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POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal REVIEWS

Bilateral Removal of Breast Implants in Relation to Capsulectomy -NHS GB

ORIGINAL POST

I am 58 years old and I have had the implants (Dow...

Lima girl
WORTH IT

I am 58 years old and I have had the implants (Dow Corning) for 32 years. They became encapsuled almost straight away and I thought then that this was normal. Of course I have learnt since that this is quite common. I was a 32A-B quite flat chested and with the implants I became a 34B. I could say that I regretted having them almost straight away as I never felt quite comfortable with them. I had one more child after the operation and I managed to breastfeed succesfully for 6 months. I know they need to come out as they are not meant to be there forever! I am slightly nervous but hopefully everything will turnout well. It is very reassuring to read all your comments on the subject and it is interesting that more ladies of my age group are having explants now.
Thank you all for your reassuring comments.

Lima girl's provider

NHS

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NHS is a Health provider in the UK. My doctor was Mr. Agustine Akali, he is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon, he works for the NHS and privately with Restore Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, www.restoresurgery.com

Replies (15)

April 9, 2013
Hey! Congrats on getting your date set. I am sure it must be a huge weight knowing that you are explanting for good. Please keep us updated and I wish you all the best for your surgery xx
April 10, 2013
Hi uk32e, I will definitely keep you all updated. It will be great to have what feels like a huge weight off my body. Thank you [RS bleep]
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April 9, 2013
hi. so how many revisions did u have? why didn't u like them? do u have saline? good luck :)
April 10, 2013
Hi Eceli84, I had the implants put in 1981 and not much was known then about the long term effects or complications or so I was told by my ps. The surgery was ok but the implants became encapsulated straight Away . On that basis I would not recommend this type of surgery to anyone who might be considering it. They feel hard but I feel some soft tissue over them so hopefully It will not be too thin after the explant. The implants are silicone. I hope you find this information useful.
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April 11, 2013
so you have had them in since 1981? i just wonder if mine will last as long..i hope they Dont get calculated as quick :(
April 9, 2013
Hey Lima--this site has been such a wonderful source of support for me and so many of us. I started this journey online last month as "Undecided Texan" because I was exploring the idea of explantation but not sure I was ready. Through reading so many stories of women who have not only gone through the surgery but have excelled in their lives as a response to the surgery, I am no longer undecided. In fact, I am incredibly excited at the journey ahead. I'm fine with going back to being tiny-breasted and being my natural self again. I do think that as we age (I'm 56), we gain self-confidence and our priorities also shift to health and wellness. Best of luck to you!!
April 10, 2013
Hi Texan, I have been thinking about this for many years but always put it at the back of my mind. Having feedback from reading all your stories has been very helpful and it means we are not alone and can share stories and show solidarity when needed. I too am excited at the prospect of being small breasted and just me again. Best wishes to you!
April 11, 2013
Thanks, Lima! I think it's pretty cool that we are a community of women taking charge of their bodies.
April 10, 2013
Welcome Lima Girl. I am only on my 5th day explant with lift and so thankful for this forum. We are excited to have you join us and share your journey.
April 10, 2013
Hi Sandalpalms, I hope all is going well with your operation. I am only having an explant, I don't have much breast tissue for a lift. I just hope that after all this years I have a bit more tissue than I had before! Best wishes.
April 10, 2013
Hi Lima ! Welcome to this site. We are all here with the same goal in mind And I know you will enjoy reading the posts and will learn so much from the ladies. Everyone is in a different stage of the explant process so you can see what's ahead. I have not explanted yet, my date is June 5 and. I am so ready. I can't be off work until June. I have had implants since 1974. I think at some point we all are worried about what we will look like After explant. I don't think I would have the courage without the women sharing their strength and experience. Best of luck to you and so glad you are here!
April 10, 2013
Hi Nanat65, I have been reading to perdition all your reviews and it is helpful to know more or less what to expect, I have had the same implants for 32 years so I am hoping that they are not going to be too calcified. On Monday I am going to see my PS for a pre-operative assessment and I have so many questions to ask! thank you for your kindness.
UPDATED FROM Lima girl
9 days pre

I had my pre-operative assessment on Monday. They...

