POSTED UNDER Breast Augmentation REVIEWS
44, Nursed 3, Explant Only, Continuously Bound - Frisco, TX
ORIGINAL POST
RealSelf helped me so much in my decision to...
TxKelJuly 1, 2014
WORTH IT$2,000
RealSelf helped me so much in my decision to explant (remove implants). Had to write my experience. I hope it helps someone.
BACKGROUND: was 25yr old, size 34 b. Wanted them bigger. Husband tried to talk me out of it. (He's the smart one) Got McGhan 330cc mid profile, smooth round, implants, overfilled to 360. Put in under the muscle, inserted through the armpit. I cried every night for 6 months post. Dr said my skin and muscles were so tight it was the hardest insert he'd ever done. I swelled and bled internally. Overall a bad experience. The one on the left never 'dropped' into the pocket. It stayed almost touching my collarbone. I was scared to go through another operation to fix it. I also wanted the best chance of nursing my 'future' kids and I felt another operation would be risky for nursing. (plus the fear of the recovery from the first operation.)
TODAY: I am 44 yr old and done having children. I nursed 3 kids for 10 mo each. I did have problems with the left producing enough milk. The left one never dropped and both seemed to keep getting firmer. The right one looks great. Can't believe how good it looks after nursing 3 kids. But the left one is terrible. I can't wear tank tops (but I do since I am in TX) without looking funny. Bathing suits are a nightmare. Bra shopping is horrible!
BACKGROUND: was 25yr old, size 34 b. Wanted them bigger. Husband tried to talk me out of it. (He's the smart one) Got McGhan 330cc mid profile, smooth round, implants, overfilled to 360. Put in under the muscle, inserted through the armpit. I cried every night for 6 months post. Dr said my skin and muscles were so tight it was the hardest insert he'd ever done. I swelled and bled internally. Overall a bad experience. The one on the left never 'dropped' into the pocket. It stayed almost touching my collarbone. I was scared to go through another operation to fix it. I also wanted the best chance of nursing my 'future' kids and I felt another operation would be risky for nursing. (plus the fear of the recovery from the first operation.)
TODAY: I am 44 yr old and done having children. I nursed 3 kids for 10 mo each. I did have problems with the left producing enough milk. The left one never dropped and both seemed to keep getting firmer. The right one looks great. Can't believe how good it looks after nursing 3 kids. But the left one is terrible. I can't wear tank tops (but I do since I am in TX) without looking funny. Bathing suits are a nightmare. Bra shopping is horrible!
UPDATED FROM TxKel
14 days post
Getting them out
TxKelJuly 3, 2014
DR CHOICE:
Finally I met with a plastic surgeon(ps) and an OBGYN who does breast augs. Amazingly both were almost the same price. Both said I'd be unhappy without a lift after getting implants removed. Both were recommended highly by other Dr's. The big differences were: 1)-The PS said I needed a capsuletcomy (removing the scar tissue around the implant) and I had to be put completely asleep. Plus he would do the lift at the same time. 2)The OBGYN said it would take 2 surgeries. First one to remove the implant, 2nd to do a lift. Only the 2nd would I be asleep. (Both operations totaled almost the same as the other Dr. doing it all at once.) 3) The PS felt there was a thick capsule around the implants, stage 2 on the right and stage 3 or 4 on the left. But he never asked how full my implants were filled. The OBGYN said he didn't feel any capsules and asked a ton of questions about my implants. He knew they were overfilled to begin with and said that is why they were so hard.
DECISION:
I have a fear of being put asleep. I wanted to be awake. Plus I liked that obgyn Dr recommended 2 operations so we could look at my real breasts 3 months after removing the implants. We could see how much of a lift I needed and how I felt about how I looked. I opted with the OBGYN. Dr Greenberg has a lot of training and about 1/2 of his practice is doing cosmetic surgery.
