Expanders for second surgery?

[kaminari0]

Hey everybody, I had my first BA done at the beginning of October, and I'm already planning a second one. I'm looking at getting expanders this time around. Can anyone tell me about their experiences with having expanders?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

[bebby]

May I ask you why you are considering expanders?
You already have large implants, are they very tight or do you have jiggle?
Here is a link to a JBI thread, with some information re: expanders...
http://www.justbreastimplants.com/fo...-implants.html (Adjustable implants?)

[kaminari0]

My implants are still quite tight after a couple of months - they move if I massage them, but I don't really get any bounce with just daily moving around. That, and my eventual goal is to go to 1500-2000cc. I started off quite flat (I'm of part Asian descent), and while I wouldn't change my mind about it, the experience of going from "zero" to a 960cc implant was a long enough recovery that I would rather try something more gradual.

Since I don't have a thanks button yet, thanks for the attention!

[EnglishGirl]

I am new to the forum and this has been a wealth of information! Thank you, all. I myself have saline expanders currently filled to 1620cc each and to tell you the truth, it has been a long process, and they're heavy, but undeniably beautiful. This isn't for everyone though.

The idea of wanting large breast came from knowing my well-endowed aunts. During my teens I failed to develop like them and hoped someday I could. Well life happens and finally this past summer I told my husband after I noticed too many gray hairs in my brunette locks that we better go ahead with augmentation "now or never". To say he jumped at the chance would be an understatement. We'd both wanted augmentation for me for more than a decade (so long that we were losing sight of the dream), but the motivation and money never lined up just right until those gray hairs irritated me. I knew I wanted to go quite large, and after years of research had learned about tissue expansion as a means for being able to reach sizes that are difficult at best with repeat surgeries using fixed volume implants. And, I can stop filling when I get the look I want. I have complete control of my final size.

On July 23rd, 2008 I traveled to California with my husband for a nice "plastic surgery getaway". My husband tried to take good care of me, but you just can't be fully prepared for it the first time no matter how much reading you do. My surgeon placed Mentor Moderate Plus Profile saline implants over the breast and through the inframammary crease which were rated for 800cc with the maximum overfill totaling 960cc each. Going from 0cc to 960cc was PAINFUL because I had no pocket to begin with. After 2 - 3 weeks, the pain was much improved and I started to fall in love with them.

My husband and I had discussed with my surgeon prior to the first surgery what our intentions were and he mentioned that I would have to wait at least 3 months before having the initial implants replaced with the expander implants. I was hoping to get the expander implants right from the first surgery since that makes the most sense, but my surgeon insisted on having a fixed volume implant in place for the first 3 months, maybe to allow for the pocket to become "mature".

Anyway, on November 5th, I was back in the operating room and the pain wasn't nearly as bad this time. The Mentors were swapped out for anatomical expanders from a company I'd never heard of. To be honest, I was in tears when I saw how ugly the expanders were just after surgery. They looked like triangles under my skin instead of the beautiful circular breasts I'd had the day before. My surgeon reassured me that the reason for the anatomicals was to help establish a modified pocket that would lead to a more gradual slope from the clavicle to the nipple. Well, the next day I insisted on a fill and was brought up to 1200cc. 3 weeks later I had a fill of 120cc (1320cc) , then 2 weeks after that another 120cc (1440cc), and then just yesterday I had a fill of 180cc (1620cc). My fill ups are being done by a local plastic surgeon where I live who has agreed to help me. When I reach my final goal, I will then go 10% over that volume for a few weeks and then probably have to fly to Europe to have my final silicone gel implants placed (since nothing larger than 1000ml can be placed here in the U.S.)

My next fill is planned for January 9th. The fill ups don't hurt (except that the needle has to go through the skin of the breast and into the filler port on the implant). I think my final goal will be either 1800 or 2000. My expanders are rated for 2000cc. Also, with each fill up, they are becoming more like anatomical breasts and less like the ugly triangles they were before.

I would like to state that I am not a stripper or model, nor do I have a website or plan to have one. I have a graduate degree and am married to a medical professional. I mention that only to illustrate that sometimes, even normal women just want big boobs!

P.S. I've had to really learn to dress my "ladies" down since they seem to draw so much attention now, and it can be uncomfortable at times. It becomes a safety issue and so needless to say, I prefer that my husband go with me when I'm shopping.

I hope this helps!

[kaminari0]

Thank you so much EnglishGirl! It seems like your experiences are exactly the direction I want to go. Just out of curiousity, was your surgeon in Lake Tahoe? Mine was in California as well, and being told you have to have as big as a 960cc before expanders is very familiar...

I'm definitely interested to hear more! I'm particularly curious about the expansion itself - you mentioned it didn't hurt besides the needle going into the port. Is there any other discomfort, whether during or after?

