BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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Donna: Keeping that rads tissue in mind, let's not push the envelope. If your PS can safely use a 600 cc implant, great. If she feels she would need to continue to expand your TEs in order to use a 600 cc implant, then stick with 550 ccs. I personally do not think you should expand any further. But you could mention the Style 45's to her and write down the dimensions of the TEs vs. the dimensions of the implants.
Deborah
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I only look at MINE more frequently in the past two weeks, because I am so happy with the tattooing by FACECRAFTER! I'm posting photos as soon as I find my doomafloppy - the USB cord - or whatever it is called.
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Nancy: Thanks for the heads up. I did look at the cream she is touting and I would not advise the use of this product at all, especially referable to its intended us on irradiated skin.
Ingredients:
Water, Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Monostearate, Polowax, Silicone Oil, Lanolin, Bronopol, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Fragrance, FD&C No. 1 Blue, Aqua Ammonia, Carbopol, Salicylic acid.
Not a product I would ever use, especially on irradiated skin. Some of these ingredients most of us steer clear of anyway...e.g...ammonia, parabens. But to add perfume, salicylic acid and other potential acid products does not appeal to me at all.
[Contraindications for the use of salicylic acid, or who should not use this product: Peripheral Vascular Disease, Skin Infection, Skin Inflammation, Small Skin Blister, Skin Irritation, Diabetes.]
Just my two cents...
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Deborah: LOL! I am constantly feeling myself up so it's no trouble at all to push that side down as often as possible! I had no idea that you had the same issue that I had prior to recon. I always had to wear padded bras as I was completely two different sizes before. I think that it's now more visible since my augmented side dropped & fluffed. Also, will my MX side ever hang down like a real breast? When I bend over is when it's most obviously smaller, oh and in bras: A bit of a wrinkle in the cup area though this could be lack of a nipple. I was just concerned that it would be even smaller if they make the nipple from the breast the oragami way (does anyone know what this is really called???). I will post my new pictures today so you can see if it's obvious or not. I only look at them a 100 x or more a day LOL!
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To MBJ and all memebers of this forum:
So glad to hear that others are loooking at their breasts all the time. This is why this forum is so special. Nowhere else could we get this support.
I am going now through the expansion process, and also go check on "them" often. The radiated side is quite painful for about 2 days post inflation.
How does anyone deal with the fear of recurrence? My diagnosis was less than one year ago, December 2009, and I have days when I cannot help but think that the cancer might come back.
Sometimes I look at the threads on mets and pray that I will never post there.
I know this might not be related to the exchange, but I felt sharing it.
Donna
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Trytostaypositive. I imagine if you were DCIS and had no nodes and Stage 0 that recurrence wouldn't be an issue as you would have a very good prognosis. I was told I have a very good prognosis due to clear margins, no nodes and being stage 2. But I do have those days when it just gets the better of me.
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i love the term "inflation"
I try to stay on the threads that have to do with my diagnosis and choices for treatments
i do go to a counselor to help with my "obsessive thinking" - damn they have a name for everything- how can you help but obsess about cancer - and anyway - when it gets the best of me, i fill my tub and cry. I sure do feel better when I get out.
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Whippetmom, does an alloderm sling with the TE's replace need for a lattisimus flap in irradiated tissue? Am kind of confused on this issue.
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Donna: DCIS is not invasive breast cancer. From the Mayo Clinic:
"Surgery for DCIS typically doesn't involve removal of lymph nodes from under your arm because it's a noninvasive cancer. The chance of finding cancer in the lymph nodes is extremely small."
This is an interesting article - two years ago - which supports that women who have been diagnosed with DCIS "overestimate" their risk for recurrence of breast cancer. Why this is...I don't know. According to this article, you have a 1% risk of systemic recurrence and a 1% change of local recurrence. This is pretty darn low. But look at the women's perceptions of their risk. I would say they grossly overestimate their risk!.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/BreastCancer/8334
I know that there are some gals on the DCIS forum who could reassure you as well....
