All About Gummies

Thanks for all your kind words of support!

I had my exchange surgery yesterday morning and all went well. 

Except it must have been "training" day at the hospital - student iv nurse could not find a vein and  student anesthesiologist put in my breathing tube.  So I have some collateral damage from the experience - nothing major just lots of bruising from 6 attempts on the right arm and a really sore throat.

The anesthesiologist ended up using my left hand for a shallow low fluid iv.  This is the side I had nodes removed - but there is no bruising or any sign of edema.  I guess they can use the side with nodes removed in a pinch and if the iv is not staying in long?

The PS used the 560cc Allergan 410 gummy implant on my mast side and lifted and reduced my native side.  He took in 2 sizes 495 and 560cc but felt the larger one was a better match.

The only pain I feel is from the drain - I came home with just 1 on the implant side.  It's manageable and feels like a "pinch" pain when I move.

Also I've got a bit of pain from where he did some lipo on my "soft tissue" around the implant.  This is just a sore bruisey type of pain.  All very manageable.

I took some demeral last night but it was making me feel sick so I'm just going with 3 Tylenol Extra Strengths and it's working for me.  I had a pretty good night's sleep even though I had to stay on my back.

I saw the PS this morning for a quick follow up and it looks great!  I go back on Monday to have the drain removed and then I see him again on Wed for another check up.

I have to say that I am feeling much better after this surgery than I did after my TE surgery!  I'm trying not to overdo it and my hubby has bought me some trashy magazines to keep me busy and on the couch today.

Well I'm off to the couch to rest now - have a great day ladies!

would just like to say, really pleased with my gummys! alot softer than i thought they would be. no jiggle ,but they're def not hard!

Still wearing like light support sports bra 24/7 (since exchange on oct 26th 2010) but should be able to stop soon.

My new profile picture shows the gummys shape- Very natural i think! Will try and post some pics on Tim Tams site )

m-star, If you don't mind me asking, what size did you get?  I have small frame so my PS couldn't do bigger than 310cc when he expanded me.  I have tear drop shape 410FF Allergan, but I have kind of a flat top(very minimum cleavage) and more projection on the bottom.  I'm barely a 34A.

You look great on your profile picture!

Hi Wasin!  I think that M-star is only here sporadically... Elizzim even less often than M-Star!

My PS also is at MSK -- I adore her.  

I happen to know (and don't think she will mind my sharing) that M-star's implants are the Allergan 410 - 370 MX (which means 377 cc's, medium height and extra full projection).  You say you have Allergan 410, 310 cc's -- do you know what height and projection your PS gave you?  The height measurement of the implant is what determines how much upper pole fullness you have (relative to your body size/shape).  Actually, the size implant you have is entirely relative to the size YOU are.  So really, you can't go by her numbers to figure yours out (for the most part).  You have to look at YOUR stats.  Actually there's a terrific expert on these boards about implants in general whose name is Whippetmom.  She has a thread called Breast Implant Sizing 101 if you want to check that out.  The header on that thread goes into great detail about the factors that are involved in figuring out what size is best for what body.  I am pretty sure whether you are using regular silicone or gummy, the same factors apply.

All gummies (which is to say all Allergan 410 style cohesive gel implants) are textured and tear drop shaped as far as I know.  That's part of their essential design. 

Anyway if you have other questions I'm happy to answer (and I'm around a tad more

Yep, Wasin -- sounds like you have Allergan 410 290 FF ... full height, full projection (but not extra full). 

Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll try to help you. 

Thank you ladies for sharing your stories.  They have helped me so much during this journey that I never wanted to go on in the first place.  Anyway, I'm at the reconstruction stage after a BMX in Dec.  I cannot decide between the gummy implants (Allergan 410??) and the round silicone gel implants (Mentor??).  I've read many posts about the pros and cons of each but I'm still at a loss.  My PS seems to favor the Allergan 410's but I'm getting stuck on the firmness factor.  I have these rock hard TE's in now.  Are the gummies similiar to these?  If so, then forget them. Also, I don't know how I feel about a 10 year committment to the clinical trial. 

The NP at my PS's office said that if I decide to go with the standard round gels, then in 10-12 years when I change them out, the gummies will be approved and I will be able to get them if I want them.  My question, that I thought of after the fact is, if I have the round, standard implant in for 10+ years, will the gummy fit in the space since it's a tear drop shape?  Thanks so much for any input.

