All About Gummies

Goldieknox-I looked up the mentor CPG323. However I don't think my dr. uses them. He uses Allergan anatomical implants. I'll ask him next time, because a few of  you are saying they a slight bit softer. No the rounds are not gummies. They would be regular silcone, that is why I am leaning towards the teardrop (true gummie) I'm glad  you still have some upper pole fullness, so it seems it is possible with a gummie. I think your right about the rounds "dropping" more after time. I think I read that too. I understand about the NSM. I have a one nipple that is "on" all the time and I lost most of the other one so it's a flat button! So it's really weird for me and I have to ask the PS if he can balance that out somehow,otherwise it looks really weird. With the TE I don't wear anything because a bra doesn't fit right and a sports bra is uncomfortable. Do you have to wear a bra after your exchange? It almost seems more comfortable without one now.

I have some cleavage -- I think I'll have more when I can put on a real bra (and not a sports bra)!  Probably the cleavage depends on the position and size of the implant.  I have the Allergan 410 and I am very happy with it.  It feels the same as my real breast (I'm a uni) in terms of firmness... I guess my real breast is firm.  Project is really good (seems about even with the real breast, although minus the nipple at the moment -- I think once a nipple goes in it will look even more similar.  I also noticed a little jiggle yesterday walking around the mall!  I was quite surprised.  Guess I've been rather sedentary since the surgery... hadn't noticed that before.

Goldie -- oh yes that IS a great thread... I'm a frequent reader there

LOL CS -- you're a sweetie.  Yes I am a D cup (used to be a DD - DDD -- oy!)  Are you really an A now CS?  I thought you said you wear a bigger bra than that?

Sweetie -- yes I'm there under the same name.  I think my pics are on like page 2 or 3 in the Under Construction section and entitled "My Unilateral Journey"... and I agree the BEST plan is to talk to your PS.  There are always limits one way or another; in my case one limit was the gummy itself (I got the largest possible one I could get).  Although even given that, when I spoke to my PS prior to exchange she said she would try her best to get that one in (she did -- 685 grams) but could not guarantee til she got in there and saw what my capsule would accept.  In other words: the muscle is stretched as much as it can be and whatever that is, that is as large as you can go.  In my case, I was very large to begin with and was matching an existing (albeit reduced) breast... so going as large as possible made sense for me.  I'm sure your PS will do what is best for you, but if you are concerned about size and cleavage that is good stuff to communicate now. 

LOL CS -- I think I keep confusing you with Colleen (who has D's)... chemo brain!

I think it's great that you got a match for your uni... and I love my 38 DD Underscore bra   It still fits too even though I'm a D now (stretchy means adjustability)!

That Inamed IS an Allergan 410 (aka gummy).  The L means Low height (which is unusual!) and the X means extra projection.  Mine, for example, is a 410 MX (medium height, extra projection).  How many grams is the implant? 

Are you happy with the results, BCincolorado?

When I had two gummies, I did feel like i always had a bra on, but that was due to the muscle damage from the rads on the one side. Now that side was replaced with a DIEP and the bra feeling is gone. My remaining gummie can be moved and pushed up and otherwise manipulated by a bra. It also feels softer now, but Ihave had the gummie since 3/09. I don't notice it all the time now, but it definitely feels different from the DIEP breast, and from a classic soft gel implant.

Hi sweetie, I've had bilat gummies for 2 years. My experience is, yes, it does feel like I'm wearing a bra 24/7 but a 'comfortable' bra. I think it's because I have no bounce or movement and feel quite firm. To answer your 2nd question... no, a push up bra makes no difference, but I really don't need one because I've got pretty good 'uplift' and cleavage already.

Yeah I know Lilah.  I got a card on my TE right at my surg (actually they gave it to my DH). But not w/my xchg.  So, the day after my exchg I called the surgical center to ask if they had it and they said no.  So I asked the PS's dept and the PS and they said something about it coming in the mail to them, and when they got it they'd give it to me.  Sigh.  I think it "got lost" and no one is admitting it.  I can probably get a copy of the details, if not the card, from the PS or from the research office - since this is actually an investigational device presumably the res office must get the details and could give them to me.  Its funny, my PS is just so nice and skilled and will answer any question I ask, but he's soooo not into paperwork and records and so getting a firm answer on a detail when it has to be looked up is, well, doesn't happen. 

Hi Ladies,

I've had  Bi-Lat Mentor CPG(323s)'s for 6 months now.

It feels weird... but

1)  I am still somewhat numb from Mx 19 months ago.... so I bump into things and it feels like 'rigid dead weight' but NOT becuz the the gummies are to blame.... becuz I/we have no nerves thru the mass of them.  Does that make sense?  Like when your arm 'falls asleep and it suddenly feels like a log, or when the dentist freezes your mouth and your tongue feels unnaturally 'larger and useless'.

2)  My upper pole IS RIGID AND FIRM.... but its my PEC MUSCLE thatcovers 40 % of my breast that is to blame!  THAT PEC IS STRETCHED TAUGHT LIKE A DRUM Feels like that 'stress ball filled with sand that you sqeeze", but the lower pole (all gummy!) is beautiful soft!(like a fleshy relaxed butt-or a youthful breast.  The pecarea is very obviously different!

3) Jiggle?  unfortunately, no.  But again, not the gummy.... it could be the aggressive inscizing, cauterizing, repeatitive suturing, scar tissue, from Mx that scrapes the muscle wall in hopes of removing EVERY cancer cell to get clear margins.  My Mx took MONTHS to heal from, my skin refusing to heal, traumatized !!  I did not have immediate reconstruction, so i was without expanders inserted for 8 months !  Even then, my skin did not lift, jiggle, move, feel natural, or have ANY give or slack. it felt unnaturally 'thick' and adhesive.  No more 'jiggle',,,, not even wiggle.

