Flat after exchange - natrelle 410s Disappointment

pamelahope

Hi.  I just had my exchange on Friday and feel a little depressed.  I put on a few Tshirts just to try on and I look really flat chested.  I had delayed recon after rads and my skin held up well, at the exchange I was only able to accomodate a 420cc implant.  On me it looks flat.  I experienced some embarrassment, and distress as it brought back feelings of walking around flat after my mastectomy.

I got the Natrelle 410 gummies.  I heard these don't fluff the same way as others.  

Any advice or experiences? I of course am grateful so feel bad being disappointment...

Thank you, 

Pam

Jpsara

I know what you mean!  After many many complications, I finally got implants on 11/11... I am thin, and also lost a lot of skin due to an infection.  Doc and I agreed on 475 cc silicone style 20 (not 410), but ended up with 425cc as he said that's all "he could fit" in.  My previous size was a "baby" C, these implants look wide but flatter.

With no breast tissue, you just don't get any projection.  I thought it was O.K. Until I put clothes on, then I looked flat as well!  I still have so many other problems, the size at this point is low on my list.

Not to make you feel worse, but you may also have some post surgical swelling that will diminish, and then you will be smaller still!  Since upgrading your size is not an option, you may want to wait a big, then exchange for round silicone....have heard others are more happy.

It is soooo depressing, after all we go thru, the least we can get is the boobies we want!!!!!

Beesie

Do you know if you have the full projection 410s? I'm guessing you probably do, but it's worth checking into.

In Canada the 410s are available with extra full projection but the "X"s don't appear to be available in the U.S. (at least according to the Natrelle catalogue).  I have the extra projection 410 but I'll say that even it doesn't have the projection of a natural breast. That's unfortunately a common problem with implant reconstruction. 

AZ85048

pamelahope and Jpsara - I hear you, sisters!  I'm in the same boat.  Just had exchange surgery on 12/26/13 and am awaiting the 'drop and fluff' phase.  I was so VERY excited to get rid of those horrible TEs!  I'm feeling great except for some pressure as they move themselves into the pockets the PS had to create (and thank God they are).  I was horrified the first time I saw myself after the exchange.  Somehow I thought I'd be 'Playboy ready' immediately.  LOL!!!!  What I got was high, flat and lopsided... I was SO disappointed; but also very premature in my initial expectations, I guess.  They say it can take days, weeks, or even months for the new girls to settle into place.  The PS used Mentor round high profile silicone on me but I still have that 'under my armpits' feeling and not a lot of projection - yet?  They've moved a bit already (a little better than two weeks post-op) and I have hopes for a decent outcome. I have some projection but nearly as much as I'd expected.  Wishing you both the same!

Togetherness

I have the 410 Natrelle gummies 595.  I am very happy with them as far as size goes but unfortunately I have had numerous infections and have to have them removed on Tuesday.  Very disappointed that they did not work out.  

marial

• I have 800cc and mine look flat on me! I agree qith someone who said hey look like hamburger buns..wide and flat..jo projection..I have a friend my size or a bit larger with 650cc who looks great...disappointing

pamelahope

I see the plastic surgeon Tuesday, and I will see what she says.

However, it is nice not to feel alone with this.  I got really down, after surgery, and had not felt that way in a long time.

Is it possible, my chest muscle still needs to relax and they will look less flat with time? The gummy ones that i have.

On the plus side, no ripples.  Natural.  Just cant see them in clothes.

Pam

AZ85048

pamelahope - I 'borrowed' this definition from the internet, but it seems to cover it all:  Dropping means that your implants settle down into their pocket and fluffing is when your chest muscles finally relax from the surgery and are thus less restrictive on the implants. Hope that helps!

pamelahope

I think I read that the gummy implants don't fluff.  Not sure! Will ask a new question!!! Pam

pamelahope

I wanted to post back being flat after exchange is normal.  I am looking better and am happy with my results.

AZ85048

pamelahope - I don't know about that.  Check out Aviva's picture post after only four days...

http://community.breastcancer.org/topic_post?forum_id=44&id=728266&page=1055

She said she has Naturelle 410 Anatomicals. 

designacct

hi. I had my exchange today and ps puts in 300cc sound high profile from mentor. They do look so flat! Will they get more projection? How do yours look today? Is there a bra I should be wearing now to help them come in a bit... Yes they are armpit boobs for sure right now.  Any advie would be appreciated!!!

