All About Gummies

I guess this doesn't really affect anyone here but I'm going to post anyway.  I finally got the ID card for my Allergan 410 gummy in the mail (exchange 8 wks ago) and it's a completely different implant size than I thought!  My PS had said he'd used one that was 240 g, and in looking at the list of Allergan 410 implants, and measuring what appeared to be the width & height, I had assumed I had the the low height low projection 240 g one.  My card most definitely says otherwise.  It says its the FX-410245, ie, full height extra full projection 245 g, which has width 10.5 cm, height 11 cm, projection 5.1 cm.  The one I thought I had was based on how wide I thought it was which appeared about 12 cm, plus thinking it was 240 gm.  So I thought I had the LL-410240,  width 12.5 cm, height 10.5 cm and projection 3.6 cm.  Huh!  The interesting thing is that I've wished it had a bit less projection, more width and more height (too match my good side), and this LL one would have been both (but also shorter, which I don't want - I'd like it taller too).  There might be other implants compared to the one I got that would do all of this, although frankly I'm a good enough match that I wouldn't go through a revision surgery just for this.  The funny thing to me is that I assumed I had a low height low projection one, and I had the exact opposite of the spectrum - full height and extra full projection.  Too funny!

I'm the one who said a bra doesn't do much to the 410 implant.  I tried on some with padding for push-up yesterday and I just couldn't even wear them - the padding couldn't push the implant in and up, rather the bra just wouldn't fit on the implant.  Not sure what others' experience has been.

CS

Sweetie -- aw you're so kind to say that!  And my apologies for the late reply... I was away for a few days.  I can't wait to see your pics!

Welcome to the newcomers and hello Elizzim!  It's good to hear from you.  RE: dating... I truly think there are men out there who will love you for YOU and not for what your breasts do or don't feel like.  That said, I completely understand why you'd worry -- dating is freaking scary enough without the added issue of BC and implants.  Think of it as a test of a man's mettle.  I remember once seeing a documentary about a woman with no arms... and it said "here she is with her second husband" and all I could think was: a woman with no arms found two men to marry her!  Keep that in mind as you go out there into the scary dating world

Hi Sweetie, I should clarify that when I say "what I thought the PS used" means my thoughts from after surgery based on the weight that he told me and my gross measurements of my foob width & height.  He didn't tell me one thing beforehand and then do something completely different in the OR.  We had discussed the size likely to be used (to match my normal breast), which he figured would be about 250 gm (fyi, grams for gummies is almost like cc's for other implants, so just equate them and its good enough).  Then he took my height & width measurements from my healthy breast, and ordered several to have available in the OR.  I realize now I didn't ask the height and width measurements he made, nor what range of implants he ordered, so I'm not sure all of what he had in the OR with us, and so I can only believe he used the one he thought at the time was the best match. Yes, gummies can be confusing...the thing is  there's not just a width and "profile" (projection) like for regular round silicones, but because of their tear drop shape there's separate height and width as well as projection measurements, and the PS has to pick from what's available, taking into account you also have overlying skin and muscle.   I'm actually a very good match and can go w/o bras w/o being totally obvious (it's more my one nipple that gives it away, not size/shape diffs).  But as I said, now that I have this one in, if I could make it a tiny bit flatter, wider & taller it would be ever so little bit better.  C'est la vie.  FYI I'm an A cup. 

Sweetie -- if you go to the Allergan site (there's a link on the EC thread) you can look up the specific model of TE you have and read the stats on it (height, width and projection).  The F in FV means Full as in Full height... so your implant is tall; mine, by contrast, was MV so it was medium height.  My final implant also is medium height.  (They come in three heights: Low, Medium, and Full).  My PS chose the height based on the distance from the center of my chest to my sternum (which is not that much being that I'm only 5' 3") -- since you are 5' 7" I think you must have a lot of space from mid-chest to sternum; in fact I think the height looks good on you (based on the pics you posted). 

But the key thing about your TE is the width.  Because I assume your PS measured you to determine the best width for your body. If you go to the Allergan site and look at the width of your current TE, then look at the 410 sizes and find the F line -- you can see what sort of numbers are possible for you in an implant.  So let's say you want to compare stats on a 375 cc implant... then look at the 410 FX 375 (if a 375 exists... if not find a number close to that) and you can see what sort of projection you are talking about.  The X stands for Extra Projection.  Then compare that with the stats for an FF (the second F stands for Full Projection and this model has less projection than the FX).  The implant does distribute volume differently than the TE because the TE is NOT tearshaped and the implant is... what this translates to is smaller in the upper pole but about the same in the lower pole as your TE. 

