Breast Implant Revision: Stories

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Downsized from 400 to 220 and Swap to Saline This February! - Massachusetts, MA

  • posted 6 months ago
  • updated 27 days ago
  • Worth It
  • Cost: $3,605
  • Massachusetts, MA

Hi all, Some of you may have followed my other...

Hi all,
Some of you may have followed my other stories but I will do my best here to explain! I decided in 2011 to get my first breast augmentation. I started competing in figure competitions in 2010 and landed myself a spot in nationals in may 2011. That was my 5th (and last) time I wanted to compete. i always had a great self esteem and was totally in love with my body, but the bigger and bigger the competition, the more women I saw with even more perfect bodies, and more specifically, perfect breasts. The only breasts id seen in my life were porn breasts and competion breasts, asude from my mothers and sisters which were larger thab mine. Anyways, I lost weight fot my comps and I stopped the pill and switched to mirena all arpund the same time. My breasts went from a full B to a small b and the started to get muscle on top. It wouldnt have been too much of a problem I think if I didnt see so many other perfectly round full breasts, but I started to feel my breasts werent as attractive to me anymore. I guess whrn you submerse ypurself in that environment, it wears on you.

I booked some consultations with surgeons and explained that I had the money and want for surgery and that I wpuld like to be a large c small d. I felt that I always wanted bigger breasts and seeing my breasts shrink and learning I could do something about it, I finally decided, why not! Keep in mind, even though I always wanted bigger breasts, I never really wanted surgery. All these plastic surgery shows make it seem like its no big deal... Wow I was wrong!

I booked surgery for oct 2011 for 400ccs silicone gel under the muscle. The surgeon also mentioned a 'congenital deformity' that my breasts were slightly constricted meaning the distance from my crease to aereola was short. He said a fat trasfer to yhe breast wpuld helo add more volume and even my slightly assymetrical breasts out and stretch the lower portion of my breasts. I felt there was somethi ng wrong with me woth all the terminology used but felt that it wpuld yeild a better result so I booked the fat transfer too which entails lipp. I did not want lipo but could not get surgery without the fat transfer otherwise I would have an unfavorable result.

I had so much pain from surgery...NEVER GET LIPO! The recovery is terrible... Numbness in all lipo areas, burning muscles and sensitivity, soreness for months! You need ti wear a girdle thing for months! I wish I never did it but oh well. Since breast surgery, my implants are just way too large for me. I fit in nearly a DDD! I am embarrased yo workout feeling my breasts are huge and squished up into a cleavage party. They are heavy and I cant enjoy running. I became extremely depressed and wanted to remive them so many times. I spoke with my surgeon who suggested I wait at least 6 months to a year. My depression caused so mamy issues in my personal life and I almost lost my relationships over the severe stress. Things are much better now though, it has made us stronger... But anyways, I waited it out and still wanted them out but was very worried about what I would look like. I for some reason, cpuld not take them oit. I dony know, maybe I am just noy memtally ready. I thought long and hard and have decided to have a revision to go much smaller and switch to saline.

Dony get me wrong, my breasts look like a work of art but they are not for me. I yhink implamts arent for everyone. I am way larger than I asked for and even now, I wouldnt want to be a D! I also developed some lateral displacement, the lefy breast goes into my apit when I lean on something or lay down. I aldo want to switch TO saline.because after all the researvh ive done on my own, I am not comfortable with silicone in my body! Yes, they feel great, but the trafe off is not worth it, and heres why...

1. If there is a rupture the silicone gel can migrate to ypur nreast tissue and lymph modes which botj will have to be excised... I want ALL my breast tissue amd nodes if I have a.rupture thank you!
2. The only true cohesive gel implants available in the US are the sientra nrand which are anatomical textured and they feel as 'hard' as saline anyway!
3. Those implants can still migrate, although rare, I called yhe manufacturer. Also, the textured silicone can flake off and be carried to the lymphatic system by macrophages.
4. Since I eventually want the implamts put,the salime gives me yhe unique opportunity to see what my breast would look like should I have a rupture
5. Silicone contains platinum, which when found in oxidized states can be severely toxic to you. There was a test done by ernest lykissa that showed the platinum.level
s in women with silicone gel breast implants were incredibly high and it also showed it was t in the oxidizrd state causing depression, lung issues and many other atypical autoimmunr issues. I called ernest and asked him if there were any platinum in saline and he said no levels were detectable!

Needless to say, I just want them out. Its just a personal choice I feel more comfortable with. I cant wait for surgery, although petrified! Im scared of anesthesia amd I dont like change. These implants have given me nothing but stress amd I cannot enjoy them. Going smallet will give me the.middle ground I need to evemtually remove. The longer I wait, the more stretched my skin will be.

I am starting to think I may have some slight...

