28-08-2010, 09:39
HELP! Can't get any suction going!
November 9 2009 at 4:37 PM Red (Login bluemoonlight)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brava artrived today and I'm just trying it out, going to do the 2 hours per day thing, but I can't seem to get any starter suction going - I've followed the instructions but the motor keeps runnning unitl the alarm goes off after 7 minutes or so. I've tried to put them on again and again the alarm goes off. I'm not feeling anything either - please help!
Author Reply
Red
(Login bluemoonlight) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 9 2009, 7:12 PM
Anyone? I really need to get using this thing!! I think maybe the somes are too large - they're the wide medium but they don't seem to be sticking on me very well.
Edit Message Delete Message
kiagirl
(Login kiagirl) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 10 2009, 2:07 AM
Hi Red,
I know you said you were following the instructions, but just to clarify, are you washing with the brava wash or baby shampoo & using the skin prep wipes(also pure aloe vera gel works)? It's very important for the domes to have a barrier to stick to. You need to let it dry on your skin before you put the domes on to get a seal. Be sure you are "fanning" out the silicone rims and then holding them in place while staying very still. You could also see if you can get a seal by sucking the air out with your mouth on the tube, fold the tube a couple times, then use a hair binder wrapped around it several times to keep the air from coming out(I use the airlock method in the evening, then switch to the smartbox when I go to bed). Do you know the area on your body where the domes might not be "sticking". You could try moving or angling them different ways & see which way works best for you. I used the wide medium domes to start with too. The only trouble I had was that they would overlap in the sternum area. I would re-position the silicone rims(not the entire dome)in that area so that they would "meet" in the middle of my sternum which would squish them a little, but it worked. I hope this helps so you can get started!!
Edit Message Delete Message
Red
(Login bluemoonlight) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 10 2009, 9:23 AM
Hi Kiagirl - thank you so much for replying - I'm totally lost!
All I got with the Brava is the skin prep roll on. The instructions said to cleanse the breast area and then to roll it around the breasts where the domes will fit, let it completely dry and then place them on. I cleansed with just a normal shower gel - is this wrong? Should I be using baby shampoo or something?
What is the airlock method? I thought about sucking the air out with my mouth, but then do I position the tubes in the smart box afterwards? I'm so confused!
Edit Message Delete Message
kiagirl
(Login kiagirl) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 11 2009, 2:57 AM
Hi Red,
I have never used the skin prep roll-on but have had good luck with the No-Sting Skin Prep Protective Wipes, a product by the Smith&Nephew company. They can be very expensive but I have found a cheap place to get them: americandiabeteswholesale.com. A box of 50 costs less than $14.00, otherwise they range in price anywhere from $35-$50 per box. You may also want to try pure(99%)aloe vera gel. You use it the same way. Let it dry on your skin before putting on the domes. You can purchase that in most stores. Drug stores or natural food & health stores always have it if you don't have any luck.
I'm assuming that you didn't purchase your Brava from the company directly--maybe on ebay? That does put you at a bit of a disadvantage because you don't have access to the coaches,the dvd, or the manual(of course,unless your seller included them). If you didn't receive very good instructions with your Brava, I could send you my dvd. I really don't need it anymore & I found it very helpful when I got started. It had a lot of tips,& just being able to actually see someone put it on helped tremendously!
Brava recommends using the Brava Skin Cleanser or baby shampoo to cleanse before putting on the domes, then drying the skin thoroughly before using the skin prep wipes(or aloe vera gel). When you have the domes on make sure that there are no skin folds under the silicone rims because these can let air in, also make sure that all the tubing is well-secured. Maintain steady pressure on the domes, pushing them against your chest until the seal is achieved. I would suggest to try to get a seal with the smartbox first while you're still getting used to everything. Once you get used to what the gentle suction feels like, then try the airlock. The temptation with the airlock is to suck too much air out which can cause alot of pain & discomfort, not to mention raw places & sores, especially when you first start out. When you do want to try an airlock, I bought a check valve (for aquariums in the pet department @ walmart-less than $3)which I attach to the tubing. You need to remove the piece at the end of the tubing that attaches to the smartbox(just don't lose it!) The check valve fits right on the tubing then. I remove the check valve, put the piece back on, & turn on my smartbox then "hook it up" before I go to bed.
Sorry this is so long. Hope you find it helpful. Let me know if you would like my dvd!
Edit Message Delete Message
miriam41
(Login miriam41) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 12 2009, 2:40 AM
There are Brava instruction videos on youtube if you type in "Brava Breast Enhancement" they should pop up.
Hope this helps!
Edit Message Delete Message
Ruth
(no login) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 12 2009, 6:59 AM
Hi Red,
I've been using BRAVA for 4 months now and I find that it often takes longer than the alarm allows, so I shut off that function and wait...sometimes it takes 20 minutes or longer for the air to suction out! Sadly I've had it take as long as an hour. This is even the case with the new domes I just bought, maybe because they are large / wide and have so much air room to start with. I actually have the alarm permanently off now, you might want to try this if its a time issue. Good luck!
Edit Message Delete Message
elle
(Login elle09) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 13 2009, 11:27 PM
Hi RED,
You should put a barrier between the domes and your breast.It is either a barrier film or aloe vera gel. Both works fine. Then lean a bit forward to place the domes. Put right first then left. Then put the Bra on and zip it and connect the Sportbox or Smart box on. Dont set the alarm I never use it. Pointless really. Then When the smart box on press the domes a little bit to ensure there is enough sealing while the smart box is working. Thats what I do all the time and works fine.You should feel some kind of pulling for your breast. After ten minutes still no luck with try different positions.Good luck.
