BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101

MSNOMORELUMPS:  Welcome to the board and you will find amazing support here.  Don't be afraid of bra sizes since implants fit so differently in a bra then real breasts!  Just be sure your PS knows where you want to get to and you should know it when the TE's (which won't fit into a bra) are at their maximum extension.  Whippetmom is a goddess and she will get you out of your armpits and back into a squishee bra!

MBJ:  The leak is on my non-rads side.  I had been fully expanded since April, so the skin is fine.  I just look a little lopsided!

Everything was fine, then one day after lifting my son I noticed my size going down. Thankfully, it's only gone down about a 1/3.

HI and thank you soooo much for taking time and to share your knowledge!!!  We appreciate YOU!

I am very different than all of the others who have posted here and I will speak more with my PS, but really want your input before I do speak further with my PS.

I had a BMX and a muscle sparing TRAM flap reconstruction on 9/14/10.  Before the surgery, I had asked the PS if I had enough fat from the belly to become a large D. The PS said probably so.  (Of course now from your post, I realize that in my mind a large D is a large D bra-size cup and the PS was thinking a surgical large D.  Sigh..... who knew...  So, in my mind I am not a large D and a little disappointed.

I really wasn't prepared to ask my PS about making my b@@b's larger, but she popped in one day on one of my weekly visits and I asked.  The answer was sure, we can do that.  I asked will you be using Tissue Expanders?  The answer was no, silicone.... 1 size up from where you are now. It would be inserted between the muscle and the new belly fat/skin.  At that time, I was a little stunned and decided to come back to the PS with more questions later.   I was also a little surprised that the PS didn't ask "what size would you like to be"?   Another fact (maybe the PS forgot) is that my right boob was radiated 12 years ago and I wasn't sure how my skin would stretch - but maybe one size it isn't an issue(??) Or, maybe she did remember and 1 size is all she feels comfortable with re: radiated boob. The Tram flap on the radiated boob at first was a bit tighter and different than my regular boob, but is softening up quite a bit. I will definitely ask her, but it sure would be appreciated if you could shed any light on this as I am a newbie on TE's and implants.....

My question: Why wouldn't she use Tissue Expanders even for one size larger than I am now, especially since one side was radiated and is definitely not as stretchable as the other one?  Any other information would be great re: tram flap and implants.

Thank you so much!!!

Warm wishes and hugs,

Deb 

P.S. Maybe I should be happy with the size the tram recon gave me...... just expected a larger size.

MBJ:  Thanks for your response.  You say "former" PS.  What made you change PS?

Sorry for the confusion on my statement of what sizes really are.  Whippetmom said in her post above to kjbrown: Do-not-go-by-bra-size!  An "E" cup in breast recon does NOT look like an "E" cup.

Whippetmom: Thanks. I will send you a PM....

MBJ - I did not know that... and you ended up with such a GREAT team indeed! 

DebinATL -- you're welcome!

Wow MBJ -- thank goodness YOU had the good sense to get another opinion!

That is almost criminal.  Did you file a complaint with your insurance company (which, I assume, is how you got to that awful doctor in the first place?)  They should know he is not a good doctor.

Dawn-Hope: Ok sorry I haven't responded. I checked yesterday and almost shed a tear because no one responded to my first post.....ok, ok, I can admit, I went looking in the wrong forum, that's why I didn't see it. LOLI pouted for nothing! Hahaha! 

But thank you for the welcome!!!  I go tomorrow, for my last fill, and I'm guessing she will then give me my exchange date. Or maybe I should say, I'm not leaving without an exchange date, the unknown kills me. But the thing that surprised me, is that I actually miss wearing a bra. I have always had to wear one since the age of 9, and that was, or so I thought, that was the biggest sigh of relief I thought I would get from all of this. Not having to wear a bra 24/7. But now these kidney bean shaped things on my chest, are rebelling against any sort of bra. (not to mention I now walk like a bulldog or a body builder) On occasion, I can manuever into a sports bra, but other than that, I miss pretty bras...go figure.

Thank you as well for the welcome, Whippetmom.

Yes from my infrequent browsing, Yes, I am interested in seeing some of the photos. And I have also taken note that access must be allowed. So I'm trying to work out my kinks, before I request access. 

Lol I have checked out the Exchange city, actually by accident, and you're right, I think I will also start posting over there as well. With my personality, I had a hard time reaching out, and took on the task of supporting everyone else through MY process, and luckily, they (my friends and family) needed it more than I did, and things turned out ok. I will have to admit, I am dealing with a little bit of what they call survivors guilt. I've known people who have had a rough time with this, and I feel guilty, like I didn't get the full experience. I'm working on that, it's an odd feeling.

 But my PS seems to feel that roughly around 600 is where I was previously, (and we're going with the smooth round silicone just like you stated) and that's about where I am now, plus one more fill tomorrow. My goal was to get as close to my previous size as much as possible. As I kept this private from most people, and I have a hard time with people fussing over me. I'm usually the caretaker, I'm usually the one out partying and have a good time. I like attention....but only when I call for it. (LOL) and so for me, trying to put this behind me, and find a "new normal" was my goal. So although not many people know about it, I felt for me, it would make the transition easier. 

What IS MediCal MBJ?  Is it something unique to California?

MBJ:  I'm so glad you didn't stay with the first bunch and ended up with people who you can actually communicate with, as well as, not having unnecessary surgery AND they didn't even check your lymph nodes!!  What the #%^&*?  Stick with your intuition.... it will guide you!  

Lilah: Ditto!