BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited August 2010

    Flippy:  Welcome to the group and you have come to the right place!  Whippetmom helped with my exchange size and they are perfect for my height and frame.  Even better then what I started with.  You will find so much support on these threads!  Hugs.

    GrandmaBubba:  So glad Whippetmom could help you!  You are in good hands now.

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  • Giselle7
    Giselle7 Member Posts: 104
    edited August 2010

    GrandmaBubba - I am so happy you are finding help here. You should never go into surgery questioning the competence of your physician. As you can see, even those of us who feel we have been in capable hands wind up questioning why things weren't discussed prior to surgery. Good luck!

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  • sweetie2040
    sweetie2040 Member Posts: 817
    edited August 2010

    MBJ- I saw your pics! Your looking wonderful! Your PS did a fantasic job. I'm so happy for you and every time I see a good result like yours I get excited about how mine will look. It gives me lots of hope!! hehehe. Enjoy them, you really look great!

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited August 2010

    Hang tight...all of you with questions...I have committed to help someone paint today and I am running late...I'll get back to you this afternoon.  I have implant sizes in my head for all of you!!  LOL!!

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited August 2010

    LOL Deborah -- I think you are like a Good Boob Fairy :) 

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited August 2010

    Lilah!  LOL!!!

    Deborah!  You ARE the boob fairy!  I knew it.  I totally forgive you for messing up when I got my first set of breasts!  You totally made up for it with my new set!!!

    Sweetie:  Thank you!  what you don't see in the pictures because of the ace bandage is that my natural breast with the moderate implant is high and round right now, but the new compression bra should take cre of that, hopefully, in 6 weeks! 

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  • flippy
    flippy Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2010

    whippetmom - That's funny I am going home soon to help put siding up on our new house...  I have to paint the cut ends of the siding, sounds boring but the weather is beautiful and I can get out in the sun (Vitamin D).  Friends that help friends paint are true friends... 

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  • MKD3
    MKD3 Member Posts: 26
    edited August 2010

    I am scheduled to get reconstruction in Nov. 2010 and I don't know what to do.  I went to a doctor and he talked about saline/gel implants.  They are supposed to be natural.  But I know alot of people who have had the gummy implants but everything I have read says that have a problem with being really firm?  I don't know if the gummy implants are safe for cancer patients?  They say the gummy implants can fall over if they are not the correct size and fit exactly in the boob pocket.  Well then why can't the saline ones do that also??  Plus how do you pick a size?  People that get inhancements are adding to what they already have.  I am having a masectomy so I am starting fresh.  Is there somewhere that shows you the sizes??

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited August 2010

    flippy:  You will likely want to have a lift of the native/healthy breast, in order to get better symmetry.  I would suggest at least 550 ccs in a high profile implant on the MX side - perhaps 600 ccs.  You will require some minor pocket revisions to narrow the pocket .5 to 1.0 centimeters.  Tell your PS that you would like to do whatever is necessary to have symmetry, which means you are open to a lift [and a small implant, if needed ] to match the MX side.  Ask him if he is willing to use an implant with a volume of 550 ccs.  Frankly, with a 650 cc TE, I cannot see any reason he should not be able to get you to that volume of a smooth round silicone implant.  You could probably use 600 ccs also, but you state you would like to be a little smaller this time...so the 550 cc seems appropriate.

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  • flippy
    flippy Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2010

    vanderlady - Thanks for saying hello...  I'm sorry to hear you are having to consider a revision.  Did you have radiation?  I know from my plastic surgeon and reading on here it does happen often with implants.  I'm glad your here and finding the information you need.  I have radiation to go through, which scares me...  but what I don't know always scares me the most.  Hope you find what you need to help you make the right decision.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited August 2010

    MKD3 -- Are you sure it was saline/gel and not silicone/gel?  Saline is water.  Silicone CAN come in a gel form (called cohesive gel) -- there are a variety out there.  The gummy -- which is the Allergan 410 cohesive gel silicone implant -- IS firmer than other silicone implants; it is anatomically shaped and has a textured surface so it adheres inside the body and tends not to move.  I have one of these.  To me it is soft enough but since it doesn't MOVE at all it's a little odd.  I like it though because it is a good match with my native breast (I am a uni).  Many women here at BCO have been very happy with the Mentor CPG, which is another gummy-like cohesive gel silicone implant but much softer/squishier (as I understand it) than the Allergan 410.

