All About Gummies

Corrie -- the Picture Forum is a separate site that has nothing to do with BCO.  PM me -- I'm one of the gatekeepers -- and I'll see if I can help you become a member if your are interested.  You have to register, etc.

Karla -- thanks for that!  Yes I filled out a lot of paper work before the surgery and had to fill it out again, actually, a year later.  I assume at my next appointment I'll have to do it yet again (it seems to be part of the study and, I assume, is part of the annual visit).  Thanks for the info!

Geewhiz -- all doctors proceed differently.  Some reopen the scar from the original MX/TE placement (that's what mine did), which is usually horizontally across the center of the breast; others may create a new opening in the IMF (and some use the IMF to begin with).  Still others will make a vertical scar (from IMF to where nipple was) at MX.  IMF scars are nice because they fade and also are under the breast, out of sight as it were... I have one on my reduction side (I'm a uni) and you can't see it anymore.

Minustwo...my PS said to massage my gummy.

I remember asking my PS and being told that I should not massage gummies. I honestly can't remember why but did as I was told.

Thanks for the input.  I think Lilah's probably right about the texture.  I'm 6 months past exchange & I'm just kind of rubbing the parimeters & pushing in from the outer bottom corners for now.  Sort of a compromise.

Carol:  I have double gummies that will be one year old in September.  I guess I'm used to the firm feeling since my "original" breasts were always hard - serious fibrous tissue.  Haven't heard about surgury to soften other than changing them for something else.  I expect several of us with the 410s have this site on our favorites & will be watching for future updates.

I had my TE exchanged for gummies twice in the last three weeks. My PS surgeon mistakenly "thought" I wanted to be small and put in 450ML gummies. I was shocked since on my large frame they looked tiny. Unfortunately my PS never talked in terms of what they will look like and instead only talked about ML. He put in 690ML gummies during the second surgury. I still do not know what to think. They have an obvious shape, sit high on my chest and touch in the middle. It is as if I am wearing a push up bra without the bra. I was just given access to the Picture Forum and plan to look at other gummies and at the round implants.

I recommed asking your PS to tell you how they will sit on your chest and how close together they will be in the middle. I might have chosen 600ML implants to avoid the high bump on my chest.

Any gummy ladies out there develop a ridge on their implant after surgery? I am not sure if this is considered rippling. It's quite large and can easily be felt. Not very visible to the eye. I had my exchange surgery on July 12th so they are very new. Just somewhat concerned and don't know if I should trek to my PS or not.

Hi Lilah. They do not actually touch but are very close together - about 1/8" to 1/16"or less. I posted a photo on the Picture Forum. The seem really close together to me - like I am wearing a bra that is pushing them together but without the bra. I am the same Janiceh as on the Picture Forum but my Avatar is a flower.

Yes, my PS specializes in reconstruction as well as augumentation. He thinks he knows what is best and apparently think women understand what size he is recommeding based on ML. Hmmm. I communicated with the Patient Navigator at the hospital where I had surgery early in the process after I realized he could not communicate but she said I could not change PS half-way through the process. I wish I had pushed it but did not realize his poor communication would result in two surgeries for my implants. I have been trying to think of a way to let him know tactfully what future patients will need to know. I do not want to make him upset or mad but instead I hope he can improve. I will suggest first that he show samples of different sizes of implants and to also tell women that a CC and a ML are the same size. I had 600 CC TE and he suggested 450 ML implants. If I had know that simple fact I would have not agreed to 450 ML implants. 

My PS says that it is desirable to have a ridge bumping up along the top edge of your implant. I have that as well. He said the implants will drop gradually and this will avoid a depression along the top edge. He said I may still have some unevenness along the top edge and may need fat transfers to even things out.

The reason I went with this PS was because he is considered to be a skilled surgeon and a friend just loved him. Go figure. He does very good work and my incisions look good. I think my difference is that I am used to completing personal research with anything I do. For example I spent a week researching online to decide what flat-screen TV to buy. Yet when it came to my PS I was supposed to just let him decide everything. If a woman is fine with letting him decide everything she probably thinks he is great. 

