BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
Comments
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Anyone get stretch marks from the expanders? did you use anything?
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Lago: I didn't get stretch marks, but I did use BioOil on it throught the expansion process. You can find it at most drug stores like RiteAide and Target also carrys it. $10 for a bottle that lasts forever.
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My expansions are done. The stretch marks aren't bad though.
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Lago: The bio oil is made for stretch marks so you might want to try it. I gave my leftover bottle to my friend who just had a baby. It has a nice smell, too.
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I am expanded now to 550 hoping for a 650 implant but have had A LOT of pain this go round on my non cancer side. It is higher and seems to be pressing on a nerve. I need another 75 or so doc says but I am just now getting around without pain meds and the last fill was last tuesday. I am to return this tuesday for last one, I am getting my rads simulation on Wednesday and starting the following monday. ,If I am at 550 can I exchange to 600 or 650 after rads? He did say if I come back immediately after rads and get a few fills that works too. What to do?
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KCmom: If your skin holds up well with rads, and you can tolerate an extra fill after rads, it is entirely reasonable to exchange out to 650 ccs.
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MBJ and hillck thanks
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Annette-- some doctors use glue instead of steristrips... not to worry
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Thanks so much Whippetmom. I am TRYING to load my pics onto the picture forum, I sent Fumi a msg this morning. I hope to have some updates on:)
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DO SCAR REMEDIES REALLY WORK???
[From the Los Angeles Times - Sunday April 17, 2011]
The summary first: "Products abound, but doctors say the key is keeping a wound moist and covered."
1. To prevent scars from widening, use steri-strips to reduce the pulling of the skin.
2. Exercise that gets the heart pounding can speed healing, but be sure not to strain the wound for two weeks.
3. Skin exposure can darken or redden the new skin permanently. [This is a generalized article - not just for MX patients - so not so much of an issue for us. But bathing suit tops MAY permit some solar penetration....so wearing steri strips with swimwear would be advisable.]
4. Massaging along the length of the scar several times a day may soften it and reduce its volume.
"Silicone gel sheeting"
Several articles reviewing 30 years of research suggest that this can speed healing and lead to thinner, softer, less red and less painful scars. It's not clear what silicone itself does, but the sheets do a better job of keeping the scar covered and that prevents water from evaporating from the skin."
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Oh gosh, I am panicked about TE's now. I am having my BMX surgery on May 10th. I heard about a quicker Breast to Implant procedure which skips TE's. Has anyone heard of this? How long before I can go back to work with TE's?
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maripili - i don't know about the straight to implant procedure. whippetmom will know. it probably depends on how big you were prior to the DMX.
As far as recovery time, we're all different. If you're talking about the BMX with TE placement ... that's a pretty big surgery. I took four weeks off and then went back to work. I probably should have taken a couple of more weeks. It depends on the type of job you do too. If it is a desk job, you'll be back sooner than if it is a more manual labor job. You will have lifting, reaching, weight limits after that surgery. They're cutting the pec muscle and ANYTHING that requires the use of those pecs is going to hurt. Hope this helps a little. Bless you on your surgery! xo
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Maripili please don't panic it is not that bad. As you can see most of us are online within days of the surgery so how bad off could it be. There is some pain i won't kid you but it is very manageable. I think Most people will tell you to expect a month off but I think I could have done it in three weeks if I had not gotten a sinus infection and a cough a week after i got home. I don't know anything about immediate implant surgery except that is done using alloderm but you have to have enough skin for it after the bmx and even then you probably won't be able to get that big. But if you don't mid being smaller you should defintely discuss it with your plastic surgeon and you should talk to other surgeons as well and get lots of doctor input, it will put your mind at ease that you made the right decision.0
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Hi Whippetmom - yes!!! I do like my implants - I mean, they aren't my "real" boobs, but they're pretty great, anyway! ;-)
I think the size is perfect for me,any bigger or smaller would have been a mistake I think, especially when I think I will pretty much always be wearing a bra in public, when these babies are pushed up, they look much bigger than I ever was, but in a good way! I think I'm measuring somewhere in the C range...you were so right with the size/projection...the HP's sit nicely on my frame, I have 'some' rippling, but in reality, I'm not usually hanging around, hanging practically upside down naked checking myself out for ripples,
(I've checked these girls out from every angle - never expected to be doing THAT a year ago!!!) so if they look good in a bra, then I'm ok with it...from what I understand I kind of couldn't avoid rippling, I am thin-framed & HP's come with the consequence of rippling? Am I right? ...not 100%, but I thought this was the case...I try to remember my real ones were never perfect either and so far, I can take the minor imperfections of the foobs andbe ok...thanks for asking :-)Lago - I had stretch marks during expansion and have none now after exchange. The nurse practioner said that my skin was only temporarily being stretched to that size and because of that, stetch marks would more than likely go away, which, thankfully they did. I used lots of lotions and oils to help the skin, too...
I liked the article on scarring - my steri strips just fell off (with a teeny bit of help ;-) the other day, I was stunned ny how good my scars look, even smaller than after my BMX. I think my PS must have done some work around the incision, it's remarkable - they are really like just a pencil-line in the IMF now...I haven't applied any lotions/oils - when did you all start treating the incisions? Interesting about exercise, too - I have just started riding the bike at the gym and am so aware of staying away from any upper-body movenment, I didn't stop to think about the heart-pumping benefits for the scars - good to know!
