Explanted with Melmed!! - Dallas, TX

This website has proven invaluable to me--many, many of the stories here have provided information, suggestions and support. The honesty has been so refreshing--and as I start my [very short wait time now} journey to explant, I simply wanted to chronicle my thoughts here, too!

As a teenager I had terrible problems with my jaw. After many years of braces, night-guards, visits with orthodontists and the like--I was diagnosed with osteo-arthritis of the tempero-mandibular joint {jaw}. I had a very difficult surgery my second year of college, spent an entire summer wiring myself shut every night, and finally began the road to recovery. I remembered my sweet surgeon telling me that my body was quite delicate, and that I needed to take excellent care of it. He also warned that I would most assuradely have joint/arthritis problems through out my life. I was eighteen.

While in college I convinced myself that I would never be beautiful or confident without breast augmentation. I found a wonderful doctor and had mentor smooth saline implants placed over the muscle. I went from a tiny size 32AA to a 32C. One month after the surgery my mother was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. My surgeon assured me that my implants were behind any natural breast tissue I had, and would actually allow for better mammogram imaging, and that I had a full, healthy life ahead of me.

Fast forward a bit--engagement, marriage, two precious babies {both breastfed}. I'm now 36 years old with a laundry list of aches/pains, arthritis, carpal tunnel, fatigue and thyroid issues. That said--I live a full and happy life. My husband is my best friend, my children are adorable handfuls--ages six and four. I have an amazing extended family. I am truly blessed.

And the plain and simple truth is I want these implants out. I have learned, through a very expensive lesson, that I was beautifully designed by my heavenly father, and these implants have done NOTHING to improve my self-worth, confidence or appearance. I choose health and happiness. I don't want to live my life having repetitive surgeries to fix/lift/repair implants. I don't want any interference with mammograms. I don't want to tell my daughter that she's indescribably beautiful while implants are inside of me. I don't want to teach my son that a women's value is based on her appearance. I have changed, and I'm so HAPPY to be at this point in my life where I don't need or WANT implants any longer.

I am scheduled for a consult with Dr. Melmed in Dallas on November 26th, surgery to follow the next morning. I do not yet know if I will need a lift, but suspect that I might.

Bottom line--I am just so thankful to the women here for their candid honesty and their courage. I'm hopeful that the next few weeks of my journey--chronicled here--will help someone, too. More soon . . .