BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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Erica I'm sure it's just from the bandages -- and the pecs being a little freaked. Your body will relax and the shape will come!
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Holy mackerel...what happened to me? I feel like I was caught up in the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and slept for ten years or something. I came here tonight and found all of these posts! For some reason, they did not come up in my email alerts. Sorry you guys. I spent FIVE hours at the hair salon today getting a serious color correction and went from a blonde to a redhead in one day. I kid you not! My hair is darker than Estepps!
Maybe not as dark as MBJ's though....
Not what I planned, but whatever. Okay....
Erica: We NEVER talked about gummy bear implants! They are entirely different animals - not apples to oranges at all! That is fine though and the size should be right on the mark. So give it time....ten days at least...
Claire: 550 ccs sounds fine - 600 ccs would be nice also - you could ask her to bring 600 ccs into the OR....It is only a matter of 50 ccs.....
But if she is going to lift AND augment the left side, this means you should end up larger than you were pre-MX, right? MBJ: You are such a sweetie...but I PLAN on being up and at 'em the next day. It is a simple surgery...just sucking out those shriveled, shrunken ovaries out - vaginally I presume....
Dawn-Hope: My onc wants me to do it because of the relationship between ovarian cancer and breast cancer...and because of my familial BC considerations. I personally think my onc goes to the extreme of extremes, but I'll humor her. The surgical oncologist also favors this for me...so there you go. I just wish I could have a dueling surgery and have a little fat grafting to the breast while I am under. We veterans of general anesthesia dream up ways we can kill two birds with one stone.
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I might add that my husband is wild about my new haircolor and he has been following me around like a lovesick puppy all evening....
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Carrol2: I like the TEs your PS plans to use and his plans about surgery and drains - all of it is as it should be. So you are on your way!
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Kelly in Maryland: Well, if you are talking about gummy bear anatomicals, you do need to have a PS who has access to this type of implant through clinical trials. Otherwise the silicone option would be the standard silicone rounds. I think that the size of TE used is just right for your frame, but it does dictate somewhat the size of implant, because we want to approximate the width you have currently. This would infer the need for at least a 400 cc high profile implant [Style 20 in Allergan as a model] or 304 vs 339 ccs in a Style 15 - Allergan also. The Style 20 has more projection than the Style 15. Do you like the volume you have presently? Too small, too large, just right? That might help me also determine where YOU would like to be in terms of size.
Deborah
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howard: Here is what you wrote:
Whippetmom: would you please advise me and share your recommendation? Here is the info you requested: I am 5'2", 114, small frame, wear size 2 clothing, 28" ribcage.
TE are Allergan 133FV-13. They are filled to 500.
I would like to be a C cup (was a
and want them to look most natural. Your PS used pretty large TEs for your frame. I think you could use implants with a volume in the 325 cc to 350 cc range. However, your PS has you at a 13.0 cm width, so I think that what he might intend to use would be a midrange profile implant. This would translate to a 371 cc midrange profile implant in Style 15 - Allergan. This would be a pretty natural appearing implant. I think it has more of an "athletic" appeal than does the higher profile option. A question I would ask you as I did Kelly above, would be how you feel with the appearance of your TEs currently. They are full height and have considerable projection.
You want to ask your PS what he has planned for you. I personally feel that every PS should plan for the end result - should know WHICH implant, style and volume, he hopes to use at the end of the reconstruction journey. This should guide his or her choice of tissue expander. You want to ask if he plans on using an implant with as close to the same width as the TE as possible, or if he plans to narrow the pockets and use a narrower implant. That seems like defeating the purpose to me, but some do it. Let me know though how you are feeling about your size and appearance currently.
Deborah
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Did I miss anyone?
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fire-dancer and annettk: Found your posts with information about your exchanges! Wahoooooo....I am so happy for you both! Congratulations you kiddos...I know you are going to be very happy with your respective results. Just give it plenty of time, remember that they can look like hamburger buns [the bottom half of the bun, not the top] for days and it takes ten days to two weeks to really see how they are going to shape up, settle, drop, fluff and WHATEVER it is they do! Cannot wait to see photos girls!!!
