BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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Anna- Best of luck tomorrow! ; ) Deb in KS
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You are in my prayers tonight Anna!
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I just want to say hi to Deb (kansasmom)...I too am in Kansas, diagnosed on Oct 1st and awaiting by BMX w/TE's on Nov 30th. I live in the Hutchinson area and this site and all the information has made this journey much less frightening.
Thanks to you and all the others for your help,
Kelly
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I am leaving the house at 430 a.m. to head to te hospital for my stage 2 free tram. I am going to have the lift done on my natuarl side and get implants on both side. My natural side is a small c now and my TRAM side is a full c. I am getting 275 ccs put in the natural side and 200 ccs in the TRAM side. I assume that I wll end up with Ds that are hopefully pretty even when it is all said and done.
I will also have a little bit of dog ear revision. They are not too bad but one side bulges a little. I can see it in s swimsuim and I figure I may as well have him deal with it now.
I am nervous. I am worried about messing with this free tram flap by putting an implant behind it. I so do not want it to fail! I feel bad for even risking it but I really do want it to have a less square shape and I want to be bigger.
ugh- I am just rambling on now but am dreading the whole ordeal. I wish surgery day was over and I was back home resting!
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Welcome Kelly! I had my BMX in November also....two years ago! You are just starting your journey, so please come back to update us after your surgery....
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jc3win: My girlfriend had a free tram flap bilaterally seven years ago and, like you, did not feel she had sufficient volume. So she went back for implants as well, six months later. She is very happy with the results.
Please let us know how you do....we want to hear from you after surgery. I have you on my list now for prayers tonight...
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Whippetmom - Can I call on your expert advice?
I had my BMX with TE's on 11/11. Here is my info so far:
Height 5'6", weight-139, ribcage measurement= 33
The TE's are Allergan catalog #133MX13. Initial fill is 300 over 500ml (not sure what that means? - I think I have 300 to start?)
Alloderm regenerative tissue matrix 6x12 cm extra thick.
I remember my PS saying something about going to at least 600 for implants. I will be getting 60 cc fills weekly starting in about 3-4 weeks.
What are your thoughts? Thanks so much!!!!!
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Hello my friends!
Well, I am home from having the fips done. Deborah you were so right, a great experience talking and talking while he was creating on the canvas. I have more feeling in each breast than I realized and my PS was also quite taken back by the amount of sensation I have. Of course, the lidocaine takes care of it, but it took quite a bit to get me numbed. Amazing! All I could see was their big bright eyes shining from a slightly elevated position. So strange to see, another step in the journey! I will get to see them tomorrow after 24 hours, of course I love it as I remember many ladies sharing here that they seem so big at first and my PS said they will shrink over time. I so appreciate this site as it truly helps us prepare as well as ask the right questions.
Dawne-Hope you asked me how I knew the time was right, well as I said before I canceled once before in September after 4 months from exchange, it just didn't feel right then. I struggled with the decision but after seeing all the pics here in the forum I felt that the fips/nips just give them that real breast look that I have been struggling to accept in my head (not feeling or yet looking like a real breast). I am praying my results turn out good, I have lots of scars yet, but they are fading ever so slowly. Hugs and prayers for each of you and thank you so much for the thoughts and well wishes!
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Anna_M - Thank you for your reply. I'm so excited for you and very glad that the experience was a good one. Yay for you!
) I pray they turn out beautifully and you heal well! 0 -
kdhawk-- Hi fellow sunflower! I am in KC. I also had to wait 2 months from diagnosis to BMX (5/15-7/15). It was hard waiting, but you are almost there. It's also a lot of decisions to make. Are you having your surgery in Hutchinson?
You have come to the right place for support and encouragement!! The advice and knowledge of Whippetmom and so many others on this forum is incredible. It will be invaluable to you as you recover. I had and (still have!) so many questions. It has been helpful to learn from others who have been there and were so willing to share their experiences. You're going to do great.
Anna_M-- So glad it went well for you today. I can't wait til' that will be me getting fips/ nips. I completely agree with you that after seeing the pictures and hearing the comments of others (like yourself) who made the decision to get them, I want to finish the look if I can. To you! You did it... or should I say them : ) ( . ) ( . ) see how good they look?
I had my last fill today and scheduled my exchange surgery. January 4th. I asked the nurse about the PS's technique for fips/ nips and she called it a tri-lobe. She showed me a paper pattern ( it must have been a McCall's or Butterick design) that looked like a three leaf clover that they place over the MX scar to create the nipple. To me it sounded and looked very similar to the cv flap. Anyway, that's a ways down the road.
Deb
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Kansasmom, you are getting closer in the journey! You are going to fill so much better with the exchange! It is amazing the immediate comfort you will feel. I always felt tense with the expanders as they were painful for me. Others here shared a more positive story! Hugs to you and to all the other ladies!
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in_cognito: Sorry for the delay....I missed your post somehow when I scrolled through to see if there were any requests. I do agree with at least 600 ccs - high profile smooth round silicone implants. 650 ccs would be a nice size also. So I think your PS has the vision for you. When your TEs are fully expanded at 500 ccs, you will know how you feel about them and we can reassess the numbers. You can always email me photos at any time during your expansion process if you have concerns, or you can photo-journal your progress on the pictures forum.
