28-09-2010, 09:54
Should I start using an airlock?
January 18 2009 at 1:05 PM CousinRose (Login CousinRose)
I have noticed that everybody is getting a huge swelling in the mornings but I only get about 2-5 cm (one inch or two at most).
Maybe it is because my breasts are really firm and not very elastic and maybe I need more pressure than the smartbox is giving me.
I am thinking that maybe I stould start using the airlock now (am in my third week). I have had no skin problems so far and I would keep the hours low to begin with. I really don't know what to do, please make suggestions.
Rose
Author Reply
roakie
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 20 2009, 5:52 AM
I think the swelling is definitely less when you have tight breast skin. I get more swelling because I have nursed three kids. On the downside, I am flatter than flat with no breast tissue. I swell to about a large B, and am minus A at night. This is after eleven weeks! I have used both the smartbox and the airlock. The smartbox gave me very good swelling and I have a harder time suctioning out a lot of air on my own. However, my smartbox seems to be getting weaker and I am going to use the airlock this week and see what happens. I used manual suction for a week over vacation and didn't get as good swelling as Id did with the smart box. But now, with the smartbox losing its power, I will try manually and see what happens. Just be careful that you don't get too much air out. I notice my skin gets more irritated with the greater suction when I do it myself.
CousinRose
(Login CousinRose)
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 21 2009, 10:09 AM
Thanks Roakie. I will definatly not be a fast responder but I am not looking for a big change but I do want some change. This is just too bothersome not to get anything out of it. Still I don't know how much swelling is "normal" or how much you need to swell to gain. But I am only in my 3rd week so I am not "gaining" anything yet.
I think it is strange that the smartbox has just one setting because I would think that women that have not breastfed would need more pressure than those who have. But of course I am just guessing
If this doesn't work for me now I will try again after I have had children. 3 of my friends that have children had silicone inserted after because they claim it ruined their breasts (I think silicone ruins it more, but just my opinion).
I read your other post about your problems with the airlock and I tried it once in october and slept all through the night and woke up with no pressure and no swelling. (I only used it for a week that time). I had kind of decided to use the smartbox the entire time because if this happens again I loose a day. I am sure I will get more swelling with manual suction but I am still using the smartbox.
manual suction just won\'t work!
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 21 2009, 3:11 PM
Thanks for your input on the airlock. It is helpful to know that someone else has experienced the same problem.
I think Brava designs the smartbox with a certain degree of suction that their clinical studies have shown to produce the right amount of tension for new cell growth. I can't imagine that they just picked a random number and decided to set the smartbox to that. There must be some science to this, I would hope. I mean, when doctors use tissue expanders to slowly expand and grow new skin to insert implants in surgery patients (whether it be breast, bone, etc) they don't just randomly pump up the skin to any amount of pressure. It is slow and controlled over many months. I am assuming Brava follows that same principle but I can't be sure.
Anyway, keep me informed of your progress and good luck. Stick with it. Don't give up!
CousinRose
(Login CousinRose)
longer hours does the trick for me January 22 2009, 12:52 PM
I had the domes on for 16 hours yesterday and my breasts were huge after I took them off. I guess longer hours will work better for me and it is really easy for me to put in the hours. What a difference between 14 and 16 hours. I hope I am not putting in long hours too early, finshing my 3rd week tomorrow. Definitly a plus to be using this during the winter when you don't sweat during the nights. So far no skin irritation and I think not sweating is a big part of it.
roakie
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 22 2009, 2:29 PM
I put in really long hours the first seven weeks I used Brava. I was going out of the country for a week over Christmas and I was afraid I would not be able to bring the domes (which turned out not to be true) but I averaged about 16-17 hours a day. I definitely got big swelling as well. If you can do it, keep it up. I find that now I have cut my hours down to about 14/night.
Did you use the smartbox for those 16 hours or manual suction?
Cousin Rose
(Login CousinRose)
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 22 2009, 9:50 PM
I used the smartbox the whole 16 hours (today as well). I agree there must be a reason the Brava company picked this pressure but not a higher one. I'm sure they want the best results so they can make more money I am sticking with the smartbox while it lasts me.
