New Gummy Bear Tear Drop Silicone Impants - anyone have them?

violet_1

p.s. Mine are plenty soft also...could it partly be cuz your PS chose textured?

Vi

Atouchbetter

Hi Green Cowgirl and Nutmeg,

My doctor choose the Mentor CPG 323 which is the high profile gummy bear 390cc for me in order to match my remaining breast (had a UMX). I started out with a 220cc mentor round silicone implant and didn't like it at all as it didn't give me the projection to match the other breast. I REALLY like my new implant as it matches the shape and projection of my "natural" breast. I am now a "c" cup. He said he choose the Mentor over the Allergan to get the high profile. The Mentors are not approved yet, so I am part of the trial. You would need to find a surgeon who is participating in the trail. I don't worry about rotation, as my doctor has never in his 10 years of being in the trial had one of the new anatomical implants shift. I'm sure it is possible, but they are textured so that they DO integrate with your tissue and not move around like the round smooth silicone implants do.

That said, please don't have an expectation that the smooth round silicone implants will feel as soft as a natural breast. I can tell you from my experience with them that they do not. Even with the round silicone implant, my right breast felt harder than the left and did not move when I did. For instance if I would lean forward without a bra on - like in exercise class when I would just wear a yoga top - my "natural" breast would sag down and the implant one wouldn't at all so you could really see the difference in size between the two. Or if I laid on my side, the natural breast would move and the other one just barely.

On a side note - I think that my new Mentor gummy feels as soft as the old round silicone one did. The mentors are supposed to be softer than the Allergan - don't know about other brands. I think that when they are put sub-muscularly that you are going to have that feeling of hardness or glued to the spot. The pec is a tough muscle and they put the implant there so that it does stay in one place. It also depends on how much tissue you have left after your mastectomy as well. Mine is sub-muscular.

Finally, I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and she was telling me that her daughter was over at the house and she had a low cut shirt on and she told her daughter to put those away and reached out to pull up the neckline of the shirt. When she did that, her hand brushed her daughter's breasts and she said to me "I had forgotten how soft a real breast feels". My friend has the round silicone implants implanted sub-muscular.

So for those of you still wrestling with the decision or considering revision (like I did) yes, there are a lot of choices to make - try and look at as many pictures as you can of the different types of implants and see which look the most natural to you - just don't expect any of them to be as soft as a natural breast.

Google Mentor CPG 323 to get more info about these implants.

Connie

Atouchbetter

Forgot to add in my story above that I started with the Mentor 220 smooth round, swapped out to the Mentor 325 smooth round and then still had only half the projection of my natural breast. Had to wear a pad in my bra which sort of defeats the purpose of getting reconstruction in the first place!

violet_1

My Sientra smooth rounds are soft and very moveable! BUT they are NOT TEARDROP.

I think sometimes the mobility issue might be because the implants are stitched down somewhere too tightly...I haven't had that problem... I can grab mine and shove them up and moving all around...ROFL!

Vi

Atouchbetter

Yes, the round silicones can be moved around - mine could be moved too. I was referring to more the fact that even the round ones that I had didn't feel and act like a natural breast. Since I still have one breast, I can do a side by side comparison LOL

The Mentor gummy bear that I have now, is just as soft as the old round mentor silicones were AND it matches my natural breast.

goldie4040

Atouchbette,

I want to thank you for all the info on the Mentors. I just got my last fill and I am at 500cc. I don't know increments of cc's the Mentors come in, but my PS wants to use the Allergan 475cc or the 520cc, and I am afraid they are gong to be too big. I was a full 34B, and that's all I really want to be again. I believe I read that you are a full C now at 390cc. Do you mind me asking how tall you are, and how much you weight. I am 5'3" and 130 pounds. I emailed my surgeon and told him I am really interested in the Mentors, and he responded with something about having to take an online class to use them. So what?! If that's what they make you do, then do it. He works out of a huge prestigious hospital, and he should be able to offer any implant somebody wants.

So, you can move the Mentor breast around enough to maneuver it into a bra? I have heard you can't do that with the Allergan.