Deborah
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Fearless_One: The Alloderm graft as a sling, will support the weight of the tissue expander [and ultimately the implant - especially if there is muscle deficit], provide implant coverage in the lower pole [the pectorals only cover the top two thirds of the implant], and it can assist in allowing better skin coverage of the tissue expander and/or implant. A latissimus dorsi flap can also address either tissue coverage or muscle deficits, but there are reasons for selecting an autologous procedure vs. an implant-based with Alloderm. The chief reason for opting for a lat flap appears to be that the patient has had radiation and a better cosmetic result can be achieved with an autologous procedure over TE-implant based reconstruction. The risk of capsular contracture is not an issue - provided an implant is not used in conjunction with the lat flap. The risk of capsular contracture is elevated in implant-based recon after irradiation. There are other reasons....I believe that a lat flap can render a more natural appearing breast mound - with greater allowance for projection - and a perfectly natural feel. The body habitus is also a key issue. A woman who is plus-size and has adipose tissue overlying the chest wall, could achieve a better result with an autologous procedure. Someone with this body type can have a tendency to sort of swallow up breast implants - and there is not always a size selection sufficient to provide the desirable volume, projection or just presence on the chest wall. Therefore, a lat flap PLUS implant could make all of the difference for some women. Also, there is the issue of the longevity of the procedure. Alloderm - far less time than a flap procedure. So there are many issues to discuss if you are wavering between the two procedures. Some of you are reading this and thinking, TMI, TMI!!! Oh....I could wax on all day about this stuff! . I honestly know very little about the lat flap procedure - the actual technique or mechanics of same - and there are many others on other forums and threads who could put me to shame talking about autologous procedures. I know enough just to be dangerous.
Deborah
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Claire: AMEN girlfriend!!!!
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Donna -- I deliberately do not read the forums for cancers more advanced than mine -- especially not the Stage IV forums -- because I know I would be tempted to indulge in obsessive fear and worry about recurrence. As it is, when recurrence happens to people on the forums I DO read my heart goes out to them AND I find I am more somber and worried for myself for a time after; at these times I recheck with my doctors to make sure I am doing all that I can. It reassures me. There is really nothing else we can do (other than the treatment we have already undertaken).
In your case, as Deborah pointed out, your chance of recurrence is so very low that if I were you I'd take solace from that! Furthermore, it sounds like you've had a BMX which is aggressive treatment for DCIS and you can feel reassured by that as well.
That said, if it helps, I know how you feel
Other than the above, I try to keep focused on living and enjoying life (healthfully of course) and most days I do not dwell on fear.0 -
I guess I'm still confused about sizing of implant and bra size vs. what it really looks like in closes, when refering to implants. Are you saying if I want to look like a full B, that with implants I'll have a bigger "bra" but the same "look"?
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kjbrown92: Yes, that's correct. My bra size is a 34DD but I look like a full C cup.
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kjbrow92 - My bra size is a 30DD or a 32D and I feel like I look like only a full B cup.
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So is that because of the "projection" I'm hearing about? I'm so used to seeing nothing when I look down, that I feel like anything is going to feel huge. But if I get what I think is a B, but end up in a D bra, well... I can't since I can't wear a bra (back spasms) so I really worry that it will hurt my back or that it will look strange on me. I'm just confused. I'm going to see the plastic surgeon on Friday, and my surgery is set for Nov. 2 and I'm worrying about everything, I guess.
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kjbrown92 - whippetmom is the guru. Implants are generally WIDER than our natural breasts, you will not get the projection from implants in a reconstructed breast that you would have in an augumented breast that has breast tissue behind it, thus projecting it further out. A lot of it depends too on your skeletal system. Do you have TE's in right now? Your implants will not have the projection that your TE's do because they are rock hard, immovable and the implants are soft.
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Right now I just have me (32AA). PBM with TE is Nov. 2. I'll just go with Whippetmom's recommendations when I go to the plastic surgeon, even if I don't understand it.
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Whippetmom..
I read where you mentioned that an implant would need to be 50 or 100cc bigger then your TE to achieve the same size....My PS used the mentor expandable implants as TE's (because I thought I might want to not have an exchange)
Will my 500cc look a lot smaller then the overfill of 600 I have now? Thanks!
I'm REALLY getting exciting about the exchange!
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kjbrown: Did you get into the pictures forum yet? I wanted you to see some photos. Also, talk to your PS about the style of TE he intends to use. A number of surgeons are beginning to use the newer Mentor CPX3 tissue expanders - which have suturing tabs to keep the TEs from migrating during expansion. This would be a good choice for you and I would recommend the low height style first [in 250 ccs volume] and then the moderate height style. But talk over all of these issues with your PS. If you want to be on the smaller side, you could go with 375 ccs - high profile implants. Don't worry about bra size, because it does not equate to implant volume. You want implants which will not be too heavy [since you will not be wearing a bra] and will look nice and proportionate for your frame.
