Implant Exchange (oYo) ~ Anyone go/stay SMALL?? (B cup)
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Hi everyone! It's been QUITE sometime since I posted. I wanted to come on here and catch up a bit, without realizing today is the two-year mark of the "bad biopsy". Man, what a crazy couple of years it's been, many of you have been around for the ride, I think of you guys and wonder how everyone is doing...
I think it's been a few months (or more?) since I've posted anything, I think I just needed some space to focus on some of the 'other' changes in my life since bc started. Within a couple months of my last fg, I got hired for a full-time teaching position, sold a house and moved with my family to a new home, new town - kind of a fresh start in some ways! The timing was incredible, but just the way it was supposed to play out. I'm starting back to teaching after the summer off next week, trying to get me and the kiddos ready for my first full-year of being back in the classroom!
As for me and bc, bmx, fg, etc, etc
I'm well. Of course there are things I will "tweak" again someday, I feel no rush to do anything. FG last Sept really made a huge difference in my shelf on both sides. I am experienceing a slight "lift" in the cleavage area, but on the advice of my PS, I will let everything just be. I have no desire to endure another surgery, recovery, etc at this time anyway!The one thing that bothers me the most is the repurcussions bmx has had on my shoulder. I have a winged scapula (probably from severed nerve) and am developing rotator cuff issues in the same shoulder - ugh! I am choosing to wait a bit and see how exercise helps, only other option is surgery - which as I've noted is not in the cards for me right now ;-)
All in all, after everything that has happened, I am OK with where I am physically...I think after this experience I've learned to accept, (or at least am learning to accept!) that the reconstruction is going to be a life-long process, I was 37 at the placement of my implants, so I see several pairs in my future!
Emotionally - I have been focusing on all the goodness I have in my life, but on days like today I recall EXACTLY how I felt two years ago, the sadness and fear was so strong (like you all know!) that I don't think I could ever forget how that felt...the "dates" of biopsy, bmx, exchange will always be reminders. On a positive note, I had the pleasure yet again to meet up with Suebee this past week. We met up last year as she passed through New England, too. It was a great visit and a SUPER reminder of what this site has done for me. I'm always glad to see the support continue for the newer ladies who have had to, unfortunatley, lean on the boards, but there is no other place where I ever felt so accepted & understood during those crazy times.
Thinking of you guys, grateful to have endured some of my most tumultuous times with such strong, beautiful ladies!
~Megan
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Megan thanks for the update. You sound great. I feel ashamed I didn't let you guys know I was down the cape Aug10-19th. Oh well, next year.
BTW this Friday 8.13 is 2 years NED (2 years from my BMX). Who said Friday the 13th is unlucky!2 down 35-39 to go.
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Oh, Lago - imagine if you, me & Sue met up sometime?!! fun!
Awesome about NED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yahooooooooooo!!!!!!!!
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I'm not sure I'm as much fun in person as online. I might be a little more reserved than you expected, even after a glass of wine. But at least after the glass of wine I will sound like a local again
Yes maybe next year. I even flew into Providence
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I thought I would let you all know that I went to Nordstroms for a fitting. She asked me what I wore. I told her 36 B/small C. She measures and said, "Wrong, you are a 34 DD." Goes and gets a load of bras, and....many of them fit! My problem is still with the upper part. Not as much fullness there to fill some of them in.
I will say however that a 34 Band is just not as comfortable. I can feel it continually. It does give great support though.0 -
Have you tried a 36D? BTW you are bigger than me. I'm only a 34D
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I had my exchange a couple of weeks ago and really needed a bra that fit. I really did not think that I had gone that large but when I went to Victoria Secrets I ended up in a 32D. In the push up's I needed a 32DD which I would never wear because they made me look so big, but I tried them on for grins. It is nice to have bras that really fit though.
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Hi ladies,
I'm getting my exchange on 9/17. Currently filled to 330 and have a 250 TE. I'm 5'1 and 100#s 27 ribcage. I really wonder what my bra size i will be. My ps said to me during my last fill, I warn you that you will have less projection. I'm kind of liking my TE even though they are uncomfortable. I on the other hand really hope I don't end up with an A cup....0 -
tina it really depends on what type of implant your PS uses but I doubt you will be an A cup. I'm 5'6" with 397cc Allergan Naturelle style 15. These implants are a moderate style so they don't project as much as a high profile. I didn't feel they were that much different in projection than my TEs. They don't sit as high but I'm happy about that. I have a feeling the reduced projection is more noticeable with the bigger ladies.
