BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited June 2011

    Carol65:  You are at the right place!  Just read the instructions above and post your info here and what your goal is.

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  • Carol65
    Carol65 Member Posts: 8
    edited June 2011

    Thanks MBJ-- and I just found the TE thread as well.

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  • Estel
    Estel Member Posts: 3,353
    edited June 2011

    Carroll2 - My TE's were lopsided too.  I didn't take pictures because they were changing the forum last year and I didn't have access for a couple of months and I didn't think about taking pics ... but one TE was definitely higher than the other and my left one slid over toward my armpit ... I looked freaky to say the least!  Foot in mouth 

    At the exchange my PS did a lot of pocket work on my right side and evened everything up.  I wear a bra 24/7 to keep the left side from migrating over to the armpit again and I look even and symmetrical.  It can be fixed at the exchange! 

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited June 2011

    Dawn-Hope thanks for the comforting words. It's good to hear reassurance that there are things that can be done. So did you plastic surgeon lower the high side or raise the low side? I really like the high side better, I like the upper pole. I don't want to look to low and droopy.

    Job interview tomorrow and it's very hot here now. I will have to be very creative in disguising my rogue foobs. 

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  • Estel
    Estel Member Posts: 3,353
    edited June 2011

    Carrol2- I don't remember now ... I think he lowered the right side.  One way is definitely easier than the other... whippetmom maybe can help us out here .... I don't remember now.  Others have told you this before ... but COMMUNICATION is key here.  Be clear with your PS with what you want.

    Loose, flowy tops are our friends with those crazy TE's.  Good luck with your interview tomorrow!

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011
    carrol my TE's might look pretty even but one of them had a corner. They were not the same shape. The TE's are just to stretch the skin. The artistry happens during the exchange. (That might even be a quote from my PS).
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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited June 2011

    Lowering is preferable to raising the IMF/implant....

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  • Estel
    Estel Member Posts: 3,353
    edited June 2011
    thanks, whippetmom!  I couldn't remember!  Wink
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  • SuebeeBC
    SuebeeBC Member Posts: 1,256
    edited June 2011

    Carrol - while i only had the one TE, it was an inch higher than my natural side.  So fluffing became an issue toward the end.  But PS lowered the TE and set the implant on the natural side higher so they effectively meet in the middle.  Youve seen my pics so you can see that it can be done!  

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  • mammalou
    mammalou Member Posts: 823
    edited June 2011

    Need advice!

    I have been lurking here for a long time and have learned a lot.  Thank you!  I had a left mastectomy and a TE put in.  I had to have a lot of skin removed so he was only able to fill it with125cc at surgery,  I got to a total of 300 cc filled and then had to take a break to do radiation.  They told me that I could continue filling after radiation.  I had to do this so that I could get back to work in August and I know it was not ideal.  I want to reduce from my current 36DD size to a C cup.  My measurement around is 31.5 inches.  I'm 5'3" and weight approx 140.  My TE is a Natrelle Style 133V-500cc series.  Can you give me some idea of how much to expand and what to request for an implant?  Thanks for all your help.

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited June 2011

    Well, your native breast is the focus at this point.  You are going to have a reduction, right?  I want you to talk to Lilah - who will probably see this - or you can PM her or find her on Exchange City.  She can give you an idea of the staging for this.  So the amount of reduction you have will hinge on where you are at final fill on the MX side.  I don't know if your TE is a short, moderate or full height version....I need to know this - or know the width.  It probably is 14.0 cm.  So 600 ccs in a high profile smooth round silicone implant would be required to meet the width of the TE.  Although  possibly even preferably, 533 ccs in Style 15 - Allergan - a moderate plus profile.  Your PS is going to need to create some ptosis - "droop" - on the MX side and so he will overfill, I presume.  You might need to go with a smaller implant, in order to gain symmetry with the native side.  But talk to Lilah about this further....

    Deborah

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  • mammalou
    mammalou Member Posts: 823
    edited June 2011

    Ok, I will get more info on my TE's.  I am planning on a lift and reduction on the native side.

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited June 2011

    Mammalou -- here I am!  Let me know what your questions are.  I had a lift reduction on one side (and went from a DDD to a D -- a huge difference!) and had a gummy implant on my MX side (an Allergan 410 685 ccs).  That is what is known as a gummy implant and it has a "teardrop" shape so there is not a lot of upper pole fullness, which makes for a good match with the native breast.  I agree with Deborah that the primary issue with matching a reduction/lift with an implant is the "ptosis" -- so definitely talk in depth with your PS about how he/she is going to deal with that.  I would say of all the various unilateral challenges ... ours is the most difficult for achieving symmetry (an augmentation on a native side is easier to match with an implant, though this too is a challenge). 

    The gummy is still on trial in the USA so it may not be available to your PS.  But no matter which sort of implant is used the focus needs to be on getting the sides to hang evenly :)

    Anyway feel free to PM me if you have questions.

