BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101

TmTab ..,meltdowns are Ok. We have all had them. Be easy on you.

Hugs your way,

Coach Vicky

Thanks for this update. I see the PS at 1pm for a routine follow up, will ask about the procedure and the flushing of the pocket.

Compared to the MX, which was raw flesh and I would have thought more prone to bruising, I am seriously bruised along the breastbone. I believe where he did pocket work to break up scar tissue from the TE/MX and weirdly, my native right breast is all bruised on the inner side, like they were pulling it over and leaning on it while working on the left. Didn't expect that collateral damage. My breast has never been bruised like that in 56 years, it like I was in a car accident and the seat belt slammed against it, can't be good for the breast tissue.

Will report back if any new news after 1pm post-op.

Just want to say THANK YOU to Whippetmom for all you do! I am 5 days out from my exchange surgery and am thrilled to let you know my surgeon was able to fit 700 cc implants in the pockets, despite our concerns about skin integrity. we totally changed from what we originally discussed (mentor textured) to the new Round) SCX implants that came out this year. They are very full and I love, love, love the results! Now, on to nipples and fat grafting in a few months. Thank you!!!!

Whippetmom:

Thank you for your suggestion, my PS is going to use the Natrelle Inspira SCF I think, I know we talked about smooth and round, is the "F" for full? He did not want to expand my TE's any further because he felt the current skin integrity looked good and does not want to gamble with any more expansion, he said when he does the exchange they will be right in the range that you said: 520 to 560cc's so I am ready to go on the exchange, on November 3 that is, want to enjoy my fall...I do have a question though, I gained about 25 lbs since diagnosed w/ cancer May 2016, have lost about 8-10, but was told not to diet once the RADs were mapped and then not after due to healing, but I am now on a very strict low carb/low GI/GL, high GI/GL diet hoping to shed at least 10 more pounds prior to my exchange, because I now have very severe OA in both knees and will be having a bilateral partial-knee replacement in January, hoping to be able to get into a size 10 dress size (went from a 6/8 to 12 with the weight gain) for my daugher's wedding 5/5/18 (cinco de mayo AND Kentucky Derby day!)...any issues you know of about weight loss at this point, I mean, the expanders aren't going to change so I figured it didn't really matter, right ? I don't see the PS again until mid-Oct for pre-op...

On a side note, has anyone had any OA issues following chemo? My oncologist assured me the chemo/hormone drugs I was on don't have a correlation w/ OA issues (apparently people on the medication for 5-10 yrs can have issues w/ joints), and I have never had any knee issues, so I am thinking the decrease in my activity level may have allowed the Osteoarthritis to surface, perhaps masked prior by my 6-7 days/wk of exercising 45 min-1.5 hrs each day being drastically reduced suddenly as fatigue and surgery hampered my exercise routine...anyone know of anyone this has happened to??? Even my initial knee X-rays in March to when I had them done again in Aug showed a significant progression of the OA and I am hobbling around like a crippled person awaiting insurance authorization for the one-shot synvisc one injections, in more pain now than any of my cancer treatments caused...feeling quite hopeless at times...thank goodness for my dog to keep me happy though even HE isn't getting walked any more...