In the end Dr Greenberg was also a bit less money because he wasn't putting me all the way under and he wasn't removing the capsules. ($2000)
BINDING:
I did a ton of research online. I found an article online that said many women in other countries use binding after pregnancy to make their stomach flat and after breast feeding. Also they bind after surgery. But, they bind for 6 months. That's how long most feel it takes for the connective tissue to pull the skin/fat/muscle back together and tighten up. I talked to both Dr's about this when I met with them. Both said they had never heard of binding acting like a 'breast lift'. In my mind it was 'binding' vs. 'a surgical lift'. What did I have to loose with binding? Nothing... and much to gain. The Dr was happy to order one for me $20 and put it on after surgery. (I wish I'd ordered 2, so I'd have a backup, since I wash them daily)
SURGERY:
I was told I'd be in surgery less than 1 hr. Dr Greenberg would make a cut, pop the implants, then pull them out. But, that's not what happened. Since I was awake I could ask questions and knew everything that happened. First of all my first Dr. put the implants under more muscle than was expected. That's why they looked great and never moved. But, that means a lot more tissue to cut through to get them out!!! (And a lot of muscle to reconnect afterwards) He had to keep putting in more local and eventually just used a 'pump' to pump the numbing medicine all through my chest. He had to dig out both implants. It was not a good experience for either of us!! It took him 2 hours. The one on the left that was up next to my collarbone was somehow attached to the muscle that wraps around/under my armpit. It was very difficult to get out. I'm happy I had a Valium before surgery or I'd be in a mental ward! :)
POST SURGERY:
Normally someone shouldn't take so long to recover. But I felt like I had been beaten with a baseball bat. I was so sore! I took pain pills for 2 days straight and had a hard time sleeping on my back. I was also very weak in my chest muscles. I couldn't pick up a plate out of the dishwasher!
Fortunately my oldest child was a huge help and did everything for me. My first few showers were really hard and I was on the couch a lot for about 2-3 days.
I was so happy to have my binder!! Every time I removed it my breasts hurt and were so sensitive! The skin couldn't even handle the shower water hitting it! I marked the binder where the Dr tightened it to and kept it at that spot.
At about 1 week I felt I was about where most people are at about 3 days post. I could leave the binder off if I wanted. But I also read online that the binder helps the pockets heal back together and keeps fluid from getting trapped in the pockets. It also pushes any fluid out of the chest area. (The Dr rinsed out both areas with an antibiotic solution, so I had a lot of fluid in my body.) The fluid is all pushed down, into my abdomen. It looks like I'm 5 months pregnant! I was told this takes about 6 weeks to go away.
Look at the photos I posted. I can't believe how much my breasts lifted each week! I think its because of the binder! Even week 1-2 they have evened out so much! In the 2 wk post photo see how pregnant I look! That's about 1/2 the size my stomach was after surgery.
Overall, I noticed my breast tissue is all below the nipple. I look fine from the front, but the side view you can see all of the volume is gone. I'm still really happy I got them out! Its something I never have to think about again! I'm guessing I'm a 34 A or B. Every store has great bras! I also have much nicer cleavage!! I can now push them together! Sadly I have to wait for 8 weeks to go bra shopping. The Dr wants to make sure the incisions don't get rubbed and cause any scar tissue. So I'm in soft sports bras that don't touch the incision. I also put round cotton pads on the incisions to make sure nothing rubs them.
Today I'm 2 weeks post. My incisions itch and ache a lot. When I push on where the pockets were I can hear a popping/crackling noise. I think this means the pocket hasn't attached back together. This keeps me motivated to keep the binder on. Going to meetings and such is a bit hard. I wear a bra over the binding and pad it a bit so I'm not so flat and my clothes look a bit better. I'm not sure I can mentally make it 6 months being bound. That's a long time!! But I really believe it helps!!
Finally I met with a plastic surgeon(ps) and an OBGYN who does breast augs. Amazingly both were almost the same price. Both said I'd be unhappy without a lift after getting implants removed. Both were recommended highly by other Dr's. The big differences were: 1)-The PS said I needed a capsuletcomy (removing the scar tissue around the implant) and I had to be put completely asleep. Plus he would do the lift at the same time. 2)The OBGYN said it would take 2 surgeries. First one to remove the implant, 2nd to do a lift. Only the 2nd would I be asleep. (Both operations totaled almost the same as the other Dr. doing it all at once.) 3) The PS felt there was a thick capsule around the implants, stage 2 on the right and stage 3 or 4 on the left. But he never asked how full my implants were filled. The OBGYN said he didn't feel any capsules and asked a ton of questions about my implants. He knew they were overfilled to begin with and said that is why they were so hard.
DECISION:
I have a fear of being put asleep. I wanted to be awake. Plus I liked that obgyn Dr recommended 2 operations so we could look at my real breasts 3 months after removing the implants. We could see how much of a lift I needed and how I felt about how I looked. I opted with the OBGYN. Dr Greenberg has a lot of training and about 1/2 of his practice is doing cosmetic surgery.
