RECONSTRUCT. QUESTION: Anyone thinking of going to size D or DD?

Pam, I'm not the person you were hoping to hear from, but after reading your question, I had a few thoughts I'm hoping might be helpful as you ponder your options.

Large/heavy breasts cause many women to limit their activities to avoid the pain associated with "ballistic" movement of their breasts.  I'd inquire about the weight difference in the various sizes you're considering, and what sort of breast movement you should expect with activity.  Yes, athletic bras can moderate movement, but with really large breasts, they can't really eliminate it.  Consider what sorts of activity you enjoy...for instance, are you a runner (think about the "baywatch" opening and imagine how that feels with the weight pulling against your skin and tissues) or a tennis player (here's a link to a discussion about a young tennis player who decided on a breast reduction-- tennis player 

Clothes are generally designed for the breast size you are now.  With a (much) larger size, you may have fitting issues.  To get around the bust in ready-to-wear, you may have to go "up" in size...which may leave you with necklines/shoulders that are too large.  If you sew for yourself (or have your clothing custom made), a fitting adjustment called an FBA (or full bust alteration) is made before a pattern is used (Most commercial patterns are designed for a B-size bust.)

Browse your local lingerie store and see what the bras for the size you are thinking of look like.

Finally, consider the effect on back/shoulder muscles and your posture.

With all that considered, I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you!

HTH,

LisaAlissa

I had a tram and ended up with D cups (I was a C) . I am having revisions on Friday to take away some of the fullness. I think I would be OK with the bigger size but alot of the fullness reaches around the sides too much. The thing I have noticed is that the fat that now resides in my breasts is much heavier or denser than breast tissue. I don't like the heavy feel which is another reason I would like to reduce. I have had them for 8 months now and I must say its been fun to be bigger busted but I am ready to go back to what I am comfy with

The Ds have not interfered with activities - I just climbed a 4000ft.High Peak in the Adirondacks with no problems!

Well...as a former B cup, who had a "boob job" and became a D cup for cosmetic reasons, 10 years ago. I can tell you that those D implants will eventually sag. I have had a single Mx with straight to implant and am having the D side reduced down & the Mx side made 100cc's bigger.

I have a photo of my 10 year old D cup implant breast/mx side if you would like to see what happens when they get old. It looks CRAZY HUGE next to my 325cc implant on Mx side. 

I am not as young as you, I am 44. My back hurts all of the time from the implants, they are heavy. NOW, I am small, I am 5'5" very small boned and weigh 112 pounds soaking wet.

PM me your email addy if you would like to see the pic, any of my other sisters who would like to see where I am, I'll send it to you as well, just ask.

Once I get the plastic surgery, I will start a thread on TimTams site. For now, I just have the one photo of me 8 weeks post Mx.

Hugs, Dawn

edited to add***YES, my implants are under the muscle, the muscle stretches too.

Girls.... i am in the expansion process currentlly  as well, and the PS has requested that i 'let him know when I feel the cc's are getting close to what i feel i like'.  It seems like such a bizarrely, unnatural thing to do.... i'm not deciding what to order for lunch!!!!.... you know what i mean?  **I was a B cup prior to Mx, but had already been for a consult for augmentation, wishing to improve fullness, shape and ramp the volume up a bit.  I had breast fed my 4 kids and then became very active in sports and an active, healthy lifestyle.  My breasts were the ONE body part I could'nt change at the gym. Then....Invasive Breast Cancer, B/L Mx, and Braca Identification, multiple surgeries etc robbed me of my physical confidence and at my sexual prime! (Yes girls.... its actually even stronger at 44), not to say what it did to my golf game, gym training, squash game, and poolside confidence etc.... !!!!!!  I have a DIFFERENT understanding of myself now. My feminine strength.

I pray that I have MANY MANY (Cancer Free) years left to embrace and enjoy whatever beautiful size I'm at when i celebrate with my PS the magnificent second chance medical science gives me and I find the perfect fit for me and say 'STOP THERE!!". 

Cancer has made us stonger, cautious, and health aware..... but, Breast Cancer makes us crave our femininity!?

I

Hi, I'm in a somewhat similar boat.  I *just* (last week) had a bilateral mastectomy and had to have a delayed reconstruction.  I was a decent D-cup, but was pretty flat-chested through most of high school.  I'm only 28, so it's not like I've been used to having big knockers for decades.  I've told the surgeon I'd like to be between a B and a C.  Having had both flat and not-flat chests, I'd like something in between.  I was always self-conscious when I was flat, but then when I did have the large boobs, I couldn't wear some cute tops and had to worry a lot about support during running.  So when the time comes, I'm going to go for a happy medium!

PaminFL,

I had breast augmentation 3 years prior to my diagnosis as well. I wanted a C cup and the plastic surgeon gave me a D. I was also an A/B cup before. Now that I am a C cup I am so much happier with the way clothes fit. I can actually find clothes that fit and make me look slimmer. Big breasts made my upper body to large especially in loose fitting clothes. I told my surgical oncologist just this week that even though it is a different look, not as smooth as my original breasts, I am so much happier with the size. She told me that the old ones made me look matronly. Your breasts will look and feel differently then when you had your augmentation implants. It is really hard to explain. I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction on August 11th of this year. I told my plastic surgeon to do what he thought would look good because I just wanted the cancer out of me. I was pleasantly surprised with what I got. I get the nipple reconstruction done on December 10th and am really excited to be done with everything. Make sure the big ones are what you want. Also, silicone implants only go as large as 7 or 8 hundred cc's. Mine are 700 so if you are looking for something bigger you may have to go with saline. Silicone is alot softer. What were your augmentation implants made of?

I'm also thinking about going to a D. Before my bilateral mastectomy I was a C cup. I delayed reconstruction til after I got the 'all clear' from my oncologist which was 2 wks ago. (yay!) I will test-drive with prosthetics, covered by insurance.