Need help with implant sizing...larger woman

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1MindyydniM1
1MindyydniM1 Member Posts: 104
edited October 2014 in Breast Reconstruction

I am concerned because I have been reading some articles of implant sizes....I am currently sz 18/20 and I have D/DD breasts....I do not want to go any smaller than what I am now. I have been reading that  you have to special order implants over  800cc and on someone my frame ....they look like full B cups....

I need some advice on this matter and approximately how many cc to stay at a D/DD..... Thanks in advance!!

Comments

  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited January 2014

    Mindy - go to the "Breast Implant Sizing 101" thread.  Follow the directions on the first post.  BCO member "Whippetmom" is the go to guru for sizing info!

  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited January 2014

    Mindy - choosing an implant size is a combination of science and art.

    You can no longer go simply by cup size.

    What I recommend is that you get yourself over to whippetmom's thread "Breast Implant Sizing 101" and read ALL the information in the blue box at the top of the page.

    This is what she will need to recommend implants for you. She is an absolute expert on implant sizing, and has helped so many women here. She is our Implant Guru, or Implant Whisperer.

    Here is the link: http://community.breastcancer.org/topic_post?forum_id=44&id=746448&page=318

    p.s. If you are thinking that you will be losing any weight in the future, you must take this into consideration. I was your size at BMX, and got very large TEs. But my MO convinced me to lose weight, so we put the Exchange surgery on hold til I did. Thank goodness. Had I gotten the larger implants, they would have looked huge.

  • 1MindyydniM1
    1MindyydniM1 Member Posts: 104
    edited January 2014

    oh ok thanks you guys! I used to be a size 28! So I would be happy staying here or going to a 14 at the smallest...I am also getting a panniculectomy to remove excess skin due to my 157lb weight loss  (took me 7 years to do) so hopefully that will help everything look a little better....thanks so much for that link....im going to go visit it right now

  • krisnanbrandy123
    krisnanbrandy123 Member Posts: 66
    edited January 2014

    Hi Mindy....I too was having issues about my body type and weight and getting implants.  My PS told me that I would probably need 800cc to look as I do now...I am a full but droopy C cup (have breastfed past five years).  I weight about 170 lbs and am a large frame...I am a size 14 and sometimes 16.  I am strong, active and my weight is evenly proportioned.  

    My PS was concerned the implants would feel heavy and that I should consider a DIEP.  But, I got great responses from the women on this board on the breast implant sizing discussion.  And, it seems, in general,  like they feel this implant size would be okay.  I have access to the reconstruction pictures so that I might be able to see women who are my size and the size implants to get a better sense of the look and cc amount.  This might be helpful to you....

    My best to you...

  • Delilahbear
    Delilahbear Member Posts: 466
    edited January 2014

    Mindy, I am a larger woman, about 50lbs overweight and broad through chest and shoulders. My first implants were saline high profile 750cc. I hated them as felt they were too small and narrow for my frame. My PS could not believe I was unhappy with them, but reluctantly changed them to 800cc Mod. Profile Plus salien, overfilled to 960cc. I am much happier with the size, however my muscle and skin is thin and I have had 3 revision surgeries (2 this year) on each one to have them stay in place. So this is a double edged sword. They do look better and even though I probably look like a C, I wear a DD/DDD cup in a 38 bra size. I depends on the manufacturer.

    I think in silicone the largest size is 800cc.

    Good luck on your journey and I hope you get a size you like.

  • 1MindyydniM1
    1MindyydniM1 Member Posts: 104
    edited January 2014

    besides the internet....where can I find reconstruction pictures with saline and silicone implants? Thanks to everyone that has responded...its so helpful.

  • mikaela
    mikaela Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2014

    This is a good little guide to choosing the right size: http://www.nybreastaugmentationinfo.com/implant-options/choosing-right-size.cfm

    And as someone else mentioned, this is also a helpful thread: http://community.breastcancer.org/topic_post?forum_id=44&id=746448&page=318

  • Gonein40
    Gonein40 Member Posts: 90
    edited January 2014

    I am a larger woman that just had a double bilateral mastectomy/ reconstruction done in the same surgery. My PS brought me down to a size C-D , coming from a larger DD I am having issues with my left breast being swollen and possible slight infection. My implants are saline and it is true the most they can be is 800cc   It is a cosmetic thing to want larger breasts being a larger woman. 

  • 1MindyydniM1
    1MindyydniM1 Member Posts: 104
    edited January 2014

    I hope youre feeling better! I go in on Feb 5 for Mx w Reconstruction. I am nervous! Yes...I found this to be true as well after visiting my plastic surgeon.....I am sad..but I am ok with it...its saving our lives. Did you have tissue expanders placed in?My dr is doing a skin sparing mx w te. I didn't qualify for any abdominal surgery because I have had some in the past. my PS said if I wasn't satisfied with the size we could try lat flap in addition to implants along the way.

  • majosam
    majosam Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2014

    Hi there. - is it standard that PS will overfill a saline implant to 960 cc's? Thanks!!

