Miscellaneous FAQ

[doctor]

1. How much weight will I gain with my implants?
2. Do breasts glow in the dark when flashlights are placed on them?
3. What bra size am I?? How do I figure this out?
4. Can I scuba dive with breast implants?
5. Does wearing a seatbelt increase my chances of rupture or trauma-induced Capsular Contracture (CC) if I have an accident?
6. I want to submit a journal but I am leery about having my photos online, can I submit a journal without photos?
7. Can I work out my chest muscles if I have "unders"? Will this rupture them?
8. Can I go without a bra now that I have implants? - particularly if I have unders?
9. Is it true that I will have to replace my implants ever 10 years?
10. I would like a signature doll, how do I go about getting one?
11. I can't get into the forum, it says "invalid password"? How can I post again?
12. Do you have "get togethers" for the girls on the site? Where do I go to find out about it?
13. I want to submit before & after photos, how can I do this?
14. I filled out the "recommend a surgeon section" and did not get a reply - how can I get a referral for a surgeon in my area?
15. What is the BreastImplants4You Online Newsletter about?
16. I am getting spammed to go to other sites or have been receiving threatening letters through the message boards , what can I do?

[annabell]

1. How much weight will I gain with my implants?

Not much, but more than you'd think. Water has a density of 1.0, one ml (or cc) of water weighs 1 gram. 1 ml of saline weighs approximately 1.3 - 1.6 grams depending upon the saturation. 1 pint [US, liquid] = 16 ounce [US, liquid] = approximately 1 US pound

1 pound = 453.59237 grams so there are approximately 453 ml of water in a lb. The average implant volume chosen by most women is 450 cc (450 ml). Therefore, two 450 cc saline-filled breast implants weigh a little over 1 lb a piece, equaling a total of about 2 lb gained after breast augmentation surgery.

[annabell]

2. Do breasts glow in the dark when flashlights are placed on them?

If you stick flashlights under or on the sides of your breasts if you have saline implants they don't exactly glow but they do light up and cast an eerie glow like The Great Pumpkin. You will also see lots of veins as well all over your breasts.

Natural breasts do not do this as much as the saline is what reflects the light and casts it all over the rest of the breast. If you do this with natural breasts it only appears the same as when you stick a flashlight up to your hand--the tissue nearest casts a reddish glow, but not the whole breast. At least in my experience.

Silicone breast implants do this as well although not as bright as saline. By the way, be careful you don't burn yourself when trying this out. I used a high-power, tactical entry flashlight made by SureFire® and they get hot FAST.

[annabell]

3. What bra size am I?? How do I figure this out?

Please see our bra sizing section for more information because this is not something that can be explained in a one paragraph. Hence the fact we have an entire section on it. There are several ways to determine this and not all are going to work for you.

[annabell]

4. Can I scuba dive with breast implants?

Absolutely! In fact I am a certified scuba diver and have been since my teens. Air is what is affected by the pressure, not the saline or silicone fluids (or even semi-solids such as cohesive gels). If you are a scuba diver you have noticed ear squeeze and mask squeeze, these passages or areas contain air and are affected as you go deeper (and come up to the surface).

[annabell]

5. Does wearing a seatbelt increase my chances of rupture or trauma-induced Capsular Contracture (CC) if I have an accident?

Although this is true it is also a fact that NOT wearing your seatbelt increases your chances of auto-wreck related death, so be smart and wear your seatbelt. You have a warranty on your implants, but not your life

[annabell]

6. I want to submit a journal but I am leery about having my photos online, can I submit a journal without photos?

We would love to have your journal on the site, I LOVE journals and so do all of the girls who visit here. Everyone can learn so much and receive comfort for a personal experience journal (be it a good result or a bad result). You are not obligated or required, in any way, to contribute photos with your journal.

[annabell]

7. Can I work out my chest muscles if I have "unders?" Will this rupture them?

Some surgeons will tell you that you shouldn't work out your chest muscles excessively due to increased risk of rupture. The implants do not get squeezed hard enough by an average woman's pectoral muscle to cause a rupture if you are optimally filled. However, the 30,000 breaths that you take every day is enough pressure to cause a rupture over a period time if you are not optimally filled.

Resistance is key in preventing weaknesses caused from breast implant shell folds. You aren't expected to let your muscles atrophy once you get sub-pectoral (or sub-muscular) breast implants. However if you are a body builder (which your surgeon will notice), or plan on being one day, let your surgeon know and he will go over the pros and cons of overs and unders with you.

Remember that no matter the placement, implant surface type, brand, size or filler, breast implants are not not lifetime products. They do not last forever.

[annabell]

8. Can I go without a bra now that I have implants? Particularly if I have unders?

If you go without a bra, you will sag faster, period. The skin elasticity relaxes as you age and the weight of the implant and natural breast tissue pulls on this less elastic skin causing it to stretch and thin. Although many women with unders and overs occasionally go without a bra, it is smart to wear a support garment (either a standard bra or sportsbra) to help keep your breasts looking nice and perky after your augmentation.

Some people believe that the implants are supported by the pectoral muscle but this pectoral muscle only covers the upper 2/3 of the implants in almost all cases. More for small implants, less for larger ones. Textured implants may be supported somewhat by tissue ingrowth (more so with McGhans; Inamed) but it is not an internal bra. it is meant for implant coverage if the upper pole of the breast.

Some surgeons detach a few fibers of the pectoralis major and create a sling for the implant. This is still considered controversial as there are many surgeons who do not agree with it or are not familiar with its practice. Some surgeons use internal permanent suture material as an internal bra which attaches to the tissue. Some even suspend the breast implant and tissue with a bra made of tissue excised during a lift.

Whatever the case, where a bra as often as you can for safe keeping.

[rajiv]

9. Is it true that I will have to replace my implants ever 10 years?

A 'guesstimate' for the product life is 15 to 20 years -- averaging at 16 years (Institute of Medicine). Implants do not need to be changed unless there is a deflation. Although one may consider changing a silicone-filled implant out after this amount or more time has passed to decrease the chances of a rupture which would necessitate a silicone gel/oil removal procedure.

There is a 2% rate of deflation in the first 10 years. Although wear and tear will be different in each individual depending upon implant surface type (textureds may rupture sooner or more often than smooths). However there are women who have had implants in over 25 years with no problems. There is no definite answer, but do expect to replace implants at last once in your life.