All About Gummies

lianne - I just viewed your web site.  Awesome!  I, unfortunately, don't have a PS who is in the study.  I don't have access to the 'gummies'.  He's recomending saline for the look I want but if they feel anything like the TE's, I don't want them.  If I can ask - your height and bra size? (if you wear one). I'm 5'2 and was a 36d.  I'm finally done with the fills.  Brief history - had Hodgkins lymphoma in 20's.  Had rads, caused this cancer.  Had BLM May 6th due to high risk for other side to develop cancer.  Any info would help!

bisquit:  Here are some threads re: discussion of the PS - Lloyd Gayle, M.D.

http://community.breastcancer.org/posts/search?criteria=lloyd+gayle&author=&source=&date_range=&commit=Search

Hi.

someone had asked for more info on the "gummy implants" 410.  I found this on the manufacturer's website.

Important Information for Women About Breast Reconstruction with INAMED Style 410 Silicone-Filled Breast Implants 2006

http://www.allergan.com/assets/pdf/M1247-01_Can_RECON_410_PatLab.pdf

Liz,

I had a unilateral mx and have had two exchanges. The first was saline which I didn't like because it was hard, I could feel the water slosh around, I could feel it through my skin and it rippled.  I exchanged to a gummy bear and although the shape was better in the beginning (it has since turned around in the pocket) and the upper pole was more natural looking, I didn't like the firmness and lack of symmetry with my real breast. I still have rippling with it as well.

I thought that I would never find a good match and wasn't considering DIEP flap because I was told by my PS that I didn't have enough tissue.  They now have many more options using your own tissue. I will be having a stacked DIEP at the end of September.  I met with the pioneer of this surgery Dr. Robert Allen in NYC (www.diepflap.com) and he was wonderful about explaining all my options.  I noticed that you live in Connecticut which isn't too far.  It would be good to just go for a consult to see if he can do anything for you just to keep all your options open.  I know that implants work well for lots of women but because I was radiated, implants are not working for me.  If a tissue transfer was not an option for me, I would probabley have exchanged to a less cohesive silicone implant since I still have ripples with the gummy then might as well go with a more natural feeling implant.

Also wanted to add that my husband has been wonderful through all of this. I am very unsymmetrical and feel like a freak, but he doesn't care what my breasts look like and would rather I didn't have anymore surgeries.  So there are some good guys out there who will love you for who you are.  The only positive about any of this is that you will be able to screen the good guys from the bad.

Patty

rubytuesday,

LOL!!  I just got an image of your image. Your a funny lady!

Patty

I am ready for exchange.  My PS and I have discussed from the start the possibility of using the gummies for me.  However, since he has implanted the number he was allowed to implant under the clinical trial, he can not implant any more until marketing approval is obtained in the US.

I checked the US FDA  General and Plastic Surgery Advisory Panel schedule (all products go through an advisory panel review before a final decision is made by the FDA).  Not only is there no meetings scheduled for this particular panel for 2009, my review of the meeting minutes for the last two years show that this particular implant has not been discussed by the panel.

So, anyone who has been told by the PS that they expect to use this implant in the near future, it's not going to happen at least in 2009.

From my past experience in PMA  review, this implies several scenarios to me.  Either the company has taken a long time to make the PMA submission or there are problems that are showing up in the data (adverse effects) from the implants that have been done in countries where the implants have been in use for a while or the company has decided to not follow through with marketing in the US.

I think Dr. Disa's change in position was based on a few things, first I am petite, so there wont be big area between the collar bone (I was always very high busted, I used to joke that my boobs started under my chin, so if they place the round implant its going to be full anyway, there wont be a gentle slope, but I don't have that slope on the radiated side), he wanted things to sit and heal and see if my discomfort got better and if the muscle would relax, so he said to wait the six months and my implants, also on the radiated side, the inflexible implant is sitting weird and they need to go back in anyway and do somethings to loosen the muscle and skin again. I am physically very uncomfortable with the implants and have gone through months of PT , but the muscles are so tight they just wont relax, and Its pretty unbearable.