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited August 2010
    GrandmaBubba:  I think you could probably use a 15.0 cm wide implant and the Style 20 in 750 ccs would meet that criteria.  If you want to have as much fullness as possible, I would even consider the 800 cc Allergan Natrelle Style 45 implant - which has additional projection - and I believe the width would be appropriate.  It also depends on how large you want to be and where the implants sit on the chest wall, because the Style 45 is a taller height implant and you need the chest wall to be of sufficient length to carry it off.  This is important to communicate to the PS, and you don't want to mention a cup size, because this is too unpredictable.  It also depends on how large you are currently.  If you are large busted, your skin flaps might be sufficient to require minimal expansion. 
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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited August 2010

    MKD3:  Read the intro to the thread at the top of this page and most of your questions will be answered.  Then provide your height, weight, ribcage circumference and we can give you some sizing options.

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  • flippy
    flippy Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2010

    whippetmom - Thanks for your help... Hope the painting went well.

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited August 2010
    Painting went well.  I painted a pine armoire burgundy/barn red....her color choice...Wink
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  • Catchturn
    Catchturn Member Posts: 7
    edited August 2010

    Dear Whippetmom -- It is amazing to me that when you are not serving us on the BCO website you are helping friends with their painting projects.  Really?  You are a gift.  It is truly touching to read the posts from all of you.  I never knew that I could feel so connected to friends I've never met in person.  I am grateful for all of you -- and expecially for you Whippetmom. 

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  • robynkk
    robynkk Member Posts: 138
    edited August 2010

    flippy,

    Why did you have to have TE's when you are going smaller?  My DMX is in 3 weeks and they are doing reconstruction at same time since I want to go smaller, no TE's.  I'm currently a D or DD and want to be about a C.  They won't need to expand any tissue since I'm already larger than I want to be?  I'm trying to understand all of this! :) 

    Robyn

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  • MKD3
    MKD3 Member Posts: 26
    edited August 2010

    LILAH-

    i guess it was a gel and not saline.  i am just concerned that the gummy form is not approved yet in the US so do they have studies to say it is ok to use with cancer patients?

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  • MKD3
    MKD3 Member Posts: 26
    edited August 2010

    Whippetmom-  I did read the info at top and got some information.  Thank you.  My height is 5'5-1/2" and my weight is 125.  My ribcage circumference is 32. 

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  • Claire82
    Claire82 Member Posts: 684
    edited August 2010

    The gummy has been used for 10 years in Canada and Europe. There are many trials in the US that are going on right now. It has been at least 4 years that the trials have been going on. The only ones getting the gummies are cancer patients. They are the ones that need the tear drop shape.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2010

    whippetmom (a.k.a. The Boob Fairy) (Oh you are so getting a t-shirt that says that for your next birthday! LOL!)- Someone (Lilah?) thought you had done fat grafting for rippling.  If you did, just wondered if it was effective.  Also, have you heard anything about the gummies having less rippling than the regular silicone implants?

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited August 2010

    Actually, anyone - breast augmentation patients included - can get the "gummy bear" implants as long as the PS has access via clinical trials to same here in the U.S., and as long as they are a candidate for this style of implant. 

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited August 2010

    Thanks girls...about the Boob Fairy.....I guess.  Undecided  LOL! 

    I think rippling is just inherent in some women no matter what style of implant and I suppose it can be due to thin skin, post-mastectomy defect, bony ribcage, the way the size of the pocket...who knows.  I have heard so many theories about rippling....I am hoping there will be a better fix for this in the next decade.