Deborah
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Hi Deborah. Thanks very much for your thoughts. Before surgery I had quite a bit of sag- per the PS, my skin fold was about a D cup and my remaining breast tissue was about a B cup- so I had lots of skin to work with. I do like the projection of the TEs and I do worry about the so called 'pancake effect' that some experience with the implants. As to width, the TEs feel a bit too wide on the armpit side, though I am getting used to it. What I like least about the way the TEs look is something that may be unavoidable- I feel as if my pec muscle is really pronounced. This may be because I now have breasts high up on my chest where they haven't been in many, many years! My PS is not part of the gummy bear study to my knowledge so I guess rounds it is. I guess I had assumed that the implants come in varying shapes. Thanks again and hoping that you are happy with your hair today....have been all shades of red, brown and blonde myself!
Kelly
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Deborah - ...now, that must be one great haircolor you got there! ...love the comment about your hub being a lovesick puppy - too cute! 0
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Thanks whippetmom for steering me towards the picture forum. I had my exchange on February 18th. I posted some pics under the thread "Worried about my nipple...please look" on page two of the "Under Construction" link. My nipple has been taking awhile to heal, but I've been told it can take awhile because my skin was radiated. Anyway, if anyone wants to look at my pictures my user name is MLM7 on the picture forum.
Have a great day everyone!!!
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Deborah: I can just picture your DH chasing you all over the house!
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Whippetmom - Thanks for giving a name to the extra tissue on my sides. I had my one week postop appointment. He removed my stitches. I amazed at how good the incision looks (very thin). Goes from the side of the breast to the nipple and then around the top of the nipple. I also asked how "full" they made me during the surgery. I had 500cc TE and came out completely full. Didn't expect that (don't think he did either). Makes me feel better as I felt that my skin was stretched already. He is having me come back in 3 weeks and we will see how things look (swelling gone). I asked if there would be any other fills and he said maybe 1 or 2 but we will see. He said we have entered the "Art" phase of the reconstruction process and we have many months to work through it to get the best result. I am definaely wider than before but the projection is less (I know that is what TE do). Another week or two of laying low and then I can go back to a normal life for a while. YAY.
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shredbetty: I'll go take a look in a few minutes....
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KellyinMD - I then feel you would be happier with anywhere from 400 ccs to 450 ccs in a high profile smooth round silicone implant. You are not going to have a flat pancake look. Oh - you might initially for the first ten days, as this is the ugly ducking phase of the exchange, but with a high profile implant you will have sufficient projection. The implants of the same width do not feel or appear as wide as do the TEs. Keep me posted on your progress and if you have any questions, please let me know. You can always email me photos if you have any concerns.
Deborah
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Thank you so much, Deborah!
Kelly
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I don't know if this is the right place to post this - but I have a question...my daughter was having a "tantrum" and I was helping her up the stairs, and I am 3 days out from exchange. I see some blood, or something dark under the steri-strip now. I don't know if I did something, but I did feel a "pull" when I was struggling with her. It's on the side I had pocket work done on.
I am so upset - not because it hurts alot, but because I'm worried something could be wrong. The surrounding skin is normal looking, and blood is not leaking out from the steri-strips.
Am I over reacting? I am now laying low and hoping that will help. What would you do?
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firedancer: I would call your PS just to be absolutely sure. You might have just yanked out a stitch or two. Shouldn't be lifting a toddler right now for at least 2 weeks. Can you get help?
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thanks, MBJ, it was completely spontaneous - a bad call on my part to try and help her - no one was here to help, but I won't be doing that again!
I'll call the office now if I can get someone after-hours, thanks! It's upsetting because I have been trying so hard to treat myself carefully! ....so frustrating!!!!
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Megan: I agree with MBJ - you might have disrupted a suture also, but this does not necessarily mean that you have damaged anything. Just call your PS and see what he wants you to do.
