Breast Implant Removal: Stories

Hello--I always (always!) thought that I wanted big breasts. After I had my two children (and knew I was not going to have any more) I got 360cc saline implants (under the muscle) in March of 2000. Before implants I was a 34B/36A. After implants I was a 34D and am now a 36D. I never breast fed with implants (I nursed my first child for 6 months while my sencond child wanted nothing to do with it). I am about 15 pounds heavier than I was when I got the implants in 2000. I will be 42 in July, I'm 5'3 and weight about 143lbs. I have been considering removal for about 6 years now; I feel that I look heavy and shorter. I run/exercise and the weight and bulk are not comfortable. I always have to buy L/XL tops (my bottom is an 8). I also think my posture is worse than it was before. I feel really embarassed by them---like they scream "HELLO IM FAKE".

I never (never!) wear clothing that is tight or revealing. I tend to wear tunics and babydoll styles--which probably in reality, add weight to my frame too. I hate when my kids come to cuddle with me or lay on my chest and I literally have to physically shift my implant to they can lie down. with all that being said, I am TERRIFIED of how I will look once they are gone. My PS thinks that I will look "pretty much like I did before"..especially since I have gained weight..I have "lots of natural breast tissue"...aka fat..lol! I just called the doctor's office and they have an opening for Tuesday 22 May. Good thing is I don't have time to worry about things too much bad thing is not having enough time to worry! (if that makes any sense). I must say that this site has been a life saver for me--I'm obsessed with explants at the moment. Seriously, my family is sick of hearing about it--"get them out already!" they tell me. So....any thoughts or advice will be reatly appreciated! Thank you all so much. I will try and post pictures tonight...

Surgery is tomorrow and I keep having freakouts. It's taking all my strength not to cancel my removal. I know I want the implants out, but I am so worried about how I will look without the implants in....UUGGGHHHHHH

Wow! Just saw my front view picture online---they look huge! LOL From the side not so bad..maybe its a bad angle or zoom..LOL

Well, I'm back to work today. This surgery/recovery has been very easy so far; took Tylenol the first day but nothing since. Surgery itself was quick; in and out. I went ot my sons baseball game that night, took it easy yesterday and today here I am at work. My breasts are VERY deflated up top. Saw doctor yesterday and they seem to think I will look fine once everything firms back up--I'm not so sure. I think I may have to make some sacraficial plea to the fluff fairy at this point..lol. I will post more pictures soon. They aren't bad I guess, just not very pretty right now. All in all, I still have breast tissue and may end up being a 36Bish. I have been told that I look like a: I lost weight and B: I look petite. Don't regret the surgery as I knew what I had was way too big---might have to wait and see what my next step will be if any as I contiue to heal. AGAIN THANKS TO EVERYBODY for their genuine support and empathy--couldn't have done this without you all! Sincerely!

Well, today is day 9 since explant. Things seem to be going well---looking better and better with each passing day. I did have a freakout at day 4 post explant---I was trying on bras and was having a hard time finding anything that would fit me. I had a bit of indenting in the upper breast area but they seem to be filling in (slowly). I also went through my closet and had to get rid of just about all my tops; this is a good thing but it actually was sad to me seeing all the clothes that I had to give away. I am posting new pictures but I swear my camera seems to make things look bigger than they are--right now I'm about a 36B/C (not a full B/C just a regular/deflated size). I am still in my pressure bra (which leaves marks on my chest as you can see in the pictures--the marks aren't streachmarks or anything just, marks from the bra). Yesterday was the first day I thought, "these are actually kinda cute". I am hoping that once I'm all healed, they will look fine and I won't see a need for a lift. When I flex or lift my left arm, the left breast shows where the muscle is not attached but I'm hoping that will heal too (in time). All in all, I am enjoying having the implants out and don't regret my decision.

