Nipple Sparing Double Mastectomy W/ TE's & Reconstruction. Springfield, MA

Hi :) Thank you. I could only fit small implants into the pockets~ My amazing plastic surgeon placed Sientra Smooth Round Silicone Gel (highly cohesive) moderate profile in 320cc's. They're already looking amazing! I'm only 2 days out from the exchange & only received 160cc's of saline into my Tissue Expanders before the rupture. My Expanders could hold up to 500cc's (I had originally hoped for 425cc's). I am happy with my size and appearance already (so I'm sure once they settle in, I'll have cleavage??) Right now they're still high up and not much cleavage yet- is this normal for small implants to take a little time to drop and for cleavage to show up? In a year or so, I may get a revision and exchange them for 375cc's high profile...we shall see. :) I'm already doing great. In a lot of pain, due to internal stitches to block off the sides where the Expanders were on my ribs at the sides, and also removed a lot of scar tissue from my cellulitis side. Taking the pain Meds to help and valium for the spasms along with the antibiotics. Keeping an eye on color changes, hot areas and slight redness at bandage changing times. Biggest thing I can give for advice is ALWAYS wash your hands, put on a new pair of gloves, get your gauze and supplies out in a sterile clean area and THEN open your binder. Being extra cautious will safe your Tissue Expanders and Implants. Infection happens and will hold you back for months. I'm blessed that I made it through that and after a 7 day hospital stay, I was released but had strict guidelines to follow. Now I'm extra cautious and for good reason: I love my new "girls" and after being flat chested since 9/23/14, I finally received my new girls on 1/22/15 after a ruptured expander. I went direct to implants to ensure no more ruptured would happen. I'm glad I made this choice. :) It has been a rocky road but I'm blessed to have my life and I make each day count. Marie J Mello

I am so happy for you! It takes some time for the implants to drop, here is an FAQ that speaks to that: 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR BREAST IMPLANTS TO DROP?

Thanks for sharing...

Hi. It happened due to the Capsular Contracture (major scarring) from having the drain for 45 days and scars formed around it...it was squeezing the TE and not allowing it to expand past the 160cc's. I went direct to implants. Doing well now. :)

What size implants do you have?

It's from an implant that is too small for my amount of skin I have left. ;) It will be corrected once a larger high profile implant is in.

I have 600 cc's in my tissue expander...that's the most the TE will hold. What size implant do you think that will be?

What did you have your TE's filled to for him to put in a 320 cc implant?

They could fit anything from 550-650cc's (sometimes that overfills it to fit a nice implant in there with a nice pocket and enough room. It truly depends on what size you'd like to be. :)

I had my TE's only filled to 160 cc's before left side fully ruptured from scar tissue keeping the TE from expanding and it bursts inside. The surgeon fit me with a 320cc which was great for about a week to 9 days and then they flattened out and sunk down a bit. New surgeon is going to place Sientra High Profile (440-500cc's) either in textured or smooth round. I'll know once I awaken :) I asked for projection and some cleavage.