I am starting to think I may have some slight symmastia. I will bring it up to the surgeon next time I see/talk to him. I hope not though. Just more surgery I will need to deal with, which mean more recovery time,

Forgot to mention, Surgeon will only charge me hospital, anesthesia, and implant cost, that's why my price is lower. Also, sorry for all the typos before, it's from my cell phone.

Well.... this is news. Surgeon now told me I need...

Well.... this is news. Surgeon now told me I need to choose ONE implant size and sign off on that because he doesn't want to be responsible for my not liking the size. I am very frustrated and upset. I am not a surgeon, how can I possibly make that decision? I did not like the size of my chest right now, not the way they look, if that makes sense....Yes, they look beautiful, but the size is not for me. I cannot function with them the same as I used to. So I am not unhappy with the work, just the size, which yes, I think he picked way too large of a size. I wanted to be a large C small D and I am wearing a DDD! I was a B. From what I have read, if you pick an implant significantly smaller than your BWD, you will gain one cup. if you pick one the same, it will be two cups, if you pick larger, you can gain three or more cups... I guess I am much wider with my implants. Well.... this will be a stressful journey trying to find out the right size for me. ugh

Ive beeb having these crazy dreams about my boobs!...

ive beeb having these crazy dreams about my boobs! iI am not getting much help from my surgeon yet. iI emailed him last wednesday looking for clarification. iI calles the offixe last week and was informed iI may only choose one size to book surgery. thats not what iI understood from the last time iI cobsulted with the surgein so iI emailed him for clarification if its one or two sizes. iI cant make this decision on my own. iI really need help and its stressing me out. iI asked the doctors here on realself and most said stay within 200-240 range and do not go smaller. iI feel they are leaning towards the 220. iI just dont know if that will still make me feel large :( ahhh. iI wish iI knew what to do.

I booked my next meeting with the surgeon. I will...

I booked my next meeting with the surgeon. I will see him mid-end of January to work out all the final decisions on implant size, all my questions and book surgery. I have a tentative date for Feb 7/8 but really wanted it in January. Unfortunately, my appointment last week got cancelled, and I was hoping that that would have been my last appointment before preop and really hoped to book surgery that day for January 24 or 25. I guess I just have to keep waiting. I am sick of waiting :(

Hi everyone! Today I meet with my surgeon to pick...

Hi everyone! Today I meet with my surgeon to pick out size, go over some details of the surgery and finally and hopefully... book surgery! I have been trying and waiting to do this since October. Surgeon wanted me to get a mammo at his hospital, meet with a colleague of his to discuss sizing, think about my decisions, meet with him again to discuss size again, think about it more.. I mean its been taking forever. Last appointment I had got cancelled due to an emergency, so I had to wait three more weeks to come in and here I am! I asked if they could reserve a time for surgery on Feb 7th or 8th last time and they put it in their calendar but could not book at hospital, so I hope its not booked :( This has been a huge whirlwind. I put on a really tight halter top today to see how i looked... I look like a freaking porn star. Every guys would only be staring at my boobs. No wonder I have been trying my best to downplay them and hide them. I put the shirt back and chose a more conservative one. I have been wearing the same 20-25 shirts for about a year now! GRRR And I have so many cute clothes. They look too provocative and revealing with the size chest I have now.

Wish me luck!

So I met with my surgeon and we decided on two...

So I met with my surgeon and we decided on two sizes: 220 and 245 salines. Those are the overfilled volumes. Theyre moderate profile. He will choose one size in surgery that looks best. Surgery is book for this Thursday. Im soooo nervous i just want things to be right. I do have some early symmastia so he will place sutures there and I need to wear the thong bra. Hes also fixing lateral displacement. I imagine it will be painful :(

So I met with my surgeon and we decided on two...

So I met with my surgeon and we decided on two sizes: 220 and 245 salines. Those are the overfilled volumes. Theyre moderate profile. He will choose one size in surgery that looks best. Surgery is book for this Thursday. Im soooo nervous i just want things to be right. I do have some early symmastia so he will place sutures there and I need to wear the thong bra. Hes also fixing lateral displacement. I imagine it will be painful :(

I did it!!!!! Surgery went well ad surgein went to...

I did it!!!!! Surgery went well ad surgein went to 220 instead of 245!! Yay its hard for me to see them right because of bandages and the thong bra to fix some synmastia but im already over the moon happy....so happy I did it. Because I waited so long, I contemplated settling with the larger implants, but happy I pushed through and am finally on the other side :) I will take pics when im able. Pain is only about 50-40% of my first surgery. If I didnt have a lot of internal sutured for pocket work, or general anesthesia... Id probably br at 25% pain!

I am 9 days post op and so happy its over!! With...