BTW I wear a 34D. I think I look like a C if the photo starting this thread is a B
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Thanks lago for you input. I hope I wont be that much smaller than my TE projection. I'v been an A all my life and would like to know how if feels to have some more breasts..you know? My PS plans to use Allergan High Profile 20. The same suggestion as Whippetmom. It seems the exchange results are such a big mystery. I'm going to hope for the best. Another more 5 days till my exchange!
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Tina I was barely and A and wanted to go larger and am very happy with my end results, they look very natural for my size
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Thats great Sherry! I also shop at VS- its right across the street from my work. I can't wait to get out of the A-cup push up and padded drawers
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Lago, I swear to you, I look like the picture at best. These dd's are the smallest I have ever seen. A dd in Bali would fit on my head. I do think they are wider though which made a difference. You look way huger than me. I have a long way between my shoulders and waist though, being tall.
Sherry, I bought one of those bombshell bras after an infection caused my expanders to be removed. I wore it as a bra. When I got my implants in November, I got the ok to take the twins on a outing for my niece's Dec. 30 wedding. I was tasteful for that, but got out the bombshell for NYE. Wore it with a low cut sparkly sweater. Holy cow. I looked amazing. Went waltzing into the big party we went to, only to be standing next to a girl I. Another low cut dress with HUUUUGGGEEEEE boobs. I could help staring. My twins looked like babies.
But it is a really fun bra. Whe. Wearing it for a bra with nothing in it, I couldn't figure out how boobs would fit, there is so much padding. Well, they don't , they padding just pushes them up and out.0 -
My avatar makes me look huge. It's the horizontal stripes and I'm much much fuller (wider) than before.
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I would say I look like the picture above and am measuring a 32D
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I was very worried that with 800cc impants I was going to be HUGE. But, I'm not. I had one removed (that's another story) but the one that remains does NOT look large at all. It's a very nice size now that the drop and fluff is occurring. I would say a C. I'm only wearing sports bras so I really don't know a cup size. I'm going to try bra shopping, but having only one completed it's going to be tough. I do not have a proper prosthesis yet.
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SheChirple a 34C and a 38C are not the same size cup.
For instance a 34C is almost the same as a 32D or a 36A. As band size goes volume of a cup size goes up. Think of a 32A and a 38A… cup will be bigger in the 38A
I have 397cc implants/mid profile and I wear a 34D. No way are my boobie prizes bigger than yours. Granted on you the 800cc might look like a C. I'm very small framed.
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bump
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Fun to find this thread, although pretty inactive. It's been a hoot to insist on staying small to suit my other little 'un. That one got a lift, and now I have two small perky girls, and can easily go braless.
This is a topic that's important... a women I met during treatments also had her implant exchange recently, both sides. Doc (a woman) convinced her to go larger. She is disappointed and asking to have them replaced to her normal smaller. The pressure to 'get to go larger' is a sad statement of our culture. I hope that women who choose to go larger are thinking it through, and not doing because of cultural or other pressure...and are aware that they won't be like a natural breast, and can be heavy... etc, etc.At a support group, it was quite entertaining as two of us showed off our breasts (clothed) for others in the process, so they could tell the difference between the implant sizes before they made their decisions.
I am a bit confused as my implants are measured in grams. 225 g. Metric conversions don't convert grams to cc's, as one is volume and the other is weight, so trying to relate to previous posts and measurements doesn't make a lot of sense. For the gram girls, 225 is nicely small. ~smile!~0 -
Hi Feelingthemagic! This thread brings back great memories for me.
It's been two years and I still get some comments about "why didn't you go larger?". And in the beginning I got a lot of "when are you going to be done with the fills". Uhhhhh...I already am. Awkward silence.
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It's been over 2 years. I still think I'm too big and probably always will. Everyone else things I'm the perfect size. I just don't know what to do with girls this big. I wanted a little bigger. I'm more than double IMO. I mean they don't look bad at all just not what I would call "a little bigger." too much in the upper pole.
But I'm done. No more surgeries for me now that the port was removed last fall.
SusansGarden How've you been?
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Hi lago! I agree about being done. I saw that the gummie bear implants just got approved in the US and I tossed the idea of exchanging around in my head for about 20 seconds. My husband brought me back to reality when he said he thought I looked great and why would I want to go through surgery again. My scars are all faded, they seem to be nestled in their pockets nicely...blah, blah, blah.
I'm doing really well. Life seems to be back to abnormal.
