Sientra Implants

Bishops2003

Sheri67- you have been in my thoughts this week. I know how impatient I am to get to the end of this crazy journey... And for you have to face delays it frustrates me. Has anything changed? Can you go to a different ps? So sorry you are stuck in limbo.

Blessings

sherry67

Blessings,

Thanks ..nothing yet..talked to surgical coordinator and nothing there are 8 of us waing for the same size go figure..she said the rep is coming on Monday so we will see..I did go get a second opinion and he wanted to over inflate me than wait another 4 to 5 months..heck no already been waiting long enough..

annemarieh

Sherry~I too have been thinking of you all week. WOW!! 8 people! That's a darn shame! Maybe they will get the ball rolling after seeing the rep!! Happy thoughts coming your way!

Annemarie

sherry67

Thanks Annemarie I truly hope so..

sherry67

Got the call today my surgery is on the15th of this month the Seintras are on there way...better be worth all the suffering...

Bishops2003

I am so excited for you! Finally! I will be praying for a smooth surgery and quick recovery

sherry67

Thanks Bishops2003, me too

annemarieh

SHERRY!!! YAYYYYY!!! Holy cow! I'm so excited for you! Did you make them put it in writting, certified letter??!! JK!! Hoping all the best for you girl!!!! xo

sherry67

Annemarieh,

Thanks,good luck tomorrow

GreenCowgirl

I am glad i found this forum.  I believe my PS wants to use the Sientra as well, but the top size is 700 c, so not sure if that is enought for me.  After a previous lumpectomy and radiation, i am a 34ddd on the right and 34F on the left.  I would be happy being a D and relieve some of the shoulder pressure from bra straps with these big girls.  Also he said he will do ample fat grafting, eben on the first day of MX And TE's.  Lots of fat grafting will increase fullness and hide ripples.  He will be reducing the left unaffected breast so lets hope he does not go too small, I would feel naked being a C or less.  I only found the info on sientras website.  I think the Sientra TE's are suppose to be softer/more comfortable. has anyone found this to be the case.  Also how do i find the photo forum everyone refers to? I am concerned about the radiated side streching enough, but my ps seems not concerned and his nurse says he is amazing.  Its hard to put your faith in 2 surgeons you just met.

MondaysChild

I had Sientra dual chamber expanders, two sets even.  I did not experience much discomfort with them at all.

C-squared

I had the double chamber Sientra TEs too..., LOVED the concept!  One of them sprung a leak.  The other one turned sideways.  Now I have their implants and struggle to find my new boobs.  Needless to say, I'm not too confident in Sientra. 

MondaysChild

I had one turn sideways, also.  That is why I had two sets: I had to have one replaced, so the size was also changed to a size not previously available.

25weeks

Hi gals,

I haven't chimed in here in a while, but for a long time, I was the only one with Sientra products.  I had the dual chamber TEs (filled to 435cc) placed in June 2012.  Luckily, I didn't have any issues with them rotating, etc., and by the end, I was fairly happy with the overall look of them.  But then I had my exchange in Dec 2012 to the Sientra textured shaped classic base 450ccs.  After the perky TEs, I was disappointed in the projection and the lack of movement, feel, etc.  I am also experiencing rippling down the centers of each breast.  For those of you who currently have Sientra implants, which styles do you have?  I actually have a revision scheduled for this Tuesday.  My PS is thinking a Mentor round implant with a slightly higher volume.  I'm just worried I'm going to end up with a whole new set of aesthetic concerns.  Overall, my implants look very good and natural, but the rippling has to go at the least. 

C-squared

25weeks~
I, too, am very dissapointed with the Sientra implants.., esp. projection.  I do not know the exact model as I do not have the card.  And that's okay because I don't plan on keeping 'em!  I see the PS Mar. 29th for a 3rd post-op visit and we'll likely schedule another exchange at that time. 

25weeks

C-squared,

Sorry that you're disappointed as well.  I'll give an update after my revision next Tuesday and let you know which implants I went with and how they look.  Hang in there.

