Body Image and Issues after Weight Loss - Um....augmentation?

I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, because I'm really not. I'm glad I've met my goals and I'm healthier for it.

But the boob situation HAS to change. All my life, ever since I was hitting puberty, I was large up top. It never changed through weight gains and losses. I was a D cup.

That was 80 pounds ago. I'm most likely an A, or maybe a B now. But there's NO mass to what's left...it's all saggy, hanging skin. So bad that I've got to wear a C because the loose skin oozes out the sides of a B cup. And my clothes don't fit right.

So I'm kind of considering implants. But I'm just in the "kind of" stage. Anyone have experience with this type of thing?

Mindi,
I think the best thing to do is to get a consultation with (at least) one plastic surgeon and see what they recommend. Maybe just a life would do the trick. I come from the other side of this problem. I was always a little larger and after having 2 kids they were even bigger and saggy. I hated it. So after my second child I had reduction surgery. I went from a DD to a C and of course, they lifted everything. I was never so happy in my life. I went on to have another child and they still stayed "perky". My problem now is with the weight I've gained they are back to a D. I'm hoping that losing the weight restores them to a C.
Anyway, I know how it feels to be uncomfortable with what you look like and if it will make you feel better about yourself, then you should look into doing something. And I think this is one of those areas that is very important to a woman and influences they way she feels about herself. But I think you should get a consultation before you make any decisions. Those docs usually know what will look best. Good luck.

Susan

Maybe I do need a consultation, Susan...One of the biggest things keeping me FROM going ahead and doing it is that I haven't had kids yet. I know things up top change when you're pregnant, and I've heard from some women that the changes don't necessarily go away. My sister-in-law grew a cup size during pregnancy and it never went away. I would just hate to do something now I might have to go back and change or re-do later, if/when we have children...

i went from a 34DD to a 34/36 C/D/I HAVE NO IDEA. i think they are inbetween sizes or something.

maybe the doctor will suggest something like getting rid of that extra skin instead of augmenting? i could just be making that up.

Mindi, check out these threads for some thoughts and ideas :) :

Boobs after weight loss? (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144795)

So I scheduled a breast enhancement consultation... (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155807)

Plastic Surgery (Breast lift/reduction)?? (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2103746)

Breast lift after weight loss?? (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154229)

After weight loss breast augmentation (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85015)

I had a breast lift with augmentation and posted about my experiences in several of the threads and would be happy to answer any questions you might have. I agree with Susan that your best bet is a consultation with a plastic surgeon. Best of luck to you!

I've never been big, at my largest I wore a 38D, but I swear that was a mismeasure at VS, since they measured over the poorly fitting bra I had on... :) I've been a 36B most of my adult life, or at least as I gained weight as an adult... in my twenties I was a 36 Almost A. Today, I'm back to that... Currently a 32AAA (or 34AA, depending on how you measure). I have an augmentation procedure scheduled for 1/22, actually. He doesn't think I need a lift , most likely because there wasn't much to begin with. What is there now looks like those squishy stress balls after you squeeze them until the seam pops and half the stuff inside scoots out. :)

I'd say go for a consult. See what a doctor has to say. Good luck.

Keep in mind that NO "boob job" is permanent. The implants HAVE to be changed every 10-15yrs so *my* thinking is that when I am all done having babies (and haven't started yet!!!) it will probaby be time to take out these implants and so if they grew a bit and it stayed then I could always just have a smaller implant put back in or whatever. :)

But I would recommend talking to a good plastic surgeon because s/he'll be able to advise you much better I'm sure. :)

I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, because I'm really not. I'm glad I've met my goals and I'm healthier for it.

But the boob situation HAS to change. All my life, ever since I was hitting puberty, I was large up top. It never changed through weight gains and losses. I was a D cup.

That was 80 pounds ago. I'm most likely an A, or maybe a B now. But there's NO mass to what's left...it's all saggy, hanging skin. So bad that I've got to wear a C because the loose skin oozes out the sides of a B cup. And my clothes don't fit right.

So I'm kind of considering implants. But I'm just in the "kind of" stage. Anyone have experience with this type of thing?

Here's a fabulous site for information on this:
http://messageboards.makemeheal.com/viewforum.php?f=2

~CGH~

Thanks, y'all! I've got a lot of research and reading to do today...good thing I'm not busy at work!!!

I had the same problem. Go see a plastic surgeon and they will be able to tell you what can be done.

I just got a lift with implants 3 weeks ago along with a tummy tuck. I was a 44 D and pre surgery I was a 38 B. I lost around 130 pounds. I had the same problem as you, I had no mass to my breast they were empty and a ton of skin on the sides. I gave my surgeon control over picking the size. She ended up putting in 500 cc silcone implants which filled out most of the skin. she also lifted the breast but because of the implant size she was able to avoid the anchor incisions and do it around the nipple. Also she removed all of the excess skin on the side of breast which resulted in two large incisions on my sides. It's only been 3 weeks so I'm still pretty swollen and don't know what size I am now but I'm really happy with the results.