Atouchbetter

Hi Goldie,

I'd say that I am a "C", not necessarily a "full C". I have only bought a few bras since my surgery and they are a "c" cup. I tried on both "b" and "c" and the "c" definitely fit better - it did in other style of bras as well. I am 5'4" and 125lbs and am not very broad in the chest area. I was filled to 520cc - which was an overfill which many surgeons do to give them room to maneuver to get the implant in. Once I reached 390cc in the filling, he said, I think that's going to be it and wrote it down in my chart. He took several sizes into the operating room and we ended up with the 390cc. I am pleased with the size and the position. One other thing to consider is that the bigger you get, the heavier the implant gets and you may feel that added weight and if you have thin skin - like my girlfriend did - it could cause issues. She had to have her originals removed and smaller ones put in. Look at the charts for the Allergan and the Mentor CPG. They will give you the actual dimensions of the implant. Right now, the Mentor CPG gives more projection for the size of the base. We are talking about the Allergan Anatomically shaped cohesive gel implants correct?

Allergan 475 is 475 FF-410475 Volume 425gms Width 13.5 height 14.0 projection 5.3

Allergan 520 is MX-410520 Volume 520gms Width 14.0cm height 12.9cm projection 6.5cm

Mentor CPG 323 is volume 390 cc width 12.0 cm height 11.3 cm projection 6.0 cm (my implant)

So for my body shape, size of my rib cage, and the dimensions of my "natural" breast I needed a narrower width that maximized the height. So, the Mentor fit the bill for me. It is all about fitting the entire implant to you body type. Some women complain about the implant being in their armpit because in order to get the height, they needed to go with a wider width. Since the cohesive gel implants are firmer than the silicone, they won't flatten like the regular silicone rounds do.

As far as "maneuvering it into a bra" goes, there is no maneuvering required. I don't wear underwire bras - per my PS AND - please do your research - these implants are not meant to be moved around. They are supposed to stay where they are placed and integrate into the tissue - that's why they are textured. Since they are not round, you do not want them to rotate in the pocket. The round silicone ones can and do rotate but it doesn't make any difference because they are round. Once the implant "seats" itself, there are no restrictions as to activity. I can now do anything I want without worrying about rotation - except massage attempt to dislodge the implant. I have a very natural look and nice cleavage to boot!

Sorry for the long answer :-)

Connie

SimplyAudrey

I have Sientra profile textured oval base HP 360's and with my body shape I'm a C (at least bra-wise.). I like the way they look. NO ONE can tell I had bilateral reconstruction.

I knew going in I needed to be careful with expectations.....so I went in with none other than I didn't want to look like Tory Spelling. Thanks to this sight I knew my chest would feel and be different.....so I am not shocked with how I feel now.

I had a fat graft in April to fill in a ridge on the left.....they had to do a capsulotomy on my upper pec as it was clamped down. Hint to anyone having a fat graft - do it at your normal weight. I gained weight for the procedure, and now that I've lost it I may need a touchup graft which I'm debating. I plan to have a visit with my PS to talk about it. I'm not sure where he could harvest fat from (I have 53 willing donors lined up) and I'm wondering if it's really worth going through right now. I'm the only one who really notices it....even in a 2 piece bathing suit...unless I point it out.

All in all I'm glad sientra's were the only ones out at the time of my exchange. I've since gotten to feel and compare all three profile implants as well as round, and the shape and flow of the Sientras was my pick of the 3.

Just my contribution. At some poing in time I'll post pics. Pre, after mastectomy during TE placement, and now.

Audrey

goldie4040

Atouchbette, and SimplyAudrey, thank you so much for all the info. I am so scared my surgeon is going to insist on the Allergan 410.

I have sent him several emails about the Mentor's, because they sound like the ones I want, and he said something about taking an on line class in order to be able to use them. That scared me. But, if it's anything like my job (which is insurance) if there is a new product we just need to learn about it, not how to use it, or implement it. I am believing he is a good surgeon, and his dept. at the hospital just needs clearance to use the Mentor's.

