New Gummy Bear Tear Drop Silicone Impants - anyone have them?

I had the Gummy Bear implants before breast cancer.  They were in place for 3 years.  I absolutely loved them and was sad to see them go.  They were a bit cooler to touch but looked amazing and felt natural.

Due to complications I have one TE and nothing on the right.  When I am able to try reconstruction again I will definately be using the gummy bears again, no question!

All,



How long is the recovery from exchange surgery? The PA in my plastic surgeon's office said if I have exchange on a Wednesday, I could be back at work on Monday. I was out of the office for seven months during chemo/BMX. Just went back part time. I'm hoping for short recovery with the exchange. I still have a while before the exchange as I just started radiation. Thanks.

Head of PS at MSKCC was using them at the time of my surgery 2 yrs ago. Was doing a trial, while decisions were left very much up to me, I got the feeling he/his peeps thought these were best in terms of results--or shall we say, most 'state of the art'.  Apparently if I recall correctly they'd been using them in Europe for a while and for some obscure reason they weren't yet full out approved here for use.  (Go figure-growth hormones in our dairy is okay, according to our FDA).  Women I met at the hospital at my time of surgery/treatment / and choice had opted for them and were very happy. Me, I went with saline mainly because when/ if they leak/deflate I want to know immediately.  Apparently, if and when that happens with saline it is visible.  My understanding back then was that with silicone, leaking is not obvious and can only be detected by MRI.  Also, for me, to get the gummies at that time  meant I had to sign up for MRI screening every few years. (This may have just been part of the trial and not part of recommended maintenance).  I didn't know/don't know what my insurance coverage in the future will be (do any of us/??) so I was reluctant...wanted least maintenance and didn't care THAT much about the result variations/  differences.  At least one lady told me she had rippling with the silicone, so the fact that saline may ripple more, I just didn't care that much.  Didn't meet anyone who regretted it, all seemed quite happy with their choice.  (And I don't regret my decision for that matter! - so it really is about you and what variables are of most concern to you).

Shellshine - how long did it take for the entire fill process?  were you able to get back into a normal routine for you during this process? 

I assume tissue expanders essentially come in one shape? IE the tissue expander is the same regardless of the final implant shape? Does anyone know?

From what I have learned from Deborah (Whippetmom), your TE's should be chosen with your final implant goals in mind.  I didn't now that at BMX/TE surgery time - had just been diagnosed, mind was reeling,  and was not given that information anyway. 

Dx 1/16/2013, DCIS, <1cm, Stage 0, Grade 3, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+Surgery Reconstruction: Breast implants (permanent) (Both)Surgery 01/25/2013 Mastectomy (Left); Lymph Node Removal (Left); Prophylactic Mastectomy (Right); Reconstruction: Tissue expander placement (Both)

Talked with my PS today. Still confused...... He did say yes the gummies will be firmer but NOTHING like the Tissue expander's. He said with any implant you probably would not have to wear a bra as they are all going to give you a firmer look and lift. Its the nipple decision which comes into play with the bra wearing or not. I have already chosen to not get nipples and go with tattoo's. He said the gummies are better for my  breast reconstruction because my skin is thin and I wouldn't have to worry about rippling with the gummies as you would with other implants.   SO I got my fill and left still un decided. I have till June so I guess I will keep thinking about it.

Hey you all.  I am new to this area of the site.  I have been on the Taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin site.  I am now moving into the realm of reconstruction.  I know nothing about it, yet, but have a consult on April 16th.  Does anyone have any suggestions as to questions I need to be asking and can anyone tell me what the procedure is for this type of thing?  Anything ya'll can tell me would be greatly appreciated !!

Ashleigh, sorry I didn't answer your question. I had the TE's placed 2 months ago.

I had 200ccs in each side the day of surgery, then 60ccs every 2 weeks for 6 weeks, then my last fill was 30 ccs. Although I am 150 lbs I have a very small upper body frame, so they look out of place on my body - so big!

Now I need to wait 4 weeks for the Exchange Surgery (no date, yet)......so my total TE time will be about 12 weeks. No surgery date has been set, yet. Waiting to hear from PS's Medical Assistant.

My PS told me he wouldn't do exchange until after rads, either. His explanation was that if my skin didn't hold up well to rads, didn't heal well or things tightened up or contracted around the TE, we could wait until I healed better or try a DIEP. He would've been using the TE as a 'placeholder' until I found out what treatments I needed. He said there was really no way to tell how my skin would react and he preferred a more catious approach. I didn't need anything so we went ahead with exchange as planned.

the implants can harden or the skin? I was told its the skin that can harden over time.

you could do a subpectoral one-step to implant if your PS thinks it will look good, mine didn't but lots of women on our boards have pretty nice results.  You might also want to inquire as to whether your PS does fat grafting if necessary to fill in gaps/ripples.

My new surgeon is also wanting to use anatomical "gummies", Sientras. They felt very squishy. I'm more concerned with possible rotating and perhaps "too natural" looking, lacking upper pole. I'd like to be between "stripper boobs" and "natural". But really, i'll be happy with symmetric and nips

Please keep updating

Yeah, the 1st time I saw my Ps I didn't have a lot of info. I had checked out direct-to implant before and was pretty convinced I wanted to go that route.  You haven't had your Mx surgery, right? If you haven't then you'll do everything during surgery. It's pretty intense and you should line up help/care for yourself for at least 2 weeks post-surgery.  I'm single and it was pretty hard but I got through it.  Are you doing a bilateral?  I just did a UNI, couldn't see Mx-ing my healthy boob.  My onco surgeon said she thought it was a good decision, so did my PS.  I still have my nipple because my tumor was far enough away.  My nipple looks great! Yes, lots of decisions to make. I didn't go the flap route because I didn't want to cut into another body part.  I'm happy with my implant, it's comfortable.

The weight thing is kind of confusing.  The Mx'd boob will always be the same size because there's no more breast tissue, only skin.  I'm getting an implant in my good boob, to match the Mx recon one, so I think it will be influenced to some degree to weight fluctuations.  I've lost weight since surgery and feel really good at this weight.  So my goal would be to maintain this weight, that way the boobs will stay matched.  Not sure how it's all going to look.  Hopefully great!!