23-08-2010, 08:38
Brava dome suction
December 4 2008 at 8:20 PM Kristen (Login Kristen10)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am hoping someone can help me. My current Brava domes have lost some of their tackiness. When I initially go to put them on, the suction is really good, for like the first hour; but then I am constantly either manually sucking air out, or the SmartBox is constantly running. It gets worse when I lay down to go to bed, and the SmartBox constantly running at night is driving my boyfriend, and myself crazy! If I don't wear the SmartBox to bed; when I wake up, I can feel the preassure in the domes is not good at all.
I have read a few strands, and tried using lotion before putting on the domes, and also that the domes' tackiness really doesn't matter. I am hoping this is the case; as I'm not looking forward to shelling out the nearlly $300 dollars, with shipping and all for a new pair; as this is my 2nd pair. Also, I cannot do the skin prep wipes; my skin gets unbearably itchy and irritated. They are definitely out of the question for me, and even when I was using them, they didn't help all that much. I use 2 different sports bras to keep the domes in place, which seems to work really well.
If anyone has any advice; please help! I am desperately trying to avoid purchasing new domes! If I have to buy new domes after every session, I'll be broke real fast...
Author Reply
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 4 2008, 11:09 PM
Try baby oil, that'll lubricate your skin to get the maximum tissue into the domes. Suck as hard as you can (don't bother with the smartbox - it's weak!), then suck again after a few minutes, more after 10 minutes, more every 30-60 minutes. Get comfy in bed - use a lot of pillows, blankets etc to keep you in a posistion where you can't move too much, then suck again. It's normal for the pressure to decrease a bit overnight as you get swelling there is less air pressure. I remember one girl saying she found it best to use a lot of pillows under her and sleep on her stomach so the domes were pressed against her. I have done this and is definitely good to relieve back ache but I airlock pretty tight so I can sleep however. Brava is absolute misery when you first start but it really does get better to the point where you barely notice it. I'm on my second round and it's a bit of a pain socially but otherwise has no effect at all.
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Kristen
(Login Kristen10) RE: Brava dome suction December 5 2008, 12:36 AM
Thanks for the advice Louise; I'll try baby oil tonight and ditch the SmartBox. What kind of airlock device to you use? I read in another strand that you can get the supplies to make one at a tropical fish supply store with tubing and a valve. Any experience, or do you prefer a certain kind that I can order from a website?
Edit Message Delete Message
roakie
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 5 2008, 7:03 AM
I have been doing as some others have done - just using the tubing that came with the brava and folding over the tubing with a hair elastic after suctioning. In other words, just remove the smartbox and filter and suck the air out of the T-part of the tubing, fold it over, and you're done!
Edit Message Delete Message
Kristen
(Login Kristen10) RE: Brava dome suction December 5 2008, 5:54 PM
I actually have done the hair elastic with the Brava tubing, and it works alright; I feel it could be better though. I'll give it a try tonight with the baby oil and tying off the tubing with a rubber band. Thanks for the advice!
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 5 2008, 6:28 PM
I also use the Brava tubing (although last session I did about 24 weeks with fish tank tube), the tubes are all the same size otherwise they wouldn't go on the domes so you can just buy the one way valve (called a check valve) and stuff that in the end of the tube. You'll need to pull the bit out the screws into the smartbox but it should push back in easily if you want to use it with the box again later. I'm not sure if the valve makes any difference to how well the air stays in but it is easier in the sense that having sucked out the air and stuffed the valve in you can then suck on the valve to get more suction later rather than undoing it all.
Edit Message Delete Message
Kristen
(Login Kristen10) RE: Brava dome suction December 5 2008, 6:58 PM
Thanks Louise! I'll drop by the tropical fish store after work and pick up a check valve. It will make it easier to suck the air out, instead of taking the rubber band off every time.
Also, did you mention in another strand that you use baby shampoo to clean the domes? That is definitely a lot cheaper then the Brava dome cleaner, so if it works, I'm getting some! I'm just so paranoid about the domes since they are so dang pricy!
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 6 2008, 7:36 PM
They don't do the Brava cleaning products in Europe, you just get a roll-on dome prep (although I've used all sorts of other cheap things and doesn't make any difference). I've only ever used baby shampoo to clean the domes, although it's probably better to clean them every 1-2 days with just water and then 1-2x weekly with soap - it's only to rinse the sweat off, you're not going to eat out of them!