AZ85048

designacct - I have Mentor rounds and yes, at first they were very high and flat.  You just need to give them time.  They need to 'drop and fluff' and the pectoral muscle needs to relax.  That can take days or weeks or even a couple of months.  I'm a month out from exchange and still waiting for the final result, but they've changed quite a lot since day one.  (I took pictures each week so I could see the difference.)  My PS never had me wear anything.  I had some gauze and a little tape but that came off when I was allowed to shower 48 hours later.  Try to be patient, (I know it's hard) get as much rest as you can, don't overdo, and let us know how you're doing.  Best of luck!!

Jayaytea

Pam, I felt very disappointed with my implant when it was exchanged in last June.  I went into a depression, and then learned from this site that this is very common at this stage of our treatment.  SO watch for that, as you should tell your Dr. and not let it run away on you.  I still take a "happy pill" daily, and plan to get weaned of them once I'm finished reconstruction.

As far as the flatness goes, I've had one fat grafting surgery so far.  It filled in 2 divots, on which was on the top and helped somewhat.  I have to decide if it is worth the liposuction to do that again.  

Good luck, and keep your spirits up.

pamelahope

Reporting back!!! The flatness is gone.  Dont panic after surgery.  The chest muscle has to relax!!! Pam

AZ85048

pamelahope - See?  Glad they're dropping into place! 

sandra4611

Whippetmom, the great and powerful OZ on Breast Implants 101, told me that gummies can take up to a year to assume their final "pose." My exchange was Dec. 6th and although I'm not strangely lopsided like at the beginning, the results are not what I expected. I had looked at the specifications on the implants but somehow didn't fully understand that the projection of 2 1/2 inches meant I would have wide/flattish bodybuilder "man-boobs." I have Allergan Natrelle 410 FF 740cc gummies, the largest size that was available to my PS. They are a little over 6 inches wide. They fit a D cup in width, but would only fill 1/2 of the cup, maybe less. They are fine little mounds that look perfectly natural in clothes. (I've never been required or even advised to wear a bra.) I guess I'm still not used to the loss of the natural cone shape (even though those cones were WAY past their prime and laid nicely on my abs without a bra.)  I am not complaining. I'm lucky to have a shape at all. I had a bad infection after my BMX with immediate permanent 800 cc saline round implants. (They were flat too by the way.) I ended up losing one of the implants and getting a TE on that side for 3 months. At the exchange, I got a 740cc gummy and the existing implant was changed to a 740 cc gummy as well. The gummies are so nice and tall that they covered some divots nicely. They also slope a bit as they come down so I no longer look like a letter b when I turn to the side like I did with the "stripper boob" TE. 

Maybe the reality is that it will take a year for me to learn to accept my new shape.

  

I

GinaLU

I have been reading everyone's posts about their experience with the gummy bear implants.  I just did my exchange to the Natrelle 410FF 425 cc on June 10, so I am 4 days post op and very disappointed in how they look-flat as a pancake.  Any new updates on how everyone feels about them and does it just take time for "fluffing" or do you just "get used to it"? 

Tinastark

I had these implants 2weeks ago after testing BRCA2 positive. I am so upset with the look with them being flat. I have tried to read all these. Did I see where yours were flat and once dropped they look normal. Getting very depressed

Tinastark

hese implants 2weeks ago after testing BRCA2 positive. I am so upset with the look with them being flat. I have tried to read all these. Did I see where yours were flat and once dropped

dtad

Hi everyone. I'm 63 so not really that concerned about how I look naked. However I am very concerned about how I look with clothes on! I went from a DD to a C and had a hard time adjusting to smaller breasts. I found a bra that really helps. Its padded and very comfortable. Seems to really help with projection. Its the Coobie bra. Very inexpensive and I buy them on Amazon. Hope it helps....

VegGal

Hi! GinaLU, I had Natrelle 410 FF 595's placed on June 10, so we're on the same track. I am so disappointed with my "hamburger bun man-boobs"! I am 5'11" and weigh around 140 and was a 34C in my breasted life. I had in 450 cc expanders prior to surgery and looked bigger than I do now.