My exchange is schedule for Dec 3, and I can't wait to get these expander's out. I am expanded to 500 cc, and I think I will stay at this volume. They TE's are a little too far apart for my taste, not awful, but I want the implants brought closer together. There is a woman on Timtam's site that has the exact size, and look I would like to get with the Mentor's. If you are a member of that site, and would like to see her let me know through PM. I will give you her name.

Thanks again for all the info. God Bless this website, and you guys!!!!

MinusTwo

Goldie: First - your PS can't insist on anything w/o your consent. Yeah I know, I tend to cave in too - but you can stand firm.

Second: I have the Allergan 410s and I love them. Wonderful clevage. I've had them 2 years so I got them under the research program. There are sizes still not available on the open market, and I have those - high profile FF. I think I heard it was the bigger sizes and those w/more projection. I ask my PS, who is head of plastic surgery at a major teaching hospital, how he would compare the new anatomically shaped implants and he said he still thought the Allergan was best.

All that said - you are the one who has to live with the results so stand by your guns

goldie4040

Thank Minustwo,

Maybe that is the problem for some of the women who get the Allergan's. They didn't get the one's with more projection, but you did. I know what you mean about standing firm with my PS, but he doesn't believe I should know better than him. "HE" is the expert. Why would I care what I see online. He knows everything!!! It's not that I don't like him, but he is a know it all. LOL.

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my concerns. This is such an awesome place. I am really glad you are happy. Oh, btw...do you find your implants comfortable?

Atouchbetter

I agree with Minustwo and Goldie on standing firm. I had to change PS even though I loved my first one, she was warm, compassionate, and skilled, but not as experienced as my second one. He is very self assured! I believe that many PS take the easy way out. Using an approved implant is so much easier for them than using one that is still in trial. My PS first talked about Memtor then as soon as the Allergan was approved, he started to favor them. Because as he told me it was much less paperwork, etc. to use an approved implant. To his credit, he switched back to the Mentor as he believed that I would be happier with the end result despite the fact that they are still in trial. Yes, there are other Allergan implants as MinusTwo stated that are not yet included in the approved list and are still under trial. Don't know how far Arlington, Texas is from Houston, but my PS is 2 hours away from me. Might be worth a second opinion? I was grateful to have a PS that has been doing the gummies for 10 years and who knew and had experience with all the different types and brands.

Good luck with your decision. It is an important one. It took 3 tries - including 2 rounds with the TE's to get mine right and I don't wish that on anyone!

goldie4040

Atouch, can you PM me the name of your surgeon and where he is? I don't mind travel for an exchange if I knew it was going to be better than what I am dealing with now. My PS is with UTSW which is like the MD Anderson of Dallas, but I think he is much more adept at the flap surgeries that he is with implants.

MinusTwo

Goldie - Yes, my implants are comfortable.

I think we have to consider that all surgeons are a bit above the rest of the world, plastic surgeons are maybe more so since they can make 'godesses'.

goldie4040

LMAO Minus...I have worked for docs, not PS's, but even just regular docs have a God complex. I wish there was such a thing as a down to earth regular guy who knew how to listen, and do awesome plastic surgery. Maybe a woman plastic surgeon would be better, who knows.

Atouchbetter

Goldie - do you personally know any women who have implants.? It was very helpful for me to see and feel the real thing. When I saw my friends, I was a bit shocked because they did not look or feel like real breasts. She had the round silicone implants and they looked like someone had cut a bowl in half and placed it on either side of her chest. When I had my round silicone one, it was the same story (sorry all of you out there who have them, I am just being honest about MY experience). As my PS explained to me, the round silicone implants were meant to be used for breast augmentation for women who still have their natural breast and they do a great job at that. He too pretty much exclusively uses the anatomically shaped implants these days unless a woman just refuses to have them.

I can attest to the fact that the round implants work great for a breast that just needs a LITTLE augmentation. I had a lift and a small implant place in my remaining breast because after 60 years and nursing 3 babies, it was sagging a bit - well a lot! That breast looks great! Nice and perky again. But, that breast still retains the shape of a real breast i.e. it is more elongated in the front where the areola and nipple are and it is "heavier" at the base like a natural breast so it is tear drop shaped. So after the first two reconstructions, I still had a natural breast and this round bowl that only projected half as much as my natural breast on the other side. I could not wear a bathing suit or a yoga top and be comfortable. That's why I went through the whole process again - including having TE's again - and chose an anatomically shaped implant. I am VERY happy with my outcome this time and wear anything I want with confidence.