Lima girl
I had my pre-operative assessment on Monday. They tested my blood, MRSA swab, BP 120/66, BMI 22 (the NHS will not carry out this operation if you are over a BMI of 25, smoker),etc. I will have general anesthesia so I have been asked not to eat after midnight the night before, I can only have some sips of water that morning, luckily I am not a very hungry person first thing in the morning, I have to be at the hospital at 7a.m on Monday 29th. I have been asked not to put on any creams or perfume after my shower. The nurse told me she thought the operation would take 2-3 hours, I have had my implants for 32 years and the PS is performing a capsulectomy. I hope he doesn't struggle too much getting the capsules out. I have been watching videos on u-tube so I know what to expect. When the PS take them out, on the videos, they seem to be very thorough so that is a relief. I am confident that my PS will do a good job. They have also been removing a lot of implants lately because of the PIP health scare, so they must have gained more experience too. I can't believe anyone wants them replaced.
I am wondering what to eat the night before. I had general anesthesia 20 years ago for another operation and I was very sick afterwards and they had to keep me in overnight. The doctor said I wouldn't be spending the night at the hospital but the nurse thought differently. It is a multi- disciplinary team so we'll see. Whenever I have been treated at the NHS they have been very good and molly coddled me! I am very grateful that we have this great institution in the UK. I am also looking forward to sharing my experience with all of you. Thank you very much for your support girls!! X

Replies (12)

April 20, 2013
Good luck on your upcoming surgery. I am 56 and had my implants for 28 years..removed one week ago. I am so happy they are out. Sounds like you have a good plan for surgery. Just eat light the night before. Let them know you get sick from general anesthesia, they can give you something in your IV for that. Don't worry...you will do great. Will be thinking of you!
April 21, 2013
Thank you!! I think I will make myself a nice home grown veggie soup. I have IBS and it is playing up lately, as the time for the operation gets nearer. There is no doubt that stress worsens it. I get diarrhea and sickness. It started 8 years ago. Before the menopause I would have a bit during menstruation, so I think it may be hormonal. Having said that I feel well, I don't have hot flushes or any menopausal symptoms and I don't take hrt. I don't have any aches or pain in my body, thank goodness but occasionally, 2 or 3 times a year get a very bad migraine on waking and I have to inject with Imigran because I can't take any medicine by mouth, I am sick. If I don't take the medicine I end up at a hospital on a drip because I become dehydrated from all the sickness!! So I don't display the symptoms some women with implants complain about. I will have to wait and see if there is a link, time will tell. I will ask the anesthesist to take it into consideration. In England you meet the anesthesist and go through medication, etc., on the day of the operation, I should think it is the same in the U.S. Thank you for replying. X
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April 21, 2013
I had mine removed last Nov. at 55 yo., I am now 56. I had mine for about 24 + years. Removing them was the best decision I ever made. I feel great, feel like I look pretty good (always wear a bra! :) ) My shape turned out much better than I predicted since I had them so long and I am not "young". Just remember, you are not "20", and breasts are SUPPOSED to sag a bit. We just forgot since we had implants! Good luck!
April 21, 2013
You are another success story!! I am so glad for you that everything's gone well and you look so well. You had plenty of breast tissue there and you look youthful. Well done!!
April 21, 2013
Yea! You're getting so close--I'm sure you'll do well and we'll be thinking about you on that Monday morning.
April 21, 2013
Thank you for your kind thoughts and wishes. X
April 21, 2013
Hi Lima. You will do just fine. I agree, the NHS is fantastic. I too was explanted by the NHS and was looked after really well. Not long to go for you now. Looking forward to hearing how you get on. Will be thinking about you. X
April 28, 2013
One more sleep! Will be thinking of you tomorrow. Let me know how you get on. [RS bleep]
UPDATED FROM Lima girl
Day of treatment

The word to describe how I feel is, joyful!! A big...

