How Do I Choose the Best Size Implants After Mastectomy? Going from 475cc to 650cc - Daytona Beach, FL

Done, let me know if you do not receive it. You will love him!

Sorry suppose to be " did dr recommend it?"

If you have a bi-lateral and no cancer is shown in your lymph nodes then chemo is not needed. I was very lucky my nodes were clean so no chemo but I did have to take chemo pills for 5 years. There are 4 types of chemo pills each with their own side effects. I started with the top one with the least side effects and worked my way down to to bottom one only because the side effects of the other 3 were too much to handle. LOL My luck, but it worked for me with really little side effects other than memory loss so I learned to write everything down. I've been off the meds for almost 1 year and my memory retention has improved greatly. You can google chemo drugs for breast cancer and read about each drug and it's side effects. I always recommend starting with the top one with the least side effects, your oncologist should tell you about the 4 drugs but I did my research before hand so I already knew. Always be prepared. Changing drs! Do your research and find out what doctors specilize in Reconstruction!!! There is a Huge difference between a dr that does implants to a dr that specializes in Reconstruction. Always pick the Specialist in Reconstruction. Something else I learned the hard way. My 2nd dr was awesome and he specialized in botched jobs and reconstruction. Your chest without your breast tissue is concave not flat so that has to be taken into account when you choose your implant size. Never settle for less than perfect!!! If he is a good surgeon you will have perfect breasts, if all he normally does is regular implants, RUN the other way. Again that is just my experience. My 2nd dr was 3 hours away but I would choose him all over again. He was awesome to my emotional and physical needs, He treated me with respect, empathy and listened to what I had to say and answered my questions to where I could understand exactly what he was talking about. I can't say enough good things about him after my first dr who did not care at all about me or my concerns or my pain. If you have any more questions please feel free to contact me. I have been there and I know what you are going through and my heart goes out to you. Be strong and know I am always here for you.

Thank you, I was very lucky to find Dr Pinsky.

Mine are silicone but a type that is a gel type, you could cut my implant in half and it would not change shape. Awesome, they are natural looking and feeling. Best wishes

Please post results when you can. I am from GR MI. And would love to hear a follow up on how you feel.

You can read all my posts and updates here. I have been done with my breasts for a couple of years. I am extremely happy with my results.
Best Wishes

Never settle for less than perfect!

I have gone to two different PS in the last two months for a second opinion, looking to have a revision of my reconstruction bc I am thin skinned, you can see rippling, divots and I have puckers on the inside corners. I am not at all happy with the sz or Projection. One PS
use to do reconstructs (found him here on this site as one of the top in my area for reconstruction. He was so surprised that I even went to him as he no longer does reconstruction and wondered how I even ended up going to him?).
Both felt after an exam that I look perfect! One didn't agree with fat grafting as an option. Both said I in essence need to just be happy for what I have!!
I finally called the PS office who tried fixing the thin skin and rippling last time after my initial exchange, after waiting two months for an answer from them as to whether ins. will approve a change of implants. I was turned down bc I am only a grade 1 (have to be a grade 4?) of capsular contraction. And PS told ins I have reached symmetry.
So frustrating!!
It is not that I am ungrateful! It is that I do not look at all how I conceived I would after having a mastectomy and reconstruction! Very long story of how I am here in this part of my journey!
I often wonder if I were to walk in with cash instead of ins. if I would get the same answer of "you look perfect! Just be happy with how you look! You would only be putting icing on the cake!"
I would love to find a PS in my area who specializes in reconstruction who will listen and help me achieve how I want to look! Not one PS has asked ME if I am happy with how I look, if I have a picture or offered to give me imaging to achieve this!
Sorry for the long book!

Mine did but I had other issues as well. I don't know how my second dr ran it thru my insurance but the insurance company paid for everything with my 2nd dr. My second procedure consisted of larger, better implants, fat grafting, nipple reconstruction and then the tattooing. Ask your dr how he would file it with your insurance company and he should be able to tell you if in his opinion they would pay or not. If your reconstruction is complete and are using the same dr just to go bigger I have my doubts but you will not know unless you ask. All they can say is no so don't be afraid to ask.
Best wishes!

I totally understand how frustrating this is for you. You may have to go out of your city to find the right ps, that's what I had to do. It's not easy when they have what I call the "God" complex, thinking they know what is best. If you don't mind me asking what size you were before and what size you want now? I went from a B to a D and I am very small frame. The only reason I can think of for limiting you to size is if your skin is very thin. Do your research online looking for ps reviews from past patients, there are plenty of sites with that information, that may help and like I said look outside of Grand Rapids, I traveled 3 1/2 hours to mine and it was worth every trip. He is also the one that did my tt, awesome, talented, caring ps. Keep me posted and I will even go over ps reviews if you wish. I feel like I have done this multiple times but I was just very lucky to find Dr Pinsky who was referred to my by my Facial PS they did my eyes. If you know of a dr that does just facial surgery, give the office a call and see if they have any recommendations, call several of them if necessary. Best of Luck and if you need any help or someone to talk to feel free to contact me via Private Message here.

