For the ladies only....

[HGD24]

Prior to my surgery, my right breast was smaller than my left (this is normal, I know) but since my surgery, I've noticed that it is now what I would consider signifcantly smaller...at least 1/2 a cup size. It's noticeable even when I wear a padded bra. I've always been a bit self-conscious in this area because I've always been small-chested (wearing a 34A was stretching it). Initially, I thought the size difference was due to post-op weight loss, but I'm now gaining back weight and the difference is getting more noticeable.

My thorocotomy was performed on the right side and I'm thinking that the change is due to the moving around of the muscles and fat on my side. Has anyone else experienced anything similar? I'm really considering having something done to correct it, but don't know if I can justify it...I feel like I'm being vain but it's really starting to bother me.

[LindaRacine]

Hi Heidi...

I don't think surgeons usually get into the area of soft tissues of the breast area. I wonder if it has something to do with the changes in your rib cage.

I think it would be a good idea to check with a plastic surgeon, at least to see if the difference is enough that it might be covered by your medical insurance.

Regards,
Linda

[HGD24]

Thanks Linda. I have a very tiny build and my thorocotomy scar comes within just about 1" of my breast. When I put my arms down to my sides, I noticed a small bump out of fatty tissue (about 1" wide) that runs from in front to the back of my underarm, just above my scar. There is no bump at all on the left side.

Should I talk to my surgeon first to find out what his procedure entailed? I see him again in 3 months for my 1 year check-up.

[LindaRacine]

Yes, I think it would be a good idea to discuss the issue with your surgeon.

--Linda

[Kristin]

Hi
Just to let you know I am 34 and had scoliosis surgery at 14. At 18 I researched breast aug. for the smaller side and found out that if you read you insurance info. it usually covers and "defect" due to medical reasons etc. We fall into that catagory and at 18 Kaiser Perm. fully cover one implant for the smaller side. I am slightly vain too and I think it is bad enough to put up with the hump(although now only 19 degrees post sur.) and am thrilled to look fabulous from the front!! Call your doc asap and get a referral, it's the best thing I ever did, and am glad I was smart enough to check it out!
Kristin

[HGD24]

Thanks for the information Kristin.

[kathleensrose]

Breast augumentation

this is my opinion on breast implants from my experience.
I had breast augmentation in 1986, by 91 my radiologist had discovered a leak in the back of one. I was already having problems with the way I felt. I had them taken out shortly after. The effects showed in pet scans and my immune problems grew. I do not recommend breast emplants. I received a huge settlement through insurance. You will never wear an underwire again, they may break, you will have trouble with mamograms, with a leak,the silicon seeps through your body to the joints. After having invasive back surgery and escaping staph, why put yourself through another possibility of contracting staph? Staph is exquisitely attracted to the metal in our body. .
If you have incisions around the nipples, You will also lose the feeling in the nipples. The surgeons don't tell you these things, only previous patients .It takes about nine years for the implants to go south on you.It is not worth it. Kathleen

[mumof5]

My 16 year old daughter is 18 months post op, fused T4 to L4 with 4 rid thorocoplasty. She also has the same problem, about 1/2 a cup size. If you look through the older threads here you will find that there are quite a few girls and women that have this problem. When Amber was coming up to her surgery and just after I was on here posting alot so if you can't find the topic with a 'bra' search look through my old post (sorry there is alot of them) you might get some extra information from there. It does seem to be reasonably common. Why not look into masectomy bras? maybe they could help, I don't know that much about them though. Or those stick on enhancers that you can get. Even if you buy two sets of different sizes.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes
Cheryl

[sweetness514]

That's interesting Kathleen, I heard about all these problems also. I don't know if saline implants are as much at putting a person at risk

[judyk]

Another thing to consider about breast implants, either saline or silicone, is the fact that although you may be told they will last a "lifetime", more than likely you will need to have surgeries later on to replace them due to their possibly leaking, hardening, or losing their position. Who wants to have breast implant replacement at age 65 or later? Not me. I have heard that it is recommended to replace them every 10 years. If you decide to have them removed later and not have implants put back in, you may be left with breasts that look bad. It is a lot to think about.

[dancerchick15]

me too

hey i feel for everyone in this thread...i have the same problem but it is about a cup size difference or more A to B (i'm seventeen by the way so i understand how your sixteen year old daughter feels!!) i've considered plastic surgery and this is what my spine surgeon recommended when i complained but for now i'm sticking with getting a bra with removable padding and taking it out of one side and doubling up on the other...that stopped making up for the difference so now that i have several i triple up on one side(granted these are tiny little teardropped shaped things so they are not too noticable) everyone says they look nice and if a man can deal with my rib hump this so not be any worse so i don't know what i'll do in the future but for now i'm fairly satisfied.

[kathleensrose]

Breast implants

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Ladies:
Saline implants were found to have problems. The saline was found to be contaminated with bacteria. Perhaps the companies have taken care of this problem, I hope so. After having my implants out, I had a breast lift. Oddly, after I told her about my immune problems and the fact that another arthritis specialist had told me "off the record", "you have to take these out",the surgeon tried to talk me into having a new set of implants . Can you believe this? Either the woman did not believe me, or just wanted the money from another surgery. I told her, "I might have been naive but I'm not stupid." The fact that you young women have done your homework and worried about your coming back surgery and yet do not take the implant problems seriously, is not good. Just because thousands of girls have these implants does not mean they are safe. I went to great lengths to show my daughters my scars and talk to them about the possible problems with breast implants. Luckily, they got the message, both have small breasts, but like how they look in clothes. Kathleen

[monie]

In my opinion, I think that it's impossible to judge the outcome of surgery for another person... I've known people who have had implants and have no complaints, as I've known of a couple who've had issues with theirs... The way I see it, to each his own. We come here to share our personal experiences with the hopes that they might help others, but ultimately, whatever decisions that there are to be made are left to each individual person.

That being said, I too have the whole breast problem. Mine's actually pretty noticable. For now, I insert one of those 'silicone breast inserts/pads' ($14.00, JC Pennys) into the cup of the smaller one, and they kinda even out... I was going to try out the kind that they sell at Victoria's Secret, (those actualy mold to the shape of your boob... $40, pure silicone) but I went with these instead...

I don't know... I think I'm just too chicken for anything else right now. I think that we live in an age and a time, where mistakes are made less and less, and one has a variety of choices to choose from... you know? I'm still undecided at this moment, but you never know... I think as with any other surgery, if implants are something you want to get, read up very thoroughly on the doctor, the hospital, the procedure, the materials, etc... When (If) you're satisfied, go with it... nothing's risk free.. if you're comfortable without implants, then don't get 'em...

Well, that's about that... I hope I haven't offended anyone... I just know that we all want to look our best, and if scoliosis is something you've dealt with since you were younger like me, yes, I can totally understand why you'd want to do everything in your power to look somewhat 'normal' now...

[sweetness514]

I did have one breast smaller than the other before surgery, it is fixed now. I think it is personal to everybody, but it is a risk, and about sillicone I have heard that the problems with the immune system is pretty common. Saline I don't know-hope they are improving them. I like how everybody who has had problems have spoken up here- since one has to consider all these risks and accept them. When it comes to plastic surgery, I have suffered so much with my spine surgeries that I personally don't want to suffer for something that is not essential, but that is how I see it. I also believe that time and age changes your perception of yourself and confidence. I don't care or notice my imperfections as much as before, or maybe see beauty in a different way, but if someone really thinks it would help them and they know the risks, they are responsible enough to know what they're doing.

[monie]

Well said, sweetness...