Did you loose any nights during your stay abroad? How long are you planning to wear them?
roakie
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 22 2009, 10:10 PM
I didn't lose any nights but the hours were cut way down cause I was in a Central American country traveling with my young adult kids who stay up to all hours wanting to do things. Plus, I was so afraid that customs would view my smartbox as some type of bomb accessory that I left it home for fear it would be confiscated. I had to rely on manual suction which never seemed to produce much swelling. I didn't lose a week but I didn't get far, either.
I originally planned to do this for twenty weeks but I already see I can't stop there. I have virtually no real growth after eleven weeks. I have never even left the domes off for 24 hours so I don't even know if I would retain anything at all after 1 or 2 days. So, I have it set as a goal that I will at least go for 30 weeks, which is May 11, and see where I stand. I don't think I can handle these domes over the summer.
My main problem is that I am flat, flat, flat as a board. If I don't get any growth, I go back to that state. It isn't like going back form a swollen C to an A cup. I will go back to a minus and just bones. I am VERY afraid of that. If I develop so much as a small bump that stays, I will consider that an achievement. Then I will plan to do another cycle the following September.
I am trying SO hard to remain optimistic. Total flatness and 4 years into menopause leaves me quite worried but I am still going to try. One of the girls who posted on a post above mentioned that she had zero growth after one year. Those are the statements that really scare me. If it weren't for some of the ladies here that have seen true growth and told us to hang in there, I don't know how I would be feeling now.
That is why we all need to keep each other up with support and encouragment. I don't know where all the other Brava users are on this forum, but maybe that have a "real life" - unlike this dome-obsessed lady sitting here at my laptop!!!
Cousin Rose
(Login CousinRose)
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 22 2009, 10:38 PM
I have also heard too many unsuccessful stories and I worry as well that this may not work on me. But at least I will have tried! My expectations aren't big and any gains will be very welcome!
I am actually really proud of myself for lasting this "long" (3 weeks). I am usually really good to myself and I love to sleep. If I will be able to finish at least 12 weeks that will be a big accomplishment! (Going overseas in May for two weeks so I will never finish more then 16 weeks).
I can relate to you feeling flat. I may not be totally flat but my breast size is out of proportion to the rest of my body and I NEVER EVER go out unpadded!
January 18 2009 at 1:05 PM CousinRose (Login CousinRose)
I have noticed that everybody is getting a huge swelling in the mornings but I only get about 2-5 cm (one inch or two at most).
Maybe it is because my breasts are really firm and not very elastic and maybe I need more pressure than the smartbox is giving me.
I am thinking that maybe I stould start using the airlock now (am in my third week). I have had no skin problems so far and I would keep the hours low to begin with. I really don't know what to do, please make suggestions.
Rose
Author Reply
roakie
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 20 2009, 5:52 AM
I think the swelling is definitely less when you have tight breast skin. I get more swelling because I have nursed three kids. On the downside, I am flatter than flat with no breast tissue. I swell to about a large B, and am minus A at night. This is after eleven weeks! I have used both the smartbox and the airlock. The smartbox gave me very good swelling and I have a harder time suctioning out a lot of air on my own. However, my smartbox seems to be getting weaker and I am going to use the airlock this week and see what happens. I used manual suction for a week over vacation and didn't get as good swelling as Id did with the smart box. But now, with the smartbox losing its power, I will try manually and see what happens. Just be careful that you don't get too much air out. I notice my skin gets more irritated with the greater suction when I do it myself.
CousinRose
(Login CousinRose)
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 21 2009, 10:09 AM
Thanks Roakie. I will definatly not be a fast responder but I am not looking for a big change but I do want some change. This is just too bothersome not to get anything out of it. Still I don't know how much swelling is "normal" or how much you need to swell to gain. But I am only in my 3rd week so I am not "gaining" anything yet.
I think it is strange that the smartbox has just one setting because I would think that women that have not breastfed would need more pressure than those who have. But of course I am just guessing
If this doesn't work for me now I will try again after I have had children. 3 of my friends that have children had silicone inserted after because they claim it ruined their breasts (I think silicone ruins it more, but just my opinion). I read your other post about your problems with the airlock and I tried it once in october and slept all through the night and woke up with no pressure and no swelling. (I only used it for a week that time). I had kind of decided to use the smartbox the entire time because if this happens again I loose a day. I am sure I will get more swelling with manual suction but I am still using the smartbox.
manual suction just won\'t work!
