BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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Lilah: Good Question! LOL!!!
Deborah: I forwarded your post to my PS and this is what he replied:
We are also about to do a similar study with a new nipple insert. Artecoll hasn't gained wide acceptance for NAC reconstruction. I just met Colleen a couple of weeks ago in San Francisco at a meeting.
We can discuss when I return.
thanks
Wes
Wesley G Schooler MDAssistant Clinical Professor, Surgery
Service Chief, Plastic Surgery LAC-USC Medical Center
Associate Program Director, Plastic Surgery ResidencyMaybe I should participate in the study???
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Man MBJ I think it is so cool that your Doctor actually corresponds with you via email.
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My dr's are the best! I have emails for all three plus my Onc's cell phone!
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My gyne is the only doctor who will respond by email. I wish my other doctors would. When I lived in Toronto, my family doctor would charge an annual fee which would allow you to talk to him by phone. I would gladly pay a fee to have my PS and BS communicate with me by phone/fax/email . . . or even smoke signal. Although, I imagine smoke signal would go against the privacy act since sooooooooo many people know how to read smoke signals
. I just hate getting home from an appointment, realizing I forgot to ask a question, booking an appointment for a month away (if I'm lucky), spending 4 hours doing a return trip for the appointment, when a simple phone call or email would suffice. 0 -
Hi everyone...
Hey, I have a friend sho had her mast/te last week.
It was a 6 hour surgery.
They cut her all the way across her chest... put TE in. Then made another incision in her armpit to remove nodes.
They told her on the profy side they did a " lift" while they did a mast on that side too.
Remember, she was a bi-lat.
I have NEVER heard of this? She did not use my doctors because they were not on her insurance.
WHY in the world did her surgery take 6 hours ( no complications) to do a bi-lat ( lift???) and put in TE? THEN make another cut ( after cutting ALL the way across her chest already.. and no... the cancer was not close the the chest wall... it was 3cm on the lower outside) to take out nodes?
THANK YOU for reading this... I hope someone can explain this.
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Mantra -- you constantly crack me up!
Laura Estepp -- OMG that sounds barbaric! (a) exactly WHAT did they lift on her prophy side if they removed it???? (b) clear ACROSS her chest as in one single cut from right to left? Really? She must be so upset! Did you see the results or is this her reportage? She may have gotten some things wrong and she also may be exaggerating about the cut. There is absolutely NO reason to make a cut between the breasts!
I had my SNB at the same time as my second lumpectomy, so there is indeed a separate incision for that; it is 4 inches higher up than where my mastectomy scar ends so that may be why they did the second incision for the nodes. The sentinel node can be anywhere and "lights up" when dye is used... so that may not have been under their control (and, for example, in my case, I would NOT have wanted a single incision up to there -- it would have meant cutting four inches of skin that did not need cutting).
I am baffled, though, about the lift remark.
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Hey, I am new to this thread..have TE Mentor medium height contour 12.7cm/10.8cm. I am 5ft 4" 135lbs..rib cage is 32"...keep asking ps about filling to reach full C cup he says he does not do cup sizes....didn't know if you could suggest about filling to reach desired size?? He also says he puts slightly larger implant in at exchange..dont want to have coconut like breast want a natural contour... Am filled to 350cc now. Thanks for any help....Sindy
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Yes Lilah, all the way across... and there saw NO good reason to do another node scar..:( She had a bi-lat from the start. No Lumpectomy. I wish I would have known this was an option out there.. I had NO IDEA.... She was SO upset and taken back at what she saw when the bandages came off a week later!
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Laura: Have you seen her personally? I wonder if she should even trust this PS to complete the job??? She has the option of going out of network if the PS IN her network is incompetent in his surgical technique. She can always email me photos. You have my email addy.
I am out of town on vacation this week, so checking in only frequently.
Stay well everyone!
Deborah
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Well Laura that is just heartbreaking. I just am appalled that any doctor would do that. It sounds like mutilation to me.
I agree with Deborah -- if I were here I would NOT go back to that doctor.
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That is just barbaric, Laura. What a shame. I cannot believe they allow doctors to do this to women!
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Whippet - I just wanted to stop in and say 'thank you'. You helped me with sizing and I had my exchange yesterday. We went with the 325's and I think they will be perfect. Can't wait for my swelling to go down.
thank you!
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mom3b1g - Yay!!! I have 325 too! I wasn't prepared for the myriad of changes, so hang in there for the ride! Congratulations!
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Dawne -Hope = thank you! I am just crossing my fingers taht my radiated side holds up and doesn't rupture! Hoping on Friday I will get a look at them (I go back to the ps).
thanks!
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mam3band: Congratulations on your exchange! You will feel like doing more, but take it really slow and no reaching, lifting or pulling for a couple of weeks to give yourself time to heal. Nothing heavier then a couple of pounds for awhile.
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mom3 -- wahooo on being past this milestone!
