BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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Whippetmom:
Can you give me any info without knowing TE model?
I'm 5' weigh 130 and currently have 350 cc's. My rib cage is 32"
Looking for a 'c' cup
I do have photos on forum (newboobs)
Thanks
Jan
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newboobs - love the name
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thanks
actually you can also find it under 260 cc's, that was the first post I made
Jan
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rockyroad: Thank you for sharing your history here!!!
Okay, so what I think might be a solution would be to use a moderate plus profile implant on the flap side and a high profile implant on the prophy side. We want to stay in the 12.0 to 12.5 cm range for width, so something like the following might be considered:
MX/Flap side: Allergan Style 15
339 ccs: 12.4 cm width x 4.0 cm projection
Prophy side: Allergan Style 20
425 ccs: 12.4 cm width x 5.2 cm projection
Of course, this is entirely a hypothetical, because I have no idea what volume your flap adds to the MX side. But the premise is that your PS could consider a MPP style for the flap side and a HP for the prophy side. This would give additional projection to your prophy side and might compensate for the additional projection from the flap on the MX side.
But I feel you want at least 400 ccs to 425 ccs volume on the right and an implant of whatever volume it takes on the left to give symmetry.
This is just something to think about - a way to possibly address the projection discrepancy. Let me know what your PS has to say...
Deborah
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Jan - Here is what I just posted on your thread on the pictures forum!!
You know, I think that you have a couple of options....
You could go with a moderate plus profile implant - using Allergan as a model:
Allergan Style 15 - 421 ccs
Or with a high profile implant
Style 20 - 450 ccs...
Problem is this: I cannot predict reliably on the HP implant, because if you have 13.0 cm wide TEs, the 450 cc HP is bordering on the narrow side but doable. If you have a 12.0 cm width TE -the 450 HP will be fine.I think you would be happy with this size range...
Deborah
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Deborah,
Thank you for your recommendation....I appreciate it. I will have this in the back of my mind when I go in on Thursday, and let you know what we decide. My PS likes to wait three months before exchange surgery after last fill, so I have a little time.
Missy
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Deborah:
Thanks so much for your 'expertise' and I look forward to chatting with my PS about this.
You really do know your stuff!!! You take the time to answer everyone's questions and you are appreciated.
Jan
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Hi Deborah,
I wanted to let you know how things went with Dr. Bash today from the Mayo clinic. I loved her, she was very nice and by far the most informative doctor I have seen to date. She made sure I understood her and all that she was explaining and also took the time to understand what I was "hoping for" in results. She took the time to understand and explain to me how my lifestyle and normal day to day act ivies would be effected or limited based on what procedure selected.
When I asked her what type Implant she would use on me would be she responded Natrelle Allergan 20 High Profile 700-800cc although she thinks 800cc would be to much and too heavy for my frame (I am a little confused about that one
). I may have the option for immediate reconstruction with no TE's but she will need to speak to the surgeon first if not I will go directly into TE's. She believes TE will be better because I can tell she when to stop filling especially because I want to be smaller than what I am.Because this was my first time at Mayo I will need to see a surgeon there. That kind of sucks because I really like my surgeon at Cigna, however I like Deborah more for the PS. The Mayo Clinic was on a whole nother level though in comparison to the doctors I have been working with through Cigna, so if the surgeon at Mayo has the same bed side manner as the Deborah it will not be hard to make the switch.
What are you thoughts on the Allergan Style 20 for me? Do you think it will be a drastic difference from the Allergan Style 45? In looking at the specs it appears as though with the Sytle 20 I will lose possibly .6' in projection, but gain a little more width? Will that make a drastic change in appearance?
Only thing I hate is that they can not show you pictures of work they have done previously at Mayo because of HIPPA.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Meek
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Oh yeah, I am a great candiate for Skin Sparing MX
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I honestly don't understand why Hippa prevents doctors from sharing photos of their work; I was able to see photos at Sloan Kettering in NY (for example). You're not the first to mention this rule (it's not just at the Mayo Clinic).
