Question
I had a BA on 12/30. I was a A/B on my right side (I had breast cancer in 2000 and radiation that killed alot of my tissue) and a B on my left. Today I had my post op and I have known since after surgery that my left breast is larger then my right. My PS who is very understanding and good told me that he put 360cc filled to 365cc on my left side (appears to be a small D at this point) and on my right side (to compensate for it being smaller due to radiation) he put in 360cc filled to 390cc. Now my question is I am about a half a cup size smaller on my right side but he did what he could with having to work with the radiation /mmh/product/scar_reduction/index.vm?procid=42" target=_blank>scarring on my right side and could not go any bigger then 390cc without causing /mmh/product/beauty/stretch_marks/index.vm?procid=13&catid=1059" target=_blank>stretch marks or rippling etc. He told me they should be somewhat equal at 4 weeks, but is their anyone that has had this problem just in general that knows if massaging or anything else can help my right side become equal to my left or even my left equal to my right? Thanks for any thoughts.


Answer
Miki, I can't thank you enough for your thoughts. Tonight is the first night I am pretty down about it all. I LOVE the increased size but am so concerned with the difference in sizes. I keep thinking gosh did he put in the left first and make it the size I wanted and then put in the right and find out he could not do what he wanted to because of the radiation. But, then I think that is not right because he had already tried the sizers out and was using 360cc implants for both. He did tell me to actually start the massaging already at my post op yesterday. I am one week tomorrow out of surgery. Do alot start massaging this early? I totally trust him and left him a message about my concerns tonight and he did tell me he felt four weeeks I would be good at my post op check. It's just hard to be patient I guess when you look in the mirror and see two different sizes especially when the one of the main reasons I did the surgery was because of being two different sizes due to radiation. So I feel like I am just bigger with the same problem, but then think I should at least be thankful I am bigger! Anyway thanks for your thoughts as they SO helped me when I needed them most. This is the first night I have felt like this. I'm sure my PS will be totally supportive too. Thanks again truly Miki!


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Miki, I can't thank you enough for your thoughts. Tonight is the first night I am pretty down about it all. I LOVE the increased size but am so concerned with the difference in sizes. I keep thinking gosh did he put in the left first and make it the size I wanted and then put in the right and find out he could not do what he wanted to because of the radiation. But, then I think that is not right because he had already tried the sizers out and was using 360cc implants for both. He did tell me to actually start the massaging already at my post op yesterday. I am one week tomorrow out of surgery. Do alot start massaging this early? I totally trust him and left him a message about my concerns tonight and he did tell me he felt four weeeks I would be good at my post op check. It's just hard to be patient I guess when you look in the mirror and see two different sizes especially when the one of the main reasons I did the surgery was because of being two different sizes due to radiation. So I feel like I am just bigger with the same problem, but then think I should at least be thankful I am bigger! Anyway thanks for your thoughts as they SO helped me when I needed them most. This is the first night I have felt like this. I'm sure my PS will be totally supportive too. Thanks again truly Miki!
You have adjustable implants...when all is said and done I think you will be well balanced but..if not..he can add more to the one side A fairly simple thing...my 3rd daughter had it done in Sept.


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Hi. PS in Texas here. Radiation causes changes in the way the /mmh/product/beauty/index.vm?procid=13" target=_blank>/mmh/product/beauty/index.vm?procid=13" target=_blank>skin stretches initally (much slower) and how far it will eventually go (less). You have 2 breasts, each have been through a different set of circumstances so some difference will be normal. It may take some months (plus or minus adjustments) to get you to your final shape.


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Miki and Dr JLo I want to thank you so much for your insight. What are adjustable implants? Also if they need to add more to my right side after 6 months what exactly do they do and is their alot of cost involved? Do I heal alot quicker this time and do they go in and open my incision again I assume to add? My PS said he would not do it before then being like Dr JLo says it can take a few months for a normal breast to drop and 3-6 months for a radiated breast due to the scar tissue holding onto the implant longer if I said this right? The last few days have been really off days as my right side is definitely a small C and my left a small D and my daughter and husband notice this significantly. It used to be just a half cup size difference at my post op last week. Again my surgery was just on 12/30 and I would enjoy hearing back from either of you. I know Dr JLo he could not add anymore then 390cc to my 360cc implant as he said that was tough enough to do, so then how can he add more in the future? Because I really like the size of my left side that only had 360cc overfilled to 365cc, but I was a B on that side and only a A on my right side due to the radiation.


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Sorry I think I just figured out what you meant Miki by adjustable implants in that they can add more or take less out. I just wonder how expensive and if you heal much quicker being your skin has already stretched to accommodate the implant. Or is it like having the BA all over but just one side being swollen and sore for weeks etc?