As far as softness of my round silicone implant on the reconstructed side, I asked my husband and he said that it felt much firmer than my natural breast and of course even though it moved, it didn't move the same as a natural breast as it is silicone that is confined to a specific round shape and that is the shape it retains once placed under the muscle (at least mine and my friends). My new implant feels the same as the round one did - at least to him and me :-) I had a skin sparing mastectomy so there was 3% of my original tissue left to work with but no nipple as my cancer was right behind the nipple.

I guess I just don't want you to have the expectation that you will have breasts the same as your breasts were before no matter what you choose. In my experience, that's not possible. BUT, since you had a BMX, and don't have the constant reminder of what a "real" breast looks and feels like, over time, you may not remember what a real breast felt or moved like - like my friend who didn't realize it until she touched her daughters breast and oh by the way, she is very happy with her implants.

A lot of women who get the round implants end up doing fat grafts to fill in the upper pole area and give them the natural slope that the anatomical implants can give you - so, yes, you have a lot of choices and a lot of things to think about. Fat grafts have been reported to have their own issues as well. (Can you tell that I spent HOURS on the internet researching this stuff???)

Ultimately, only you can make the decision, but don't worry, if you don't get it right the first time out, you do usually have other options, but please talk to your PS about that too. I would strongly urge you to "experience" the actual look and feel of the different types of implants if you can and not in photos on the internet - in person. Do you have a support group of BC survivors near you? Can your doctor hook you up with women willing to help you? If I lived closer, I'd be more than happy to show you mine!

BTW, I asked how far you were from Houston bc, MinusTwo lives in Houston and I thought that you might be able to see her PS. My PSis in South Carolina so that may be a bit far for you to travel. And no, my first surgeon was a women and she had no ego, was warm and compassionate, but in the end - since she was not a PS in the trials - could not deliver the goods - or should I say girls! Like they say, you don't have to love your PS, you just need to know they're good!

Connie

goldie4040

Atouch, unfortunately, Houston is about a five hour drive for me. My neighbor across the street had bmx with round silicone implants, and swears her breast are beautiful, and she loves them, but she has never offered to show them to me. I also have another woman who doesn't live that far from me, and she loves her round ones too. I have talked to her on the phone, but never met her in person. She has offered to show me hers if I wanted, but I felt funny driving over and so she could pull up her shirt...lol. I have seen three DIEP flap recons in person, and those are gorgeous!!!! I almost had that surgery, but I am on the thin side, and they couldn't promise me a large enough breasts (B cup) to warrant such a huge surgery.

I am not expecting perfect breasts, and I too spend the majority of my free time looking at pictures on the internet. By far, the best place to see the real results is on TimTam's site. Untouched photos of real women. Not some PS's webpage that shows only his best work.

I guess all I can do at this point is trust my surgeon, and pray for the best. My expander's don't look that bad now that they are expanded, under a sports bra and clothes, of course. I guess I want the best of both implants. Anatomical, that can be manipulated enough to be put into a bra and pushed up, or pushed together, etc. I have seen gorgeous results, and awful results, and just okay results. LOL, I guess like real breasts. There are great ones, and not so great ones.

violet_1

Goldie,

You made me laugh out loud about neighbor not offering show u her implants...almost spit my coffee out...:)

V

goldie4040

LOL, Violet. It seems most women want to show you (if you are in the same boat as them) but she has never offered, and I certainly am not going to ask.

Atouchbetter

You are so right Goldie not all breasts are beautiful! I think that since you are not going after a DD size but a pretty conservative full B, anything you choose will look beautiful on you! So go with what your gut tells you is right. This is rarely a one step process. Most women I know have had some "tweaks" and revisions either right away or down the road.

