BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101

Hi Whippetmom,

I had a skin and nipple sparing BMX 10/2018. I went through my exchange surgery this past March but am not overly happy with the result, so I am considering swapping my current moderate profile implants for high or extra high profile implants. I need to help to make the decision of whether another surgery is even worth it, please!

I am 5'4", 123 pounds, age 60. My rib cage measures 28 inches. My sternal notch to nipple measurement is 24cm (9.5 inches). I have a petite frame (I wear size small or extra-small blouses). I currently have cohesive silicone implants - Natrelle Inspira SCM-445 (left- non cancer side, which had a prohylactic MX) and SCM-520 (right). I wore a size 34C bra in my pre-BC life.

From the first time I saw these puppies, I have felt like they were flat "pancakes" just sitting on my chest. I also feel like they are on upside down (nice upper pole, but flat at the bottom/nipples where a natural breast would project out). My cleavage is great, there just is NO projection at the bottom. If I turn sideways, they look (and generally feel) like they are just sort of plastered to my chest (will I ever get used to how uncomfortable they are? They feel like they will peel off my chest at any minute).

PS is on board with doing an implant swap - he will use Mentor round implants, along with doing some fat grafting. He also wants to do a mastoplexy of both breasts to raise the nipple line because it is his opinion that the nipples are too low for a high profile implant. If I am going to go through another surgery, I want at least the high profile implants, but maybe extra high? I don't want stripper boobs, just to look like I have "natural" breasts! If it helps to know this, he would rather put in anatomical implants by Mentor, which he says aren't as high a lymphoma risk, but I am not sure I want to take that risk for several reasons.

Am I hoping for too much? Will the high profile implants still leave me looking "flat" or "upside down"? (anyone who has had a mastoplexy, please feel free to weigh in (I have read that they don't last). If I do go through with the surgery, what would be the best size/style for my frame?

Many, many thanks!

Hi everyone, a little update from me! I had my exchange surgery few days ago, I was so surprise how good I felt right after waking up, almost no pain at all, I didn’t even need any medications.


I ended up with mentor round high profile 400cc on my “healthy” side, and 450cc on my radiated side. That was surgeons decision after trying a few options during surgery, because healthy side looked bigger after expanders settled down. I hope they decided well.


A day after surgery, when they let me see them, I almost cried of happiness. They look so natural! I had a nice shape before cancer, but this looks just perfect. Maybe they are a bit smaller then my original breasts, but I’m not sure, because they are different. I said to my surgeon that natural look is priority over size in my case. To be honest, I didn’t believe implants can look so good. I just hope it stays like that. I feel a bit like it’s too good to be true! They are also really soft!

Good luck everyone!

Hi All,

I saw my PS for my annual visit. My exchange was January 2017. I have classic 450 in each side.

He said to his Nurse something like we did a 790 exchange? I realized that was my pre cancer size and what was removed.

I also realized that today I can jog and exercise without the girls bouncing and trying to slap me in the face. My reconstruction is perfect for my weigh loss body after cancer.

It took awhile to understand this.

I remain grateful to WhippetMom for her guidance thru this. Thank you.

Coach Vicky

Whippetmom

Thank you!! Really appreciate your help and advice!!

All the best. Looking forward to when this is all done!

PF

Hello, I am one of the unfortunate 410 ladies

I am seeing my PS on October 24 to discuss explanting them. I have 475cc FF. How difficult is it to switch to Mentor smooth? And what size and should I be expecting?

I can’t live with them knowing what I know. I can’t “unknow” it! Having BC is bad enough always knowing it could recurr. Now they want us to wait for symptoms?? I don’t think so.

I am 5’ 5”, 145 pounds. 36” chest. My foobs itch all the time with occasional pain.

Thank you for your help.

Robin

Hi, 3 weeks ago I had post bilateral mastectomy and immediate reconstruction using tissue expanders and AlloDerm RTU sling. My right side is painful and was ed. PS put me in heavy antibiotics but he also thinks it may have been a reaction to AlloDerm RTU.

Does anyone have any experience with AlloDerm RTU?

Thank you!

Hi wippedmom,

I am day 2 post op BMX with Alloderm Tissue Matrix Contour Large Perforated sling and Mentor Cpx 450cc # 350-9213 /7748088.

I am 5'4 125 pounds, pre-surgical bra size 32 ddd ,droopy after 3 kids.

Looking for high profile, high projection, round new boobs.