Thanks for the personal story! I haven't seen a surgeon for a consultation yet, and it may actually be summer before I get to. Still researching....

Ask me anything you want! I'm open for discussion.

Oh, and BTW, I'm not solicitating. I'm here for personal reasons, but I'm willing to give some advice along the way!

My motives have been questioned before when all I was trying to do was help. I am not a spammer. Chances are you live nowhere near my office anyhow!

My wife was going to get implants after her lumpectomies, but her doctor pointed out that they would never have caught her cancer in time if she had implants, because they interfere with the mammography. She had a tiny but very aggressive tumor, that was caught by the radiologist at her annual mammogram.

She has no family history, and was not especially old (43). We decided not to take any chances and passed on the implants, although our insurer was willing to pay for them.

You bring up a very good point, Robert...that's actually one of the concerns I had down to talk to a doctor about if/when I ever go for a consultation....

So I guess, for now, I need some type of a bra that'll help reshape the girls into something that looks somewhat normal in clothes. Wish me luck!

I would just hate to do something now I might have to go back and change or re-do later, if/when we have children...

Hi Mindi! I'm planning to get surgery soon including implants so I've had 2 consultations with plastic surgeons. Just to let you know, implants need to be replaced at some point, usually after 10 or 15 years I think. So, whether or not you have children, if you got implants you would likely at some point need to get surgery on them again.

My wife was going to get implants after her lumpectomies, but her doctor pointed out that they would never have caught her cancer in time if she had implants, because they interfere with the mammography. She had a tiny but very aggressive tumor, that was caught by the radiologist at her annual mammogram.

She has no family history, and was not especially old (43). We decided not to take any chances and passed on the implants, although our insurer was willing to pay for them.

Actually most surgeons put the implants UNDER the existing muscle and tissue nowadays so it's not a problem anymore. You will rarely have anyone suggest going above the muscle for this reason. Also if you tell the mammo tech you have implants they will do extra veiws to make sure they don't miss anything. Besides if there is a history of any sort of cyst or tumor a regular mammo should be followed up by an ultrasound as a precaution anyhow.

And to touch on someone elses comments about replacing implants every 10-15 years. That's not the case anymore with newer implants. They are usually good for life unless there is a rupture which is really rare.

And to touch on someone elses comments about replacing implants every 10-15 years. That's not the case anymore with newer implants. They are usually good for life unless there is a rupture which is really rare.

No, the newer implants have a similar life expectancy and will need replacement every 10-20 years. All implants will fail if given enough time, and ruptures can occur at any point. In such a case, the old one must be replaced with another within a couple of weeks. Most implants carry a 10 year warranty, so many women choose to have them replaced on a schedule rather than wait for a rupture.

No, the newer implants have a similar life expectancy and will need replacement every 10-20 years. All implants will fail if given enough time, and ruptures can occur at any point. In such a case, the old one must be replaced with another within a couple of weeks. Most implants carry a 10 year warranty, so many women choose to have them replaced on a schedule rather than wait for a rupture.


We only use Mentor implants in our office, which have a rep of being the safest. There is no reason to replace implants unless there is a problem and after several studies its been shown that the rupture rate is only 1.5% after 10 years.

Mentor offers a lifetime warranty. They will provide you with new implants free of cost for life. And if for some reason an exchange is needed within the first 5 years they even help cover the other surgery costs (like anesthesia and facility fees). But only IF there is a problem because there is no reason to have them exchanged otherwise.

We have women that have come in before that were getting older that had the old generation of implants from the 1980's taken out just simply because they didn't suit their lifestyle anymore, but none of them had problems with the implants themselves.

BUT on the flip side we have had patients that had implants rupture after only 2 weeks. This is usually some sort of defect, it gets replaced, and that is it. There is risk involved with any surgery you have, but needing to have your implants replaced simply just because is false.

Some pertinent information

http://www.mentorcorp.com/breastsurgery/augmentation/FAQ/cs_ba_aa_faq_08.htm

Another thing to consider is breastfeeding (I read that you are wanting to have kids someday). I would research the possible effects of having augmentation on being able to breastfeed. (A quick google search tells me it's totally doable, but I guess there are a couple of different ways they can do the implants?)

I agree with Robert.I had implants 10 years ago, 1 year later my 44 year old aunt was diagnosed with breast ca.I now have a difficult time with mammograms.I am actually thinking of having them out because now I have quite a family history(10 years later).I guess you never know what is going to happen.Its a personal decision.I wound recommend a lift if you can get the results you want without implants.Like my friend says........a surgeon is a hammer looking for a nail.Meaning....of course surgeons will recommend surgery.Its their job!!!!!!!!!!