You would need at least 600 ccs and the dimensions would be 12.7 cm width by 6.1 cm projection. I am thinking you are going to want at least 600 ccs - even in a high profile implant - which would take you to around 14.0 cm width and 5.6 or 5.7 cm projection...depending on whether you go with Mentor or Allergan. If you go with Style 45 - it must be Allergan as Mentor's ultra full projection style implant is not available here in the US.
There is a caveat to using the Style 45 and it is that you will need a nice healthy sternal notch to imaginary nipple distance to carry it off, as it is a taller implant and sits higher on the chest wall, in addition to having more projection. I would ask you to email me photos...PM me if you would like my email address.
Glad to help Donna!!
Deborah
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Donna: To clarify: I think you are probably going to be happier with 600 ccs volume - to approximate what you have now with your TEs.
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Deborah,
Within 2 weeks or so, I will take pictures and e mail mail them to you.
I am not sure what you meant by "PM me". How could I do that?
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Donna: If you want to send a private message to someone, click on their screen name and a new window pops up with their profile and a link in the upper right hand corner which allows you to "send a private message"....
Deborah
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Deborah: It has been almost 8 weeks since my exchange and I now notice my MX side is slightly smaller and higher. If you recall, my PS used a HP Round on my MX side Natrelle 20-550 Silicone and on the Right Augmented side Natrelle 15-397. Should I be waiting another month for the full drop and fluff? Thanks in advance!!
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MBJ: As a conservative, implant displacement exercise, you can use the palm of your hand to compress the upper pole of the breast to push the implant downward on the MX side....whenever you think about doing so. I would give it a full three months post-exchange to evaluate if any tweaking needs to be done. As you know, gaining exact symmetry in unilateral reconstruction is a difficult thing to do. In our former lives before bc, many of us had assymetrical breasts. I did, as my right breast was significantly smaller than the left. I always had to wear padded bras, to hide the discrepancy. So we have to accept some minute discrepancies in size after reconstruction.
At this stage after the exchange, it is typical to have a critical eye and begin analyzing every little defect and change. I don't know how I would have held down a full time job, for as many times as I was going into the bedroom to look at my breasts in the first few months after the exchange. The good news is that there will come a time when you will realize, with some element of glee, that you have allowed twelve hours to elapse without examining your breasts.
In photos - at least the ones you have posted thus far - everything looks about perfect to me. You would not believe how many women PM me, telling me they would be thrilled with your results!
Deborah
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LOL Deborah re: "some element of glee" -- I totally relate!
MBJ I think your results look amazing on the site... unless your MX side has changed I can't even see the different you're talking about!
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