Sorry it took so long to get bakv to you but mom was in the hopital for 8 days and I never left her side. She is better now, Thankfully but it was a very scary time and very hectic.

I am so sorry to hear about your mom! But glad she is better.
THANK YOU!!!! This has been a very long journey and process. And I am wanting it to be finished. I had thought about going out of our town but was a bit Leary as I wouldn't know where to begin to find one who was skilled and highly recommended.
My first as well as the second were highly recommended. It wasn't that they were not skilled or did a horrible job. They promised me things, then changed and didn't produced. Said they had fixed areas and I have the same issues. Told me I could go larger at initial consult and after examination then said no. First PS didn't give me ANY options. Just told me what he was doing and did it!
It isn't that I want to look be ginormous! I just want a larger more natural look and not look like I have two am sq loaf pans hanging off my chest!

I'm so sorry to hear that you have had 2 horrible ps's. That's all I can call them since I had one horrible then one that gave me all I asked for and sat down and explained and talked to me until there was no doubt in my mind he was the one to help me. He did that and much more, he did a perfect nipple reconstruction and even picked the size and color of the tattooing for the aerolas and from what I have heard 99.9% drs leave that to the tattoo artist. Please Don't settle for less than what makes you happy. Keep going to different ps's and do consults until you find the one that will give you answers to your questions on shape, size, profile, nipples and tattooing. Ask for pictures of other Reconstruction patients. Ask for any patients that would be willing to talk to you about their experience. I have any idea, my Dr is the national rep, lecturer, and the first to get all the new information and implants on Natrelle implants. I'll give the office a call and see if he knows of anyone he would recommend in Grand Rapids if he has any suggestions. It would help if I knew the 2 drs you have already seen and some info on the type of implants that you have and the size.

Send me a private message with your real name so I can tell them to expect your call. Sorry should have done that before

I feel your pain about the square loaf pans. My expanders were shaped that way but my ps said THE WHOLE TIME that the implants would not be. I could not wrap my mind around the fact that if the expanders were making a pocket (I had bilateral mastectorys NOT skin sparing) then wouldn't the implants simply fill that square misshapen pocket? But I trusted my doctor. I will get my stitches out in two days. At that time I will ask what his plan forward is to make me look like I have "breasts". If he says there is no plan....I am walking. He has said my skin was very thin and he could only go so big. I say if my skin was a problem, why did he not guide me towards the DIEP Flap instead of wasting a full year....(Sept. 30) trying to expand me. I was 36 double D now Im MAYBE a B.....Good luck and don't stop til you get what you want and deserve. I wont.....

Oh My!!! You are describing my whole journey thus far!
I was a 36D before as well.
I have two other consults scheduled, I too am now possibly looking at having to go the route of a DIEP flap.
Which is what the first ps told me 4months after the mast That i would need a Latissimus Flap.
I agree, keep looking and doing the research.
Could you please let me know the outcome when your have your stitches removed?
Thank you!

I will keep you posted renamae.

Did you forget to post your message?

Best of Luck!

I am all done if you look at by last pictures. I could not be happier with my results. I thrilled that you are getting other consults, Never give up until you happy with your results. Good luck and keep me posted. Hugs

I posted a thumbs up emoticon but it must not show them? :)

I had invasive ductal carcinoma (left only)..stage 2a. By the way, yours really looks great!

Same here but mine was only stage 1. Thank you. Best wishes

I don't understand why any dr would not do bilateral for a couple of reasons;
1) You have the chance of the cancer showing up in the other breast
2) It is very difficult to get the same shape and size doing just one breast.
I just stopped taking tamoxifen last week after 4 1/2 years. I did not gain any weight, I lost it. So you know there are 4 types of chemo drugs for breast cancer, tamoxifen being the last on the list with the highest types of side effects. Do your research and I suggest starting with the top drug on the list with the least side effects. Be insistant with your oncologist, this is your body, your decision. My best wishes.

I just stopped taking tamoxifen - I couldn't handle the hot flashes and mood swings.
Suggest Anastrozole. I'm sooooooo glad and much more comfortable on this oppesed to tamoxfin.

Good for you. Glad to hear this!

No I did not notice any fat loss when they did the fat grafting to my right breast. You would have to have lipo in order to accomplish that which is what I did along with a tummy tuck after my breasts where all healed. Best Wishes.