What I did: I knew my PS likes to overfill... so I noted when my TE was a size I liked and then counted up from there (she said she wanted at least 150 cc's more than final implant).  I went to 850 cc's and ended up with 685 (because that was the largest I could get in the height that was best for me).  At around 640 cc's in the TE I knew that would work but when I spoke to my PS at the final appointment before surgery I did say "bigger is better" and she agreed; she told me Full Height would give me more fullness in the upper pole (which I did not want) so we agreed on Medium Height.  After that she said she would do her best to use the 685 but would have to make a final determination in surgery and would also bring in a few that were smaller.  I was really happy when I woke in recovery and found out I had gotten the 685!

CS -- LOL that you got it wrong ... how interesting, too, that you thought you had low height!  You must be tall   That's the only way I can imagine that a full height would seem low to you.

Oh that is interesting CS!  I never looked at the size you have (since that would have left me with an indentation lol)... but that makes sense and explains why the medium height is better for me (mine is MX685... I think!)  LOL wouldn't it be funny if I was wrong too?  I do have a card... ah yes, just checked it, mine IS the MX685.... so you must have missed that in the MX sizes... (or maybe you didn't look there).  It is probably shorter than 13.9 cm!

Edit: oh that 13.9 cm IS the MEDIUM Height, CS...

I have the exact some implant on each side but I have two completely different projections going on  and since they don't squish down in a bra it's pretty obvious (to me it is, but then again I have to look down at them and  maybe head on it's not so bad) and with a bra on, I seem to fill out the bottom on one side better and the top on the other side better, one cup is full and the other isn't. To be honest, it's like I have two unrelated foobs hanging around on my chest, lol. I had to have a total capsulectomy on one side though so that probably plays a part in the differences. There was a mention above that with the gummies, usually the shape you pick is the shape you get, but sadly that's not true in my case. Just thought I would share that so if it happens to someone else they are not surprised, cause I sure was.  It's been 49 days since my exchange, I was SO happy at first and as time passes I seem to be more dissatisfied with them, but it's not the gummies I dislike.......just everything else.

Hope everyone is having a fantastic day! I'm not sure I mentioned this before or not, but Lilah, I love your new default picture, you have a fabulous smile!

Sweetie, Let me see if I can address a couple things in your post.  Yes, I'm a 34A, so that gives you an idea of size related to my ribcage.  I didn't want to do any surgery to my healthy side - it's healthy and didn't look bad so I just didn't feel like messing with this or any body part that didn't need it for medical reasons.  (That's just my life/body philosophy, and no judgment on others making different decisions.)  FYI I'm 47 and never had kids, so am not too saggy.  Maybe if/when I need to replace the implant in future I'll decide I need a lift or something on the healthy side, but so far ok.

So you're a double MX, with reconstruction for both sides, yes?  In that case the doc isn't trying to pick something to match the existing breast.  It is supposedly "easier" to get a match when you do both, but from double-recon women on these boards (not just gummies, but all types of implants) its not a given that you'll get perfect symmetry.  In terms of getting a good shape, the good news for you in having done both is that your PS will not be trying to match the shape & size of an existing breast, so he really only has to pick a "good" shape for you (in accordance with your wishes as to size, projection, etc.) and assuming he's competent, then there's no reason to believe that won't happen.  As for your size, I can't say what size your PS will choose based on your TE, they all seem different.  My own PS definitely fills the expander more than the implant, in my case a lot more (500 cc TE vs 245 implant).  Others getting gummies seem to frequently report approx 100-150 cc more in the TE than in the implant.  This is not to say what your PS will do or wants to do - you need to ask him, and make sure you're on same page before your exchange.  If you're not happy with the size of the 300 cc fill TEs, and that's all he wants to fill, then you should ask him if you can go bigger  and if not why not.  My PS explained my overexpansion so as to get softness in the overlying tissues, but didn't explain it as being specific to the 410 gummy.  I saw one explanation here that made sense though, I think from Jerusha, reporting from her PS, to the effect that with the 410 gummy you need extra space in the pocket so that when you place the gummy its not squeezed in tight.  If too tight, then it will feel really firm and could be misshapen, whereas if it has plenty of space then it sit right and feel comfortable and soft (as soft as its going to feel).  As for the nipple, I had nipple and areola removed, so I'm completely nippleless on one side and have my normal functioning nipple on my normal breast.  If I'm not wearing a bra I sometimes wear a little nipple tape thing called Nippits to cover that nipple, and then, sans headlight, I'm pretty darn even.  In a tight shirt if you look hard you'd see diffs, but not a casual looker.  Hope all that helps some!

