POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal Reviews
Over 1 year later post explant in MA-no lift
UPDATED FROM bronwen72
1 year post
Over 1 year later in MA-with pics...
WORTH IT$2,800
What a year it has been! I just wanted to say thank you to all my "sisters" in this explant journey. There are so many more of you now than there was even a year ago. I had my implants removed March 27, 2013 almost 15 years to the day that I had them put in. It was such a long time ago when I had mine-in my 20s, single before kids and breastfeeding. As I got older (and hopefully wiser), I wanted to feel natural again and be rid of the saline bags that made me feel phony. Plus, I want to project a positive image to my 2 young girls.
The last year has been filled with ups and downs. I've gone through periods where I have been happy and content with my natural self and then will go through periods where I get stuck and get fixated on the breast thing again. I can do so much more with the implants out-I'm in a regular exercise routine and training for a 7 mile race this summer. I enjoy the natural bounce and the "divet" between my cleavage that I never recognized was there. The smaller size and feeling less feminine has waxed and waned.
I noticed I began to have more of the negative self-talk shortly before the 1-yr anniversary-did I do the right thing? Funny enough, I had a dream where I had implants put in and I remembered feeling SOOO disappointed in the dream that I had caved in to my vanity. Getting back on the website has been helpful periodically and I'm feeling back on track now. My marriage is stronger and my husband seems to have adjusted fine (based on our sex life) to the much smaller natural breasts. I no longer need to worry about hugging people, mammograms (such a breeze this time around!), feeling fake, and causing further injury to my body.
Has it been emotionally challenging-yes...it is worth it-YES!
Good luck to all of you :)
The last year has been filled with ups and downs. I've gone through periods where I have been happy and content with my natural self and then will go through periods where I get stuck and get fixated on the breast thing again. I can do so much more with the implants out-I'm in a regular exercise routine and training for a 7 mile race this summer. I enjoy the natural bounce and the "divet" between my cleavage that I never recognized was there. The smaller size and feeling less feminine has waxed and waned.
I noticed I began to have more of the negative self-talk shortly before the 1-yr anniversary-did I do the right thing? Funny enough, I had a dream where I had implants put in and I remembered feeling SOOO disappointed in the dream that I had caved in to my vanity. Getting back on the website has been helpful periodically and I'm feeling back on track now. My marriage is stronger and my husband seems to have adjusted fine (based on our sex life) to the much smaller natural breasts. I no longer need to worry about hugging people, mammograms (such a breeze this time around!), feeling fake, and causing further injury to my body.
Has it been emotionally challenging-yes...it is worth it-YES!
Good luck to all of you :)
bronwen72's provider
Replies (2)
UPDATED FROM bronwen72
2 months post
What a journey! What an eventful 6 weeks-surgery,...
What a journey! What an eventful 6 weeks-surgery, death in the family, family trip...I need to catch my breath.
CONs to Explant:
1) Adjusting to changing body image. I wasn't prepared for how little tissue I would have and the concavity of my upper breasts (found out after it was d/t fat atrophy from the saline implants-ugh!!).
2) Guilt and anger that if I had left my breasts alone, they actually might have been bigger on their own
3) Getting over disappointment and moving forward
PROs to Explant:
1) I'm free! No more worrying about people realizing I have implants and worrying about it every time someone hugs me, hug my kids, touch my chest, etc.
2) No more worries about them accidentally deflating at an inopportune time
3) No more worries about the trauma of mammograms
4) I now know what MY breasts feel like-wasn't always sure with the implants
5) After feeling a bit self-conscious, sex is great! Skin on skin minus the chest bags feels AWESOME!
Since I obviously didn't come to terms with body image before implants, I've started repeating a mantra every time I start to have negative thoughts..."I'm healthy, I'm feminine, I'm beautiful..." etc. I'm getting there, and I don't have to worry now what kind of role model I will be someday when my girls are older.
In the beginning, I needed this website every day, but I'm doing better now. It is reassuring to know that I am not alone.
Good luck to my explant sisters-it is worth the ride :)
CONs to Explant:
1) Adjusting to changing body image. I wasn't prepared for how little tissue I would have and the concavity of my upper breasts (found out after it was d/t fat atrophy from the saline implants-ugh!!).
