Implants too small??

Arabella23

Hello to all of the courageous and vibrant souls who frequent this site and generously provide guidance and wisdom. This is one of the best examples of sisterhood I feel. This is my first post even though I was diagnosed with IDC in November 2013, Wow, what a year 2014 was! However, I am grateful for my outcome but like many of you, I am still experiencing anxiety, depression, dread.. you name it.

I just had my TEs exchanged for gummy bear silicone on Jan. 20 and I thought my doctor and I understood each other in terms of my size. I was a 36B cup before the diagnosis and I wanted to be more in the C range. I had my TEs expanded to about 410 ccs and I liked the way that looked even though the stretching of TEs is akin to a mild form of torture (they really don't tell you that). I said I wanted a moderately high profile but I thought 500 ccs was too much (I'm 5'6", 135 and have a longer torso - actually I always thought I had a lot of space from my breasts to my collarbones. Anyway, PS said he'd size me during surgery and see whether it was better for me to have 435 cc implants or the 370 cc implants (equivalent to what I had in my TEs before the last expansion to 410). I said then that I thought the 370 ccs weren't going to be enough because I didh't have the fullness I wanted.

Well, when I woke up from the anesthesia, I felt and knew immediately, he'd used the smaller implant. I became so distraught (every time I think about it and look in the mirror) and feel I look like I did when I was 16.

Is it true that I need to wait and see how these implants 'drop and .. whatever else they're supposed to do? Does anyone actually go for larger implants a few months later when will it becomes evident that they are definitely too small??

Any advice and suggestions those of you who are familiar with this can give, I'd be very grateful

Moderators

We're sorry you feel your size is not as you had requested. Have you talked this over openly with your surgeon yet, as there may be a valid reason?

We're sure you'll have some feedback from ladies with their experiences.

The Mods

Meganmm

Arabella, I was so freaked out by having to have a mastectomy, after planning on a lumpectomy for several months (I was being treated with Tamoxifen to see if it would shrink the tumor) that I asked for immediate implants to "look the same size as I am". So...that is what I got...and they were too small. I am the same height as you - 5'6", but about 145 pounds and wore a 36B bra. The implants my PS used were 325 cc. I didn't like the way they looked because I had excess skin, although I still wore the same bra size. I knew after a few months I wanted to get them replaced, but had to cancel the surgery a few times due to my father passing away, and then needing a hysterectomy. Anyway, I finally had them replaced about a month ago, and she replaced them with a 500 on one side, and a 550 on the other side, plus fat grafting. In the days after my surgery I was a bit depressed because I thought they looked too big, and was sorry I was going thru the pain of the fat grafting. However, they have settled down and now I am pretty pleased with how they look.

So - yes I have had my original implants replaced, and I am glad I did it. It looks much more natural to my body.

Good luck to you.

Miss_Vesta

Hi Arabella23,

I am so sorry you aren't happy with your implants. I think you need to see your plastic surgeon again and tell him you are not happy. Getting a revision is not unusual. When I had mine put in my plastic surgeon said the implant had to be larger then my actual breast to look the same size. I was getting a DD breast replaced and I have learned that is quite a magic trick.

Any how, the point is you need an implant that is slightly larger then you were to look the same. I say go back and ask for the larger implant. You wouldn't be the first woman to do that.

Arabella23

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post. I have seen my surgeon and as it's still early days, they have cautioned that I need to wait a little to see how my implants settle. I know already they are smaller than I expected, but OK, I'll see how things go. I cant' imagine another surgery at this stage but I was so hopeful for a positive outcome, I would consider a revision within the year. THANK YOU again.

HGL4969

Hi, I had my original ones replaced for larger ones and it was a breeze. My PS used the same incisions and they healed back up in no time. There was no muscle pain or anything like the first time. I was pleasantly surprised. Good luck.

BayouBabe

Be sure to search here for the thread titled "Breast Implant Sizing 101". You might also want to send a message to member "Whippetmom". She is the implant guru/breast whisperer here on breastcancer.org. She has helped so very, very many of us with sizing issues and questions. So sorry you are going through this. Good luck in finding a solution.

Jenni-in-Canada

I am SO relieved to hear I'm not the only one really unhappy with the sizing of my implants! I had a double mastectomy in March of this year, and had tissue expanders put in during the same surgery. I alternated between a 36A and 36B before my cancer diagnosis, and told my surgeon I wanted to be larger (a definite 36C). I spent the next 4.5 months going for regular fills every 2 weeks, until I was at 595 ccs. At that point, I filled a 36C bra nicely, and had some cleavage and a fold under my breasts. They were beautiful and I was so happy with them!

When I woke up from my exchange surgery 2 days ago, I immediately started to cry. My breasts are nowhere near the size they were. No more cleavage (not even close!), no fold under my breasts, and they are so deflated and flat. She said she put in 550 gram anatomical silicone implants, which from what I've read should be a nice size, especially given that I'm only 5'2 and small build, but I bet when I put a bra back on, I'm back to an A cup! They look like tiny little humps instead of breasts, and I look nearly totally flat in my t-shirt.

To top it off, my nipple points down and looks way too low. I feel so guilty because I know I should be thankful I have my life, and I am! But I am just so depressed about how everything looks 😭

Moderators

Jenni-in-Canada, first, welcome to BCO. We are really sorry that you are unhappy. Is there anything that the surgeon could do in addition?

grammakathy

Jenni - our emotions are all over the place during surgery and reconstruction. I hope you will give yourself a chance to heal and let things settle. I trust that the surgeon will work with you after a few months have passed and adjust or replace things. You have been through a lot since your diagnosis in January. It is no wonder you are disappointed. The shape of our chest wall and the skill of the surgeon affect how things look. And even though you have 550 gram anatomical implants, they will look different in a couple of months. Mine are 425cc Allergan 410 anatomical implants and I wear a 36C bra. Hang in there. Another suggestion is to take a photograph of yourself and compare how it looks every couple of weeks. Changes are so gradual that it is hard for us to see things. Hugs!

Jenni-in-Canada

Thanks ladies ☺️. I'm not sure how it all works, whether the surgeon will do anything more for me or not. She never said anything about what happens if I'm not happy, and since Alberta Health Care pays for everything, I'm not sure if they readily pay for further treatment based solely on the fact that I'm not happy with my new breasts.

Grammakathy, thank you for your reply. Your diagnosis and treatment looks to be the same as mine! So implants change over the months? I was under the impression that the Allergan gummy bear ones just stayed the same shape and didn't settle or fluff? I got the Allergan 410MX gel implants, 550g, and seriously they look flat

grammakathy

Others on the reconstruction threads have posted that the silicone implants settle more than the cohesive gel kind that you and I have. I know I had swelling after my exchange and things didn't look as good as they did a couple of months later. I have cleavage but haven't ever worn push up style bras, and that hasn't changed. I don't have what others call "upper pole" fullness but look great in my clothes. And with the addition of 3D tattoos, I couldn't be happier. With the exception of slight incision marks across my breasts, you wouldn't know I had surgery. Keep checking in and there should be others that add suggestions and recommendations for you.

Miscraw

Wow, I just asked about this in the exchange forum. I want mine larger too. I'm sure many people would be thrilled with my size, but before having kids I was a D/DD so I was hoping to back in the C/D range at least.