Tricia

owlwatcher

my ps does not do the shaped implants cause he says they can rotate. I guess that is a risk.

blanviper

C-squared, owlwatcher, and 25weeks-  

I think the deal is that you definitely are trading one set of aesthetic issues for another no matter what you choose. You have to weigh the pros and cons of each and compare that to the idea in your head of the result you want. I went from a Naturelle Mid projection 339cc implant to a Sientra Oval based mid 330cc shaped implant. I had better luck with the Sientra in terms of matching a natural breast, a more natural looking shape, more projection despite slightly less volume and far less rippling. But I'm a UMX.

I waited from my exchange in May 2012 to Dec 2012 to decide to change to give enough time to really evaluate and not make a hasty decision to swap out. The implant changed a lot in appearance and feel. The Naturelle did get better looking over that time but the rippling situation for me just got worse and I had a lot of fat grafting at that exchange. It looked foreign next to my natural breast - too much upper pole and too hamburger bun-y. But it sounds like I am a smaller bra size than you all might be and my chest could be different, too. If you are a BMX, and want a look with more upper pole fullness, volume and perkiness, then a less cohesive round could be the perfect answer for you. I think a frank discussion with your PS about what is achievable is your best bet. A second review of his result pics, pointing out what you like and whether you personally can get that look with what implant, might be worth doing before exchange. He needs to know exactly what you have in your mind to help you get there.

The Sientra is definitely firmer and doesn't move in the same way. I think my last post was 4 weeks out from exchange and now I'm 8 weeks- they've softened up and settled in place but they'll never be like a softer less cohesive implant. As far as rotating, I think a lot depends on your surgeon, how you heal and how the pocket is created and reinforced. I had a lot of pocket reinforcement this time, but needed less fat grafting. So far for me, way less visible rippling - just a little distortion when the pec is flexed and that was something my PS said would be a 'pro' of that implant. If I had done a BMX, I might have chosen differently for the softness. Or not, since these have a more natural slope on my chest. This whole thing is extremely difficult. You do the best with what you know at the time and pray it works out.

Bishops2003

Blanviper- can I ask you bra size now? I am getting the exact implants and fill so I was just wondering.

Thx

blanviper

Bishops2003- I'm wearing a 36C now and most of that is due to the difference in shape of a reconstructed breast and a natural one. Before surgery, I was wearing a 36A, but that was probably the wrong bra size and should've been a 36B. I got professionally fitted after surgery. I thought the fitter was nuts when she told me 36C, but the bras she gave me fit. The side with the implant definitely fills out a 36C on me, but not overflowing. The natural side fits some 36C bras ok but some it looks like I could go 36B and fill the cup better, so now I try on every bra I buy. Different brands do fit differently. I don't feel I'm swollen anymore 8 weeks from surgery, but if I am more than I think than I may net out at a full 36B. Since how big you are overall matters, I'm about 5'8" and 148 lbs. Hope that helps.

Bishops2003

Thanks for the info I am looking for about the same result ( 5'10, 120). I chose sientra bc of my lingering concerns with less cohesive gel and their 30 year life. I have 4 kids under 6- I can't be having surgery every 8 years for maintenance. Sientra seemed to offer my best chance at one and done....for a while, anyway.

Please keep us all posted as to how they continue to settle in.

Thanks for sharing

Minicoopergirl

Hello everyone... I'm happy that I found this board.  I found so much information on this site during my breast cancer journey, I knew this would be a good place to come as I look for info about implants.  It has been a long trec, but I'm happy to say I am  scheduled March 18th for my exchange.  After so many tough choices the last few months I thought this would be an easy one! Boy, I was wrong... I've expressed to my PS that I'd like to maintain a natural shape- so he is pushing toward the sientra teardrop 325cc.  I do have concerns with the size and type. Looking around I've not seen anyone with implants in the 325cc range.   I do want a natural look aka-  no "Barbie, ball boobies" for me.. but, I also want to look pretty in a bikini and wish to be able to push them up if I want.  So, anyone have any advice about size or type.  I don't want to end up with something too small or an impland that I don't like that will need to be replaced ( I actually go today for my final expansion).  Thanks for any feedback..

25weeks

Minicoopergirl-



A lot depends on whether that size will work for you. What is your height, weight, ribcage measurement (snugly under your breasts), and what TEs do you currently have and are you happy with their size & appearance?



Do you know specifically which implants your PS is suggesting? Round base, classic base, etc?