In the end Dr Greenberg was also a bit less money because he wasn't putting me all the way under and he wasn't removing the capsules. ($2000)
BINDING:
I did a ton of research online. I found an article online that said many women in other countries use binding after pregnancy to make their stomach flat and after breast feeding. Also they bind after surgery. But, they bind for 6 months. That's how long most feel it takes for the connective tissue to pull the skin/fat/muscle back together and tighten up. I talked to both Dr's about this when I met with them. Both said they had never heard of binding acting like a 'breast lift'. In my mind it was 'binding' vs. 'a surgical lift'. What did I have to loose with binding? Nothing... and much to gain. The Dr was happy to order one for me $20 and put it on after surgery. (I wish I'd ordered 2, so I'd have a backup, since I wash them daily)
SURGERY:
I was told I'd be in surgery less than 1 hr. Dr Greenberg would make a cut, pop the implants, then pull them out. But, that's not what happened. Since I was awake I could ask questions and knew everything that happened. First of all my first Dr. put the implants under more muscle than was expected. That's why they looked great and never moved. But, that means a lot more tissue to cut through to get them out!!! (And a lot of muscle to reconnect afterwards) He had to keep putting in more local and eventually just used a 'pump' to pump the numbing medicine all through my chest. He had to dig out both implants. It was not a good experience for either of us!! It took him 2 hours. The one on the left that was up next to my collarbone was somehow attached to the muscle that wraps around/under my armpit. It was very difficult to get out. I'm happy I had a Valium before surgery or I'd be in a mental ward! :)
POST SURGERY:
Normally someone shouldn't take so long to recover. But I felt like I had been beaten with a baseball bat. I was so sore! I took pain pills for 2 days straight and had a hard time sleeping on my back. I was also very weak in my chest muscles. I couldn't pick up a plate out of the dishwasher!
Fortunately my oldest child was a huge help and did everything for me. My first few showers were really hard and I was on the couch a lot for about 2-3 days.
I was so happy to have my binder!! Every time I removed it my breasts hurt and were so sensitive! The skin couldn't even handle the shower water hitting it! I marked the binder where the Dr tightened it to and kept it at that spot.
At about 1 week I felt I was about where most people are at about 3 days post. I could leave the binder off if I wanted. But I also read online that the binder helps the pockets heal back together and keeps fluid from getting trapped in the pockets. It also pushes any fluid out of the chest area. (The Dr rinsed out both areas with an antibiotic solution, so I had a lot of fluid in my body.) The fluid is all pushed down, into my abdomen. It looks like I'm 5 months pregnant! I was told this takes about 6 weeks to go away.
Look at the photos I posted. I can't believe how much my breasts lifted each week! I think its because of the binder! Even week 1-2 they have evened out so much! In the 2 wk post photo see how pregnant I look! That's about 1/2 the size my stomach was after surgery.
Overall, I noticed my breast tissue is all below the nipple. I look fine from the front, but the side view you can see all of the volume is gone. I'm still really happy I got them out! Its something I never have to think about again! I'm guessing I'm a 34 A or B. Every store has great bras! I also have much nicer cleavage!! I can now push them together! Sadly I have to wait for 8 weeks to go bra shopping. The Dr wants to make sure the incisions don't get rubbed and cause any scar tissue. So I'm in soft sports bras that don't touch the incision. I also put round cotton pads on the incisions to make sure nothing rubs them.
Today I'm 2 weeks post. My incisions itch and ache a lot. When I push on where the pockets were I can hear a popping/crackling noise. I think this means the pocket hasn't attached back together. This keeps me motivated to keep the binder on. Going to meetings and such is a bit hard. I wear a bra over the binding and pad it a bit so I'm not so flat and my clothes look a bit better. I'm not sure I can mentally make it 6 months being bound. That's a long time!! But I really believe it helps!!
Replies (1)
July 5, 2014
Thank you so very much for taking the time and sharing your journey with us :) your experience will help so many people looking to have this procedure!
UPDATED FROM TxKel
1 month post
5 wks post, bound 90% of the time
TxKelJuly 24, 2014
I'm still thrilled with my decision. I went to my final appointment. Dr is trying to talk me into a lift. I doubt I'll do it. I'd loose all breast tissue below the nipple. So where my nipple is would be the new bottom of my breasts. Basically I'd look as good in a bra as out of it. :).
I'm happy with how I look. They have lifted to so much!! I'm sure it's because I keep my binder on. I hope someone else reads this and knows how much it helps!
The knots from the stitches are starting to fall off. I still am sore where the incisions are on the inside. The binder gets rid of all soreness.
