All About Gummies

Gemini -- sorry you've had so much leg work to do with this!  What a silly problem (really) -- why can't it all be simpler??  Style 20 Allergan's are really nice from what I've seen.  Have you ever talked to Whippetmom in the Breast Implant Sizing 101 thread?  She is a 'breast whisperer' and really can be helpful.  If I remember right you said you had a bilateral MX... and from what I've seen the rounds can give a really nice look and it isn't THAT different from the gummies.  Just a thought... for now.   And yes, Jessica is a doll; very helpful.  Sorry to hear that about the needing to be treated for other stuff there... I guess Claire must be within the 90 mile rule (that's a lot) though I can't imagine Jerusha is (at 5 hours away) but perhaps Jerusha also had oncology treatment there as well... anyway I guess not having that issue I just wasn't familiar with that rule. 

I wish you luck in your decision!  And a swift resolution of all the variables

Mantra -- swelling is relative and you have plenty of cleavage -- don't worry!!!!

Yeah that's what I thought.  Who knew there was a rule?  Not I, certainly.

Thanks Lilah, I'll try WhippetMom and really appreciate all of your wonderful insights along wtih the other ladies on the thread. Best of luck to all of you. 

Claire-so happy for you! I'm glad your appointment went well and you can proceed to the gummy. The time will pass quickly and before you know you'll be all done and look as beautiful as ever, but of course your a beautiful personal already! So glad you got to see your sons. I'm really not a city person myself but my daughter loves NYC and wants me to take her there shopping before the end of the year.

I wish we had more Canadians on here for input.  My PS up here in Alberta has been using 410gummies for 10 years for his reconstruction cases (by the way, he has only had 1 rotate in the pocket in 10 years).  I would think that if a large portion of his gummy girls were unhappy, he wouldn't use them.  He didn't give me any other options, I'm sure if I said I didn't want them he would give me other options, but he felt these were the best for me.  He did mention he likes gummies because they cut down on rippling quite a bit, and I have ripples with the TE's.  There is not enough gummy ladies on here to get a true picture of how many are happy.  I get my exchange on Dec 22nd so I guess I will find out in 2 months if I am one of the ladies that love them! 

Hi everyone....just a clarification...

The gals from Canada [Mantra and jillyG] might have a different degree of cohesiveness with their anatomicals.  In Canada, plastic surgeons have access to the entire Allergan 410 and Mentor CPG line up, which means that they have access to the varying degrees of cohesivity, while in the U.S., we only have the "firm" version available for clinical trial purposes.

Perhaps it turns out that it is the same degree of firmness.  I suppose we could compare catalog numbers. I would like to know someday....  I do know that Mentor's CPG version was intentionally created to be less rigid than their Allergan counterpart. 

From an Allergan 410 Canadian webpage:

"Natrelle gel-filled Breast Implants provide varying degrees of softness and a range of cohesivity, from very soft to more firm, so your Implants can feel the way you want them to. "

http://www.natrelle.ca/410_rightFit.asp

Oh, and Mantra...I do predict a Nordstrom's bra addiction will almost certainly be in your very near future.

Yes, they are referring to the Natrelle silicone rounds.  As they state, all silicone implants are "cohesive" - but it is the Allergan 410 and its comrades which are "form-stable cohesive gel" implants.  I am encouraged that you find your anatomicals soft enough! 

Yeah Mantra, same here... I held a regular silicone and a gummy in my hand and the difference was not huge.  That said, my PS did demonstrate for me how, when you hold each one up by one end... the regular silicone ripples and the gummy does not.  So what you lose in softness you gain in better structure.  That said, I also agree Mantra that it feels firmer IN the body and that has GOT to be because of the muscle that overlays the implant (regardless of which type you get).

Was reading that natrelle canada web site and it indicates there is 120 different combinations of height, width, projection and cohesivity for the 410's. 

I wonder if the range of firmness they talked about has to do with the entire Natrelle line. So the silicones would be softer and then the gummies would be harder. My PS never discussed with me the difference levels of firmness in the gummy line nor asked me to choose a gummy based on softness.

I have the Allergan 410 which I think is the true gummy. I really don't think that within the gummy line, the different products have difference firmness. Although, if they do, this could be a huge factor when trying to compare people's satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their gummies. I also wonder if the difference in the muscle itself plays a role since it covers the implant. Perhaps even skin types. So perhaps we are all having different experiences which is why some are happier with the results and others hate them. Have no idea . . . something to ponder.

Mantra and Lilah, my understanding is the same as yours.  I don't know of any Canadian who has a 410 that is not "highly cohesive" and I certainly was not offered a choice of cohesiveness.  

The Natrelle website is a bit misleading because within the section on the 410, they say "Natrelle gel-filled Breast Implants provide varying degrees of softness and a range of cohesivity, from very soft to more firm, so your Implants can feel the way you want them to".  The implication from this is that the 410 comes in different levels of cohesiveness but in fact I believe that they are talking about the choices among all the Natrelle silicone implants.

The next point on their website says that "The greater cohesivity of the Natrelle 410 Breast Implant allows the distribution of the gel to be predictably controlled within the shell for a smoother look and feel" - so this suggests that the 410 in fact only comes in the "highly cohesive" model.  

Also, in presenting the 12 models available for the 410, the product is described as follows:

The Natrelle HIGHLY COHESIVE SILICONE-FILLED BREAST IMPLANT
(Natrelle 410)

and none of the 12 options say anything about a different level of cohesiveness.  The difference in the 12 models is height and projection.  Each of the 12 models comes in different sizes (ccs) and that covers off all 120 options of the 410. They all are highly cohesive.

http://www.natrelle.ca/410_rightFit.asp

Mantra, your comment about how your 410 feels - like you are "wearing a very padded bra" is a perfect description of how mine feels too.

I was given this form that has two labels on it (one for each side) and I'm supposed to sign the form and send it off to Allergan. The form has the size, serial numbers etc and it looks like they are something peeled off the box. I haven't actually sent it in yet but when I do, I'll take a photo copy of it so I will have the information handy should I need it. It sort of reminds me of those thriller movies where they identify the victim by the serial number on her implants.

I did receive a card with my TE but the Dr. didn't give me one after my exchange. I wonder if she forgot? I was just reading this registration form and it says "health Canada had mandated the inclusion of an implant registration with each of our silicone filled implants." etc etc.

Then it goes on to say that although the physician must complete and sign this form, it is optional for the patient as to whether they want to disclose their information. I guess my Dr. made the decision for me since my name, address etc is already on the form. I'll have to ask DH about this. He's the one that gave me the form when I woke in the hospital room that night.

Lilah, I'm in Canada and I got that wallet card too (although I don't keep it in my wallet).  Mantra, I received mine from my PS but she didn't hand it to me - it arrived in the mail a few weeks after my surgery, so maybe yours will be coming. 

I have the mutated BRCA1 gene, therefore, I am having a bi-lateral mastectomy.  I am in the early process of this ordeal.  I'm overwhelmed by all the info., but am glad to have all this info. to help me make a list of questions for my PS.

As for the single ladies; don't worry about how your future boyfriend will feel about your breasts.  My husband has always said he loves my breasts (even after I gained 30 lbs.)  He is wonderfully supportive of this adventure I'm on.  You too will find a mate that loves you for who you are and not for what you look like.

I've been with my husband for 34 years (dating 7 years and married 27 years) and I too sometimes worry about what he'll think.  He always assures me that the person he loves is on the inside.  I'm very fortunate to have him.  When you find the right mate he will also look at who you are on the inside, not the outside.

Hugs for all of you.