Tissue Expanders vs Fills - Cup size

fighting4mykids

Tissue Expanders vs Fills - Cup size

fighting4mykids

Any ideas how many cc's equal a cup size. My PS basically wants me to tell him when to 'stop' filling when I think I look good enough but at the same time i want to be sure that I am an even cup size so when I do get the exchange surgery for an implant, I can be an even cup and have an easy time finding bras.

 I thought I had heard that about 180 cc's = 1 cup size?

pkb143

hi, fighting, I'm in the same boat as you. My PS told me to let him know at some point when I look down while wearing a bra, and like the way it looks. Well, my first problem is, I've hardly been wearing a bra, and when I do, it's a mastectomy bra, and I never like the way it looks. LOL

I'm 5'10, 180 lbs., was a B cup and want to be at least a full B, preferably small C, when we're done. I'm up to 700 cc (right breast mastectomy) and PS initially said we might go to 1200. I think I might have about an "A" cup going right now, but it's so hard to tell.

And yes, I've read that 189 cc equals roughly one cup size, but I'm not sure how that corresponds if you've had a mastectomy, because there's so much area to fill out other than your breast area (like under the armpits). I had over 400 ccs before I had any appreciable filling out.

KAR

Im wondering the same thing.  I was told to tell PS when I fill out my clothes but I don't know.  I tried my old bra on and it feels tight (cup area) but thats just the TE shape right?  I was a small B before and would like to be a full B.  Im thinking it must depend on the person....size/chest shape also???  I do remember hearing that its harder to find bras after implant recon due to the shape of them.  Sorry Im not much help.

pkb I bet your right about other areas needing to be filled out with mx.   Hope we figure this out soon. 

ChrissieD

Ask your PS the weight of the tissue removed when they did the mastectomy.  My PS used this as a "target" TE fill.  It absolutely depends on body size too - I probably am a small B, which I was before my surgery, and had only 325cc's filled.  Some ladies get 325 the day of the TE placement. I think it depends on your size and shape. Just be very clear with your PS about what you want the outcome to be. 

 Good luck...

2Xsenough

Yes me too. I'm wondering the same thing. My PS mentioned that my radiated side will lag behind and I see that happening. Right now I'm at 300 cc and my DH is calling me melon girl. The mounds are big around and round as melons although I have very little projection. I'm thinking I'm just going to trust my PS to know when I'm a full B. "After all, he's done this lots of times before and for me it's a first.

Any info will be appreciated from you ladies that are through the process.

Bobbi

pkb143

Chrissie, good idea! My pathology report said my right breast weighed 738 grams, which is interchangeable with cc's (assuming a breast, which contains a lot of tissue, is mostly water). My (remaining) left breast was maybe 20% larger than my right, so I'm thinking it might be closer to 880-900 ccs. I maybe close to having now what my right breast was before, and my PS might be right on the money when he says 1200 cc.

**But still, as varied as bra sizes are, it would be difficult to make someone a "perfect C" or whatever. Maybe that's why PS don't really talk about it in terms of cup sizes.

rubytuesday

Cup size is relative and means different things to different people...not to mention that band size GREATLY effects cup size...a 34D is NOT the same as a 40D at all. Your height, weight, shape & size of your ribcage, shape & style of implant, to name a few variables, will effect your outcome.  I started out just wanting to match my 'good' side and not do anything to that side.  It was a barely B.  As I was filled, I thought...hmmm a nice FULL B....then it turned into I WANT to be a small C...perfect!  At the end of my fills, I was a full C and LOVED it.  I told my PS that I wanted the same DIMENSIONS as my TE....same projection and same width and NO smaller.  I went into surgery screaming JUST MAKE ME MATCH!!!  I came out a 34D and have no regrets!  I am VERY happy with my size.  Dimensions are concrete and you can be reasonably sure that if your use them instead of cup size, your PS and you will be on the same page.  Best wishes

pkb143

ruby, you said it perfectly!  (about cup size being relative)

Now can I pick your brain a little?  When you said you were a "nice full B', then a "small C", then a "full C", was this just your best guess of what size you were at, or were you trying on bras the whole time, or were you just fitting into your old bra and making a guesstimate? 

And if you don't mind my asking, how did you feel going from a B to a D?  I'm sure I don't want anything larger than a C, but if something happened and I ended up a D, I envision they would feel heavy to me and get in the way. Has that been your experience?

Thanks for sharing with us!

rubytuesday

Patty, Since I had a unilateral mast, it was necessary to wear a bra to work to even things out.  I kept upgrading my bras to fit the bigger side, which at first was my real side and then later, my expanded side.  It was an adventure....LOL.  I love my new size.  I don't think anyone would look at me and say that I'm a D.  I really look more like a full C....at least I think so. My recon implant is just a shade wider than my expander and that's how I ended up a D.  They are not heavy at all.  I have figured out the weight and if my memory serves me right, my implants only weigh about 1 1/2 lbs.  I don't notice any additional weight.  Best wishes

pkb143

ruby, I had a unilateral, too. Maybe I'll just go try on some 'regular' bras now and see what works. I have mastectomy bras but the upper pole on my new breast is so full and so high now, it's really getting difficult.

Maybe after getting the TE''s out, anything feels better!  You sound happy with yours, so that's a good thing.

mawhinney

You might want to check out www.implantinfo.com  Somewhere on the site there is info on how to judge your new "size". You can fill the foot of an old hose with rice to get an idea of how cc's translate into a shape.  When you look at photos, try to only look at photos that show reconstructed breasts vs augmented breasts.

Your body build/shape, the condition of your skin plus the amount of tissue removed also determines how an implant will look. Some chest areas curve inward and thus require a larger implant to fill the cavity.  There are a lot of variables.  Ask your PS what he/she thinks would best suit your body.  Ask to see pictures of good and bad results.