Thanks again for the info!

[kaminari0]

Actually, silly me for not looking at your profile page... it looks like you were on Dr. Foster's table almost exactly a month after I was!

[bebby]

Thanks babe then I am wishing you well and hope you read the post from EnglishGirl, its great info....

Originally Posted by kaminari0

My implants are still quite tight after a couple of months - they move if I massage them, but I don't really get any bounce with just daily moving around. That, and my eventual goal is to go to 1500-2000cc. I started off quite flat (I'm of part Asian descent), and while I wouldn't change my mind about it, the experience of going from "zero" to a 960cc implant was a long enough recovery that I would rather try something more gradual.

Since I don't have a thanks button yet, thanks for the attention!

EnglishGirl, thanks that was a wealth of info IMO , I never knew anything about these before, sounds like something for me (never knowing how big I finally want to end up!) but I have silicone (due to previous rippling) Wishing you the very best in your journey to find you perfect size and hope all goes wonderful for you! How does it work with the valve? Can you see it through the skin!

Originally Posted by EnglishGirl

I am new to the forum and this has been a wealth of information! Thank you, all. I myself have saline expanders currently filled to 1620cc each and to tell you the truth, it has been a long process, and they're heavy, but undeniably beautiful. This isn't for everyone though.

The idea of wanting large breast came from knowing my well-endowed aunts. During my teens I failed to develop like them and hoped someday I could. Well life happens and finally this past summer I told my husband after I noticed too many gray hairs in my brunette locks that we better go ahead with augmentation "now or never". To say he jumped at the chance would be an understatement. We'd both wanted augmentation for me for more than a decade (so long that we were losing sight of the dream), but the motivation and money never lined up just right until those gray hairs irritated me. I knew I wanted to go quite large, and after years of research had learned about tissue expansion as a means for being able to reach sizes that are difficult at best with repeat surgeries using fixed volume implants. And, I can stop filling when I get the look I want. I have complete control of my final size.

On July 23rd, 2008 I traveled to California with my husband for a nice "plastic surgery getaway". My husband tried to take good care of me, but you just can't be fully prepared for it the first time no matter how much reading you do. My surgeon placed Mentor Moderate Plus Profile saline implants over the breast and through the inframammary crease which were rated for 800cc with the maximum overfill totaling 960cc each. Going from 0cc to 960cc was PAINFUL because I had no pocket to begin with. After 2 - 3 weeks, the pain was much improved and I started to fall in love with them.

My husband and I had discussed with my surgeon prior to the first surgery what our intentions were and he mentioned that I would have to wait at least 3 months before having the initial implants replaced with the expander implants. I was hoping to get the expander implants right from the first surgery since that makes the most sense, but my surgeon insisted on having a fixed volume implant in place for the first 3 months, maybe to allow for the pocket to become "mature".

Anyway, on November 5th, I was back in the operating room and the pain wasn't nearly as bad this time. The Mentors were swapped out for anatomical expanders from a company I'd never heard of. To be honest, I was in tears when I saw how ugly the expanders were just after surgery. They looked like triangles under my skin instead of the beautiful circular breasts I'd had the day before. My surgeon reassured me that the reason for the anatomicals was to help establish a modified pocket that would lead to a more gradual slope from the clavicle to the nipple. Well, the next day I insisted on a fill and was brought up to 1200cc. 3 weeks later I had a fill of 120cc (1320cc) , then 2 weeks after that another 120cc (1440cc), and then just yesterday I had a fill of 180cc (1620cc). My fill ups are being done by a local plastic surgeon where I live who has agreed to help me. When I reach my final goal, I will then go 10% over that volume for a few weeks and then probably have to fly to Europe to have my final silicone gel implants placed (since nothing larger than 1000ml can be placed here in the U.S.)

My next fill is planned for January 9th. The fill ups don't hurt (except that the needle has to go through the skin of the breast and into the filler port on the implant). I think my final goal will be either 1800 or 2000. My expanders are rated for 2000cc. Also, with each fill up, they are becoming more like anatomical breasts and less like the ugly triangles they were before.

I would like to state that I am not a stripper or model, nor do I have a website or plan to have one. I have a graduate degree and am married to a medical professional. I mention that only to illustrate that sometimes, even normal women just want big boobs!

P.S. I've had to really learn to dress my "ladies" down since they seem to draw so much attention now, and it can be uncomfortable at times. It becomes a safety issue and so needless to say, I prefer that my husband go with me when I'm shopping.

I hope this helps!

[kaminari0]

Originally Posted by EnglishGirl

To be honest, I was in tears when I saw how ugly the expanders were just after surgery. They looked like triangles under my skin instead of the beautiful circular breasts I'd had the day before.

I never would have guessed that without reading this post. Since I'm fairly sure we have the same surgeon, how much convincing did it take you to get him to do a fill the next day? I'll want to be prepared for that next time I go see him...