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Steveann,
I can fully relate to your situation. I had (left side) breast cancer in 1999, with a /mmh/product/mastectomy/index.vm?procid=33" target=_blank>/mmh/product/mastectomy/index.vm?procid=33" target=_blank>lumpectomy and radiation....After the lumpectomy and radiation, my left side shrunk, and my left side rode higher, thus causing my nipples to be mis-aligned.... I had my 1st BA done in 2001, but that did not correct the problem....It only made my boobs larger. Then on 12/21/2005 I had a 2nd BA done to get both sides "even" in size and to correct the nipple alignment too.
I too am experiencing some difference in sizes... My PS put 360, filled to 390 on the left side.... and 300, filled to 300 on the right...My post bra size at this time is a small D and this is nice....My alignment is fine, but the size is off.... Based on the advice of my PS and this group, I'm hoping that time will correct the matter...


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levelingthem2 it is great to hear from someone that understands how I feel. I was pretty down a few nights ago as I just looked at them and said "I had this done after five years (wanted to make sure of no recoccurence although I was just DCIS-Stage0-July 2000) and my right breast is still bigger then my left. Was a bit disheartning even if he said 6 months down the line he could do something if need be. My PS says just wait four weeks and he thinks all will even out, but a whole cup size difference you know? Yes my breasts are larger and anything is better then being a A on one side and a B on the other but part of my goal was to get them even you know. I had the exact same put in 360 filled to 390, but my left side it seems he should have put less in then 360 filled to 365 you know. Because I know their was more then a whole 25cc difference in size between the two breasts pre op. Your doctor seemed to have the right choice with the 300 or even 330 cc in your normal or right breast. Your's sound like they will end up perfect. Do you know how much additional you paid for the correction from 01 to 05 because right now I would just like him to match the right side to the left and not doing anything with my breast that was a B and went to a small D. But I think he would need to put a 390cc implant in there and fill it to 420 or so at this time for it to be even, but then the projection would be a bit more in one of the implants, but I am symmetrical otherwise right now. Any thoughts?


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I was pretty down a few nights ago as I just looked at them and said "I had this done after five years (wanted to make sure of no recoccurence although I was just DCIS-Stage0-July 2000) and my right breast is still bigger then my left. ]
I meant to say above my RIGHT side is still smaller then my left. sorry for the confusion.


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Sorry I think I just figured out what you meant Miki by adjustable implants in that they can add more or take less out. I just wonder how expensive and if you heal much quicker being your skin has already stretched to accommodate the implant. Or is it like having the BA all over but just one side being swollen and sore for weeks etc?
To give you the max fill of saline in that side cn be done in 30 minutes if they find the valve easily. My daughters PS did not make her pay even for the surgical supplies..
Miki


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Yeah but Miki I have the max fill on the side that I had radiation already. Or at least I think I do as I had 360cc implants on both sides with only 5cc overfill on the left which is now a small D from a B, but on the right I had 360cc filled to 390cc and he said he could not add anymore and that was the radiated side that was an A. How great he did everything for free and I can only hope the same of my PS being I have had a few procedures with him and did Lipo this time also. So wouldn't he have to go in and take out the 360cc implant and put in a 390cc implant Miki? But I know they project differently by a few cm but I can't imagine it would be very noticeable compared to having a small C and small D my word?


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Yeah but Miki I have the max fill on the side that I had radiation already. Or at least I think I do as I had 360cc implants on both sides with only 5cc overfill on the left which is now a small D from a B, but on the right I had 360cc filled to 390cc and he said he could not add anymore and that was the radiated side that was an A. How great he did everything for free and I can only hope the same of my PS being I have had a few procedures with him and did Lipo this time also. So wouldn't he have to go in and take out the 360cc implant and put in a 390cc implant Miki? But I know they project differently by a few cm but I can't imagine it would be very noticeable compared to having a small C and small D my word?
The BEST thing is to wait for the muscles to relax over the next 3-6 months and see how thngs change as there are a LOAD of changes your body needs to do. THEN a clearer pick will present itself of what to do. Patience..hard but so important
Miki


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Your right Miki..patience is the key..he told me the squeaky sounds were normal in implants and no need to be alarmed..he also rereminded me that he does feel it will be equal given time and to continue with the massaging of both breasts equally twice a day. It's just good to know their is a chance I might be equal and not need to do any further treatment. Your daughter's procedure, did it take long and how was the discomfort after?


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Your right Miki..patience is the key..he told me the squeaky sounds were normal in implants and no need to be alarmed..he also rereminded me that he does feel it will be equal given time and to continue with the massaging of both breasts equally twice a day. It's just good to know their is a chance I might be equal and not need to do any further treatment. Your daughter's procedure, did it take long and how was the discomfort after?
She did fine...Had it done on Fri and was back to work Monday