At first I was very nervous about the domes but they're actually reasonably sturdy, the second set I received the sticky annoyed me so I rubbed it all off and that was a definite improvement. They're still going despite a bit of a split in the silicone (and I wear them filled with water in the bath sometimes) and I've had them for 24 weeks of my first session and 14 weeks if the second.
Edit Message Delete Message
Kristen
(Login Kristen10) RE: Brava dome suction December 8 2008, 5:25 PM
Wow! Good to know the domes can take a little bit of a beating! I cleaned them with baby shampoo and used baby oil on my chest last night, and it seemed to work fine. On my left dome, the silicon got a little deformed, but I think I can work with it for the time being. It sounds like their pretty pliable; I just need to be more carefully putting them in place when putting them on; especially the left one; it has a tendency to suck the silicon inside the dome. I probably need to flare it out.
Thanks again for the advice! Every little bit helps!
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 8 2008, 8:00 PM
You're right - it is important to flare the domes out, just release a little air reach your right arm across you body so it's pushing both the domes against your chest (right hand holding left dome on)and use your left thumb(for left dome) to break the seal, wriggle under and hook that silicone out. Not flaring the domes out is pulling the silicone cushion away from the dome and is the quickest way to damage them. Flaring out is such a pain and needs to be done repeatedly when you first get a seal and then throughout the session when you suck more air but after a couple of weeks they just stay like that. The plastic covering on the silicone on one of mine has split slightly but they're still usable. I can't sleep on my side in the wide XL yet so may order another set of narrow XL if the other narrows finally give up. The best thing is that towards the end of my first session the narrow large domes that I'd originally only filled about 25% were full in about 30 minutes. May have to dig them out and have another try!
Keep at it x
Edit Message Delete Message
Kristen
(Login Kristen10) RE: Brava dome suction December 8 2008, 10:00 PM
Thanks for letting me know that as well! I have been using extra wide large domes, and really need to take the time to flare them during every session! Usually I'll hold them one in each hand, and place on my chest, with the tubing attached, and the end of the tubing in my mouth to start sucking. The right dome looks and feel perfect, always, but when I start sucking, the domes start to bunch up together in the center of my chest, and the left dome is the only one that seems to get mangled a little. I think flaring them, and focusing more on the placement will help a lot, hopefully. If not, maybe I should consider narrow. Do you like the narrow domes better?
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 8 2008, 10:48 PM
Tha narrow XL fit me better but I touch the insides (and the ends with a long session) but they don't cave in any more when I suck hard as I fill them better and because they seal better I can sleep on my side. The wide XL cave in when I suck hard because they are pretty huge! Even with 20 hours I didn't get within an inch of the end, I do get a seal and keep it all night but it's easier to break the seal if I move around or do housework. It's difficult to relate my body to other people because I'm a really funny shape! I'm very short with chubby arms and legs, a big butt, a tiny waist and my under bust is only about 26" (so I'm like a kid with a fat booty!) so technically I'm too small to even wear the narrow domes. But I'm not totally flat so I think having a reasonable amount of breast tissue helps to keep the seal. I'm trying to even up my upper and lower body so need to start working out more - yuck! I also have very little fat on my upper body except my chubby upper arms. I have literally got bony ribs with boobs on. I felt that Brava made this worse as it encourages your boobs to get further apart so I ended up with all my ribs showing down the middle instead of a cleavage but BB seemed to fix it.
Edit Message Delete Message
Kristen
(Login Kristen10) RE: Brava dome suction December 8 2008, 10:58 PM
Wow; that is pretty crazy about your ribs showing. I think I might try the narrow too. I can sleep with the wide x-large, but I think they are a little too big to get good suction without bunching up in the center. I usually sleep on my side with a pillow under my head, as usual, and also put one under me, right below where the domes under my belly to create a space for the domes between the bed and the pillows. It works pretty well, but I do toss and turn a lot, and I think the narrow will be better. I can maybe use the wide large after some more growth has occured so I can round out and get some good cleavage. We'll see what happens...
I must say; this website is so addictive, but everytime I go on, I get excited to go home and put the domes on...
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 8 2008, 11:02 PM
Also when you put them on like you describe, start out with them under your armpits, press them on at the outer edge then pull them over your boobs and push them on down the centre - this may help stop the outer edge turning in but will also maximise the tissue you get in the domes.