Help me pick the right implants!

Hi whippetmom

I have wanted to reach out for a while and get your thoughts/opinions on my exchange. I had a bilateral nipple sparring mastectomy Jan 2019. In February I had to head back to the OR for a hematoma (right side). I had my original TE's (400cc Allergan recalled textured) placed in April 2019. My left TE was replaced in July due to a leak. It's been a long year! I am schedule for my exchange this December. My PS has given me pros/cons of both silicone & saline. Ultimately it is my decision. Hoping to get your opinion on which has more benefits/drawbacks, as well as sizing. I'm 5'6" and weigh 170 lbs. Pre kiddos I was a 34b. I'd like to be a bit bigger but I'm definitely not looking to be "big". Thank you in advance.

Hey Whippetmom- I am new to the forum but have been impressed by you accumulative knowledge on what size implants. I am a 70 year old, height 5'4", 180 pounds, under breast measurement of 38 inches. I had bilateral mastectomies with reconstruction on 10-13-19. I have Natrelle TE 133S-MX-15T 700 cc in that are under the muscle. My PS is filling weekly and I am up to 350 cc in TE. My DX was ILCIS stage A1, grade 2, with negative lymph nodes. My main concern is to look good in my clothing. Can you help me with sizing. I really appreciate you going above and beyond. Many thanks

Hi Whippetmom,

I'm not sure if this is something you can comment on or not. Here are my stats:

TE's: Natrelle MV-T 400cc (13cm x 12cm x 5.6cm) - overfilled to 500ccs

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 158-168

Chest: 29" (broad I guess- I'm skinny on the sides)

You'd suggested Allergan Inspira SRF 485cc's (13cm wide, 5.4cm projection)

I'd come to an agreement with my PS that I'd be about 500 cc's with high cohesion (SCF's) because he explained that I would end up with a lot of rippling with the Soft Touch (SSF's) so Soft Touch were not a good option for me. We also agreed that they'd be high profile (full profile). So I'd expect that I'd have either SCF 480 or SCF 520.

Before the surgery I pointed out for the third time to the PS that my breasts were about 4 fingers apart in the TE's and I wanted them closer together. My original boobs were about 1 finger apart at the top. He drew pre-op lines on me that were 1 finger apart and I was super happy!

I woke up from the surgery with boobs that are about 1 finger apart (yay!), but the implants he put in were Natrelle SSM-600's (600ccs, moderate profile, Soft Touch, 4.9cm projection). SOFT TOUCH?!! He'd specifically told me that Soft Touch would not work well for me prior to surgery!

The PS said that he had to put in the 600's because to put my breasts closer he had to use something with a 15cm base instead of the 13cm of the TE's. I'm assuming he's saying that the high profile wouldn't fit, but he did not actually say why he did not choose them, but that makes sense. Or maybe that they'd have to be 695cc's or 745cc's which is WAY bigger than the 500cc's we were planning on, that could be the reason too.

I was expecting a projection of 5.4 or 5.5cm, and what these have is 4.9cm. The difference in profile is not very big, but these breasts look like flat pancakes. I understand that this is a common complaint when people first get the implants put in and I'm very hopeful that they have some more projection and look rounder after settling because they currently look pretty awful and the projection is very disappointing compared to my overfilled TE's.

I'm pretty unhappy on a number of fronts- first, I hate being surprised and I can't imagine why the doctor was not capable of measuring correctly prior to the surgery to determine what size base I'd need (which would influence what size implant would fit). I wanted to be part of the decision making process I am very unhappy being blindsided. He could have even give me some potential different bases and we could have talked through what implants I'd prefer. Second, he put in implants which he'd already told me would ripple (against my wishes), and I can see ripples less than a week out. Third, he put in implants with a different projection than we'd agreed on but I guess that was unavoidable due to the larger width I need.

My questions are these:

What is the likelihood that fat grafting will be able to hide the ripples on me given that I do not carry much fat on my chest naturally? You can't see my chest bones, but my chest is the LAST place that gains weight. I have a lot of thigh fat to donate towards the project.

How set in stone is the base size? If I went to SCF 650's, my breasts would be about 2cm (.78in) further apart, which is about 2 fingers apart, which apparently is average. Is that a thing that you've heard of people doing? Can you go from a 600 to a 650 without somehow expanding the tissue?

I'll ask my doctor these questions, but I would like to have some outside info prior to my meeting of possible.

Thanks so much for your time!