Glad you are through the surgery - it is nice to be over that part of the journey.
Deborah
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Anna: So glad everything went well today! Are you planning on posting pictures of your new fips? I am starting to get very curious as mine will be coming up soon. 4 months seems to early for me--thinking of waiting until February for mine. Congratulations!!!
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Have a question about the name of a nipple procedure. I was looking at the diagram posted by modernmade of the modified C V flap procedure. I saw my PS and asked if she did the modified C V flap and she said she did.
When I got home, I looked up some other photos of this procedure and they were different than the diagrams/photos posted by modern. I did a bit more research and it seems like the procedure is called modified C V flap with areola grafting.
Did anyone have the same procedure at modernmade and if so, did you PS refer to it as modified C V flap? I'm thinking I asked about the wrong procedure and from her assistant's description to me many months ago, I really think the procedure she does does not include the areola grafting.
I'm wondering if I should consider going elsewhere for this final step although I'm not really sure which docs do this in Ontario . . . if any. For those of you who are already finished, do you think the finished product of the areola grafting is worth the effort in switching PS?
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Mantra: Mine doesn't graft on the aereola, either. good question! Ladies???
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Mantra- hmmm. Idk, but I am interested in the answers to your questions.
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Mantra: Areola grafting is not as widely performed in the past decade or so, with the advent of areolar tattooing. Once tattoos were introduced, the insurance companies probably jumped for joy....the costs of this aspect of breast reconstruction were mitigated considerably. I have Kaiser insurance and Kaiser, twenty/thirty years ago exclusively grafted areolae. Not any longer. Tattoos are the only option now.
I have been researching this entire issue, since someone else just PM'd me with a similar question, although hers was more directed to the issue of losing some projection at the center of the mound, due to skin-borrowing for the c-v flap. So I came upon this article describing the use of a biocompatible injectible substance which will create a three -dimensional effect on the mound. It appears to be done in three stages, after the nipple is created via c-v or other flap procedure. Areolar tattooing is performed at some point after the last injection and patient/doctor satisfaction with projection is achieved.
http://www.eplasty.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=396&catid=15&Itemid=116
Something to discuss with your plastic surgeons....
Deborah
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Artecoll, BTW, is a substance typically used to plump up the facial structures. I see it is pretty widely used in Canada....and not terribly expensive in Canada. So if your PS performs facial cosmetic procedures also, she might have access to it.
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And here's a ps about Artecoll. If you're going to get it, make sure they do the scratch test.
The plastic surgeon who tried to repair my nose after it was badly broken, was going to use some Artecoll. I had 11 grafts taken from my ears to rebuild my nose but some of them failed. So to even it out, he was going to use some Artecoll to build up the side a bit. It's permanent so that's why he considered using it. Anyway, he said he had to do a scratch test first. I thought . .. what a waste of time but of course, let him do.
Felt great for about 6 hours. Then I started to itch everywhere. I had never experienced itching like this before and was going to go to the ER to get some meds for it because I was scratching so hard that I was bleeding. It finally settled down but I obviously was allergic to it and can only imagine if he had gone ahead and injected it without doing the scratch test.
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Whoa...that is certainly worth mentioning Mantra! Thank you for sharing....
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I'm getting very excited. I have my exchange on 12/6. My PS was very happy to hear Whippetmoms suggestions. I had rads, but my skin is looking good...but, just in case my PS has 3 sizes ready for the OR.
My PS says I will have two drains...yuck!
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Hi Whippetmom and All - I am getting close to scheduling my exchange - I meet with my PS in December - first week - been looking through the photos and reading stories. Getting nervous. Still confused. I know my PS wants to exchange me with the Mentors high profile (600 cc to 650)but I have been reading that the Naturelle's will give you more projection. Need advice. Also is there anything that I should be aware of when he starts talking about pockets etc. And should I start thinking of nipples and losing projection on breasts - how much more does he take off from breast to make nipple? Do not like the flat look. Sorry for the flood of questions. Thanks
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jc3 -- I am in the same boat.... going in for my revision on Friday 12/3 and am apprehensive about it. I had to fight and fight for the revision and then now that it is here, I'm worried. Worried that it will make things worse instead of better. But, I dig deep inside and I know this is the right thing to do..... it is what my body is telling me will make it right. So, how are you feeling now? Pam
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Deborah: thank you so much for sharing this! I just sent an email to my PS asking if he will do this for me, since fat can go away over time.
Happy Belated Thanksgiving! I so very grateful to have found this thread and this site and everytime I get dressed in the morning I am so grateful for all of your help! Thank you!!!
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bnita: The difference between Allergan and Mentor high profile silicone implants equates to mere millimeters. One or two millimeters. A negligible difference. Mentor implants are just fine. You can discuss nipples with your PS....the issues we have mentioned. Find out what technique he uses...
MBJ: Sounds interesting doesn't it? But perhaps the allergy contraindication is high, hence as Mantra suggested, the scratch skin test is required first. But I intend to ask about it also....
Deborah
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Thought for the day (way off topic): why is it that fat from fat grafts "disappears" but not the fat in it's original place in our bodies?
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Excellent question, Lilah! Doesn't seem fair, does it?
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No it sure isn't Tory!
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It's Murphy's Law, Lilah.
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LOL
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