I'm 5'6", 175 lbs (up about 20 lbs from normal), 34" ribcage (usually wear a 34DDD, but currently, after lumpectomy on left, a 36DD is more comfortable). My mastectomy with beginning of reconstruction (expander placement) is scheduled for October 3rd. My final meeting with my breast surgeon before hand is September 27th. Hoping to be informed enough to know what to ask. He uses the Natrelle brand and gave me brochures on the Natrelle Saline-Filled Implants, the Natrelle Silicone-Filled Implants and the Natrelle Inspira Implants. He didn't give me anything about their highly-cohesive silicone implants or their anatomically shaped Silicone-Filled Breast Implants that are teardrop-shaped. From what I've read, even though I'm asking for a reduction and a lift during reconstruction, I think I'll still be too large for optimal results from the teardrop implants. I'm hoping he can come back and do fat grafting above and around the implants to make them look more natural. I think the highly-cohesive implants are nicknamed gummies? I didn't get to feel those or any that had a textured shell, so I can't form an opinion on them. Of the implants he had in his office, I'm leaning towards the smooth silicone implant, but I'd love to hear from others who have the various Natrelle implants to get pros and cons. I usually wear a size 10 clothing, but I'm in a 12, sometimes a 14, now, but hoping to get back into a 10 soon. I think I would like to be on the large side of a C cup or maybe the small side of a D cup. I think that would be proportionate. I'm tired of my back, shoulders and neck always hurting from the weight of my breasts, but I was an A cup in 4th grade and a 32DDD by Freshman year of college. As much as I've hated them, I don't think I would look like "me" if I go too small. All of a sudden, I'm becoming fond of my breasts now that I'm facing losing them. So, I'm going into this thing blind. Any pointers about the implants? Saline? Silicone? Cohesive? Highly-cohesive? Smooth? Textured? Size/cc? Profile? Classic round? Inspira? Teardrop? Fat grafting? Acellular dermal matrix like Alloderm? What kind of incision? A friend of mine had a skin saving mastectomy with a lollipop incision. There are so many different type incisions used for other breast surgeries, but most doctors seem to only offer the one that just cuts straight across the breast. What's up with that? Mine is supposed to be skin saving and I'd like the anchor incision (not to save the nipple), but I don't know enough to know if that's even something I should even ask the doctor about. I know I have plenty of time to decide on most of this, but I'd like to know what to ask the doctor before the first step of the reconstruction during the mastectomy surgery in 2 weeks. During follow up breast MRI after lumpectomy, a teeny spot was found on my right breast so this will be a double mastectomy. The spot didn't show up on my mammogram and took hunting to find via sonogram. The lump on the left that was positive for cancer was hiding behind a cyst so I missed it. I have horrible fibrocystic disease so getting rid of that is a silver lining. A Sentinel node biopsy will be done on the left where the larger lump has already been taken out, but I'm not sure what my oncologist is planning to do about the right. I know I should just be thankful that, as of now, it appears that my cancer is pretty tame, but I don't want to go through the reconstruction and wish I'd asked more questions or done things differently. This is my first post, but I can tell it won't be my last! Thanks, y'all!!!

whippetmom

so my PS plan to use Natrelle Inspira Cohesive gummy on my exchange next moth... i initially asked for saline implants since i thought they will be lighter but he said it has too many complications. i want a lighter one since i was small and i dont wanna go big and right now i am filled at 280cc with no more additional filling. PS told me that de did not really expand my skin and he will just go with whatever skin was left post bmx... any thoughts on these kind of implant? also can you explain the projections? i do not get that. i have decided to get the smooth round ones as opposed to the textured ones. thanks!

I had a bilateral mastecomy last May and went direct to implants (Natrelle 410 Highly Cohesive Anotomically Shaped Silicone filled), which I thought would be fabulous- no tissue expanders like my mom and other friends. Cancer was on left side (with sentinel node biopsy), prophylactic mastectomy on right. Both sides are very firm and feel like wet sandbags, but shaped like hamburger buns that extend more on my sides than I am used to. My right, non-cancer side, is "jacked-up." it's much higher and I can feel the muscle stretching on the top part of the implant, not far from the base of my collarbone. I saw my PS on Monday who says we should do a revision. He says we can do the same type of implant as before (see above), but with a lower height (which wasn't available at my first surgery), or we can do a smooth round. I am 5'8", 150 lbs, and active. Before BC, I wore a 34 b. My ribcage circumference is 31" I just want to be comfortable and look natural/athletic. Any advice?

Hi whippetmom, before I give you all my info for your opinion, I wanted to see if my scenario is applicable for the advice you give. I had nipple sparing BMX 4 weeks ago and have airXpanders over the muscle and alloderm. My exchange is scheduled for 11/6, implants placed over the muscle with fat grafting. What do you think? Thanks!

Hi rkham-

I'm far from an expert, but am about the same size as you and have been concerned--from the start--that I would come out with something too big for my frame. I am filled to 240cc's. Also started with 50 or 60 and then was finished after 2 fills. Considering I was a AA before BC, it feels big. Too big for what I was used to and for my frame, It's personal, I know and it's all relative, I guess. I tried on a dress recently and for the first time EVER, it was too tight across the chest!

I am actually scheduled for my exchange tomorrow morning and my PS plans to use natrelle smooth round. He's bringing 3 different sizes ranging from 195-220cc's. and 2 projections (moderate and high profile projections), I don't know what I'll end up looking like, but please feel free to PM me and I can fill you in.

Everyone on these forums is incredible about sharing information and whippetmom truly is the expert so no doubt she'll be able to offer more guidance.

Good luck to you!!

Thanks, whippetmom. I sent you a PM with a photo. I tried to attach more than one and it does't look like it worked. I don't think the implant has shifted. I had a hematoma on my right side and I think that may have affected the healing. I sneezed, coughed, or laughed too hard...let me know if your opinion is the same about using smooth round after you see my photo. I definitely don't want to look like I am wearing a coconut bra. I also want the muscle on the right to settle down.

whippetmom: i should add that i had an A cup prior to surgery. I've always had a pretty shapeless upper body so i actually wouldn't mind a little shape now, even if I have no nipples, lol😊