I don't think about BC nearly as often, but find myself coming back to the bc.org just to keep myself up to date on everything. I'm 2 years into Tamoxifen, still pre-meno so will be interested to see about the new 10 year recommend when my 5 years are up. Right now the MO is saying they'd be on the fence for me..my choice. I'm thinking I'll want to be done in 5 years. We'll see...that's still 3 years away.How 'bout you? You're all done with tats and all? On AI's? Are you just doing 5 yrs?
I still reach my arm across my chest and am surprised to bump into "boob". Have you gotten used to their size?
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Hi ladies!
It's been over two years since implants and I think I would go smaller when these guys are ready for replacement. I'm not overly thrilled with the small lift that's occurred in my cleavage, although it certainly doesn't bother me enough to go back for more surgery unnecessarily. My guess is I'll go smaller implants and more fat graft...but no time soon
My scars have almost faded, I'm pretty fair so I've got light purplish scars in the fold, but I really don't notice them. I do still bump into the girls, like, oops, there they are! I am not sure I'll forget they are there, mostly because they just don't "give" when I sleep on my stomach, that's the part of larger implants I don't care for. Although I gotta say, I really am proportionate, just bigger than I obviously was before.
I agree, Susan this thread brings back the good thoughts during that crappy time, I could always count on a laugh on this thread. Lago, good to see you,too! Love that you guys are doing well, I'm feeling pretty great and don't think about bc stuff like I did, life has moved forward for the most part. I think I bordered on boob-obsessed around that time, I think my husband is secretly glad for the change in conversation after all those months of listening to me hem & haw about "should I get one more fill?!?!" Hahaha!0 -
Hi ladies....
So glad that I found this thread! I have to admit that I am being a bit lazy in going through all of the posts. So I'll just go ahead and ask my question (please forgive me if it's already been answered) ....I want to go smaller with my implants. (I'm having a BMX on May 14th) I am on the larger size of B/C and would love to be a solid A/B. After nursing 2 children there's lots of sag (or that could just be my age - who knows), I know that once they're lifted and perky I am going to be very unhappy that they will look larger than I was pre-surgery. I've always been pretty self-conscious and trying to cover up the "over flow" and after all is said and done I'd like to just look down and be pleasantly surprised at what little I see. When I proposed this to my PS, she thought I might look a bit disproportionate (I am 5'6"). I am physically active -i love to run but hate the bounce and pain. I know that once I'm healed and have had the exchange there will be much less bounce. My question to any of you that have chosen to go smaller - can you just opt to not have as many fills as recommended?
Thanks for your help and in the meantime I'll start reading the tons of posts here
Cheri
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Hi Megan! My hope is that fat grafting is perfected by the time my implants need to be replaced and I could do away with implants all together or smaller. The underneath the pec thing still feels weird. I hardly notice it now, but when I use my pec muscles it's hard to ignore and just feels unnatural. Glad to hear you are doing great...though I guess I know that because you look like you are enjoying life on FB.
Hi Cheri! Good luck with your upcoming surgery. I think that you will want to have a good idea of what size you want to be before the surgery, so your PS can make the best decision about the tissue expander (TE) and placement of incisions, etc. That being said, I believe the TE size is more about the width of your breast "footprint". My PS never filled my TE's to capacity. He just told me to go until I was happy with the size and I stopped before they were even full. I did do one more fill after that because the TE's are less pliable and end up having more projection than the implants. I am also (just shy of) 5'6" and my breast size now looks similiar to the picture at the top of this thread.
I wouldn't get too hung up on "cup size" as everyone has a different perception of what each "letter" means to them. Your a/b might look very different to what your PS perceives as an a/b. I would suggest really explaining how you want to look "physically" to the PS.. i.e. "I don't/do want more cleavage" " I do/don't want fullness in the upper pole" "I do/don't want them to project out as much as possible". If you haven't already, please check out the "implant sizing 101" thread started by whippetmom. She gives great advice on implant sizing. I think the most important thing is making sure the width of the TE (and implant) matches your natural upper torso shape ~ and any PS worth their weight and experienced with reconstruction will make sure that happens.
Ask any questions you want and make sure to visit the implant sizing 101 thread too.
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Susan, I'm with you on the fg. I was interviewed for a medical magazine/journal out of Boston last year re: my fg. The crux of the article was basically how my bs & ps are teaming up for nsm & increased use of fg. My PS knows I hope to go the route of no implants, just fg someday. I agree, I'm not sure you ever get used to the weirdness of the muscle flex, still bothers me, oh well...here's to hoping for the future of reconstruction to keep on improving!