I still can't wear an underwire bra for another 4 weeks. This will make sure the incisions don't form scar tissue knots. I did wear a bra for a few hours on a date with hubby. I was sore afterwards. Right now I just wear soft sports bras.
Here are my photos. I added some of me in a bra. I'm a 34B. It took some work to find a few underwire bras that fit right. There is a lot of skin and I need a larger/more coverage triangle to hold everything. Basically a Full-Coverage bra.
The whole skin area is still really sensitive that a shower hurts just a bit. Forget about hubby touching them! :). He's so supportive and happy I got it done. He says he's like most guys, and likes big boobs to look at, but hated that they were cold and hard. Plus I have much better cleavage now and look thinner because my shirts fit right.
I'm happy with how I look. They have lifted to so much!! I'm sure it's because I keep my binder on. I hope someone else reads this and knows how much it helps!
The knots from the stitches are starting to fall off. I still am sore where the incisions are on the inside. The binder gets rid of all soreness.
I still can't wear an underwire bra for another 4 weeks. This will make sure the incisions don't form scar tissue knots. I did wear a bra for a few hours on a date with hubby. I was sore afterwards. Right now I just wear soft sports bras.
Here are my photos. I added some of me in a bra. I'm a 34B. It took some work to find a few underwire bras that fit right. There is a lot of skin and I need a larger/more coverage triangle to hold everything. Basically a Full-Coverage bra.
The whole skin area is still really sensitive that a shower hurts just a bit. Forget about hubby touching them! :). He's so supportive and happy I got it done. He says he's like most guys, and likes big boobs to look at, but hated that they were cold and hard. Plus I have much better cleavage now and look thinner because my shirts fit right.
Replies (15)
August 12, 2014
You don't need a lift they look good :)
August 13, 2014
Thanks! I think it's all because of the binding. Nope not doing any more surgery. So happy being myself. :)
August 13, 2014
What is binding exactly? Lol yeah I thought they looked great and like completely different breasts after the first pic. I'm looking at getting implants myself. But my breasts are deflated from pregnancies and breastfeeding.
August 13, 2014
:) there is a photo of me in a white wrap. It's basically a 10" wide elastic wrap that has velcro. Most dr who do implants will give you one for the first few days to help push the implants down into the pockets.
From what I read keeping bound for weeks helps the connective tissue reattach and "lift" breasts. But it needs constant pressure. I read many cultures do it after giving birth to reattach the abdomen too.
August 13, 2014
Hmm that's a good idea Ive still got a bit of baby belly lol I went through your pics. I must of missed that one? I'll look again lol I just know your natural results look amazing.
August 13, 2014
Oh ok I did see it I thought it was a surgical bra lol
August 14, 2014
Good question. I should have said why... I went for a mammogram and chatted with lady giving mammogram about rumors regarding implants. She verified what I read on the internet..... they should be removed every 10 yrs and replaced. There are controversial studies about the silicone negatively effecting the body, a mammogram can't see behind the implant, where cancer can grow. Don't ever get the silicone filled ones. If they ever leak there are controversial studies it can cause autoimmune symptoms and dimentia. Also the cases of the saline ones are silicone. Drs say the current implants are fine, but 10yrs ago Drs said those were fine too.
So, basically I decided there is so much controversy and I hate surgery, then why have them? Also the size I wanted would be the size I am in a bra. So it's just my vanity to look the same in a bra as out of one. For me I didn't like that. (Also all implants make you look like you have implants when you wear a low cut outfit. None look real)
August 14, 2014
That was a great response very descriptive I like details! Lol I read that too. Many PS are denying that but I think they are taught that implants are safe in school and probably told they will come.across many patients with problems blaming the implants and how to handle them. There is a book called the naked truth about breast implants. But the Dr. Who wrote it dr. Kolb still has breast implants. She says saline can be just as dangerous as the silicone but she has saline. She reccomends the type of implants she has. Smooth round saline allergen I think. I guess the textured ones can flake off into the body easier. But I have a while so I'm still going to do tons of research. I did a VBAC with my last two children (vaginal birth after cesarean) and before I did that I researched the heck out of it. I think women get too caught up in " looking good" so they over look things that could hurt them. Pain is beauty...
August 14, 2014
Great comment. I totally agree with you, more research really helps!
Everyone is different. A friend just had implants and it has completely changed how she sees herself and her life , for the better.
August 14, 2014
That's great. I'm pretty modest. I only really want want o show them off for my hubby. Lol and myself. As long as you know what you're getting yourself into right? But your results are beautiful all on your own
Replies (0)