All About Gummies

Thanks twoam.  Guess we should all join in and bump occasionally.

Becky:  I'm sorry for your pain.  Your doc should get you something to take care of that.  Do you actually have the anatomical silicone implants?  Used to be only Allergan 410s, but I know there's one other company now that make the anatomical shape.  That's the original definition of "gummies".  I don't know anything about immediate recon, since most of us had TEs with gradual fills before implants several months later.  Hopefully someone else will be able to speak to that.  It seems that most of us had a around a month's worth of pain with the BMX, but again that's with TEs.  And once implants are in place it's at least a month before the swelling goes down.  It doesn't make sense that your doc is telling you this early that you'll never gain symmetry.  Lilah should be around soon and she knows much more than I do.

Hi Becky,  a lot of the ladies get the tissue expanders before getting the implants. And what that does is lift the muscle and stretches the skin over a period of a few months with fills every week.  I started my tissue expanders with 300 cc of saline in each one. Went weekly to plastic surgeon for fills and finally stopped at 500 cc.  Each time I was expanded the pain was so bad because the muscle is being lifted higher and higher.  So by you going direct to implants, you never gave your body the chance to gradually ease into it. So what you are feeling is very painful and I hope the doctor gave you pain meds. From what I understand from the other ladies, muscle relaxers work great.  However, your implant shouldn't have migrated if the plastic surgeon did the pocket work correctly.  I have the same as you 410's FF 595 cc. I was told after surgery to sleep on my back for a few weeks  and not to raise my arms up so the implants have a chance to adhere to the new pocket and won't be able to rotate or move as they are textured.  Has your doctor worked with 410's before?  The swelling is normal and will last for few weeks.  I totally feel so bad that you had to deal with pushing them back down immediately after surgery and keep doing it.  Let things settle for a little while and in a months time, if they don't gain symmetry, seek the opinion of another plastic surgeon.  I personally wouldn't go back to the first doctor for a correction. 

Becky, about one week after my exchange, I started taking Advil to help with the swelling.  I only needed Advil for the pain which wasn't bad. Can you take Advil?  As for the BMX, I was on strong pain killers for the first few days then switched to Tylenol and then eventually Advil. I love Advil.  That's my go to drug.  Sleeping on your back, you will be this way for at least 5 to 6 weeks.  At my 5 to 6th week, I finally was able to sleep on my side (with the go ahead from my doctor).  I was afraid to have my implants move and not get the chance to adhere to the muscle.  Stomach sleeping didn't happen till much later.  I was glued too but had internal stitches. Remember, he did work internally and you don't see the bruises inside.  And as you start to look better on the outside, keep in mind the inside has to heal too.  After your swelling goes down, you be able to see probably more divots or the pectoral muscle and with fat grafting, the doctor can fill in those areas to make them look better.  My exchange was April 29 to implants.  On June 18th, I had nipples and fat grafting done.  Today, some of the fat grafting remains where he placed it, but I see I need to go for round 2.  Something like 30% to 40% of the fat stays, the rest gets absorbed by your body.  

If you notice any redness in the swelled areas, or if they are hot to the touch, you need to call the doctor.  Also check your temperature to to make sure you don't have any.  Redness can be signs of infection. 

Let us know how you are doing.  I know it's rough, but we take it day by day here. 

Just had my 2nd exchange from rounds to the 410's 10 days ago and so far I am so happy I went and had the switch, definitely corrected the issues I was having with the rounds

Rippling and indents, whereas the 410's are form stable they don't change and hold shape with movement, if you have access to picture forum take a look just recently posted updated pctures

I received 410s in mid-July, and my PS says any kind of bra is fine or no bra at all or a camisole. It's up to me. He says they're not going anywhere!

This same dr. did my sister's implants (like me, after BMX and TEs) 11 years ago, and hers haven't sagged yet. She wears a comfortable bra during the day and no bra to sleep.

I too have 410s. Exchange was Sept 2011.  Hard to believe it's been 3 years.  My PS said I would never have to wear a bra.  I'm more comfortable wearing something so I settled on a "bralette" or a sports bra.  No sagging or settling of the implants but I do have some droopy extra skin on the side that didn't have the recurrence.

I'm a Uni, so I'm wearing a bra to keep my natural side "in line" with my implant.  But, I think I would definitely be able to go braless if I had the 410's in both.

Twoam -- I am also a uni, so I always wear a bra when I go out (the native breast needs it!)... but when at home I don't bother.

Libby - gummies are silicone. The difference is they are shaped and
not round. Technically Allergan 410 Anatomical implants.

Take a look at the thread Breast Implant Sizing 101 and you'll see lots of different implant
shapes with links to more info.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/...

Theda - Welcome.  you can use a panty liner under your camisole or bra to soak up the 'oozing'.  I found those were much easier than gauze bandages.

Hi MinusTwo, thanks for the tip! My latest strategy is a tight cami that holds the gauze into place, will try the pantyliners. Removed an entire knot this morning, hope it will be over soon.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Theda