[EnglishGirl]

Hi kaminari0 and bebby, nice to hear from you


"Thank you so much EnglishGirl! It seems like your experiences are exactly the direction I want to go. Just out of curiousity, was your surgeon in Lake Tahoe? Mine was in California as well, and being told you have to have as big as a 960cc before expanders is very familiar...

I'm definitely interested to hear more! I'm particularly curious about the expansion itself - you mentioned it didn't hurt besides the needle going into the port. Is there any other discomfort, whether during or after?"


Yes, Dr. Foster is my surgeon. And I simply love South Lake Tahoe in the summer and in the fall. With each fill, there is literally no pain from the extra volume. The injections take about 5 - 7 minutes for each breast and I can't feel the volume of my expanders increasing, but they immediately feel fuller as soon as I stand up. It's easy to forget in all the excitement with injections that they get noticeably heavier with each fill up. With 120cc injected into each breast, that's 240 cc total and that's a half a pound or so! Fill ups stretch both the pocket and the overlying skin a bit making my chest feel fuller which persists for a couple days. The only other sensation that I feel that is different is that my breasts itch after fill ups. Maybe the stretching of the skin makes it prone to drying out and getting itchy.

EnglishGirl, thanks that was a wealth of info IMO , I never knew anything about these before, sounds like something for me (never knowing how big I finally want to end up!) but I have silicone (due to previous rippling) Wishing you the very best in your journey to find you perfect size and hope all goes wonderful for you! How does it work with the valve? Can you see it through the skin!

Thank you for best wishes. I can't wait to have silicone implants like you, I've heard they're softer. My expanders are pretty firm, which I don't like. The metal valve is embedded in the middle front of the implant and it is in the shape of a shallow cup with a thick silicone membrane over the top. The expander instruction manual was given to me by Dr. Foster and it is quite specific in how the injections must be done. A 23 gauge needle is used to gain access to the port (ouch!), and I'm not sure if the cup is connected with a one way valve or not, probably not. I suppose I could have some removed if I wanted. Anyway, my local surgeon has a fancy magnetic tool that he uses to identify the outline of the metal cup and he marks me up with a blue skin marker so that he doesn't go outside the cup and pierce the expander. It looks like the cup is a good 2 - 3 inches across and it would be hard to miss the cup. With a brief swab of betadine, my ladies get their fill ups.

I never would have guessed that without reading this post. Since I'm fairly sure we have the same surgeon, how much convincing did it take you to get him to do a fill the next day? I'll want to be prepared for that next time I go see him...

Well, I was in tears to be honest. The implant literally had a triangular shape since it was only partially filled. The interaction between my pocket and the implant I guess created this unsightly shape. I was hoping to get 400 cc the day after the procedure and my husband was upset too (can you tell, this was an emotional rollercoaster? - a supportive friend or partner can bear some of this with you), but he didn't want to stress the incision and gave me only 100cc bringing me up to 1200cc. I don't know how much convincing he would respond to, but I suppose the first fill up is decided by many factors that he is keeping track of and probably isn't the same for every one.

My expanders are rated for 2000cc each, and so at 1100cc the first day, parts of each expander were still partially folded in each pocket and the wrinkled folds were appreciable through the skin by touch, but not visually. Dr. Foster said that with fill ups, the expander would fill out and become much more attractive. This has been the case, making fill ups exciting because the breasts become bigger and truly prettier! My husband comes with me to each fill up for moral support, and because it's Christmas for him each time! My surgeon doesn't mind him being there either.

I was caught off guard by the anatomical expanders since there are so few women that go through with this and even fewer who ever take the time to write about it so I hope this helps. Can't wait to hear how things turn out for you kaminari0, and you too bebby!

[kaminari0]

I have to say, after what you went through with the expanders, it makes me want to plan a few weeks of hiding from people until I've had a chance to get a few fills! You said that besides the one immediately post-op you had your first fill three weeks later - was that within where Dr. Foster recommended?

[EnglishGirl]

If I remember correctly, Dr. Foster does 60cc for each side once weekly for those who live close. My local surgeon commonly does 120 twice monthly so the expanders grow at the same rate either way. I pay $100/fill up regardless of the volume supplied here where I live. Fill ups by Dr. Foster may be included in his initial price (actually, I think they are). I was able to go to 180cc last time because I wasn't having any discomfort with the 120cc and it's more convenient to get this done sooner with fewer injections and less chance of infection.

As the expander grows, each increase of 120cc becomes less and less noticeable visually. The first injection was 120/1100 (11% increase in size) but now it would be 120/1600 (7.5% size), and so the relative change becomes smaller in the overall scheme of things as the expander grows. This is why I felt I could handle 180cc and in the end, my breasts felt a little tighter than I remember at 120cc, but there wasn't any pain either way. My surgeon uses 60ml syringes and prefills 6 of them, 3 for each side. He holds the remote needle with the IV line hooked to it while his nurse pushes the injection from the 60ml syringes and just changes to the next full syringe when the current one is empty.