4)  I asked my PS to go much larger than I was before (B to D), so of course they are not slack and soft.... but I would ask my PS to Max out the volume again, lol!!!!! 

5)  MY HUSBAND LOVES THEM AND COMPLIMENTS ME SINCERELY(CAN'T HELP HIMSELF) ALL THE TIME!!!  Men are very visual!!! Most compliments coome when i am across the room,table or couch!  HE "SEE"S" them.... and is thrilled they are free to touch! HIS!!! Like he just saw a great set in the catalogue, lol!!!!

6)  I'm visual too, I guess.  Cause they give me sexual confidence!  which in turn is all that matters!  Who cares IF they 'feel' like 40 year old breasts .... they are not even one year old yet, so they are BRAND NEW DESIGBER LABELLED versions!  Its ok to us if they feel new and DIFFERENT!  

7)  Husbands response ,when we discuss them from an intimate perspective, is WE BOTH DAM WILL EARNED THEM AFTER ALL WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH!!!!  lol  i bet all his friends would love to sample their feel too.... but that privlege is reserved for those of us who have walked the walk, paid the price, and thje mystery of reconstructed boobs and nipples  our intimate sercret,except for all of us here on BC.org having the exact same style of boobs!!!lol

8)  Mine dont move around with a bra either-its like your wearing a bra of sorts, but it has more to do with the fact my PS CREATED A POCKET so they would have a great shape laterally, mid line, nice IMF, etc. !!!! ya kno.... they relax when i lay on my side but my UNFORTUNATE EIGHT INCHES OF MX SCAR KINDA HOLD THINGS BACK A LITTLE!!!!!! Its like wearing masking tape on our old boobs...... they would behave a little weird too!  so, agian, its not the gummies to blame! 

I  DO remember my BS and PS and ONCs all saying....you can have reconstruction.... its not guna feel like your old self.... but, we can try for some BEAUTIFUL  reproductions!  

I guess if we had our hands amputated and re built with plastic surgery... we would accept  it differently.  We wouldnt expect it to be undectible.  maybe because our breast  are so sexual and intimate, we want to feel .... untouched by any loss from our traumatic experiences.  I don;t know, but the more time i spend with these gummies, the more empowered i feel!  Like the t shirt says... YA THEYRE FAKE...  THE REALL ONES TRIED TO KILL ME

No, jiggle..... but big, bold, beautiful....right into our 90s!!!!!!!!! LOVE MY GUMMIES AND ALL THEIR PROJECTION !!!!!

So many many variables, so many many surgical options.  Make a good, informed choice and listen carefully to the disadvantages, and choose what works for you and your medical needs, timing, and of course, asthetic and personal preferences.  We have to live with this change for eternity!  gummies are what they are.... solid silicone gel.  Its us who have to learn to be flexible, pliable and yeild to the overwhelming loss of our healthy breasts.  Its hard!!!! 

XO

 Lilah... your post made me cry....

Lemonade.....

So much so..... that i still get fired up about the issue(sorry- anger IS part of greiving, lol).... not at my sisters here.... but at the way I used to think! 

I have grieved and grieved the loss of jiggle and sensory of my breasts and nipples.  I  look at other womens healthy, imperfect breasts now and I see the beauty and function of all breasts, big and small, perky or long n saggy.... 

Mine are mine.  They are now evidence of my fight to overcome myself!  My strength when I felt SO SO weak and tired, my decision to move forward for my kids and husband! To try to patch this mutilated battleground up. Try to create some sort of replacement so I could look relatively normal in public, lol   

TO LET GO OF MY SHAME( different than all my girlfriends and neighbours).... AND EMBRACE - PRIDE. !! Acceptance! Laughter!  

Ya, Dam it, I DONT JIGGLE EITHER, but Im a fighter, like every woman ever touched by cancer !

We dont jiggle.... we stand firm and fight!!!!

Bigapplie09-so you still have one gummie side correct. Are you happy with the way it looks and feels right now.

CS777-thanks for your input. I agree everyone is going to feel somewhat different about their implants. Some people are more sensitive to things in their body or changes to their body (me being one them) so it drives me nuts.

Farrah-thanks for the imput. so the consensus seems to be no bounce, somewhat like a bra feeling or you notice them and bras don't alter the shape. However if you happy with the shape that is great. If the PS chooses the correct shape and size then really we don't have to worry to much about a bra altering the shape or size. I was small before so I was used to wearing those demi push up bras that made me perky, so this whole things feels weird. Without a bra and just TE I feel like they are already perky and full, again wasn't used to that.

Lilah-saw your pics and story. Honey you look great and you have been through a lot. Thanks for sharing and being so open.

geneskirt-what a wonderful story!! Thank you sooo much for sharing all that you have been through. You have a great positive and encouraging attitude. I just got back from my first fill today and I was feeling down last night, but I have to keep my head up and focus on the good. I love the way you wrote your story so eloquently! You are strong and brave and an inspiration. Thanks for sharing your experience with the gummies and I am glad you are happy and loving it! I'm in the middle of TE and debating back and forth on gummies and regular silicone. MY PS was so busy today he barely had time to talk to me. He just said we can decide those things later as we go on. I was frustrated because I had a ton of questions. It's good to know though that actually I have been getting most of my questions answered here, and correctly. Even better it's first hand experience from the "consumer" not the Dr. So thanks again for sharing, I'm taking mental notes of everything I'm learning. Here's to the strong, proud, eternally firm and perky women that we all are or are becoming!

Glad the swelling has gone down BigApple!  I have the same thing with my reduction vs gummie side -- the reduction side droops a little and the gummie side does not.  All in all though I'd rather have the really superb shape match, than the extra bit of droop.  So glad you are healing well!