November 9 2009 at 4:37 PM Red (Login bluemoonlight)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brava artrived today and I'm just trying it out, going to do the 2 hours per day thing, but I can't seem to get any starter suction going - I've followed the instructions but the motor keeps runnning unitl the alarm goes off after 7 minutes or so. I've tried to put them on again and again the alarm goes off. I'm not feeling anything either - please help!
Author Reply
Red
(Login bluemoonlight) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 9 2009, 7:12 PM
Anyone? I really need to get using this thing!! I think maybe the somes are too large - they're the wide medium but they don't seem to be sticking on me very well.
Edit Message Delete Message
kiagirl
(Login kiagirl) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 10 2009, 2:07 AM
Hi Red,
I know you said you were following the instructions, but just to clarify, are you washing with the brava wash or baby shampoo & using the skin prep wipes(also pure aloe vera gel works)? It's very important for the domes to have a barrier to stick to. You need to let it dry on your skin before you put the domes on to get a seal. Be sure you are "fanning" out the silicone rims and then holding them in place while staying very still. You could also see if you can get a seal by sucking the air out with your mouth on the tube, fold the tube a couple times, then use a hair binder wrapped around it several times to keep the air from coming out(I use the airlock method in the evening, then switch to the smartbox when I go to bed). Do you know the area on your body where the domes might not be "sticking". You could try moving or angling them different ways & see which way works best for you. I used the wide medium domes to start with too. The only trouble I had was that they would overlap in the sternum area. I would re-position the silicone rims(not the entire dome)in that area so that they would "meet" in the middle of my sternum which would squish them a little, but it worked. I hope this helps so you can get started!!
Edit Message Delete Message
Red
(Login bluemoonlight) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 10 2009, 9:23 AM
Hi Kiagirl - thank you so much for replying - I'm totally lost!
All I got with the Brava is the skin prep roll on. The instructions said to cleanse the breast area and then to roll it around the breasts where the domes will fit, let it completely dry and then place them on. I cleansed with just a normal shower gel - is this wrong? Should I be using baby shampoo or something?
What is the airlock method? I thought about sucking the air out with my mouth, but then do I position the tubes in the smart box afterwards? I'm so confused!
Edit Message Delete Message
kiagirl
(Login kiagirl) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 11 2009, 2:57 AM
Hi Red,
I have never used the skin prep roll-on but have had good luck with the No-Sting Skin Prep Protective Wipes, a product by the Smith&Nephew company. They can be very expensive but I have found a cheap place to get them: americandiabeteswholesale.com. A box of 50 costs less than $14.00, otherwise they range in price anywhere from $35-$50 per box. You may also want to try pure(99%)aloe vera gel. You use it the same way. Let it dry on your skin before putting on the domes. You can purchase that in most stores. Drug stores or natural food & health stores always have it if you don't have any luck.
I'm assuming that you didn't purchase your Brava from the company directly--maybe on ebay? That does put you at a bit of a disadvantage because you don't have access to the coaches,the dvd, or the manual(of course,unless your seller included them). If you didn't receive very good instructions with your Brava, I could send you my dvd. I really don't need it anymore & I found it very helpful when I got started. It had a lot of tips,& just being able to actually see someone put it on helped tremendously!
Brava recommends using the Brava Skin Cleanser or baby shampoo to cleanse before putting on the domes, then drying the skin thoroughly before using the skin prep wipes(or aloe vera gel). When you have the domes on make sure that there are no skin folds under the silicone rims because these can let air in, also make sure that all the tubing is well-secured. Maintain steady pressure on the domes, pushing them against your chest until the seal is achieved. I would suggest to try to get a seal with the smartbox first while you're still getting used to everything. Once you get used to what the gentle suction feels like, then try the airlock. The temptation with the airlock is to suck too much air out which can cause alot of pain & discomfort, not to mention raw places & sores, especially when you first start out. When you do want to try an airlock, I bought a check valve (for aquariums in the pet department @ walmart-less than $3)which I attach to the tubing. You need to remove the piece at the end of the tubing that attaches to the smartbox(just don't lose it!) The check valve fits right on the tubing then. I remove the check valve, put the piece back on, & turn on my smartbox then "hook it up" before I go to bed.
Sorry this is so long. Hope you find it helpful. Let me know if you would like my dvd!
Edit Message Delete Message
miriam41
(Login miriam41) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 12 2009, 2:40 AM
There are Brava instruction videos on youtube if you type in "Brava Breast Enhancement" they should pop up.
Hope this helps!
Edit Message Delete Message
Ruth
(no login) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 12 2009, 6:59 AM
Hi Red,
I've been using BRAVA for 4 months now and I find that it often takes longer than the alarm allows, so I shut off that function and wait...sometimes it takes 20 minutes or longer for the air to suction out! Sadly I've had it take as long as an hour. This is even the case with the new domes I just bought, maybe because they are large / wide and have so much air room to start with. I actually have the alarm permanently off now, you might want to try this if its a time issue. Good luck!
Edit Message Delete Message
elle
(Login elle09) Re: HELP! Can't get any suction going! November 13 2009, 11:27 PM
Hi RED,
You should put a barrier between the domes and your breast.It is either a barrier film or aloe vera gel. Both works fine. Then lean a bit forward to place the domes. Put right first then left. Then put the Bra on and zip it and connect the Sportbox or Smart box on. Dont set the alarm I never use it. Pointless really. Then When the smart box on press the domes a little bit to ensure there is enough sealing while the smart box is working. Thats what I do all the time and works fine.You should feel some kind of pulling for your breast. After ten minutes still no luck with try different positions.Good luck.