Just thought I'd join in on the gummy discussion. Rain has forced me and my gummies off the golf course so I've finally had time to sit down at my computer and catch up with emails, newsgroups and the 500 spammers who are offering to increase my penis size!

I'm not sure that feeling a gummy and silicone straight out of the box is much help. My PS gave me one to hold and it felt very squishy. However, once implanted, it didn't feel like that at all. I personally think seeing the real thing once it is implanted behind the muscle will give someone a much more realistic view of what to expect. As several have admitted, they did get an opportunity to do that. I didn't.

I still think, given the choice I would still have chosen the gummies. I like the anatomical shape and think they look quite natural . . . or will once I go through the nips and tat stage. They have definitely softened up in the 5 months I've had them. I think they have also become less of a concern. I don't even think about them anymore . . .. I've gone from "obsessed" to "whatever" in five short months.

I was kayaking at 3 months and was very pleasantly surprised to find they hadn't shifted during these outings. I've also done a lot of other physical stuff that I thought might be pushing the envelope but when I would come home and check, they are still there! So you can say I've really put them through the test and they passed with flying colors, Being able to keep doing the activities I enjoyed was really important to me. I was a bit concerned that having my pec muscles rearranged would have caused some golf issues but I'm happy to report that my lousy golf game has absolutely nothing to do with my implants.  

So sorry to tell you this but they will never feel like the old ones. I too have gummies and have never gotten accustomed to the rubbing feeling against the rib cage wall or the feel of the implant under the skin, and yes the top half does look fake but guess what, they are. I sometimes wish I had never had them done but would hate being "boobless" Then I see pictures of myself with these new cancer free, no droop, perky babies and I forget all the bad and only love them. Warning when they get cold they stay cold and when you sweat alot they will feel really cold against your chest wall, kind of weird. But baby its like this they come with a guarantee the old ones didn't!

Whoa . . . forgot about the cold feeling. Living in the south for the winters, cold is not something I've had to deal with. But I'm quite sure there will be times when me and my gummies spend the winter in Ontario and just the thought of cold gummies gives me the shivers. I can tell you that mine have been baking in 80 + degree heat all winter and I've never felt that they were hot. Maybe it's just a cold thing and they aren't affected by heat. Great, now I have something new to worry about. Guess I'll have to consider getting them insulated, perhaps a sheepskin bra

Was just reading rc778's question about changing out the rounds for gummies 10 years down the road and thought of something else. Assuming you had the nipples/areaolas reconstructed or tattooed, if you change out the rounds for gummies, would the nipple position still be in the right place? The most projected part of the implant, where I think the nipple is supposed to be, appears to be a tad higher on the rounds than on the gummies. Is this true or maybe this is just an illusion.

Ladies,

Thanks so much for all the info.  It seems as though both options are good alternatives...much better than the TE's but never as good as the real thing.  Interesting point, sling99 about the nipple placement. I plan on putting a call into my PS to find out about that. 

I find the difference is very slight and not noticeable at all (I only know it's true because if I lay a hand on each side, the implant side is a little cooler).  It does not bother me. 

Ruth - I just posted this on EC thread... fever, redness, hot to touch are all symptoms of infection.  You need to see the PS.  I've not heard of an infection this long after the fact but I suppose anything is possible!

Hello everyone,

 Just wanted to introduce myself. I don't see any other Californians on this thread. Someone other than me must have gummies in this state :-)

I had my exchange at the end of Oct 2010 so I am roughly five months out.   Question for all of you...did your PS give you any limitations on physical activity? I read some of these threads where women say they were told not to do specific types of exercise but these are not necessarily gummies. My PS said (and I quote), "Just go for it", when I asked about exercise limitations. He actually recommended "little pushups" and lightweight chest presses. So,  I jog, I do "girlie" pushups, lots of pilates-type stretching. Just wondering what your experience has been.

 Thanks for any feedback.

 Maria

Hi Maria! I'm also in CA (near San Francisco, and treated through PAMF), and also have a gummy. I got mine about 6 weeks ago.

When I saw my PS last week, he lifted all restrictions. He said I could go braless at night, wear an underwire bra, exercise, swim, exercise, sleep on my stomach, whatever. He said I "looked good" and that the foobie "wasn't going anywhere". I'm very pleased with his recommendations (and have taken them), though I'm confused that it seems less restrictive than what I read from others. I don't know if it has to do with his philosophy, my healing, or maybe gummies being more likely to stay put... 

(I didn't ask about chest presses, as that's not something I would do. I have been doing yoga since 3 weeks past exchange, including weight bearing, with no issue.)