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited August 2010

    MKD3 - Well, a TE and ultimately an implant with a width of 13.0 up to 14.0 centimeters would be appropriate for your frame....IF you are having a BMX and not just one breast only.  If a BMX, around 550 ccs to 650 ccs in a high profile round silicone implant would be nice on your frame and would maintain the 13.0 to 14.0 width for your ribcage.  It depends on your skin integrity and size prior to MX....and unfortuantely, the sufficiency of the skin flaps is not known until after the MX.  The PS will base the width of your TEs upon the current base width of your natural breasts and also based on your ribcage. But certainly you can discuss these sizes with your PS and ask him or her what it will take to get you to this size range.   That is, unless you prefer to be somewhat smaller - on the small side - and then you could use a moderate plus profile in around 450 to 500 ccs...

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  • vanderlady
    vanderlady Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2010

    Flippy - No, I was very very lucky -- no radiation, no chemo, not even Tamoxifen. Actually, my choice was lumpectomy with radiation or mastectomy.... so I chose the latter.  It was IDC tubular type which is a lower grade, only 1.2 cm.  Plus the nipple sparing so lucky again. Now if I could just blink and have the revision done.

    Saw another PS today and he too thought 550-600.... then repeated 600.... funny cuz Whippetmom was leaning that way too.  He wants me to wait until Dec for redo. He was even thinking 400 for the natural side.... he's a generous guy.... the bra lady at Macy's did refer to him as the boob guy. Ha.  He also said for me to use a front-close sports bra --- he said the front close helps to hold them up and towards the middle where the regular sports bra pulls them down and out. Playing my first full blown tennis match tomorrow.... hope it stays under 90 degrees! 

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  • jc3win
    jc3win Member Posts: 61
    edited August 2010

    Thank you for all of the great info on this thread. Here's my story: Uni MX July 2009 and delayed reconstruction. Chemo and rads were all finished in Jan2010. I had a Free tram and tummy tuck w/ lipo done on August 12 and am recovering now. I am going back to meet w/ PS to discuss stage 2 in a couple of weeks.

    I want/need a lift on the non-cancerside and I want implants on both side to make them bigger and even them out. The free Flap looks great so far - very healthy but is a little wide under my arm. I know that a little lipo can fix this problem. I would say I am a B cup, maybe a small C right now for both boobs.

    I want to be a D. I am 40 years old and I just think it would be fun to have bigger boobs. lol So I will need implants in both sides.

    I am 5'5 and weigh 145. My ribcage below my boobs is 32 inches. Any advice or suggestions is greatly appreciated.

    One more consideration - I have to wait 3 months from Aug. 12 to get Stage 2 done so that puts me at mid november. I have already purchased a trip to Mexico leaving on Feb 5, 2011. Do you think I will be ready to travel by then?

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  • orchidgal
    orchidgal Member Posts: 153
    edited August 2010

    Deborah,

    Just touching in to let you know I saw Val61s photos - very  beautiful! She had the same TEs as I do, Siltex low height. Got my 2nd fill today, so am at 220cc. Will have one more of 30cc to bring them to capacity at 250cc. My exchange date is December 7. PS said he could place an implant of 350-400. What do you think would be best for me? I think you mentioned 350-375 in another email. I'm 28.5 rib cage, 5'5", 126 lbs. Want to have someone take a photo soon so I can post on the (TimTam's) photo site, yet want to wait until they decide which site to use, if any. She said it would happen by the end of August. Reminder to everyone interested to vote or the photo site may go away if enough people aren't interested in being involved.

    Thanks, Melissa

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited August 2010

    Aw Deborah sorry we should go back to Breast Whisperer... it was the image of you with ideas swirling in your head that had me flip over to a Good Boob Fairy :)

    MKD -- yeah what Claire and Deborah said.  My PS, formerly of Canada, told me she has been implanting gummies in cancer patients for 10 years. 

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  • MKD3
    MKD3 Member Posts: 26
    edited August 2010

    Thanks for the reply.  It all makes sense.  The only thing that is confusing it if I were getting an enhancement I would be adding to what I have.  Now I will be starting from nothing so it is hard to gauge the size.  I went to the doctor and he didn't mention when I pick the size.  Do I just go and as he is filling them up each time I decide then or do they give me something to pick from??  I wanted to end up being around a C.  I just don't know how much that would be??

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  • jc3win
    jc3win Member Posts: 61
    edited August 2010

    Another question... Where do I find the pictures pages?

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