December 4 2008 at 8:20 PM Kristen (Login Kristen10)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am hoping someone can help me. My current Brava domes have lost some of their tackiness. When I initially go to put them on, the suction is really good, for like the first hour; but then I am constantly either manually sucking air out, or the SmartBox is constantly running. It gets worse when I lay down to go to bed, and the SmartBox constantly running at night is driving my boyfriend, and myself crazy! If I don't wear the SmartBox to bed; when I wake up, I can feel the preassure in the domes is not good at all.
I have read a few strands, and tried using lotion before putting on the domes, and also that the domes' tackiness really doesn't matter. I am hoping this is the case; as I'm not looking forward to shelling out the nearlly $300 dollars, with shipping and all for a new pair; as this is my 2nd pair. Also, I cannot do the skin prep wipes; my skin gets unbearably itchy and irritated. They are definitely out of the question for me, and even when I was using them, they didn't help all that much. I use 2 different sports bras to keep the domes in place, which seems to work really well.
If anyone has any advice; please help! I am desperately trying to avoid purchasing new domes! If I have to buy new domes after every session, I'll be broke real fast...
Author Reply
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 4 2008, 11:09 PM
Try baby oil, that'll lubricate your skin to get the maximum tissue into the domes. Suck as hard as you can (don't bother with the smartbox - it's weak!), then suck again after a few minutes, more after 10 minutes, more every 30-60 minutes. Get comfy in bed - use a lot of pillows, blankets etc to keep you in a posistion where you can't move too much, then suck again. It's normal for the pressure to decrease a bit overnight as you get swelling there is less air pressure. I remember one girl saying she found it best to use a lot of pillows under her and sleep on her stomach so the domes were pressed against her. I have done this and is definitely good to relieve back ache but I airlock pretty tight so I can sleep however. Brava is absolute misery when you first start but it really does get better to the point where you barely notice it. I'm on my second round and it's a bit of a pain socially but otherwise has no effect at all.
Edit Message Delete Message
Kristen
(Login Kristen10) RE: Brava dome suction December 5 2008, 12:36 AM
Thanks for the advice Louise; I'll try baby oil tonight and ditch the SmartBox. What kind of airlock device to you use? I read in another strand that you can get the supplies to make one at a tropical fish supply store with tubing and a valve. Any experience, or do you prefer a certain kind that I can order from a website?
Edit Message Delete Message
roakie
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 5 2008, 7:03 AM
I have been doing as some others have done - just using the tubing that came with the brava and folding over the tubing with a hair elastic after suctioning. In other words, just remove the smartbox and filter and suck the air out of the T-part of the tubing, fold it over, and you're done!
Edit Message Delete Message
Kristen
(Login Kristen10) RE: Brava dome suction December 5 2008, 5:54 PM
I actually have done the hair elastic with the Brava tubing, and it works alright; I feel it could be better though. I'll give it a try tonight with the baby oil and tying off the tubing with a rubber band. Thanks for the advice!
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 5 2008, 6:28 PM
I also use the Brava tubing (although last session I did about 24 weeks with fish tank tube), the tubes are all the same size otherwise they wouldn't go on the domes so you can just buy the one way valve (called a check valve) and stuff that in the end of the tube. You'll need to pull the bit out the screws into the smartbox but it should push back in easily if you want to use it with the box again later. I'm not sure if the valve makes any difference to how well the air stays in but it is easier in the sense that having sucked out the air and stuffed the valve in you can then suck on the valve to get more suction later rather than undoing it all.
Edit Message Delete Message
Kristen
(Login Kristen10) RE: Brava dome suction December 5 2008, 6:58 PM
Thanks Louise! I'll drop by the tropical fish store after work and pick up a check valve. It will make it easier to suck the air out, instead of taking the rubber band off every time.
Also, did you mention in another strand that you use baby shampoo to clean the domes? That is definitely a lot cheaper then the Brava dome cleaner, so if it works, I'm getting some! I'm just so paranoid about the domes since they are so dang pricy!
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 6 2008, 7:36 PM
They don't do the Brava cleaning products in Europe, you just get a roll-on dome prep (although I've used all sorts of other cheap things and doesn't make any difference). I've only ever used baby shampoo to clean the domes, although it's probably better to clean them every 1-2 days with just water and then 1-2x weekly with soap - it's only to rinse the sweat off, you're not going to eat out of them!
At first I was very nervous about the domes but they're actually reasonably sturdy, the second set I received the sticky annoyed me so I rubbed it all off and that was a definite improvement. They're still going despite a bit of a split in the silicone (and I wear them filled with water in the bath sometimes) and I've had them for 24 weeks of my first session and 14 weeks if the second.
Edit Message Delete Message
Kristen
(Login Kristen10) RE: Brava dome suction December 8 2008, 5:25 PM
Wow! Good to know the domes can take a little bit of a beating! I cleaned them with baby shampoo and used baby oil on my chest last night, and it seemed to work fine. On my left dome, the silicon got a little deformed, but I think I can work with it for the time being. It sounds like their pretty pliable; I just need to be more carefully putting them in place when putting them on; especially the left one; it has a tendency to suck the silicon inside the dome. I probably need to flare it out.
Thanks again for the advice! Every little bit helps!
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 8 2008, 8:00 PM
You're right - it is important to flare the domes out, just release a little air reach your right arm across you body so it's pushing both the domes against your chest (right hand holding left dome on)and use your left thumb(for left dome) to break the seal, wriggle under and hook that silicone out. Not flaring the domes out is pulling the silicone cushion away from the dome and is the quickest way to damage them. Flaring out is such a pain and needs to be done repeatedly when you first get a seal and then throughout the session when you suck more air but after a couple of weeks they just stay like that. The plastic covering on the silicone on one of mine has split slightly but they're still usable. I can't sleep on my side in the wide XL yet so may order another set of narrow XL if the other narrows finally give up. The best thing is that towards the end of my first session the narrow large domes that I'd originally only filled about 25% were full in about 30 minutes. May have to dig them out and have another try!
Keep at it x
Edit Message Delete Message
Kristen
(Login Kristen10) RE: Brava dome suction December 8 2008, 10:00 PM
Thanks for letting me know that as well! I have been using extra wide large domes, and really need to take the time to flare them during every session! Usually I'll hold them one in each hand, and place on my chest, with the tubing attached, and the end of the tubing in my mouth to start sucking. The right dome looks and feel perfect, always, but when I start sucking, the domes start to bunch up together in the center of my chest, and the left dome is the only one that seems to get mangled a little. I think flaring them, and focusing more on the placement will help a lot, hopefully. If not, maybe I should consider narrow. Do you like the narrow domes better?
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 8 2008, 10:48 PM
Tha narrow XL fit me better but I touch the insides (and the ends with a long session) but they don't cave in any more when I suck hard as I fill them better and because they seal better I can sleep on my side. The wide XL cave in when I suck hard because they are pretty huge! Even with 20 hours I didn't get within an inch of the end, I do get a seal and keep it all night but it's easier to break the seal if I move around or do housework. It's difficult to relate my body to other people because I'm a really funny shape! I'm very short with chubby arms and legs, a big butt, a tiny waist and my under bust is only about 26" (so I'm like a kid with a fat booty!) so technically I'm too small to even wear the narrow domes. But I'm not totally flat so I think having a reasonable amount of breast tissue helps to keep the seal. I'm trying to even up my upper and lower body so need to start working out more - yuck! I also have very little fat on my upper body except my chubby upper arms. I have literally got bony ribs with boobs on. I felt that Brava made this worse as it encourages your boobs to get further apart so I ended up with all my ribs showing down the middle instead of a cleavage but BB seemed to fix it.
Edit Message Delete Message
Kristen
(Login Kristen10) RE: Brava dome suction December 8 2008, 10:58 PM
Wow; that is pretty crazy about your ribs showing. I think I might try the narrow too. I can sleep with the wide x-large, but I think they are a little too big to get good suction without bunching up in the center. I usually sleep on my side with a pillow under my head, as usual, and also put one under me, right below where the domes under my belly to create a space for the domes between the bed and the pillows. It works pretty well, but I do toss and turn a lot, and I think the narrow will be better. I can maybe use the wide large after some more growth has occured so I can round out and get some good cleavage. We'll see what happens...
I must say; this website is so addictive, but everytime I go on, I get excited to go home and put the domes on...
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Brava dome suction December 8 2008, 11:02 PM
Also when you put them on like you describe, start out with them under your armpits, press them on at the outer edge then pull them over your boobs and push them on down the centre - this may help stop the outer edge turning in but will also maximise the tissue you get in the domes.