2) Guilt and anger that if I had left my breasts alone, they actually might have been bigger on their own
3) Getting over disappointment and moving forward
PROs to Explant:
1) I'm free! No more worrying about people realizing I have implants and worrying about it every time someone hugs me, hug my kids, touch my chest, etc.
2) No more worries about them accidentally deflating at an inopportune time
3) No more worries about the trauma of mammograms
4) I now know what MY breasts feel like-wasn't always sure with the implants
5) After feeling a bit self-conscious, sex is great! Skin on skin minus the chest bags feels AWESOME!
Since I obviously didn't come to terms with body image before implants, I've started repeating a mantra every time I start to have negative thoughts..."I'm healthy, I'm feminine, I'm beautiful..." etc. I'm getting there, and I don't have to worry now what kind of role model I will be someday when my girls are older.
In the beginning, I needed this website every day, but I'm doing better now. It is reassuring to know that I am not alone.
Good luck to my explant sisters-it is worth the ride :)
Replies (5)
May 8, 2013
Thank you so much for your inspirational posting. The items in your pros and cons list are things that I'll keep in mind as I continue on my explant journey. I appreciate your honesty. Sounds like the past 6 weeks have been packed full of things to deal with. I hope that you can take a break and finally breathe!
May 8, 2013
I just posted on your wall about dealing with my kids. This has been my journey/burden, so I felt my kids were young enough to where it wasn't necessary to share a bunch of details with them. I hope I will have the opportunity to share when my girls are older...
May 8, 2013
I just read and replied to your post. Thanks so much! I really appreciate the insight.
May 8, 2013
Hey Bronwyn. So glad to hear you're adjusting well. It took a while to get my head round the new me as well. Onwards and upwards. As you say, we are healthy, we are beautiful and we are feminine. X
May 9, 2013
Glad to hear this is part of the explant process...just checked out your pics (I think I had seen them previously :) and am amazed at the changes over time. I never had much swelling, so I too worry about further shrinkage-especially now that I am working out again. "I am healthy, I am feminine... :)
May 8, 2013
Very powerful words, Bronwen--thank you! It is definitely a journey that most of us never thought we'd be making. And, as you pointed out, hindsight is definitely 20/20. I don't remember it ever being explained that the pressure of implants might cause our breast tissue to atrophy and maybe it's because the PS's and we, as patients, assumed we'd have these for life. Thank goodness we're taking these steps toward a healthy and natural life!!
May 9, 2013
I think we hear what we want to hear...I wasn't too worried about what would happen 10-15 years down the road-I just wanted bigger breasts (1998). Now, I think I was so determined with the explant, I rationalized any drawbacks. I'm hoping that now 15 years later, I really begin to accept and embrace my smaller self & begin to let go of the boob obsession. At least I'm not focusing on my thighs anymore! :)
May 9, 2013
It really is about taking the plunge and having faith in yourself,isn't it? I see this as a great opportunity for growth and hope that I adjust well, too!
May 9, 2013
Thank you for your update Bronwen! You've really summed it up well and the most difficult thing I've found is managing expectations. I have 7 weeks on Monday to go and I can't wait but the only thing I will miss is the size of mine so I'm hoping I'll do ok adjusting. I'm hoping the sheer relief of getting them out will be more powering that missing the size. I think also its difficult to determine how you're going to feel. I've felt there's endless possibilities! I've been hoping for the best, expecting the worst, but trying not to hope for the best too much incase I'm disapointed in what I have left arrrgh! Hehe. Thank goodness for this site. I do feel ready and much better in myself than when I first joined thanks to you lovely ladies. I'm sorry to hear of your loss too and I hope you and your family are doing ok under the circs. Much love and well done for coming so far xx
May 10, 2013
Perfect words...I'm healthy, I'm feminine, I'm beautiful. Keep up the positive thinking! The great thing about being in our 40's is confidence and wisdom. Big boobs don't make us sexy. The way you carry yourself and that happy look in your eye are what's attractive.
Replies (2)