  • aunt_paula
    aunt_paula Member Posts: 271
    edited March 2014

    I am also a larger woman, and am wondering about size. I am glad to know there are other people who have done it! I had a BMX four weeks ago without TE placement. I'm planning to do that in May, when the spring semester ends. (I still need to send Whippetmom my measurements too!)

  • 1toughmomma
    1toughmomma Member Posts: 87
    edited March 2014

    I had a UMX in late Nov. I am larger, too. My PS, who is VERY good at what he does was upfront with me saying that because my breasts were on odd shape (flat and long) that a larger implant would be hard to then match on the right. I was just fine having a reduction, which I did almost 2 weeks ago. I am smaller than I thought I would end up, but perky :) Pretty happy so far. I have a 550 cc implant. 

  • 1MindyydniM1
    1MindyydniM1 Member Posts: 104
    edited March 2014

    hello all....thanks for commenting. basically my ps said the largest implant of 800cc is going to look about a C on me. I do have to say that my breasts are way higher than myreal breasts....I love it but it totally changes my perspective of the end result because I am not use to this. I have TE in now and its been 4 weeks since my mastectomy and reconstruction. I was filled to 500cc per breast at that time. I have been told that 500 cc is way to big for immediate recon and it was and still is extremely painful. I got my first fill of 60cc last week I am now 560. on wed I will go up 100cc. I hate my te! I have asked about the overfilling but my ps doesn't agree with it at all. as a matter of fact she recommended silicon. I still have yet to decide...

  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited March 2014

    Oh, 1MindyydniM1 - 500ccs at BMX? Yeowza!!! That's a lot to get at one time.

    Remember, YOU call the shots. This is not a race... and for many of us here, our motto became "Low and Slow"... in other words, a smaller amount of saline at fills, spaced farther apart. And if you do feel too full after fills, saline CAN be removed from the TEs.

    Yeah, the TEs pretty much suck. The good news is that they are only temporary.

    I remember the weird feeling of having the TEs up so high on my chest after a lifetime of heavy, droopy breasts that sagged nearly to my waist.

    It took a while even after Exchange for me to get used to the idea that my breasts (yes, I call them my breasts, not "foobs") were PERKY! Standing in the shower, I was amazed that I could see my feet without all that extra boobage.

    It does take a while, though, for your brain to catch up with your new size. I still walked kind of hunched over, like a person with very large breasts, for several months - even after Exchange.

    What is whippetmom recommending for you with regard to sizing?

  • 1MindyydniM1
    1MindyydniM1 Member Posts: 104
    edited March 2014

    Blessings...Yes they do in fact suck...very much so! I hate the way they are crammed to my collar bones. I look in the mirror and I feel I may have a leak in one...I swear its getting smaller. I will bring that to the attention of my surgeon at my apt on Thursday. I actually emailed whippetmom several months ago and she never responded back.But my breast surgeon measured me and said is aiming for the800cc silicone mentor. We talked about the projection and honestly I cant remember which it is. I wanted saline at first but now I am a bit worried. when I felt the saline vs silicone implant at the preop appt..I was shocked at how much the saline felt like a water balloon filled in comparison to the soft squishy silicone! and it was much heavier too. that's another reason why my ps suggested silicone. I still have time to decide....I am supposed to get filled another 100cc on Thursday....honestly I don't think I can take that much at once! 60cc hurt like heck!

  • Pinkfeetjie
    Pinkfeetjie Member Posts: 13
    edited October 2014

    It is difficult to get to the right size, I had a bilateral mastectomy on July 29, and I got my last fill today now standing at 780 cc in cup size for a girl that is 6.9  and 180 pounds.  On Saturday before this fill I went to Victoria Secret and the measured me at a 38 C -  Just like you I definitely wanted to be at the same size as before and that was a D.  The truth is that at 720 I fitted in a C bra at home that fitted lose and I had a D cup that fitted to tight...  and then I have a friend that had bilateral mastectomy that is tiny in statue and with about 450 she stand at D cup - so I tend to think the bigger and taller you are with a wider chest you will need so much more in "CC" to get back to a D.  However the max on silicone implants will be 800cc.

  • knmtwins
    knmtwins Member Posts: 598
    edited October 2014

    OMG - I'm in love with this topic (if that is what you call all of these responses, chemo brain here, so I get stuff wrong all the time).  I'm 5'3", 175 lbs, 36DDD/G.  I have asked the ps to make me smaller.  I no longer want boobs under my arms, I have very wide boobs, wider than the PS's measure tool, and I no longer want them drooping on my tummy, and I no longer want to feel like I cannot breathe, because I have to have such a tight bra, to help hold them.  But...  as I'm overwieght, carrying much in my bottom and hips, I do not want to look out of proportion either.  I need to send WippetMom my pictures.

    So - I'm getting the feeling my BS does NOT want me to have a bilateral mastectomy.  I don't even think she wants me to have a mastectomy, so I'm worried that if my insurance says no, she won't fight hard on my appeal.  I'm adopted, so have no clue what my genetic 'issues' might be, but HER+ (+++) so want it all gone.  This is scary stuff and with 10 year old twins and a 7 year old, just get it all out.  Any of you run into insurance denials for BMx?  My PS really feels it is the way to go, as it will be hard to make the other one 'match'.

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