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Meek: Wonderful news! I am so glad you like Dr. Bash. I felt you might be a good fit for her reconstruction techniques and outlook. Are you on the pictures forum yet? So that you can see some of her handiwork? I know two women have gone to her and are very happy with their results, although I am not certain if BOTH have posted their photos....
Deborah
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Lilah: I agree....if we give written permission and if the photo is just of our breasts - who would ever know? I think it could be that a PS does not want to elevate a patient's expectations regarding reconstruction. They would tend to only show their BEST work....Oh sweet mystery of life...
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Hi Deborah, yes I am in the pic forum. Do you think the 20 style will have a large difference from the style 45?
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It could be -- but they should say that if that is the real reason. As it is, having seen my PS's best work -- and I saw a variety including many that were different than the kind of procedures I had -- I concluded that it's individual. Results vary based on body type, healing factors, etc.
Kinda like when you look at all the pics on our picture forum, come to think of it
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Meek: Well, when you ask if there would be "much difference" it is a subjective issue. Some women would benefit by the Style 45 and for some it would not make much difference at all or could be all wrong. The Style 20 provides more base width which is very important for creating cleavage and for filling up a bra cup. I mentioned the Style 45 as a "consideration" and Dr. Bash has seen you [and I have not] and she concludes that a Style 20 would be better for you and so I agree!
Deborah
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Deborah: Sorry to bother you: I can't find the link that you posted regarding nipples. Thought I saved it on my computer! Can you please re-post it? Thank you!
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Here you go MBJ!
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Thank you, Deborah!!!
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Deborah: This doesn't look like the article you posted--this is just pictures of areolas! Do you remember the one I am talking about? It shows all of the different recon methods used?
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I tried looking at that site... yeah, I couldn't find anything about reconstructing a nipple. But lots of nipples to look at! Haha.
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Oops....sorry MBJ....
This one
http://www.breastreconstruction.org/SecondaryProcedures/NippleAreolaReconstruction.html
This is all I have on nipple techniques....
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Hello ladies,
This forum is such a great source of information and support! I have read through many of the posts and still had some questions about my situation. I'm hoping someone might be able to help out.
Some background...I was diagnosed with DCIS and had a bmx with TEs on 9/27/10. I currently am expanded to 550cc a side, which is bigger than where I was before surgery (A/B cup). We are still in the process of expanding - not sure where the end point is. All my fills have been very comfortable (60-100cc every two weeks) with no discomfort or pain afterwards.
Anyway, I had a few questions for you all:
I noticed Mentor and Allergan mentioned all the time, but my TEs are Silimed (20799-470AGU), which I've never heard of. Is anyone familiar with this brand? If my PS uses Silimed TEs, will she most likely use Silimed implants as well?
I feel almost stupid saying this, but I don't even know what size my TEs are. For that matter, I don't even know how many ccs I will be expanded to. I told my PS that I would like to be bigger than I was (which isn't saying much!) and that I would like her input as to what would be proportionate to my frame. So, we're expanding and watching. I'm now at 550cc on each side, which looks like about a B cup. I'm not big, by any means. I've read many posts here about women with much less than 550cc but with a bigger cup size. How does that work?
So far, I'm actually happy with how the TEs look. My only concern is that I feel like they leave a bit of a gap between them. I don't know if that will improve as I am expanded more, but is the placement of the TEs a good indicator of where the implants will end up?
I'm also interested in getting input from Whippetmom (thank you in advance!) for what size/type of implant would be best for my frame and how far I should be filled. I'm 5'6", 190 lbs. (and losing, thankfully), and 34" around ribcage. I'm not sure if you can figure out this info for me without having more info about my TEs, and if not, I'll ask more questions next week at my appointment.
Thanks so much!