I should also say that I have skin that has some give because I have lost a considerable amount of weight in the past 3 years. Slender women might not be able to push the fill ups as aggressively.

[kaminari0]

Thank you so much again for the info! How long does Dr. Foster say to wait before the fills, aside from the initial one?

[EnglishGirl]

I think he said either 3 or 4 weeks before getting the first fill.

[kaminari0]

I had forgotten to ask before, too - you mentioned the expanders were heavy, have you had any problems with back pain?

Sorry to ask so many questions! I'm very excited to have found someone who's actually walking the path I want to set myself on, and I'd love to get as much information as I can. Thanks so much for being so understanding!

[EnglishGirl]

Hi kaminari0, I had back pain before I began this process in July and it isn't any worse. In fact, if you can believe it, for about 3 weeks after each surgery, I couldn't feel my back pain - it was gone. But after the chest discomfort cleared up, the back pain returned. I manage it with 2 hours of treadmill daily, pilates, massage, and having my husband do any lifting for me. To reduce shoulder discomfort, I still wear my compression bra with the wide straps most of the time along with a jogging bra underneath it. Only if I go out for a social occasion do I wear a nice bra ($$$ wow are they expensive!) , otherwise my compression bra feels best on my ladies.

...Men have no idea about all that goes into having big boobies!

[kaminari0]

Thank you so much for all the info, EnglishGirl! It's really opened things up for me, both being aware of the process of getting expanders and how possible it is for it to happen. Thanks for being an inspiration!

[kaminari0]

So question for not just EnglishGirl, but all of you out there who decided to super-size your implants... all said and done, was it worth it?

[EnglishGirl]

Yes it is VERY worth it! I can't wait for my next fill up.

Is this signature picture working? I'm having a hard time figuring it out.



I cannot seem to get a signature visible on this page like others are able to. I'll try again another day.

[kaminari0]

I don't see it right at the moment... there should be a setting somewhere in your control panel for it.

See, I'm just worried about what'll happen if I have to put up with having triangle boobs for a few weeks. You're tough to deal with that - I don't know how I'd feel if I woke up on the table in the same position that you were in. How many fills did you need before your boobs started rounding out again?

[EnglishGirl]

I think you may have to log on to see the hotlink to a photograph of my recent fillups. (I can't see the hotlink myself unless I'm logged on to my account).

The expander I have is rated for 2000cc and so the triangular appearance will not resolve until I finally reach 2000ml. But, the appearance of the breast improved significantly between 1440ml and 1620ml. Next week I'll see even softer edges to the expander when I go to 1800ml. I imagine that the expander can be overfilled several hundred cc above its rating to round it out even more, but I don't know how that would affect the shape of the anatomical pocket. I'll only overfill to 2200ml temporarily to overexpand the pocket so that there is a more natural line from my clavicals to my nipples once I have my custom implants placed. I want to have as little a noticeable ridge at the top of the implant as possible.

The shape of the expander will be more noticeable on women with less fat on their bodies. Of course, I don't have that problem but wish I did! Speaking of the triangular shape of the implant, it isn't a bad idea to have this process done in the colder months of the year so that you're not under any pressure from yourself to show them off. You'll want them covered and what better time to do that than in the winter (It's colder where you are than where I am, but it sure is cooooold here!)

I'm still trying to figure out my BWD and how I'm going to have my implant designed. I'm not sure I want round implants at this size, I'm thinking my breasts will look better with anatomicals to provide more fullness above the nipple than is possible with a round implant. It appears that currently the width of the implant is 17cm as best I can tell, but I didn't measure projection. I have three-finger cleavage and lots of side boob when my breasts fall unsupported so I think I'll need to ask for a minor pocket revision to release some of the inner breast tissue for more natural cleavage when my breasts are unsupported. Dr. Foster uses a company in France (I forget the name) for the final custom implant, but I'm contemplating using Eurosilicone even though they're more costly. Eurosilicone's name recognition for custom implants is quite good from what little there is out there about this subject. They have "pre-made" custom implants (anything over approximately 800cc is considered custom as far as I know) and I think there is an option to design your own matched to your own specifications (height, BWD, depth, shape, and volume). I'll know more when Eurosilicone finally emails me back. I'll probably just call and try establishing with them that way.

Here, I'll try again with the recent picture. You'll probably have to be logged on to see it though. Thanks for keeping in touch. Do you have tentative plans to return to South Lake Tahoe this Spring to take that next step kaminari0? Best wishes for you in this fun journey to a dream come true.