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Maripili: It has been 2.5 years since my BMX - and I can hardly remember how I felt or how much pain there was with that surgery. I was online posting away [like Carrol2] , the day after my surgery. I was driving ten days later and I would have been driving sooner, but I had to get over my mortal fear of the seatbelt! A fluffy pillow solved that problem eventually.
The procedure you refer to is the one-step with Alloderm. You would honestly need to be seeing a PS who performs this procedure with a good degree of success - which means he/she does it with some regularity. You have to be a good candidate for this procedure - the tumor can only be so large and must be in the proper location and you need to either have sufficient skin flaps pre BMX or be willing to be possibly quite small. It is one certainly that anyone opting for a prophy BMX should consider as an option to TE placement. I presume your PS would have already discussed this with you if he is familiar with the procedure and felt you were a good candidate.
You can do this....you will get through it and be on the other side of it before you know it!
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Well I can report my findings: after using silicone scar treatment for one week, my scars are flatter, softer, noticeably smoother, and generally less angry looking. I am seriously impressed! I used the generic scar tape from CVS, it was $23.99 for a box of 28. For the amount of use you get out of them, and the results: I'd even pay double. I love the results and it's been a week!
I know it takes longer for true results, but I see major improvement where my drains were, already. Each drain was showing two distinct scars, one large red indented area, and a smaller minor scar where the drain was sutured to my skin. Well, the minor scar is gone, and the indented dark red scar is now flat and light pink!!! I thought that scar was here to stay!
My BMX scars are much flatter and just...more even. I have been using Bio-Oil for my scars too, and actually I rub that on, let it soak in completely, then apply the silicone tape.
edited for corrected info, thx tampa!
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fire-dancer I don't remember when I started using Vitamin E oil (trader joes). My PS didn't tell me to use it my PT did so it was at least 4 weeks after my surgery. I wish I had started sooner but I didn't know.0
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You really should wait to use oil on wounds/scars until they have healed. There is a risk of infection prior to that (even if from bacteria on your hand as you rub it in). So, Iago, in your case, waiting four weeks was probably wise
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Cameron, the CVS silicone scar sheets are on sale at cvs.com for $14.99 right now. The online box says it has 28 per box and is regularly $24.99 and on sale for $14.99.
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Thanks Lilah and Whppetmom...
Hey I got a whistle today! Just about fainted hahahaha
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LOL Annette -- wahoo!
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Whippetmom,
Need help, obsessing over getting "foobs" perfected. I am 5"4, 127lbs, 34" ribcage, have TE's at 485cc's. TE's are so comfortable and loving the size, PS did an excellent job of placement. Exchange surgery is May 2011. Thinking of 475cc high profile Mentor silicone gel. TE's are mentor 550cc max., Moderate or tall - I guess, PS recommends high profile implants. I do not want nipples, but want the "round" look of TE's and they have a nice width I feel them on the sides a little which I like, will I have the same projection, should I switch to Mentor moderate profile? I like the way I look in camies and t-shirts in my TE's now. Do not want to be disappointed as happy with TE's. Should I be happy with 475cc gel silcone implants? Thank you and to everyone here.
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greytcruise, whippetmom's gonna ask you for your TE specifics: what volume are they and are they low height, medium height, or tall height?
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Thank you Cameron,
Mentor max fill 550, do not know the height, PS never mentioned it. II would guess medium or tall as PS recommended High Profile implants?. I am learning so much, this is just not as easy of a process as I thought it would be.
Thank you!
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greytcruise - Did you get a card after your TE placement? All your TE info is on that card. I hear you on the ease of the process. I had no idea either ... but you're on your way! You can do this!
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annettek: I was giggling about your "whistle". When I first saw this, I thought, "oh, does she have a dog that is whistle trained?" Because I just bought a special whistle from England to use with my dog. But you were referring to a different kind of whistle and a different kind of dog.....LOL...
But anyway, congratulations on the whistle!
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Hello whippetmom and DawnHope, Do not have a card still have TE's, recommended by PS to get 475cc mentor smooth round high profile. Mentor contour TE's are what I have, currently filled to 485cc's.
Trying to know if I will be about the same size as TE's with the 475cc high proflie smooth mentors or if I should do moderate high profile. See post above for what trying to achieve. I like the look and size of TE's now. How are you doing?
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Hello girls...finally made it over 600 I am at 625 before rads start on Monday and he said we may do another fill or two RIGHT after rads. I am so pleased though...who thought after a delayed reconstruction and loss of all of that skin that I could stretch that much. I also posted a few pics on the well burnt site and will continue to update. God Bless.
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OK back from my first fill. I barely felt a thing. It was nothing at all. I have 650cc expanders that were filled with 150cc in the surgery 3 weeks ago. Today I got 80cc. I did not feel the needle at all, i did not feel the saline. The only sensation was the extra weight on my chest. so i hope that puts some of you that are as nervous as I was at ease. He was going to use 550cc expanders but decided i needed bigger ones in the surgery. So he plans to get me to 750cc in the end. I'll post new pics on the forum asap. I could not believe it when I looked down.0
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OK new pics of my TEs at 230 on the same thread as before Delayed Tissue Expander Surgery
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