My First Consultation with a PS - New Jersey, NJ

I have been thinking on removal since the day after my implant surgery. The day after my surgery I woke up with the worst pain I had ever felt and thinking what a huge mistake I had made. The fear of surgery, the fear of pain and the expense kept me from taking these things out of my body all this time, but I knew that one day I would put my 'big girl panties' on and I would have them removed. My hand was forced a couple of weeks ago. While taking a shower, I noticed that on my right breast I was back to a size 32A, what I was before my implant surgery. I felt happy, sad, and scared all at the same time. I have to admit, I liked the way I filled my dresses, blouses and swimsuits. there were times when I was very proud of my breasts. The job that the ps had done on me was beyond my expectations. I looked great, felt sexy and very womanly. The problem was that I knew one day they would need to be replaced or removed (that meant surgery), they were a problem to sleep with and they interfered with my mammograms and I have never been able to go bra-less, just a t-shirt in public again. I won't have the implants replaced, I feel that I'm done with that part of my life and I'm ready to go forward with out them. So now I have an appointment with a local ps who turned out to be sort of a celebrity in my town. I want to listen to his methods and plans. Then I have another appointment to see another ps, I'll listen to him as well. I want to see at least 3 different ps and then make my decision, since after reading around this site I've discovered that plastic surgeons have and/or prefer different ways at performing these surgeries. My goal is to find the one that can do the job, do it well, doesn't charge more than he needs to and makes me happy, bottom line.
So, I'll keep you posted, as soon as I know more, I'll say more. So far, I'm just praying that who ever I choose does a good job because I'm no picnic. If I'm not happy, I will allow NO ONE to be happy LOL :O)

I visited with two surgeons and I'm very hesitant. The ps who did my implants 19 years ago said he doesn't do removals only replacements. I was happy with his honesty, didn't expect less from him. Okay, my fault, I should have asked that question on the phone.

Second ps shocked me! Since the incision for my implants are in my armpits. The ps said, "I think maybe we can remove the capsule through the same incision." In my state of shock I made something like a choking sound, which embarrassed me, and I asked, "You THINK, MAYBE???"

At the end he corrected himself and said he was sure he could remove the capsule through the same incision under my arm, BUT if he had any problems, he would go in through the nipple. This is a director of surgery, mind you. I don't know what to think.

I have an appointment next week with another ps and things may have not started well already. I was told that a woman would call me shortly to talk financing with me. She took a while to call, but I figure it was okay. After all, I'm sure it doesn't matter much what she has to say, funding will still come out of MY pocket.

This woman did not talk funding with me at all, though. All she wanted to talk about was how I may not be happy with my 'sagging' breasts. She kept on repeating that I may look worse than I do now, my right breast may sag even more! Like somehow, removing my left implant will affect my right breast, "sag it, ripple it and stretch it even more than it is now" according to her. WTH??? How would she know what I look like?

I hit the roof. But I kept my cool (a little bit ;O) I explained to her that I've been living with the result of deflation on my left for over a month and I know what it looks like and it's not so bad that I should be freaking out. I said I know what I want and NO ONE can tell me more about my body and how it bounces back or not than me, thank you very much >:O( And that I will cross that bridge when I get to it, not before, and I will do it alone. I'm athletic and I have plans for my body. If that doesn't work, I'll deal with it.

Her damage control strategy was saying that she deals with a lot of women who don't know how to deal with how they look afterward and she has to help them. That the ps she works for is called the "breast doctor" for a reason, blah, blah, blah. Sounded to me like a desperate, used-car-salesman, cheap-scare-tactic used to manipulate me into replacing my implants $$$$$. Fear is one of the greatest motivator if not THE greatest of all. Maybe she makes a commission if she closes me on a replacement??? Could happen, I know dentist offices that pay the receptionists who double as salespeople.

I was really taken aback by the uncertainty I heard from the director of surgery in my town, my local ps. I was hopeful, since he's affiliated with a great hospital that I trust greatly already and where my surgery would take place :O(

Sorry for being such a pain, (LOL I warned you :O) and thanks for letting me vent. I guess I'm feeling the pressure now.

Scheduled for June