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 21 2009, 3:11 PM
Thanks for your input on the airlock. It is helpful to know that someone else has experienced the same problem.
I think Brava designs the smartbox with a certain degree of suction that their clinical studies have shown to produce the right amount of tension for new cell growth. I can't imagine that they just picked a random number and decided to set the smartbox to that. There must be some science to this, I would hope. I mean, when doctors use tissue expanders to slowly expand and grow new skin to insert implants in surgery patients (whether it be breast, bone, etc) they don't just randomly pump up the skin to any amount of pressure. It is slow and controlled over many months. I am assuming Brava follows that same principle but I can't be sure.
Anyway, keep me informed of your progress and good luck. Stick with it. Don't give up!
CousinRose
(Login CousinRose)
longer hours does the trick for me January 22 2009, 12:52 PM
I had the domes on for 16 hours yesterday and my breasts were huge after I took them off. I guess longer hours will work better for me and it is really easy for me to put in the hours. What a difference between 14 and 16 hours. I hope I am not putting in long hours too early, finshing my 3rd week tomorrow. Definitly a plus to be using this during the winter when you don't sweat during the nights. So far no skin irritation and I think not sweating is a big part of it.
roakie
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 22 2009, 2:29 PM
I put in really long hours the first seven weeks I used Brava. I was going out of the country for a week over Christmas and I was afraid I would not be able to bring the domes (which turned out not to be true) but I averaged about 16-17 hours a day. I definitely got big swelling as well. If you can do it, keep it up. I find that now I have cut my hours down to about 14/night.
Did you use the smartbox for those 16 hours or manual suction?
Cousin Rose
(Login CousinRose)
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 22 2009, 9:50 PM
I used the smartbox the whole 16 hours (today as well). I agree there must be a reason the Brava company picked this pressure but not a higher one. I'm sure they want the best results so they can make more money
I am sticking with the smartbox while it lasts me. Did you loose any nights during your stay abroad? How long are you planning to wear them?
roakie
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 22 2009, 10:10 PM
I didn't lose any nights but the hours were cut way down cause I was in a Central American country traveling with my young adult kids who stay up to all hours wanting to do things. Plus, I was so afraid that customs would view my smartbox as some type of bomb accessory that I left it home for fear it would be confiscated. I had to rely on manual suction which never seemed to produce much swelling. I didn't lose a week but I didn't get far, either.
I originally planned to do this for twenty weeks but I already see I can't stop there. I have virtually no real growth after eleven weeks. I have never even left the domes off for 24 hours so I don't even know if I would retain anything at all after 1 or 2 days. So, I have it set as a goal that I will at least go for 30 weeks, which is May 11, and see where I stand. I don't think I can handle these domes over the summer.
My main problem is that I am flat, flat, flat as a board. If I don't get any growth, I go back to that state. It isn't like going back form a swollen C to an A cup. I will go back to a minus and just bones. I am VERY afraid of that. If I develop so much as a small bump that stays, I will consider that an achievement. Then I will plan to do another cycle the following September.
I am trying SO hard to remain optimistic. Total flatness and 4 years into menopause leaves me quite worried but I am still going to try. One of the girls who posted on a post above mentioned that she had zero growth after one year. Those are the statements that really scare me. If it weren't for some of the ladies here that have seen true growth and told us to hang in there, I don't know how I would be feeling now.
That is why we all need to keep each other up with support and encouragment. I don't know where all the other Brava users are on this forum, but maybe that have a "real life" - unlike this dome-obsessed lady sitting here at my laptop!!!
Cousin Rose
(Login CousinRose)
Re: Should I start using an airlock? January 22 2009, 10:38 PM
I have also heard too many unsuccessful stories and I worry as well that this may not work on me. But at least I will have tried! My expectations aren't big and any gains will be very welcome!
I am actually really proud of myself for lasting this "long" (3 weeks
). I am usually really good to myself and I love to sleep. If I will be able to finish at least 12 weeks that will be a big accomplishment! (Going overseas in May for two weeks so I will never finish more then 16 weeks).I can relate to you feeling flat. I may not be totally flat but my breast size is out of proportion to the rest of my body and I NEVER EVER go out unpadded!