All About Gummies

Robo -- I think the style (height and projection) really depends on the person.  How can either PS say they always use one or the other?  If you haven't spoken with Whippetmom about implant sizing, I recommend that you do!  Especially re: non-gummie implants.  Her thread is Breast Implant Sizing 101. 

With regular silicone there IS a distinction between High and Medium "Profile" -- but in the gummy it's just height and projection that are measured -- there is no "profile" -- which may be because of the anatomical shape and the fact that gummies are firmer (and do, I believe, project more).

I'm a uni -- so for me projection was extra important (to match projection of my native side) -- so I ended up with a medium height (height is based on your body, as I understand it, how much space there is between breast and collarbone) and X for extra projection.

So my implant is a 685MX (M for Medium, X for extra projection).

You can easily look up the actual sizes they are talking about to compare stats.  Though as you will see from the link Minus Two reposted (thanks MT!) another factor is how many CCs the implant is -- and even THAT is variable when an implant is placed on a specific body.  So, for example, 400 ccs on one woman can look huge, while on another can disappear (depends on your weight, height, etc).  This is why I recommend talking with Whippetmom, who is amazing at taking your stats and coming up with a small range of possibilities that can achieve the look you are after. 

Sounds good Robo! 

Geewhiz -- They are firmer than regular silicone, but not hard.  Ask your doctor to let you feel a regular silicone and then a gummy and you will see the difference.

I have the 410's and I'm in the study. My 5 yr check up was in Dec. and my PS tried to talk me into an exchange with the Natrelle's,  'so I don't have to get these check ups anymore'.....Of course he makes money of the additional surgery. When I asked if Inamed still compensates me, he just smiled.....I think the compensation for the 5 yr check-up is $150? I suppose he won't sent this to me  without a reminder, since last time I had to call as well.....

Layla -- gummies and gummy bears are the same thing.  They are widely available in the US through trial facilities (many teaching hospitals as well as many private doctors).  I'm pretty sure you can contact Allergan and get a list of local doctors who participate if you are interested.  Yes they are the cohesive gel silicone that can be cut in half and doesn't run.

You can't use your friend's experience with saline and augmentation as a guide for your own reconstruction.  Augmented breasts still have BREAST tissue so the results are completely different than reconstructed breasts, which have NO breast tissue.  Most women are happy with silicone of some kind (saline in reconstructed breasts CAN feel very stiff).  With that said, saline is a good solution for women who want very large implants, because silicone sizes stop at around 800 cc's (I believe) whereas saline implants can be as large as 1200 cc's.   It sounds like you want something smaller in size, so that silicone is an option for you (whether you go for cohesive gel or regular silicone).  You really need to find and talk to a plastic surgeon who specializes in RECONSTRUCTION for breast cancer (not augmentation) to really discover/explore your options.

Jan -- it's Vinca but it's a stock photo. I just love purple

Lilah,thanks, the plastic surgeons here all started in breast augmentation and skin revisions but there are 2 in our town that branched out in the last 10 yrs to include breast recon. However, the TE are like turtle shells and I told my fiance at dinner the other night,hey feel these things,they are so rock hard and they are so uncomfortable. OMG you would have thought I asked him to look at my poop,damn! He says no I better not do that,you might get germs. Oh,yeah? He's 65 going on 25 and trying to date girls young enough to be his grand daughters and doesnt understand why they dont wanna date a old guy with gray temples (he dyes his hair religiously) and a missing tooth(he broke his partial plate) and he has to take a blue pill to do it. OMG,I think he got a the letter "your God's gift to women" and he didnt notice it was addressed to someone else!!!!!  I am in my 50s but people think I'm in my 40s,always took care of myself,got all my own teeth but now with the C section scar and missing boobs,guess i am damaged goods and should be traded in for a pair of 22 yr olds. i oughta kick his butt!!!

Is it standard to use alloderm with gummies? My last ps took out all the alloderm he could used in my initial mx. He HATES the stuff. He also wants to do another 3 or 4 fatgrafting sessions on me so I am looking into alternatives. Another highly recommended PS wants to put the alloderm back in with the gummies. Im not sure where to look for whether this is a good idea or not. Any thoughts on this?

I so appreciate the help earlier too!

My PS doesn't use Alloderm.  Sorry I don't have a recommend one way or the other.

Layla,

I got mine 6 yrs ago....it all depends on the skill of the PS I think...

Minnshark,

you do lose a little of the volume due to the rip cage....so it might not be to big after all...my chest seemed to 'swallow' some projection. 

Do we get an MRI at the end of the 10 years? 

Calico:  I had my exchange in September 2011.  I have one year appointments with BS and MO this coming week and one of my questions is - what tests in the future.  I'll let you know what they say about MRIs.  What tests has anyone else had and how often?

I think Alloderm can be used for filling a 'gap'...in my case my radiated side shrunk and hardened, the expander sat to high and never really expanded during the process which was also hindered by radiation that followed. So the PS would make a 'cut/gap' under my implant, sort of a hole....put in alloderm and the implant (new one) would sort of be cradled like a 'hammock'...he also would love to experiment with fat grafting. At this point I am bummed and disappointed for him putting the expander under my collar bone at the time. Not sure how 'crafty' he is to correct it. So, for now it stays as it is....going to my follow ups for being in this 'investigative' group of gummies.

I guess I call him now to see where my check is....150 for 5th year follow up, right?  

Does the skin really adhere to the gummie? I am considering having my gummie exchanged for a silicon implant.  My gummie is just too firm and the shape does not match my natural. Anyway, I don't think I have anything between my gummie and my skin.  I can actually feel the textured bumps of the gummie through my skin.  I am wondering if the gummie adheres to the skin will I have trouble with the exchange? I see my ps in April.

Chinablue -- they do something called a "capsulectomy" when they remove ANY implant (they even do it when they remove the TE for exchange)... it's the same with the Gummy.  It's not an issue.  Of course you should absolutely ask your PS if you are at all concerned.

Jan -- I think I checked my paperwork a while back when others talked about getting paid and I saw nothing.  I will ask my PS when I see her for a follow-up in a few months.  I hope you get that check!  Maybe it's given after a year has passed?

Namaste!

In regards to the study money.  After my exchange the PS office had me fill out many pages of questions for the study. It seemed like a lot of the questions were the same, just asked in different ways.  There was an identification code on the paperwork instead of my name.  The PS office study coordinator keeps a list of codes associated with specific names of gals with gummies.  The study coordinator sends in the paperwork that is ID with the code and then Allergan sends a check to the PS office with the PS office being the recepient but with instructions on which ID code needs to be given the money.  The PS office then sends a check to my home address.  It took 5 months or so to receive the check.  When I got it, I first thought I was maybe getting a refund from overpayment, but then remembered the study money.  If you are filling out the paperwork and not getting any money then the PS office is probably keeping it instead of distributing it to you as intended.  I would ask about it because it belongs to you.    However, if an individual doesn't fill out these pages and pages of questions, then there will be no money for them.  There should be a specific go to person to talk to in the PS office who is the site study coordinator and it probably won't be one of the docs, but a nurse or receptionist instead.  Many ladies in my support group have gummies and this is how it has worked for them in regards to completing the questions/paperwork and receiving the money.  For everyone it seems like many months pass between completing the paperwork and receiving the money.

Karla