Hi Cheri, definitely speak to your ps about your concerns & desires for your look. A lot depends on your frame as far a what type of implant is used. They range in width, height cc's, etc. Whippetmom was a great help to me as I went through fills, etc. She really knows her stuff! :-) funny, I'm 5'6 as well, but implants suggested to me could be entirely different than what would be suggested for you based on our builds. Good luck & keep asking away in the boards, there's so many lovely ladies who know so much and share their experiences!0 -
Thank you both (Firedancer and Susan)....never really gave width a second thought. My PS was wonderfully patient in answering all of my questions but I've been in quite a fog these days and don't remember all of her answers. I had my hubby with me and he recalls even less. I should have recorded it- lol! I will be having a chat with my PS prior to the surgery (but I need to get through final exams first....school has been a great distraction!). I will definately look up Whippetmom.
Thanks again....
Cheri
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I went small, and I'm loving it. I'm quite swollen today but, going by what I dealt with after the MX swelling-wise, they look like they're going to be exactly what I wanted... perky and compact. Much of my life is spent at the gym, hiking, or at the beach so the last thing I wanted was a "rack". I'm so glad my surgeons respected my choice and went with the smaller option when the time came. I feel like I have my pre-baby, young boobs back.
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Hi all. This is a great thread. I went straight to implant with alloderm in early and have 320cc gummies. I was a large a before, 130lbs, 5 ft 7in. However, they are soft but don't "move" and I can't get them in a push up bra. There also so much pressure on my chest I feel like I can't breath. I have other issues that may be chemo related ( just finished the week).
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If I went smaller or to saline do you think that would relieve the pressure feeling? Is saline softer? I'm also interested in fat grafting and getting rid of these. I went to Johns Hopkins and they said it would be four to 5 surgeries with 6 weeks in compression garments after each. Yikes.
Thanks for your advice.0 -
SusansGarden I too always like the gummie bears but that would require a lot of surgery because the pocket would have to be adjusted. Not sure if I would be a candidate anyway. Not sure how the decide. My tatts and nips look great. Scars all gone from that but not my BMX scars. The scar on the right from exchange is still sucken. Oh well.
Fire-dancer I still think they are too big. Everyone else says they're perfect. I still look at the 34B bras but then move to the 34D. 34D isn't so easy to find in sports bras on sale. DH likest them. I'm sure someday I'll get used to them. I'm still not used to guys noticing my chest. I find I have to wear my shirts looser in some situations so as to not emphasize their size. I'm still learning. I can't sleep comfortably on my stomach. I miss that. But I'm not unhappy.
I got my tatts on my Birthday in 2012 (2/7). My PS did them. I had him redraw twice. They are proportionally small like my old ones. He did a nice job.
As far as more sugery… I'm done with that. I really hate anesthesia. It takes my body at least a month to recover from that stuff.
March made 2 years on AIs. My NP warned me that the studies seem to be leaning to 10 years. She knows I'm not happy about that but explained that although I had no nodes I had a really big tumor. I'll see what the studies say in 3 years. Remember I was stage IIB, 5.5cm (invasive part only) and grade 3. Granted only 30% ER but hey you can't be a little bit pregnant.
cheri1859 I'm 5'6" too but small frame. You need to understand that you can't just say cup size. 34D is the same cup size as a 38A. You can opt to go smaller. I suggest you find an A/B bra in your band size and bring it in to your PS and say "I want to fit into this bra." The tend to want to go larger… so I found out the hard way.
SusansGarden & Fire-dancer Tottally with you guys on the pec weirdness. I don't notice it as much now but at times I do. I had to stop doing some of my favorite upper body strength training exercises.
So are we all 5'6"? Do we need to rename this tread? Am I allowed to be here anymore now that I'm a "bigger" gal?
BTW I'm still doing volunteer work with ACS, including being interviewed and have a strides team. This year I'm co-chairing the committee for the survivor tent at the strides event. If you are interested in donating I do post the link on facebook. You can connect up with me up there. The event is in October so there's time.
Lmimp64 saline wouldn't be softer and you might have more issues with rippling. Usually saline is best for women who go for larger sized breasts and do not have thin skin. at 5'7', 130lbs you are thin. It can take a while before that iron bra feeling goes away. Chemo makes healing weird too. Give it about a year and see how you feel. Yeah, it takes that long for your body to recover.
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