I had the Sientra dual chamber TEs, then a shaped Sientra implant, so I am happy to give you some first-hand input regarding my experience.



Tricia

sherry67

25weeks,

How do you like the Seintra implants ...I just had surgery on feb 15th so the jury is still out..

blanviper

Sherry-

So glad you finally had your exchange. It's definitely still too soon to tell what's going on and what the implants will look like. I would give it at least a month to get a better idea. For me, both styles of implants were riding very high for about 6 weeks and were definitely firmer than they wound up being. At a 3 week follow-up for the Sientra, I still had grave doubts whether I made the right choice in swapping out the other implant. Now at 9 weeks I can say I'm pretty pleased with appearance of the implant both naked and clothed, for the most part.

25weeks

Sherry67-



Well, let me start by saying that the overall result was nice and natural looking. That said, they weren't what I was expecting either. I came to like the projection and overall look of my TEs under clothing. I went from the dual chamber TEs expanded to 435cc to the textured, shaped classic base 450cc implant. When I first saw them, I felt they were a bit flat, were a bit firm, and didn't have as much movement as I was expecting. I don't feel like I had enough information going into the exchange. Over the weeks, I came to accept them more and they did soften a bit, but I had rippling in the center/cleavage area and an area of hardness at 10:00 on my right breast that neither I nor my PS knew what it was. Given all of this, I elected to have a revision. I had my revision just two days ago, in fact, and I haven't even taken off the bra to check the results. I'm too scared. I could have been perfectly happy with the Sientras - at least for a while. They really did look great, relatively speaking. I also had skin/nipple sparing BMX, so that helped with the overall look, I think. I plan to post my journey on the picture forum soon, but I'm also happy to email pics of my Sientras if anyone is interested. I feel like I am much more informed now and understand where my decisions may have been faulty. I'm happy to answer any questions/concerns anyone may have.



Tricia

sherry67

Blanviper,

Thanks for replying ..have a checkup tomorrow..tightness is getting a little better each day..just not sure what to expect because the left feels like it dropped a little and he did a lot of pocket work on that side ...

Gina9195

I haven't visited this site in several months. I had my final reconstructive surgery in Oct. I have Sientra's. I'm so glad that I checked back in because I've been disappointed with my MX side. I have Sientra's in both breasts, and the good one looks and feels Natural. But the MX'd side is so firm. When I lean down, one breast drops and the other doesn't budge. When I lay on my back, it sits on top of my chest without moving. They look fine in clothes, although I'm self conscious about my cleavage. My PS says I need to accept they'll never look or feel the same. But if a different implant would feel softer, I might consider a swap in the future. I'm just so mentally done with surgeries right now.

summerm

Hi Ladies,

I recently joined, and hope to gain some insight from all of you.  It's great to hear all your stories.  I'm BRCA1 and have a horrible family history.  I'm 34 and very fit with 3 small children 5,3,2.  I had my nipple sparing bmx on Jan 31, and so far I cannot believe how well things have gone.

I teach fitness classes and have already started teaching them again.  I was expecting the worst, but so far so good. I'm not sure if the fact that I had small breasts to begin with 32a(a) has made things easier, but I'm hoping to have my last fill of the TEs on March 1.  I'm currently filled to 270cc and will probably go to 370.  I'm hoping to have 100cc put in on 3/1 and then begin the 'settling period."

My main question for all of you is what type of experience have you had (heard of) with the pre-shaped cohesive gel implants (gummy bears)?  I was initially considering the Sientra anatomical implants because they were the only FDA approved implant of that type, but the Allergan 410 implants were just approved so now there is 2 options.  The hospital I'm going to is an Allergan implanting hospital so I'm sure that's what my PS will recommend.  I've spoken with a friend who has a very similar build to me that had the Allergan 410 iplanted 4-5 years ago in a clinical trial, and she loves them.

I started as a small A cup before the bmx, and would like to be a full B cup.  If you have any experience with the Sientra or Allergan 410, please let me know what your experience has been.  I'm also curious what sizes people may have had implanted and what the resulting cup size was.

Thank so much,

Summer

25weeks

Gina9195- So, if I understand you correctly, you had a UMX, but had the other breast augmented as well?  Which Sientras do you have?

Summer- Which TEs do you have?  Do you also have Sientra TEs?