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

I think you need to be prepared that, if you are going with implants, whether round or anatomical, rather then analogous tissue reconstruction, unless you had very, very firm breasts before, or happen to have a lot of tissue (meaning a nice thick fat layer to soften things up more) they are going to feel different. For me, this is fine, I don't mind having firm breasts, and my anatomicals look pretty great both in and out of clothes IMO, but they definitely do not feel or move like my natural ones. I am pretty thin, and my BS tried to remove a good amount, so there is not much tissue covering the implant, so when I press down with my finger, things are pretty firm, and I certainly can find implant edges and such with my fingers if I look for them...though they not much firmer than with my rounds, really, so I think it is really just the nature of having implants with very little tissue left. I am more aware of it in some situations - like at the gym or something, they don't jiggle like my natural breasts did even when they were strapped down tight in a sports bra. Sometimes I wonder if other notice

kntwins,

It has to do with what is trialed and approved and when. Each is considered it's own medical device I believe, they don't just lump all in as one type, and only a limited selection was initially trialed. Approvals for different types sre trickling/have trickled. Then once their is approval it's a matter of manufacturing and demand I suppose?

I am in Canada where the full catalogue is available to my PS, though I did end up with moderate height/moderate projection

I saw recently that Allergan Natrelle Inspiras (silicone rounds) were just approved in US (in February I think). Which reminds me that I was going to post something about that on Implant Sizing 101...Those have also been available in Canada for a while, very often used, and they were what I had before my swap. It's interesting to me the differences for implants available between US and Canada

Sugarcakes =  lumpectomy vs. mastectomy is a very personal choice that only you alone can make.  Read as much as you can on all these forums.  All of us have different experiences and expectations.  I can tell you that if you choose a MX the implant is under the muscle since that will be all you have covering half the implant because all your tissue will be gone.  Interview a few plastic surgeons and ask lots of questions before you make any decision.  You feeling comfortable and confident in your breast surgeon and plastic surgeons skills are crucial.  Good luck in you journey!!!

The best place to start learning about implants is Breast Implants 101. The link is below. The 'header' for this thread has all the different types w/links & pictures. It's long but packed with information.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/746448?page=1

Sugarcakes....usually the implant goes under the muscle. This is for better coverage, protection, and support. I have seen them over in rare situations, but I would not recommend that except in very specific situations. All that you have over your implant (when submuscular) then is your pectoral muscle and skin tissues...a little fat but only a thin layer as is under your skin and varies from woman to woman and surgeon to surgeon. It can even differ breast to breast...I am pretty thin to start with but my tissues on the right breast are much thinner than on the left, which is why I had rippling issues on the right and not on left. You may have some Alloderm or fat grafting, but this does not replace the feel or appearance of breast tissue.

You can get very good results with recon...but it is not at all like augmentation. In addition to loss of sensation, you do not have the same type of projection, movement, and softness. This does not mean they are necessarily too hard, or can't look good, or don't have movement, but it IS different so you need to prepare for them to not be like your augmented breasts. Even as a former A cup, you would have some breast tissue that right now is adding coverage, softness, and shape that won't be the same once it is removed. I kept my nipples, and I still don't have a lot of projection. This is more noticeable in clothing than naked. This does not bother me as I always had naturally larger breasts (30E) and though I remain the same size in my bras, I like the smaller, more athletic look I have with the lack of projection...it suits my lifestyle and body better. But this lack of projection may and does it seems bother some others. I actually wanted to be smaller, but had direct to implant with nipple sparing so was limited in how much smaller I could go, but it worked out very well in the end.

I am very pleased with my reconstructed breasts in appearance, and feel. I am happier now that I have anatomicals than I was with my rounds, anyway, and really do think they look great, but my expectations were not for them to look like augmented breasts either.They do feel different, and of course the sensation is uh, not quite there except on the surface/near surface of my skin (and note that some other women report remaining numb, so even this level of sensation cannot be expected), but this does not bother me really, But I was also going from natural breasts that were painful, caused me a lot of anxiety, and no longer looked as spritely as they once had! I know other women who aren't as happy with their reconstructed breasts for various reasons. You also need to be aware that you can have cosmetic complications which are more common in recon than autmentation like rippling, visible scarring, divots, in addition to the other types of complications (infection, loss of implant, capsular contracture, migration/displacement, etc)

Best wishes in making your decision.

hi Sugarcakes, good luck. I also had to decide between mastectomy and lumpectomy so so if if you have questions feel free tto email me at memoy_502@yahoo.com.

