I liked my expanders but not the permanent implants!

Options
duvan
duvan Member Posts: 24
edited October 2014 in Breast Reconstruction

I had TE's this spring, for 6 months, it was Mentor CPX 4, 350 cc when filled to maximum. They were exchanged in August to Mentor anatomicals CPG 312, 330 cc.  I felt really comfortable with the TE's. The only negative thing was that they were hard, but that was only a "social" problem when hugging someone or so, but to me myself, it didn't really bother me. What I liked with the TE's was the shape, they were quite wide which really looked nice on me, and they weren't very tall so there was a nice looking "slope". 

When changing to the permanent implants in August, I think they became a lot smaller. It is only a difference of 20 cc, but I think it's very visible. The permanents' are much more narrow, even though the difference actually only is 2 millimeters! I don't understand how 2 mm can make such a big difference?

The shape of TE's is different from anatomicals but I wonder if anyone heard of implants with a shape similar to the TE's? I really liked that shape (kind of "smiley-mouth" shaped if you get what I mean) and it's too bad if there aren't any permanent implants with such shapes. 

I could upload some pictures if possible, but I don't know how to access the photo forum yet.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited October 2014

    What about fat grafting? Is it possible to get the appearance you want, ask another plastic surgeon.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • duvan
    duvan Member Posts: 24
    edited October 2014

    I don't know if fat grafting is possible to get where I live (Europe). Don't think they have it in the public health care. I would like to change to wider implants but am a bit worried that they won't let me since it would be mostly because of "aesthetic" reasons.

    I'm also thinking that maybe saline implants (anatomicals) would be an alternative? They should be more similar to the expanders, wouldn't they? Since they both are filled with saline they should behave similarly? 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • duvan
    duvan Member Posts: 24
    edited October 2014

    You're definitely right that the permanent implants don't resemble the TE's even though the size is the same.  After the exchange I got the TE's with me home, because I wanted to keep them, and I don't think that the outer layer is much different than silicones. The area around the magnet etc is harder of course, but the rest of the implant shell is quite soft. The biggest difference IMO is the shape of my TE's, which is much more like a "crescent" lying down, or if you take a "D" and turn it 90 degrees to the right, if you understand how I mean. 

    I will write to "whippetmom" and hear what she says about it and if she knows what to suggest to my doctor, I have an appointment in november. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited October 2014


    The fat grafting I had wasn't fun I hated the garment. Alot of women like the idea of using fat from your thighs to fill in.

    I plan on having another grafting in a couple years if things don't look right. Thank you Bill Clinton! He signed the bill in 1997 (I think) making breast cosmetic surgery for BC victims to be covered by insurance. Now if he just threw in facelifts!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • girlygirl13
    girlygirl13 Member Posts: 9
    edited October 2014

    duvan, i also like the shape of my anatomical TE  compared to my new round saline implants.  Although i liked the way my TE looked better, i was to afraid of the risk with anatomicals turning. My exchange was only two days ago so i have a way to go before these look normal. I wonder if anyone could tell me if it is common to be on antibiotics for two weeks after exchange. antibiotics of any kind make me so sick and i am having a hard time justifying taking them for an infecyion i dont yet have. please let me know if this is normal protocol??


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited October 2014

    du van talk to your PS. But check with Whippetmom first so you know what to ask

    And, you can all check out Exchange City thread. Lots of experience on that thread. It takes a couple of months for everything to settle down. The projection is never quite enough. It's just the way. It is. But they do change a lot - usually. 

    Much love

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • duvan
    duvan Member Posts: 24
    edited October 2014

    girlygirl13 : I don't know about the antibiotics, but it sounds a bit long to take it for two weeks. About the risk of anatomicals rotating, I think the risk depends on how the surgeon makes the "pocket". I've had breast implants before I had both breasts removed too, and I had anatomicals then too. I did sports and aerobics etc but there was no rotation whatsoever. 

    Moonflwr912 : About the projection I think it is too much instead of too little :)  That is one of my problems with the permanent implants; I want them to be wider but still not project more. I just look "big" if they project more, I'd like the "flattened bun"-look more:) But there doesn't seem to exist any implants that really fits my build. I have quite a long slim torso and shorter chubbier legs, so it doesn't look good on me to have too big boobs that point right out, I'll look like a freak:) It seems like the implant makers think that all women are completely proportionate and also have similarly shaped ribcages but we all know it isn't so.

    I wrote to whippetmom but she hasn't replied yet.
    If anyone hears about individually shaped breast implants, please let me know!

    <3 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories