I had a Brachioplasty and Breast Lift with implants this past Septemeber. My right breast now has a painful Grade IV contracture resulting from a hematoma. To make matters worse, the particular model of Mentor cohesive gel implants that I have are not yet approved in the US.
My local surgeon wants to perform a capsulectomy and just replace with the SAME implant. I mentioned to him that everything I read indicated standard practice was to replace with a new implant. He said that I would be fine since I hadn't had the implant in very long. I am very indebted to him because he was willing to consult with me when other surgeons blasted me for going overseas. They could care less that I had lost 169 lbs and had debilitating excess skin. My Costa Rica surgeon told me to come back so he can perform the capsulectomy and replace it with a new implant, however, I'd like to avoid travelling back to Costa Rica if at all possible.
What should I do at this point? Any advice would be helpful! I am almost positive this hematoma occurred as a result of strain and is not ruptured. Yet and still, should I be leery of my US surgeon wanting to replace with the SAME implant?
3 posts
11 Jan 2009
Thank you so much for you responses! I am truly grateful because I truly felt as though I was flying blind. I just wanted to clarify that my implants are submuscular. My surgeon here in the states feels it's okay to use the same implant; however, I understand that this may change once he opens me up. In the event that I do need a replacement implant, this will result in a different model impant in the right breast, than the left (since the particular model of cohesive gel implants I have aren't approved in the U.S. yet). Should I be okay with mix-matched implants? It also concerns me that during a few consults with different surgeons (including him), when I mention that I have cohesive gel implants, they've each pulled out sample implants showing me what they think I have. But my implant looks NOTHING like these. The interior of my implant is firm and solid. It has a gummy bear consistency which you could make a clean cut through; whereas the implants they've show me are more gel-like consistency. I'm not trying to major on minor, I only endeavor to make an informed decision. So if having different types of implant in each breast is inconsequential, then I don't mind not having the exact same implant in both breasts. Advice?
1216 posts
24 Feb 2009
Hi jcandace, I posted your follow-up question here: OK to have mismatched breast implants? You should also be able to see this question in your RealSelf account. Thanks for posting!