My Implants were placed under the muscle during my nipple sparing mastectomy with implant recon. My ps also used Alloderm to cover the other part of the implant that cannot Be covered by the pec muscles. My breasts look good now. My left is a bit behind but it should catch up with fat grafting. But i lost the feeling in my nipples and they're not as soft. Fat graft should also help with softness.

Good luck

sugarcakes - Couldn't stop thinking of you and your dilema.  I sent you a PM with a copy of post that was written by another tata sister about the lumpectomy/mastectomy dilema.  It is quite informative for things to consider but way too long to post on this thread.  I hope it helps.  Good luck.

If anyone else needs it, let me know.

Hello everyone! Remember me??? I am the one who HATED my new implants? YOU WERE ALL RIGHT!!!! THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! I listened to you all. I have been waiting for these implants to "settle in". I went to see my plastic surgeon about a month ago and I told her I was not happy and didn't like my implants and in fact, I told her I hated them and they look like I have 2 sponge bob square pants in my chest. PS said I looked terribly depressed and PS was sad I was not happy. PS said she felt the best implant that would work for me was the Mentor MemoryShape teardrop (new since October 2014, FDA approved for USA). PS also said I was very swollen still and I was not to look at myself until my next visit, May 1st. Well, you were all right. The new implants are settling in. My new boobs are SOFT AND THEY JIGGLE AND MOVE!!! They do not ripple and implants are getting more rounder and I am feeling better about myself. I am so happy with them. It has been a complete night and day experience!!! I take my finger and push on my implant and they are super soft and I can actually poke at the implant and my finger can push into the implant a good 2 inches. Before that, when I wrote how I hated my new implants, they were hard as rocks and I am not kidding you. The implants would not move and felt harder and more uncomfortable than the expanders. Now, it has all changed!!!! The picture below is what I took on my camera phone during my last PS visit to help me mentally know what I have in my chest currently. The implant (pictured above in first photo) is what I have currently in my chest, although mine is 555cc and in this picture, it is 450cc. In the bottom right (first photo), is the expander, similar to what I had in my chest after DMX, to prepare for the implant. The bottom left (first photo) is a round implant which in a way, looks the pictured implant above. The second picture is what my implant, that I currently have, looks like in this picture when it is upright or when I stand known as the teardrop. The third picture is more of an up close shot of a Mentor MemoryShape teardrop cohesive. THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!

Dx 9/19/2014, DCIS, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Dx 9/19/2014, DCIS, <1cm, Stage 0, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- Surgery 02/18/2015 Reconstruction of my left breast; Reconstruction of my right breast Surgery 11/12/2014 Mastectomy of one or both breasts: Mastectomy of my left breast, Mastectomy of my right breast; Reconstruction of my left breast: Tissue expander placement; Reconstruction of my right breast: Tissue expander placement

sugartoes:

Yay! I am so happy to hear that you are feeling better about your reconstruction now as I know you were sooooo unhappy at the start. Now you can be one of those that tell other women just out of surgery to be patient...LOL.

jilly59:

I am sorry you are still having difficulties. Has your PS indicated if you have capsular contractur or anything? I just find it peculiar they are THAT hard? Or maybe your pocket is too tight/small for the implant?

how do I find the picture forum? Decision time on surgery and reconstruction is coming soon

Does anyone have a preference between round or teardrop implants- for the exchange, I can't decide what to do...

I'm doing the Mentor anatomical implant tomorrow. I'm also doing a reduction/lift on my left. My PS thought the anatomical would be good for me because they mimic the natural breast more. I guess I'll see if I agree. I'm excited to get this horrible tissue expander out.

Steph,

I had rounds first, and now anatomicals. I did not mind my rounds, but switched to try and address some rippling issues. I like the anatomicals a LOT better. They just look and fit me better (I am small framed and quite slender and athletic) and I prefer their shape. They are about same size as my rounds but just suit me better. But everyone is different, and there we are many women who are happy with rounds and even switched from anatomicals.

Just got Mentor Medium Height, High Profile 685's. They are uncomfortable. Mind you, I still have stitches, as it was done on the 28th. The round I had in May didn't do so well, it went back into the armpit after a month or two, so this time I think there is a bunch more Alloderm in there.

How are you doing now? Are they moving? Guess what?? Mine are still SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS BOOBS!! I am going to try and see another plastic surgeon!