I have to wear a bra, because I some how still have perky nipples that show through every thing, but the muscle is so tight that I have to check if I really have a bra on, because it feels like I have a giant compression band across my chest, and I just can't tell.

Also, I had a one step nipple sparring/skin sparring bi lat mast with implants, I never had expanders. I was a 34 D before the mast and went down to a 34 C , and he was able to create the pockets and we tried just going right to the 410, because I really wanted to only have one surgery. we knew that there was a chance it was not going to be perfect but it was worth the shot.

In regard to the choice of these implants, that was my choice, i went in asking about them, because it sounded like a great implant, the ones that went in me felt much harder than all of the samples I had played with.  I am looking to physically feel more comfortable and to hopefully forget for even a little while that I have these things inside me, I fell them all the time and have actual pain, so a little relief, a little squishiness, and the feeling of some movement would go a long way to me feeling normal again. I know it will never be perfect, but most of the recon picture he showed me, were with conventional soft gel and saline implants, and most of them looked great, so we shall see.

The dating and intimacy thing will be huge, my ex bailed about a month ago and it is scary the thought of how to make this disclosure and when, but like you said, I don't want someone who would not love me as is. I do also sometimes feel damaged and mutilated, but, I am so much more than my boobs, and my looks, so hopefully there will be a man out there who can accept me and love me as it and if not, I have so many awesome people in my life that love me a support me that I certainly won't be alone.

Wendy

((elizzim))  It is great to read that you feel your gummies have softened up a bit and that you seem to becoming more content with them.  I admit I was surprised by how firm the implants are, but it doesn't bother me too much.  Then again, once I got used to the tissue expanders, even they didn't bother me much, so maybe I just have a high tolerance for firmness.  Or maybe it is because the breasts these foobs replaced were the opposite of perky or firm.

Overall, I think they look pretty good.  The shape is good and the size (though bigger than I expected at 615) fits my frame right now, since I have a wide chest and am overweight.  The only issue that bothers me is that on one implant, there is a visible and palpable edge right at the top.  I find myself running my finger over it all the time, and fear that others might notice it since it's right at the top where my cleavage shows. 

Has anyone had an issue like this with their gummies resolve?  I see that elizzim had fat grafting and am wondering if perhaps the lumpiness of the implant is due to the thinness of the skin in that area, could that be improved with fat grafting?  Any other ideas from the gummie veterans?

Thanks for this! Because of blood thinners, the only pain med I can take is Vicodin, and I was just sure my docs thought I was becoming an addict because I kept demanding refills. The thing was so painful I felt like I was being tortured. About two weeks ago I realized I hadn't needed any pain meds for awhile. Just counted on the calendar, and it's been seven months!

I am so confused about gummies.  A few woman have said that they are firmer than they thought, but I spoke to a couple of woman that have them and they say that they are also very tight and uncomfortable, they feel almost like the TE or that it feels like they are wearing a really tight bra.  I am starting to think maybe I should give up having a natural breast shape (gummies) and go for the silcone and feel more natural and comfortable.

Thanks so much for your explanation.  It is very helpful.  I am new to this forum, and I thought I read some woman speak of pictures....is there a place to go on the website for actual photos?  

Hi Liz, sorry to bother you with this......I just tried to send a private message and it won't let me type anything in the recipient box (To:) Is there something else I have to do?  Thanks.

I just got back from my first post-op visit with my surgeon after my exchange to Allergan 410FX615s on 9-9.   She thought they looked great. 

She said the gummies take a long time to settle into place and soften up but that it does happen, and could take up to a year to really soften.  She was also confident that the hard edge I feel on the top of the right implant will settle in, and that it is due to the thin skin left from where the surgeon did a lot of scraping, that being my cancer side.  When I asked what were my options if the edge didn't go away, she said she would do lipo & fat grafting.  So, I guess I just have to be patient.  If they do soften and the hard edge becomes less noticable, I will be happy with my choice to get the gummy bear implants..