Lima girl
The word to describe how I feel is, joyful!! A big thank you, explant girls and realself for all the support and insights you have given me throughout my pre-op waiting time!!
Thank you to the NHS, my sweet P.S, lovely nurses and staff, everyone and everything went well, like a dream today, even though I have had an operation and I have now 2 drains attached to me until wednesday, the day after tomorrow!!
We arrived at 7 a.m, I had my pre-op conversation with the anethesist first thing, I told him everything relevant he needed to know, history of migraines with sickness, IBS, light asthma and Gerd. He asked me to take my asthma inhaler dose there and then, and I was given medication for sickness and Gerd. It is very important to have this chat with the anethesist. I went to the ward and was given a bed while I waited. I was put on compression stockings, disposable knickers and gown.
My P.S came to see me pre-op to mark my chest with a felt tip pen and he had a young doctor with him. He asked me if I had any questions to ask, well, I told him I had been educating myself on-line and he was so impressed with what I had to say and question that he said he would let me do the explaining and let his trainee doctor listen. He was bemused,LOL. He is really lovely, caring and willing to listen, I told him about Realself and that I have also watched a very well made video online made by a PS surgeon where he explains a procedure similar to mine step by step.
The operation started at 10.00 a.m., I was wheeled into the pre-op room where I was given an oxygen mask for 5 minutes while I was plugged into the monitors. They now strap the BP monitor to one calf and it aches quite a bit, like cramp, but it doesn't matter because you go under and you don't feel anything during the operation. They also strap a massaging strap on to the other leg calf to prevent DVT, that feels nice. The anethesist and nurses were so friendly and good at putting me at ease. He injected the brew and said you will soon feel as though you've had a couple of glasses of wine and go to sleep. Well, I haven't been drinking alcohol lately so I told him it would be sooner as I haven't been drinking alcohol lately, I had barely finished saying this that I was out!
Woke up at 10.10 a.m in the post operative room as if from a good night's sleep! with a nurse next to me asking me how I was. I felt fine, only some pain were the inciscion was made so I was given a few doses of morphine, little by little until I was pain free. They continued monitoring BP, temperature and they sent me back to my ward when they were happy everything was ok. I was still a bit merry from the cocktail, no sickness, not even a scratchy throat, although it felt very dry. I had plenty of water, a sandwich and of course, a cup of tea, I live in England!! The English are so sweet, they always offer you tea, on any and every occasion and event in your life, even straight after childbirth.
I was seen again by my PS after lunch and he was pleased that he had found more breast tissue than we thought there might be. Post menopausal fluff or fat? I am 5.5ft tall and weigh 54k, not a lot more than when I was 27 years old, maybe 2k more.He told me both had ruptured but luckily within the capsule so no silicone had leaked into my chest. He took the two capsules out entirely, this is why my operation lasted 2 hours Phew!! They are Dow silicone. I forgot to ask him for their measurement! I have gone from 34B to A. There is zero blood coming out at the moment and I have just checked, relieved to see I have lost serum, blood equally on each breast, 20ml, very little. I hope that's it.
My breasts look, to me normal, natural and ok, what is most important is I love them!, understanding that I need to be patient and wait for things to settle down. I will post pictures tomorrow. I decided it would be better to take them in daylight which doesn't create shadows like my pre-op pictures. My M&S high impact sports bra compresses them well too. As a matter of fact it even feels better to me than the Macon and it is nearly half the price. I will get another one.
I was discharged and told to contact immediately should I notice any signs of infection or changes.
It is now nearly 14 hours after my operation and I am pain free. They offered me to take home codeine or tramadol but I don't like how I have felt in the past withe these so they told me to take Ibuprofen instead. I have taken 2 ibuprofen now in case I wake up in pain tonight. It is bedtime here now so goodnight to you all!! X

Replies (25)

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April 29, 2013
Hi Lima girl, Thoughts and prayers are with you. Wait til you see how happy and healthy you feel. Take good care of yourself and we will hear from you soon!
April 29, 2013
Hi Lima Girl, hope your day went well. We are all anxious to hear details on your surgery - be sure and take it easy!
April 30, 2013
Hi Nanaat65, I will be thinking of you on your day. Don't be too anxious, I know it is better said than done, I feel very well, so well I have to remind myself that I have had surgery, I am taking it easy too. Take care X
April 29, 2013
Hope you are resting well Lima Girl. Let us hear from you when you are up to it.
April 30, 2013
Being a good girl and resting so far. Great chance to catch up on some reading too! thank you X
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April 29, 2013
Congrats, Lima girl! Welcome to the natural side! :-)
April 30, 2013
Thank you Nervous Girlie, feel so much better now!! X
April 29, 2013
Good luck thinking of you [RS bleep]
April 30, 2013
Lisa, you look fabulous!! Thank you!!