I am 9 days post op and so happy its over!! With the implants, larger and moreso now smaller, I have noticed assymetry. I will get over it as it is normal for all.women to have assymetry, but it does bother me a little. I am still swollen from my surgery but put pics up for you. I prefer the smaller side size. I wish I actually couldve gone smaller, but, for this surgery it was as small as I could go. If I havr surgery again, I will probably do 150 or 175 if I can. If anyone is thinking about diwnsizing, I would do it! There was a lot if internal work and I am still sore, mainly on my left because he had to tighten the pocket and fix lateral displacement. I also had symmastia repair and wearing the thong bra...so uncomfortable its right on my incisions. I am so happy with the saline. Its very squishy!! I hope that my breasts will settle more evenly soon, I think right is sitting higher right now and I hope the assymetry is more from swelling differences. This time around was much easier recovery!!

Sorry.. here are the pics! I am bummed I notice...

sorry.. here are the pics! I am bummed I notice asymmetry. I know its natural. Do you think the amount of asymmetry I have is normal/? Am I a cup different? two? one half? I have no idea. My bra pulls to one side. I am just overly sensitive I guess. I hope someone can just reassure me about it. I am not looking to get anymore surgery at all... just would like to accept the differences in breast size :/

HI Ladies, Sorry its been so long since my last...

HI Ladies, Sorry its been so long since my last update. I am a few days away from removing my thong bra (fingers crossed!!) I havent put up any more photos because they are having a hard time dropping from the thong bra. The underneath band is very thick and preventing my boobs from dropping. I have seen a lot of change in the aseymmtry I mentioned before, they are getting close to being more symmetric. Although they will never be because one was always bigger..right after my downsize the left was much bigger. Anyway, I will post some pics when I feel there is significant change after the thong bra is removed. I am so pleased I moved forward with the downsize. I wish I could have gone to 130-160ccs range though. Oh well. I am still pleased im much smaller!! If you are struggling with your implant size and considering downsizing GO FOR IT!! You will be happy! I am also extrremely relieved having saline over silicone...no more worries for this girl :)
Great review?

My Doctor: Name not provided

original surgeon

Comments (49)