Yes Violet, I got a chuckle out of your neighbor telling you hers are beautiful but not showing them to you LOL! Nice that we can retain our sense of humor through all this!

monkeymom

I got the Allergan 410s FF 425 ccs last Monday. At my appointments over the summer we talked about the Mentors and after having done a ton of research, I decided I wanted them because they were softer. Then, at my pre-op appt, my PS took all kinds of measurements and told me that my best bet was going to be the Allergans because of the projection and width for my body frame (5'2", 115 pounds). He took both to the operating room last week and tried them. The nurses voted in the OR:)! I woke up with the 410s and I have to say that so far, I really like them. I have nice cleavage, they don't feel too hard to me, the shape is nice, the projection looks good. Really no complaints. I think my PS was right.

goldie4040

Monkey, that is great news!!!! How are you feeling? Drain free? I am really happy for you. It sounds like the big difference between the gummies and regular implants is that the way you look when you wake up from surgery (except for some bruising and swelling) is the way it's going to look. There is no drop and fluff that is going to happen. I can't wait to get this done!!! I hope you all stick around till my exchange on Dec 3. I will need some hand holding, I am sure!!!

Oh, I just noticed you got the 410 FF, which is not available to everybody from what I understand. Also, what cup size do you think you are now. I am just a little bit bigger than you at 5'3" and 128 pounds. My PS was taking about 475cc or 520cc Allergan 410.

ConnieGreene

My revision surgery is WEDNESDAY and she said she had to do lipo for fat grafting and omg AGREED to take all she could

she knows it's risidual fat from twins at 39 and another child at 42 and my weight is where it is supposed to be so she is fine with it

monkeymom

Goldie, I get my drains out tomorrow morning at 9:30. Can you tell I'm counting the seconds??? So ready to be done with them. I'm not sure what cup size I am now because I'm still wearing the tank with the drain holders but I'm guessing about a C cup? I told him I'd like a large B to average C- I think that's what I got. They look really proportional to my body.

I'm on the boards a couple of times a week but feel free to pm me anytime!!

ConnieGreene

yay for drains coming out Monkeymom!!!! Best feeling EVER !

goldie4040

Connie, you are so lucky. Not every surgeon will do that. My surgeon said something about it once, then I brought up Fat Grafting with the gummies, and he acted like it wouldn't be necessary with them. UGH. I am a couple of months out from exchange. I will see if he will change his mind again.

Monkey, that sound perfect. Sorry you got stuck with drains again. I don't know if I am going to have them, or not. I guess it will be a surprise. I know somebody else who had her recon done by the same doc, and she didn't have drains. So, who knows. Anyway, it sounds like you are really happy with your results!!! That is the best part. Please keep us posted on how you results turn out once you are out of the drains, and vest. Can't wait to hear!

monkeymom

I agree that Connie you are lucky to have a nice PS who will take it all!

Goldie, my PS said he always does drains with gummies because they don't want any fluid in there that may cause them to turn. Since they are tear drop shaped, that would be bad! I seriously cannot wait to get these suckers out in less than 12 hours....

Katlebbie

Connie where is your PS taking the fat from? I had my revision done the 20th of last month and she took the fat from just under my breasts, she went in through my bell button. I have the Mentor round moderate high profile 700cc and love the result. It is painful where they take the fat from so just be ready for it. My only pain now is the donor site. I'm still wearing a compression garment. Good luck

Goldie4040 If you want fat grafting I would push for it. It's your body and you should be in control of what the PS does. Get another opinion if you need to. After being on this site I have learned to stick up for me. The surgeon is not the one who is going to live with the results and possible redo.

violet_1

What if you don't have much body fat to take from?

Vi

Katlebbie

Vi ~ I say lucky you for being in shape. I wish I could say the same. I used to be so thin now I'm about 30 lbs over weight, I tend to stress eat. Not good. My implants from 19 years ago after my bmx didn't have fat grafting plus I also was too thin to use the flaps so I had no choice but to just use the implants and they turned out fine. When you fat graft you don't see the results right away anyway. The implants today from 20 years ago are so much better and look so much better. Good luck I hope everything works out for you.