Deborah
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Everett: That depends. Which volume of Spectrum do you have? One of the last two I presume, but let's nail it down so that we can get the correct dimensions.
http://www.justbreastimplants.com/breast_implants/mentor_1400.htm
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I have Mentor Siltex contour profile 354-2513...rads side is 600cc..other was up to 550..
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kjbrown: I have 550 ccs and they don't feel heavy at all. I have horrible back problems but not from my foobs. You are in good hands with Whippetmom!
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Everett: Thanks for reminding me of your style #! Okay, so your width now is 12.7 cm. The projection is possibly 7.5 cm or more. I honestly do not know what happens to the Spectrum when it is overfilled beyond the recommended maximum fill on the chart - the max fill for your style is 540 ccs. I do not know if it continues to diminish in width and gain in height and projection. The TEs do not gain in width.
But you are not going to find a silicone round implant to match the projection you now have. The closest you could come would be with an Allergan Natrelle Style 45, in 600 ccs. The dimensions would be 12.8 cm width by 6.1 cm projection. I personally think that you would be happier with around 550 ccs or 600 ccs anyway, if you are happy with the size you are now with the Spectrums. But with your ribcage circumference, I would recommend staying in the 13.0 to 13.6 cm range. So a high profile implant with 550 ccs would be preferable to 500 ccs - if Mentor - dimensions would be 13.6 cm width by 5.5 cm projection.
Have you been to the pictures forum?
Deborah
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Thanks Deborah! I love the picture forum! I actually think my side filled to 600 is a to big, so I'm thinking that the 500 or 550 should be perfect. I also, really want the round high profile.
I have pictures in the forum under "guster"
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Everett: Eeek...why didn't you TELL me???? I just went and looked at your photo. Absolutely not the Style 45's! They would be too tall for you and completely wrong. Yes to high profile smooth round silicone implants - 500 ccs to 550 ccs. Sounds good to me! You are looking very good right now, by the way!!
Deborah
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Hello all. I am new to this forum. So I'm not too sure of the protocol. Still learning how to tag my information. But I thought I would pop in for my first post.
I underwent a BM on July 31st, with immediate reconstruction. I have TE's placed and go go for my last fill on Thursday October 21st. I believe I will be expanded to just over 600 CC's. Following my BM I went home at 250CC (more than I expected) and the healing has gone relatively well. I feel for the women after reading some of the stories, and my heart goes out to them. I just have absolutely no idea of what to expect. It feels like I'm watching a movie, and haven't read the book, and the only thing I know is that my life will change.
But on Thursday, I will have the required information for you regarding my TE type and size. I am also curious about the lack of projection that the implants offer as opposed to the TE's. I am very small-framed, (4'11" and 103lbs) and would like to get as close as possible to my original sizing. Which was a 32D. My ribcage measures 29 inches. But seeing as I had a fairly un-remarkable healing process, I have found the need to become very focused on the possible outcome, as to give my mind something to do besides worry. As of now, I am most excited about feeling more feminine with softer boobs. The hardness is really getting to me. I miss the femininity of cleavage, and having my breasts in the same zip code as each other, and not in Left Armpitville and Right Armpitville. They miss each other. But most of all I wanted to just finally work up the courage to introduce myself, as it seems like this is a friendly welcoming environment.
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I did look at the picture forum, but when the person that was my frame ended up an "E" I was terrified. But it's hard to tell what people look like in clothes, and my frame of reference is probably skewed, with my shrunken and dented boobs. I'll have to look around more on the picture forum and see what/who else is on there. Thanks!!
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MSNOMORELUMPS - Welcome! I love it, "I miss ... having my breasts in the same zip code and not in Left Armpitville and Right Armpitville." LOL! Oh, how can we relate!
You are going to love your softies ... they're a coming! It's great that you've had an uneventfull fill process. You're in good hands with whippetmom. Do you have an exchange date yet? Again, welcome to the boards and thanks for a much needed laugh this morning! 0 -
Thanks Deborah! I have had a pretty uneventful time expanding, even with rads.
I've been thinking about posting a picture now that I have one side leaking. The overfilled side is high and full and HARD. The leaking side is contour shape and soft. The PS fills me up whenever I ask, but it only lasts a day or too. Sometimes you just have to laugh!
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