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Pinkice1313 11 Mar 2013
How are you feeling now? I'm supposed to have my surgery soon and now after reading people's explant stories I'm not sure what to do.
Sgfit 11 Mar 2013
Hi! I am feeling so much happier. This was definitely the right decision for me, at this point in my life. What is your reason for wanting to explant v. Downsize? I just wasnt ready. I know when I am ready, it will be an easy transition. I do wish I went smaller, but, a few surgeons advised me I couldnt go smaller, otherwise they implants wouldnt fit right. I would have gone down another 75ccs probably.
Pinkice1313 11 Mar 2013
So happy you are feeling better about them. I actually had a reduction years ago and was a 36DD, and now since it has been so long I've long volume in them and they sag and I'm so embarrassed by them unless I have a push up bra on and I sleep with one on. I'm supposed to have implants was thinking 325cc but I'm so scared after all the stories I have read. I wish I could be happy with what I have but I'm not, mine look awful and I'm so small too I'm a 36A/32B.
Sgfit 11 Mar 2013
I would really think about your choice. if you ever remove, you wont go back to where you are now, it will effect your breasts more negatively. You can try changing your body image rather than changing your body, or if you need to di this, you can do fat transfer, or, get small implants. Its easy to ever go bigger. Surgeins are too distorted on whats too large. Dont forget why you go a reduction to begin with. I would stay closer to my size now for a modest look that will bring you to a c.
Pinkice1313 11 Mar 2013
That's true, I told him I just want my volume back and don't want to be top heavy again.
Pinkice1313 11 Mar 2013
And thank you :)
Smallerisokbyme 18 Feb 2013
Hi Sgfit, I just took a look at the pictures. I am glad you are happier with the new size. I did not notice asymmetry, but like me, I noticed the lower nipples due to the downsize. Mine are not perky now, but rather very natural, a little too natural for me. Also, I am beyond self conscious of the excess skin that hangs out of my bra and creates folds in my arm pits. I am actually considering getting close to my old size implants again. I know I won't like it, I feel like I have to choose between the two problems and I'd rather have the bigger breasts than arm pits similar to those of a 91 year old! Have you noticed any excess skin when you have your bra on or wear certain shirts?
Smallerisokbyme 18 Feb 2013
Hi Sgfit, I just took a look at the pictures. I am glad you are happier with the new size. I did not notice asymmetry, but like me, I noticed the lower nipples due to the downsize. Mine are not perky now, but rather very natural, a little too natural for me. Also, I am beyond self conscious of the excess skin that hangs out of my bra and creates folds in my arm pits. I am actually considering getting close to my old size implants again. I know I won't like it, I feel like I have to choose between the two problems and I'd rather have the bigger breasts than arm pits similar to those of a 91 year old! Have you noticed any excess skin when you have your bra on or wear certain shirts?
Sgfit 19 Feb 2013
Moreso excess fat lol. It bulges out. Im ok with it. Im.never getting larger implants again!! I would recobsider what youre saying...you might regret it iver something I cant even see in pics!
AudeeLee32 16 Feb 2013
Did u post new pics?
Sgfit 17 Feb 2013
Ugh I tried it wont work from my phone. Now I have to email them to me, download on my comp then try to upload from my comp. I will try soon.
Sgfit 17 Feb 2013
oK - Pics are up. Please read my update. Hope its just swelling, and adjusting. They are still bigger than I wanted, however, I hope I lose at least half a cup in swelling.
AudeeLee32 14 Feb 2013
Good for you! I feel the same...I am now 5'3" 107 lbs and a DD. I am getting a lift and replacing with a smaller implant. I have hated my large breasts since the day I got them. I am super anxious for a perky C breast. Please keep us posted as I am very interested in your journey. Hope you're feeling well!
Sgfit 15 Feb 2013
Thank you!! Im much happier
wantmysmallboobsback 14 Feb 2013
Congrats on the downsize like you Im scheduled for my downsize and lift Feb 19th and Im so ready. Congrats again Im sure you will be happy I know I will be so over these DD's!!
Sgfit 14 Feb 2013
I am.happy! I couldve gone smaller... Unless its from.swelling I still appear bigger than I wanted. I did not get a lift though.
Mandmelons 12 Feb 2013
Hi , I hope u feel ok after your surgery, I noticed on one of your comments that you had fat transfer and so did your sister and both of u ended up with cysts, I have recently had fat transfer to breasts and I am also a bit worried about this , can u tell me how long after surgery did the cysts develop
Sgfit 12 Feb 2013
Yes both....id say within 6 months? Dont exactly remember. Sorty you are.going through that. It can be painful abd woRrisome.
Laura R. 11 Feb 2013
Hey how are you feeling today? Have you had a chance to look? Do they seem a lot smaller? I am so excited to hear more about it and see them!!!!!!
Sgfit 11 Feb 2013
Ive looked! I have a thong bra and top strap and bottom strap so the are poking out like triangels right now haha. Im still sore in my incisions :( so much pain there. I love them.already. Theyre smaller and still swollen. Im.really happy. I say do it!!! I was worried the saline would feel firm but already they are soft!!!
ladyluck5 10 Feb 2013
FYI I am a fitness competitor too and would love to know did you have your placed over or under what was your doctors advice with regards to competing should they be under or over?
Sgfit 11 Feb 2013
I disnt want ivers because they stretched my skin more. The muscle supports it. I dont compe tre anymore but if you get unders, your muscles are usually cut. I was also small up top so unders look more natural. Unders may be harder fir bodybuilding because you ned to flex your pecs. Figure, not at all.
ladyluck5 10 Feb 2013
PLEASE HELP! hi girls anyone here able to give me their advice or oppinion? Two years ago I had surgery to repair cc in my left breast (which has never really gone back to its soft squishy state despite the cc correction) seems now I have to have surgery again this time for the right... Have your docotors discussed chances of cc with subglandular placement vs submuscular my doc seems to think its all the same but I am wondering if I would be better off since I am going under anyway to just place both under the muscle now? thoughts? fyi they are silicone implants from 2006 periareiola incesion Fyi I am tall but really small frame think my implants may be too big for my frame as my weight constantly fluctuates and when I am down i see rippling which I was told you wouldnt see with a silicone implant but I swear I do! also seem to have little ball like masses on outter edges of implant just slightly smaller than a marble dr says its caused by cc but that is on both breasts and according to him only my right breast has a cc now so why those ball like things? sorry for my long post and several ?s hope someone can help. SENDING you all love and healing for those having surgery and added confidence for those already sporting their new "friends" xo
Sgfit 11 Feb 2013
Sorry you are going through this. I wonder if your implants are ruptured and those balls are silicone? I recomend going to the Q&A section.for surgeons. I think unders may be helpful for cc but definitely helpful for ripllibg. You can get rippling with silicone, if he said no way thats false, its just less common. Smaller implants will help with riplling because then you have more natural tissue coverage. .i love my small implants!!
Smallerisokbyme 8 Feb 2013
Wow! You did it! Good for you! Your back and your boobs thank you, I'm sure! I hope the pain subsides! Are you taking prescription pain killers like Percoset or just Advil? I'm just trying to prepare myself as I imagine I'll be in the same boat. I don't miss having those giant things in me at all, but I just want to get them fixed properly like you! I'm going to be watching your page to see how you progress. Again, very happy for you!

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