too many choices

[jenga]

Hey Dr. P,

It was wonderful meeting you...and i cant wait to get surgery by you.
BUT before i do that i am so undecided between silicone and saline.
I was looking at the size/dimensions of the mentor implants
and i was wondering if the HP Silicone implants would be too round?
Being that the HP silicone is similar to the saline mod + i would think they would look just as natural, but the idea of HP scares me. Because they always appear more round and less natural to me.

Another odd question i had was. With saline mod + will the implants fall to my armpits when i am laying down? Mine do that now, and i have heard that all saline does, whereas silicone stays upright on your chest. wasnt sure how true these facts were.

One more thing- In your opinion which type of implant (out of the options we had talked about) would you recommend for me.
I am just sooo torn! All i know is i want to be an average to Full C! Looking forward to getting rid of my B sized bras for good!

Thanks again!
i am planing on making my decisions up sooner than later, so i can get in there next month!! i am so excited.

[Dr. Pelletiere]

It is a myth that saline fall to the sides and silicone do not. It all depends on the pocket, your anatomy, etc. If someone has breasts that are naturally wide spaced, chances are they are going to appear more in their armpit area over someone who has them naturally closer together, regardless of the implant type. Also, the more loose skin you have/larger pocket, the more they will fall to the sides. For the breasts to look as natural as they can, they should fall to the sides a little bit, just like a natural breast does.

In terms of the implant, you also have the option of the silicone moderate plus 325cc. It will add about .5cm all around, and you would still be ok with the dimensions and look natural. The HP always have that more round look on everyone, but can still look natural in some. In the saline, I would still go with the moderate plus. Remember, for the silicone, we can have both the Mod + and HP on hand, and just see which is going to fit better. It all depends on the pocket itself.

[jenga]

thanks for that info...
i dont mind adding .5cm on each side - if you can get in further in the middle. and if thats not possible, i would be scared that we would be left with the HP implants and they looked too round, and fake looking. But also, the mod + silicone's dont have as much of a projection. Also, will 325cc get me to a full C?

Is there a way to have the saline as a backup? ha. if the mod + silicones done work?

So, when i am ready to make my date for the surgery, do i come in for a pre-op appointment? Just curious of what the next step is to get this going :-)
Cause i really would love to come in the first week of july for the actual surgery. But wasnt sure if i came to see you one more time, to make the final choices and get ready for surgery?

[Dr. Pelletiere]

The first thing to do is to try and decide between saline and silicone. Both will do the job. With the saline implant, it is an easy choice. With silicone, your options are as follows - 325cc mod +, 325cc HP, 350cc Mod +, or 350cc HP. The 350cc mod + is about 12.5 cm, 1.5 cm wider than you have now while the 325cc mod + is 12.3cm wide. If you really want to get into full C (D in some people) range, then we can lean towards the 350cc. THe HP implants will work as well, but they will not add to the width. If you want to be fuller all around then go with the mod+ implants. We can have both here and just see which one fits better during surgery depending on the pocket, etc. Just give the office a call and we will go from there.

[jenga]

yay.. my appointment is set! wish it was sooner- but wasn't able to, due to work. So, i was thinking the 325cc mod + saline. and maybe filled to 350. or whatever you think i will need to be a nice medium size C to full C.
With that implant give you enough to work with on the sides, if you can get in the middle more (push them a tad closer than they are now?).
Because the 325's measure to 11.9 right? I also didnt want to go too large, or too wide with a different sized implant.

So- thats what i came up with.

yay!! i cant wait. thanks for all your help. i really look forward to getting this re-do to get closer to what i wanted to achieve.

[Dr. Pelletiere]

The 325cc mod plus saline will do a good job. A little wider then you have now, more projection, and because of the saline, the final size is adjustable during the surgery to really get you where you want to be. See you in a few weeks!

[jenga]

yay!!

my husband and i were thinking, and seeing if you would also have the saline mod + 300 by your side the day of surgery. Just incase the 325's are too wide (depending on how much closer you can get them).
i figured this probably would already be the case, but you know i have to ask just for the piece of mind.
I wouldnt mind the wider if we can get more in the center - thats ideal!!
but i know it doesnt always work out the way us girls want it to. ha.

but i also understood if i went with silicone, they would of been just as wide or wider than the 325 that i choose, right?

i am getting very anxious.
i am also working on getting my original photos before my first breast augmentation. If i dont in time, will that be an issue?

well, see you in a few weeks. cant wait to actually fit into a C cup!!!