I hope we get some good input, and mostly I hope the boob fairy will come and reward us with the rack of our dreams. As it is now I feel pretty down and reclusive.

Carla

VegGal

GinaLU, did you have your exchange at Clements Hospital in Dallas, by any chance? That's where I was.

VegGal

Well, saw my surgeon today. Drains removed. Need to wear bra 24/7 for next month. He escaped while nurse removed drains. Sigh.

While I still had the nurse as a captive audience I asked what kind of changes I should expect in the shape of my recon in the next 3 months. She looked surprised and said, "None!"

OK then. Not sure I believe that. Clearly I am on my own, so I will keep you all posted if anyone is interested. It didn't help that the surgeon pulled up my old photos of my "real" breasts. They looked pretty good after all.

Wish I had better news.

Carla

Marie2016

CarlaEM,

I'm new to this site so I apologize in advance if I do anything improperly. It sounds like we have similar experiences so I wanted to reach out to you.

I had a bilateral nipple sparing mastectomy at UT Clements in May and my exchange surgery on 8/23. I had my heart set on round implants because I had them for several years prior to BC and really loved the look and feel. At the last minute my surgeon convinced me to go with Natrelle 410 teardrops 495cc.

I'm so unhappy with the look and feel. They look like droopy triangles to me. They are too wide & flat, heavy, hard and inside my body it feels like they are covered with sandpaper. How are you liking yours now? I have already scheduled consults with other surgeons to switch to smooth round again.

VegGal

Hi Marie!

So sorry you are not happy. I know how you feel. I will say, at this point, I am amazingly pleased! It took about 3 weeks and things began to change. Every week after that brought more changes and now...WOW! I really like them.

I know I went a little cray cray right after the exchange. I wanted my prize--and NOW! I was going to make appts with others as well, but decided to give it three months. Now it's the farthest thing from my mind.

If you want to see some photos, I am happy to private message them. Just let me know!

Carla

Marie2016

Hi CarlaEM,

I'm so happy you like them now! Would definitely appreciate pictures. I can also send you mine to see if you were similar at this stage.

Remi50

hi CarlaEM,

I am new to this site but have turned to many threads on this site through my breast cancer journey. I just had my exchange surgery yesterday with natarelle 410 FX anatomical silicone breast implants. They are 360cc as I believe that's the largest they could go. I, like you , am so disappointed with these flat hamburger buns from what I can see peeking down. I had tissue expanders that weren't perfect but had more projection and look like a round breast, not high and I was quite comfortable and my self esteem was definitely good with them. Now I feel like they are so flat, no upper pole (had fat grafting too yesterday), and the look awful. Please let me know what changes you saw that made you feel better about your 410 implants. Can't believe this is the final result. Would have kept tissue expanders as opposed to this look. Grateful for these doctors and the options we have but I was so afraid of this happening. Any advise is appreciated from any of you other sisters that are experiencing what I'm feeling.

Remi50

VegGal

Hi Remi!

Congrats on making it through. You did it!

First, you are way early in the healing process. I found that around 3 weeks in things began to settle and project more, but not as much as the TE's. Still, I was happy, especially about week 13 when all seemed to relax and drop into place.

Try not to stress too much. You are swollen and your chest has a death grip on the implants. It takes time for things to settle.

Hope this helps.

C

Remi50

hi ginaLU,

I notice your post is from June and I had my exchange yesterday 9/15/16 to naturelle 410 FX highest profile and projection) anatomical silicone breast implants 360cc's. They look like flat hamburger buns and I am so depressed about the look. I know I should be grateful but I felt and looked better with the tissue expanders. I never imagined they would look like this. I think if they were round they would at least look like a breast. Please let me know how you feel about yours after these past months. Any advice or feedback would be wonderful!!

Remi50

Remi50

hi CarlaEM,

Thank you for responding to my post. I am so praying they will have. Some what of a round look. They look like droopy dogs ears from what I can see looking down into sports compression bra. I thought I was specific in relaying to the plastic surgeon that I was very happy with tissu e e spander look.. They sat med low but at least had a round shape. I felt I would look the same but just slightly smaller. I understood that one could not pick out what would be a round implant or anatomical once exchanged. That the anatomical shape would have more upper pole fullness. Even with fat grafting theyhave no upper fullness at all. What was your experience and what were you told in order to make a decision ?

Thanks,

Remi50