Well, it's been almost 2.5 months since explant. I have been trying to post pictures but I got a new phone and it keeps telling me the file is too big to send (still working on it). So far, I think the shape has sprung back rather nicely. BUT bra shopping has been a royal pain in the butt! I'm not really a specific size--I have 36C, 34C, 36B, a 38B a Large and a Medium; believe me, I have tried on so many bras that it irritates me now and makes me wonder if I should have gotten smalled implants instead (for fullness). My friends with natural boobs say they have the same issues finding bras and there isn't a "one size fits all". What else....oh yes, I have a fold in one of my areola's---like it was stretched out and when the implant came out, it folded. I have an appointment with the PS next week to check it again--initally he thought it was scarring and has had me rubbing it for a month now---I don't think that has helped at all. Now I have to decide if the fold bothers me enough to pay another 2k$ to fix it---(it's a 2k$ OR visit fee regardless of procedure)--unless he can tweak it under local which I would much rather prefer then it would probably be cheaper. With the fold it makes my other areola look a bit larger than the other (nobody else could probably tell the small size difference but to ME, I can tell). Also, I still can see the muscle dis-attachement when I flex--which I'm assuming will never go away--oh well thats no biggie. Other than that, I enjoy wearing smaller tops and sleeping on my tummy! I will try and post new pictures soon.

6 Months: So far so good; definitely don't look as bad as I thought they would. Still having issues with fold in my areola (makes my other one look big in comparisin because it is pulled tighter). Just waiting a few more months before I get the revision/loosen the tethered scar. I do wish they were a bit larger (36B/depending on bra now) and I still have muscle seperation (seen when flexed)/slight "dents". I have thought about betting a smaller implant but it's really not that big of a deal. I will wait and see if they can fix my aerola (PS wants to wait as close to a one year post op before he does anything. Plus side: less back pain, people say I look thinner, etc. Buying bras is still a challenge---I have to try on many, many styles and sizes before I find one that fits. What I wish I knew before: maybe to have the implant removed from under the breast instead of through the areola scar--seems that people who have removal through the areola have tethering/caving in/etc. And now, I willl face another surgery (hopefully under local) to loosen that scar. I guess we will see~ I don't think they changed much/or fluffed more since the first or second month. *trying to load a picture but not letting me at work..will do it later*

So...I still have the fold and uneveness in/around my areolas. Saw PS last week and he said to fix the fold he would a. cut a piece from my butt and remove the skin and place it in breast (NO!) b. put in new implants that have to be bigger to stretch the areola out (still NO) or c. liposuction and fat graft.--all of which may not fix my issue. I'm not a doctor but it just seems like such an easy fix to me..lol..but what do I know?. I cried out of disappointment. I have two more consults with other PS next week for a second and third opinion. I'n the end I may just have to live with my current areola state--which I'm not happy about since I'm really embarassed by them. I'd never let anyone see them (I barely let my husband get a glipse). Overall, I don't mind my size and shape after removal. Turns out I'm about a 36B--BUT still have to try on a ton of bras to find ones that fit me (I hear that's normal). Just don't know what to do. I would like the fold gone and some of the bottom of the other to be reduced. Even thought I could live with the larger if the fold was gone in the other---maybe tattoo the smaller one to make it match the larger one?. I guess I'm getting nit-pickey but---what the hell, being vain is what got me in the situation in the first darn place! Ugh...what I would give to have just appreciated my old beautiful breasts and not to have gotten implants:) Thoughts? Suggestions?

So, as much as I'd like to say the scar on my areola doesn't bother me--it does. I am scheduled for a tweak on 10 May---they are going to unteather the right side and are going to make the left side match in size--"since I'm there". I do have a fear that I just might be making things wrose but, but aside from the areolas, I really like the shape and size I turned out being---36B which is pretty much what I was before (unless I was really thin, a 36A---which I probably won't ever see again and that's fine with me too...lol). I will post pictures of the after when it's all said and done. Again, thanks for all the support and I'm hoping my journey helps somebody like all of your's have helped me (and still do!).

Well, I went in Friday afternoon at 1 PM and left the doctor's office at 345PM. PS initially thought we would be done in an hour---BUT there was a bit more work to be done than he thought. I had my scar revison done under local which was a piece of cake! Honestly, wish I had the implants taken out under local instead of general (would have saved alot of $$)--it was really simple and painless. He said the tethering was mostly scar with a bit of a dent. He used/"manipulated" my own tissue to fill in the small dent---not a fat graft but sutures inside the breast itself. He also did the same on theleft although he said it wasnt nearly as bad as the right. I am all taped up right now and will be for a week so I can't see them. I do know he measured like crazy and even sat me up to see how they looked. Dr. Ashby did my revision and seemed to be a perfectionist--really taking his time. I guess we will see when all the tape comes off. He did suture, glue and tape them--not sure why but that is just his procedure I guess? I felt a little burning around 11PM and took two Tylenol--that was all the pain I experienced. I will send pictures as soon as I can. And again, if you are having a basic/simple removal...please consider local (I'm a baby and it was so simple and not painful at all).