[jenga]

hey Dr.P
so, other than getting sick this morning over the meds, the pain is much better the second time around- just as you said it would be.

But i have a few concerns?
Is it common for the center (sternum) to be a tad swollen? i know you were doing some work near my chest bone. Is there a chance i could develop Symmastia by pushing them together with the ace bandage or a tighter sports bra? also, i feel as though wearing the bandage and/or the tighter sports bra smushed them a lot? is that okay to do?
Because the bra i brought to your office was supposed to fit an average C, and its too big ;-( I am still hoping once i heal i will be a C cup. Do you see this as a possibility, knowing how much you filled?

Other than that, the shape thus far looks amazing!! i am very happy with them. And i hope there isnt too much swelling that is going to make them appear smaller, cause they look wonderful as is, now.

Thanks!!
talk soon.

[Dr. Pelletiere]

I am glad you are feeling better. The goal with the sports bra is to push them down more than in, so if it looks like they are pushing to close together, just adjust them once the bra is on so that they push down more than inwards. It is normal to have some swelling in the sternal area. That is where some of the work was done. Your original surgeon did not release the muscle at all from the ribs or the sternum, which, unfortunately, is not uncommon with the transax procedure. Because of this, the muscle was just pushing the implants out to the sides more. Part of the pec was released from the ribs, but it is still attatched the sternum, so you should not worry about symmastia. It is also ok if the sports bra smashes them a little - it will just help expand those areas at the inner-lower part of the breast. In terms of the sports bra, ignore whatever the size says. That is a very large sportsbra, even though it says medium. It is probably a 36C or D. I would think you would be in the 34C range when all is said and done. There is not alot of swelling from the surgery except at the medial areas, so you will not lose much volume at all. In reality, you should remain about the size you are right now.

[jenga]

Thank you for getting back to me.
I am gonna be on a search for a better sports bra so i do not have to wear the ace bandage when i go out.
Its crazy that the bra i brought appears to be so large cause the size chart says medium fits a 34C. But i agree, it appears much larger.
so, i will take a look at some other bras, and just find one that fits better- no matter what the size says. My husband ran to the store and picked up a 34B and it smushes them too much, i feel.

But thank you so much for fixing my pockets. the shape does look amazing, i cant wait for them to continue healing.
And i will see you next wednesday- unless i have more questions, i will give the office a ring.

[Dr. Pelletiere]

Sounds like everything is going according to plan. Call if you need anything. If not, we will see you next week.

[jenga]

Hey Dr.P,

So, i am writing, just to ask something for knowledge, as i am healing up.
With my redo my husband and i do not see much of a change in size, and part of me is okay with this. Yet, I was just hoping that adding 110 more cc was going to be more noticeable in size. Yet, i do love the way they are looking, the shape is coming along wonderfully. I know the fact that my chest bone sticks out a little is hiding some of my size...and also helps my breasts hide in clothes. I was just really hoping for more of a full C this time around.

I am unsure if i care to mess with them, because they look so much more wonderful this second time around! and i may just take it...
BUT in case i change my mind down the road, i was curious of how much more i could get these current implants filled to. I think you filled these 325's to 365cc. And if i were to add more, would it actually make a difference? Also, i recall when we were talking about sizes that when you fill them to the max that they become more narrow. So, would this be against me, in making my implants seem even further apart? Because we have gotten them closer, but i know with my anatomy, they will never have desired full cleavage. With that being said,i was also wondering how much you would charge if i did just want to add more saline to them?
Just curious.
I do want these to completely heal, and enjoy them for awhile, before i jump into any decisions. Just thought i would ask for info about it though.

Thank you!!

[Dr. Pelletiere]

In reality, the 325cc mod plus can get up to 400 - 425cc before it is too firm. That would be another 50-60cc in each implant. This would make a difference, but probably not a significant one. They will narrow slightly, but only by a few millimeters. It is an easy thing to do, but you are still early in the healing process. Let yourself continue to heal, and we can talk about size at your 1 month check-up.

[jenga]

sounds good.
yeah, i am unsure if i care to mess with them. i know that i will most likely have to do something after i have kids. so i may just leave well enough alone for now. But, just talking it out helps. ;-)

as a side note: i love the healing process this time around, verses my first breast augmentation. it is so much easier.

thanks*