Heidi
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Heidi: Silimed tissue expanders might be a little more expensive than Allergan or Mentor TEs - which is probably why they are not used more often. Also, plastic surgeons use vendors they have a good relationship with and yours probably has had a good relationship with the Silimed/Sientra rep. A number of women who have come here have had this TE. Your specific Silimed TEs have a volume of 185/285 ml, but they are low height or short height TEs, which generally enable the PS to use implants of a significantly greater volume at the time of exchange. Your PS will likely use Mentor or Allergan implants, as Silimed [called Sientra here in the US] implants are either not yet available or are not yet used by most plastic surgeons in the states. Perhaps your PS DOES have access to Sientra implants. This would be a good question to pose to her when you next see her, because the dimensions of Sientra implants will differ from those of Mentor or Allergan. So, your dimensions are as follows:
TEs:
14.8 cm wide by 12.7 cm height by 5.5 cm projection. However, with your degree of overfill, you have additional height and projection - to somewhere around 5.8 cm or so.
In order to match your dimensions and provide good implant coverage, the following implants could be considered:
Allergan Style 15:
575 ccs: 14.8 cm wide by 4.8 cm projection
Mentor moderate plus profile
600 ccs
15.0 cm width by 4.6 cm projection
[I generally like Allergan's dimensions better than Mentors....]
I honestly feel you would be happiest with implants with a volume of at least 600 - 650 ccs. With your build, you would be a candidate for a high profile style in either Mentor or Allergan, but you would need 650 ccs to match the width, and that might be pushing it for your PS to use 650 ccs. Despite what I think you could handle though, it is important to ensure good implant coverage with the skin envelope created by the TEs, and the volume of the TEs might not be sufficient to get you to that amount in a HP implant. Talk to your PS about these numbers.
In answer to your one question: Implants of a specific volume will look different on someone with your vital statistics, versus someone who is 5'3" tall, weighs 110 pounds and has a 29 inch ribcage. So height, weight, ribcage circumference, body habitus - all of these things come into play when determining what style and volume of implant will best fit someone's frame.
Let me know if you have any further questions!
Deborah
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Thank you, Deborah!
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Wow - thanks for the quick and detailed response, Deborah! I am going to print it out and bring it with me to my next PS appointment.
I have not yet accessed the picture forum (still need to figure out how to get there), but I would like to. Do people generally list what type of TEs or implants they have with their pics?
I'm still a little concerned that my TEs may be a little too far apart. I'm curious to see what other women's look like.
Thanks again!
Heidi
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Heidi -- ask your PS about the spacing issue... it's not unusual that this happens and in most cases the implants can be brought closer together upon exchange. Limitations have to due with your body's specific build -- so it's best to ask your PS if he can bring them closer or not. TEs do tend to look funny in a thousand different ways (and differently on different people). I've seen some that look fantastic -- perfectly placed and shaped -- but more often than not they can take on funny shapes and look oddly placed but, once they are exchanged for the real implant, often all the weirdness goes away. But when it comes to spacing there is only so much that can be done based on how you are built (most of the time anyway).
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Deborah:
Thank you thank you...
If PS goes with either 421cc's or 450cc's do the TEs have to be expanded larger than those #'s?
I'm currently at 340 and will get another 60 on Thursday bringing me to 400.
Thanks
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Heidi: What MBJ said: Ditto....don't worry about the spacing. It will be corrected at the time of the exchange.
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Jan: I am flying blind here without knowing your TE information, when it comes to assessing the need for future fills. I need to know the style and volume of your TEs. Find out on Thursday. It should be the very first question you ask your PS!
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Hello Ladies, I have 510cc TE in right now and ready for my implant surgery (probably next thur). I am 5`71/2`` and weigh 132lbs. My ribs are 30inches. My PS wants to put in Allergans 400 or 430cc high profile in for exchange. Do you think the size difference will be dramatically smaller. I would like to be a c cup...
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