Goldie, sorry you're feeling unhappy.  I agree with Lilah that these gummies don't change too much over time but 49 days is only 7 wks and I think its not unreasonable to expect you will still have some adaptation and perhaps it will all be for the good.  I'll second Lilah's thought about talking to your PS.  If in another several months there's not evening out, you could see if one can be switched out for a bit different size or shape to get a better match.  Anyway, my thought is to give it more time first and see how it settles out.  Your body is still healing and will be for several months.

Ok gotta go!!  Hope everyone's having a good day!

i know they like to over expand a bit with the gummy to allow for shrinkage but i also was led to believe that the gummy should fit snuggly into the pocket to avoid rotation?? Not sure snuggly is the word im looking for......umm......well i hope you know what i mean anyway!

How long ago was it now that you had your exchange? Im wondering if you have shrunk back as much as you are going to yet,or if there still may be a little way to go?

I would def mention it to your PS when you go back in August if it hasn't improved by then.The last thing you want is the implant rotating as that could mean more surgery.

Lilah and CS777- thank you both so much for helping understand the sizing. It makes more sense now and it seems so crucial that the PS pics the correct size. I think it is even more difficult because he has to match ht, wdth and projection. I have slight differences in my breasts too. Since the left was a little large it is still a larger and the TE sits slightly lower. With the NSM one nipple is slightly higher and slightly stretched more. Your input is so good I go over the posts and circle the stuff I need to ask the Dr. Thanks for the link Lilah, crazy girl I am I actually called the company and they sent me the brochure with the sizes, now I can take it in with to the Dr and have a point of reference when we are discussing all of this.

CS777-Nippits? where do I get those, that's a great idea in case he can't do anything with left one. I don't mind just leaving it alone except it looks weird in clothes and I don't think I'll need to be wearing padded bras like I used to!

Goldienox-I'm sorry you having some problems with the matching. Definitely talk to your PS. 

Oh, about Nippits...I most recently bought them at a specialty bra shop locally, but in past I think I've gotten them at a department store.  Something like Nordstroms might have them.  Otherwise look for the specialty lingerie stores.  About $8-10 for 10 of them.  There are other brands too but I don't know them. 

Goldie -- I too find it unusual that your gummies move; even more unusual is the loose skin between your breasts.  The skin between my breasts is firmly affixed to my chest   The gummy does not move at all. 

Kay, CS -- yes I agree the gummy should be snugly in place but not so tight that it is too firm or flattened.

Sweetie -- you are GOOD ordering the brochure!

MaryEllen -- you have to send a PM to Timtam (who is a member here on BCO).  You have to have been posting on BCO for awhile and some other criteria I don't know.  If/when you PM Timtam you have to be patient... she does not give immediate access so it will take awhile for her to get back to you.  BCO is a public site, anyone can see or read what we write here... the picture forum is private and not connected to this site.

Thats great news and very encouraging for all of us who are getting gummies!

Must remember to be very careful after my exchange for a few weeks

I go for my first inflation next week.  I am somewhat concerned.  Are Gummies always hard?

CS777- thanks, from what I'm reading on your post I'm getting nervous again. Your saying gummies tend to be a lot smaller than the TE. If I like my TE right now that means my gummy won't be anything like it in size or shape. If he overfills it a lot will I then be able to get the size I like now? My PS did mention the shape will definitely be different on top because of the slopping. I agree with the snug fit and pocket. He mentioned that and I think I got it in my head now gummies don't move. I told my husband about this and he got nervous asking if they were going to just be likes sitting rocks there, I laughed and told him No honey,they will be soft, they just won't move all over the place or be pushed up in a bra.

bcincolorado-congrats! You are officially a gummy girl! I got a birthday cake from my friend the other day and she put gummy bears on the top. I thought that was so cute.