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Hi Deborah,
Thank you so much for your advice. Good suggestions to discuss with PS. You asked how I feel about current size? The TEs look big and round to me. Like two big balls on my chest. The expanders feel too wide under my arms. My PS can do the gummy bear implants. Do you think those would be best for me? I like some projection and want a cleavage, but do not want breasts that look too big for my small frame. A natural looking "C" cup is what I'd like. Certainly do not want my breasts to be the first thing noticed. :-) Would you tell me what you mean by the "athletic look"? I hear the gummy bears are harder...more firm.. Are they too hard?
It would be so helpful to see pictures. Would you please let me know how I can access those? Thanks so much. Your info is valuable! You're a huge help to so many!0 -
just a quick update from my post yesterday - Nothing is dislodged stich-wise, to my knowledge. I think I aggravated the stiching, but the skin around the incision is perfectly normal-looking and I am in no more pain than usual. I checked in and was told to take it easy for the wknd and I'll be seeing the PS for post-op on Tue morning. I don't think I damaged any of the stitches in the pocket, I think I would have felt sigificant pain after, right?
Well, I have restricted myself a bit more till my next PS visit Tues, so that if I accidentally did do something, it has extra time to perhaps catch up and heal. It's amazing how easily it can happen...all I did was stretch my arm out in an awkward direction, I've learned my lesson!!!
...now, back to vegging on the couch - my "big" project of the day: trying desperatley to catch up on all the TV I never watch!
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Megan, so glad to hear that all seems okay. I thought of you today actually when I was trying to get my defiant 2 year old dressed- she caused quite a ruckus and I had to heft her into her crib to keep her contained! Made a mental note that I'd better come up with a better solution soon!
Kelly
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Kelly - it's amazing how fast it can happen - be careful! I just turned my body a certain way and wham!!! I was caught up in the moment with my stubborn 5 yr old and it got the best of me...
...my main concern is screwing up the pocket stitching...I don't want to give these girls any more room to "wander"...staying "put" is where I want them - it did give me quite a fright though!
definitley gotta think ahead before we jump into "mommy mode" now!
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Megan: Good to hear you are okay. I did a sudden reach shortly after my exchange, too, and I don't even have children. TV works!!
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Thanks Deborah,
Yes, I will be bigger than pre mx. Is it a normal procedure to augment the natural breast under the muscle? She said that she does this to make a clear view of the breast tissue in scans. Also she is planning on using saline in the natural breast.
Thanks for all your help!
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howard: I'll PM you the pic forum info...
With reference to gummies, now I see what is going on with the width. Your PS has intended to use gummy bears all along, I imagine. So you have several options and I like the ones which are on the lower volume end of the scale. For instance:
Allergan 410
Low height extra full projection: 365 grams
Moderate height full projection: 375 grams
Full height moderate projection: 395 grams.
I would talk to your PS about this....just to make sure you both are on the same page regarding type of implants he plans to use. I know he used a full height TE, but I just want to make sure that the implants are not too tall on the chest wall.
Deborah
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howard: One more thing...your PS could possibly use an anatomical gummy which is 12.5 cm...which means he could a number of other styles in the mid 300 gram range. It just depends on your pockets. The key about using anatomicals is the the PS needs to plan the expansion - and select the TE - with the end result in mind. He should know what style and volume of Allergan 410 he hopes to use at the end of the day.
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Claire: ABSOLUTELY under the pectorals!!! For the very reason your PS stated!!!
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Hi ladies -
I was so overwhelmed at dx that reconstruction just was not on my radar. After a BMX and final staging - I just did round 2 of a 6 round TAC. I will then have rads. Then, I am considering reconstruction. I live in Vegas and am wondering what my best options are. Any suggestions on type of reconstruction and can you give me a brief lesson on implants. Is the surgery painful? Do they implant above muscle - since I had a BMX? Will I look somewhat normal again? Oh just can't see myself going through anything major, but want to look more like old self. I am 55, single, 3 grown kids, 2 grandbabies. Thanks for any advice, recommendations. xo
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