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mom3: So glad to have helped! Let us know how things are looking for you!
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I love my reconstructed breasts right now. The problem is they are currently Mentor 450 TEs filled to 510cc. I don't know what size implants I will need to duplicate this result. My PS recommended 500cc HP Mentor but everything I've read here gives me the feeling this will be smaller than what I have now. I understand that the width of the larger sizes is an issue and don't want to go any wider. WhippetMom, can you please give me your opinion on how to achieve these results with silicone implants?
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mom38: You need at least 550 ccs in a high profile implant - preferably 600 ccs - to replicate what you have now with your TEs. 500 ccs will not be sufficient and you will be disappointed. You probably have sufficient expansion for 600 ccs...but only your PS will know for certain, based on your skin integrity currently. What is your ribcage circumference? Measure under the TEs....
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30.25 inches.is the circumference. I'm extremely healthy, bc withstanding, great circulation and have had no issues w/nonelasticity or thin skin. Thank you for your quick response and insight!
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Mom38...550 ccs or 600 ccs high profile smooth round silicone !!!
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You are the Best - Thank You!
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Thank you
I have seen her. I saw her again today... two weeks out of surgery. Her swelling had gone down and things are looking better.
As she has questions that I cannot answer Deborah.. I will ask you... I told her.... I could help her get the size mounds she wants. She was a DD.... and would love to look like a C... as she gets closer to needed help with this.. I will get with you. THANK YOU!
Actually... her scars are all the way across... BUT... as the swelling ( SO MUCH MORE THAN MOST OF US) goes down.. I see the placement of the incision. She actually looks like she went in for a breast reduction... She looks a mess now... but I do believe.. she will have a good look a year from now.. Time will tell.
Thanks !!!!!
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Laura -- I'm glad to hear that you think it will turn out alright. That is a huge relief!
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Hey am reposting this and need help with sizing please!!! Am filled to 400 cc now with much pain this time... am 135 lbs 5ft 4" 32" rib cage with TE medium height Mentor...PS not much help with sizing says he doesn't do cup sizes.he does say he puts in slightly larger implants after filled..I am active and don't want to have too big of breasts.. was a B cup prior to BLM..thinking maybe a C cup but not sure how much too fill to get there. Also Onc suggesting 4 rounds of chemo and having harder time with decision to do that than the BLM! Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated...getting weary of this whole process!!
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estepp - my nipple sparring bilat dmx w/three nodes took 7 hours. the incision went from the nipple lateral to the armpit and they were able to get the nodes from that opening. The PS removed the previous implants and all the scar tissue to have 'fresh' skin and baseline prior to inserting the TE. That was part of the explanation on why it took so long. Also, I have a hole on either side where the drain came out. As the fillings are progressing the scar is smoothing out and I think they will look great in a year. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, perhaps hearing that other surgeries can take as long may comfort her.
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neversaydie: I am so sorry you had to repost a question! I never saw the first one!
In answer to your question though, there are a couple of ways you could go with this. You would be a candidate for a high profile or a moderate plus profile style implant. I do not know if you are a bilateral or unilateral....if a uni...it all depends on the size of your native breast. The PS will want to match that side to gain symmetry. Also, I would need to know the volume of your TE....essentially I need to know if it is a 12.0 cm or 13.0 cm wide TE. But again, it all really boils down to whether you have two expanders or one....
ADDENDUM: I just looked at your previous [missed] post and see your TE is 12.7 cm. It is still unclear if you are a uni or BMX. If a BMX I would say 475 ccs to 500 ccs in a high proflle smooth round silicone would be nice on your frame. But if you are a uni, it depends on the size of your native breast and w/n you are going to have it augmented and/or lifted. But since you state you are athletic, you could also use a 450 cc moderate plus profile implant, which would have sufficient width but less projection and would be appropriate for your frame. Again, all depends on whether you have one or two TEs....
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Laura: I will be happy to help your friend when she is ready!
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Laura: So glad that your friend is doing and looking better.
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I could use some size advice. I have an Allergan 133MV TE with a 300cc fill volume. Right now it is filled to 400cc. (I started with 150, got 2 fills of 100, and this week got 50cc) I am 5' 1" and 112 pounds and ribcage is 29. I am going to be getting a gummy bear and I'm a uni and a nipple sparing. My natural side, which is a barely B cup size is not very droopy, but I decided to get a small implant for a more similar look (and a little size boost while we're there anyway)
I thought 400 cc would be pretty big, especiall on little me, but it really does not look big - just kinda wide and round. My fills have not been very uncomfortable, but the PS is not sure if he wants to put in any more because the skin mayl be too tight. I'm seeing him in 2 weeks and I want to be prepared to discuss sizes for the exchange and whether to ask him to put in another 50cc. Sure it feels pretty hard, but how could it not with a 300 cc TE filled to 400 already.
I don't want to be very big, just a B plus or C. So should I stay with the 400 or try to add another 50cc? Thanks for any advice.
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