Hi Lilah. Unfortunately I often do not know what to ask until after the fact. But I take a list with me when I see him. He never volunteers anything and will race out of the room unless I can keep him engaged.

My card states that I have the Allergan FX-410690 Silicone -Filled Breast Impants. These are the only ones he offered other than the round silicon implants. I will see with time if these drop. He said in around six months I might see a difference. I also have a flap on my left side that will need to be removed in addition to the tatoos. I will post an updated photo on the Picture Forum at that time. 

I am getting used to my implants being so close together. It is just odd for me since my original ones were so far apart. When I do show my "new girls" to the occasional person they tell me they look good so I am beginning to accept them. I certainly do not think I am so dissatisfied that I would go through another surgery to change them. I would have to go through the incision healing and the scar tissue healing again. Yikes. This is such a slow process. I started school this week and feel like I am walking around like a stick. The students (college age) are being very supportive particularly the women who are 30 or above.

LILAH &  all of the gummy bears girls,

hello again, - I notice that earlier on In February, you said that you liked some Freya  bras.  could you share which ones you like and/or fit?  As my  exchange to a unilateral gummy bear &  implant the other side, I would like to be wearing wired pretty bras as soon as Possible! Or pretty wire free bras,  for that matter! I find them quite youthful and cheerful and colourful, and they have great matching knickers!  I'm not a fan of T-shirt bras  or moulded cup  bras,  and wore Elle MacPherson,  as well as a lot of designer bras such as   Fleur of England, Made by Nicki,  Bordelle,  and  Mimi Holliday before my diagnosis.  I am really am praying that I don't have to give up  beautiful lingerie for  Nude bigh-necked  brassieres-Especially because no  available  nude  matches my skin tone!  Thank you!

I can't wait to have my exchange waiting patiently..hope it feels better than these expanders..the PS mentioned fat grafting anyone else have this done with the exchange and a question does the new implants feel better than the vice script feeling I have now do you get any relief...

A good friend of mine has the Allergan 410 gummies and has had two fat transfers. One was to deal with a indentation along the top edge of the implant and the other was to smooth out her incision.

I agree that the implants are immediately more comfortable than the TE. If your implants are large they will not be as comfortable as smaller implants. I had two surgies. The first was with 450ML implants and there was no discomfort. But my second surgery with the 690 implants has caused discomfort. I assume this will pass eventually since my surgery is recent. I am still aching and having internal scaring issues.

Sherry67 good luck with your exchange.

Lilah. Thanks for your ongoing comments. I really appreciate your feedback. I will keep what you wrote about the FG in mind since my PS seems to do that regularly.

 Elizzim. I think if a new partner really cares about you that he or she will understand what you have been through. It is good to have implants vs no breasts at all. As Lilah recommended to me earlier, be patient with your new breasts. It is unrealistic to have our new breasts look and feel like our old breasts. I also find myself looking at other women's breast and particulary the soft jiggle that natural breasts have. If you do decide to exchange your implants it is unlikely you will have drains again. I think that is only after the original BMX. You are very fortunate to still have your nipples. It is strange to no longer have breasts or nipples and at least you will not have to get the fake nipples.

Hi Lilah. I have to pay more attention to the dates clearly.

I am becoming more accepting of my new breasts. I think it is unlikely I will have another surgery except for minor touch ups. It takes too much time for healing and I do not want to go through this again. My PS told me the smooth round implants would be just as firm and would not jiggle like the gummies before surgery. I suppose he was focused on giving me gummies and did not want me to change my mind.

But that is in the past and I am now focused on getting rid of my scars and healing. I will be fine. I have gone through some difficult times before and somehow always manage. I am 61 and have had plenty of opportunities for life changing experiences. I am one of those positive attitude people who looks for the good in everything. My emotions can dip in a difficult period but I come back up and accept whatever has happened. I do not find it useful to blame others or second guess my decisions.

I teach graphic design and yesterday had an interesting discussion with my class. One of the students choose a poem for her typography project that might be interpreted as being about death. One of the other students was disturbed because the poem ended with "the end" and asked if it was about death. I suggested that think about the poem as being about change instead of death. I said that all of them will experience difficult times and that the important thing is to look for the opportunity that comes with change.