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  • mammalou
    mammalou Member Posts: 823
    edited June 2011

    Thank you Lilah!  I never knew there was so much to know about implants.  I'm sure glad I found this site.  I'm obviously going to have to get some more info from my PS.  I have some time as I still have to finish radiation, then wait, then finish filling.  One question:  What is "ptosis"?

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  • whippetmom
    whippetmom Member Posts: 6,920
    edited June 2011

    "ptosis" is DROOP.....as in droopy breasts.....Smile You need a little more ptosis when you are a unilateral, and especially if you are fairly large breasted and undergo a reduction and lift.  That reduced and lifted side will still have a pretty tight fold, and so you need to expand enough to gain symmetry with the native side. With the small breasted girls, there is not so much of a need to aggressively overfill, as there is with you hoochiemamas. Wink  Also, you need to really be conditioning your radiated skin.  There are discussions on this also on bc.org. 

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  • mammalou
    mammalou Member Posts: 823
    edited June 2011

    I never actually thought I drooped that much until I had one perky boob and looked in the mirror!   It was very eye opening.   Now I want them both perky.  I am doing heavy conditioning of my skin.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011

    Maybe I'm crazy but I swear these implants are much softer than my real boobs

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited June 2011

    Lago:  After having a TE in for many months it's gotta feel soooo much softer!  I still have one and it's pretty close. 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011

    My old breast were pretty dense. Maybe I just don't remember.

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited June 2011
    Lago that sounds so divine! I can't believe my PS i making me wait 6 weeks until my last fill, he is too booked. So bummed. But it will get done eventually.
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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011

    Carrol mine wanted me to wait at least 5-6 weeks. If I hadn't had a few expansions before chemo he would have made me wait more.  I ended up waiting much more because of the shingles anyway. I know you want it done but the extra time will be good.

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited June 2011

    no it's 6 weeks before my last fill instead of the 2 weeks i was doing between fills. Then it will probably be another month before the surgery. 

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  • mammalou
    mammalou Member Posts: 823
    edited June 2011

    My doc said 4-6 months from last fill to exchange.  Does that sound right?

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  • Lilah
    Lilah Member Posts: 4,898
    edited June 2011

    Every doctor uses a different schedule, Mamma.  Longer waits especially for rads skin ... and I think you had rads. 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011

    mammalou 4-6 months sounds right if you had rads. I didn't have rads.

    Carrol your time frame may still be the same as mine. I had a total of 10 expansions 1 a week but 3 of them before chemo. You will have 5. My PS filled much slower. Also I do believe you will be expanded much larger than I was. Even though you are going smaller and I went bigger, we have about the same size frame/height we were at opposite sides of the scale in boob size. Tongue out And remember having 3 expansions prior to chemo back in September also bought me more time.

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited June 2011

    My doc said minimum 1 month from last fill to exchange??   3 months from exchange to nipple recon.  

    What are you ladies doing to "condition" the rads side?  Lotion?  Oil?  Aloe?

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited June 2011

    Lago I had my TEs placed March 29th so it has been 3 months now. So I am guessing two more months until exchange. But I was diagnosed June 23rd so it is now over a year I have been dealing with this. 4 chemo treatments, two surgeries and at least two more to go. I had hoped last year when all this first started that I would be done in a year but that was before I knew I would need chemo. I was lucky that was only four treatments. I wish I had reconstruction during my bmx then maybe I would have had my fills during chemo and I would have been done my now. But that is not what my hospital does and my choices are limited on medicaid.

    All in all I should not complain it could be a lot worse. I am lucky there was a breast cancer program to pay for all of this. I am getting very good treatment and I believe the results will be as good as can be expected from reconstruction.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011

    Carrol I didn't have any fills during chemo. I had my TE's placed Aug 31st with BMX and look I'm not that far ahead of you. My journey started in May. I had delays with my biopsy so technically I should have known before you but the offical date was 3 weeks later.

    There is always something. Remember the shingles delayed me. I too wanted to finish all this in a year but I still have nipples and areolas. Herceptin finishes in August. I still don't know if I have to keep my port for a year after Herceptin. Will find out next week.

    But this next surgery is the last "big" one and as you can see it's nothing compared to the last two. Yes I'm going out for a walk today (although not a power walk. Not allowed and really don't feel that good yet. Almost).

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited June 2011
    lago I love hearing your progress. Your right we are on a similar timeline. I am just really stressed out with this whole trying to find a job thing. Husband got fired. Looks like I will be making a career change into retail management. No calls from my resume or online apps for art director yet. I may end up as a manager at Yankee Candle. NOt good pay but something is better than nothing. Today I go to Ann Taylor and tomorrow is Weight Watchers. 
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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011

    Carrol just keep applying and following up on those art director applications even though you are working the other job. What's nice is if you do get offered an art director position but it sounds like a bad place you can turn it down know that you do have a current job.

    I too worry about the job thing but a bit different situation than yours.

    Sorry about the husband.

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