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POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal REVIEWS

Love Hate Relationship Finally Over! - Sylvania, OH

ORIGINAL POST

Had silicone implants inserted over muscle for...

smallerchic
WORTH IT$4,300
Had silicone implants inserted over muscle for breasts that were uneven (one side 2 sizes smaller). I used to stuff my bras in highschool but waited until I had all our kids to get implants to make them more even. I didn't even try to go huge and I loved them while they lasted 15 years then disaster struck>severe itching and pain in one which was an "old dried up hemotoma">reinserted implants in larger size under muscle>seroma, slight nerve damage and scar tissue build up, revisions and back to over muscle...with smaller size>capsular contractures and rubbing on scar/nerve>smaller size AGAIN...after issues didn't go away with latest size adjustment, I decided to just GET THEM OUT! Now I can actually take a breath and move my arms and not have the implant move over the scar tissue/nerve area to zing me. Yea! Still very sore as they did liposuction on the breast that was larger to begin with as it's still larger now with the implants out. I read that others had fat transfer but hadn't seen too many who had size adjustments with liposucton.
I feel flat as a pancake and hope they will fluff out as others have stated they do. Hoping for a better future. Thanks to all who posted before as it really helped me make and stick with my decision. The nurses and anesthesiologist ALL asked me on the explant day WHY I just didn't want to try to go smaller again and "was I SURE" this was what I wanted, etc.

Replies (4)

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June 16, 2014
I'm so glad you're done with all the surgeries, discomfort, and inconvenience. Hoping the fluff fairy visits very soon!
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June 17, 2014
Wow, that seems like a really stressful experience. What did you tell the nurse and anesthesiologist? How are you doing now?
June 17, 2014
I told them I had "had a nice ride with the implants over the years" but it was now time to try to stop them from pulling, shifting, and being so annoying every time I moved, drove a car, picked up things, worked out, etc. After hearing all of that, one of the techs. did pat me on the back and say "Good for you to go for it". I'm going today to get the drains out and can't wait for that. Thanks for asking.
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June 18, 2014
Good for you! One of the techs during my week follow up, said,"I bet you are happy to have those off your chest". I said I am! I was grateful to have support in that office. Update us about your drain removal. :)
UPDATED FROM smallerchic
8 days post

Pics from first few days.

smallerchic
Exciting to feel lighter but conflicted feelings on how "flat" they look still. Drains pulling even though I tried to secure them better. Can't wait to get them out.
My husband is supportive but really anxious as to how "FLAT" I'm looking and I"m not anxious to go back to work and have everyone wonder "what happened to you". I can't figure out what type of bra to wear that's not an underwire and not going to make it look like all of a sudden, I'm totally flat???

Replies (4)

June 17, 2014
You poor thing! I was super asymmetrical too and had implant placed once over the muscle. I also had nerve pain but it doesn't sound like mine was as severe as yours. I had a full lift with my explant because my bigger boob had fallen off the implant pretty badly. I think you'll look really good once your skin retracts :) a lot of people really like the Bali bras, you can get ten at kohls. Soma also has a good underwire free bra that fits well. Congrats on being on the other side and wish you quick healing!
June 17, 2014
Them not ten! Lol
June 17, 2014
Thanks, Did your nerve pain subside and how long did it take?
June 17, 2014
The nerve pain was gone instantly from what I can tell (full lift and all). My right boob used to ache and my nipple used to just feel awful, it was painful in the way it felt awful to touch sexually or nursing wise and without a bra I would hold my boob up to put pressure on it to try to relieve the gross nervy feeling. That has been one of the greatest but strangest things, the fact that my boobs feel the same feelings wise and I don't have to hold it up to make it feel better.
UPDATED FROM smallerchic
9 days post

1 week mark-Drains out!

smallerchic
Yea, those dreaded drains came out! Not without a fight though as the left one where the liposuction was done on that breast REALLY hurt coming out and I actually yelled it hurt so bad. I did apologize and was glad I was in one of the back rooms. LOL The other one just burned a little but the left was terrible! But what a relief to not have those things hanging around all the time now. Next appt. in a week to get the sutures out.
My doctor was really nice and asked how I was doing emotionally with the removal. I told him it would take time to get used to the flatness as I hadn't expected to feel like some golfer tee'd up on my chest and made divots. He said they had to take lots of tissue out with the capsulectomy as there was so much scar tissue. Also that having had the breast implants for over 20 years would make a difference to the chest wall so I just had to give it several months or longer to see how everything shapes up. (just like others on this forum said:) I'm also feeling twinges from that nerve spot so not excited about that. Was hoping it would all just go away so hopefully time will heal that area too. At least now I know it's not from an implant constantly rubbing over that site. I also had a lump in the left upper side and thought that was a swollen lymph node but he said it was swollen as they had to suture some of my muscle back together at that spot from a previous cut or tear. Gees, what's up with that? But glad they fixed it.
My left breast is still really swollen and he said that would go down more. You can see from the picture how it is definitely larger than the right one. Just like old times, but hoping they even out more this time. Thanks for all of your support.
I'm getting some bras next so we'll see how that goes.

Replies (7)

June 18, 2014
Thank you for sharing this. I've had saline implants for 20 years now. No severe issues, but I do have one that itches like crazy! I've thought that it's just small hairs on my breast near the nipple. I've had mammograms...nothing wrong. The itching isn't every day, but pretty often. I also think it's a monthly hormonal thing. I am wanting to get mine out some day, because they really don't last forever and over these 20 years I do have some sagging and the areola is kind of pointing downward and much larger from stretching out. I'm 49 years old....I don't really care about having a proportioned body anymore, and just want my smaller breasts back! I'll probably need a lift and areola reduction. I was measured at Victoria Secret a few weeks ago for a bra and found out I'm a 32 DDD. That's CRAZY! When I had the surgery 20 years ago, I was a 34 C. I'm just sick of these heavy, sagging breasts. Surgery for lift and removal would be about $5800. I only paid $2700 for the implants! I had a great surgeon (now retired) and my breasts still look good. I'm just tired of them. How was your pain compared to when they put the implants in? How are you healing and how long does this usually take? I sure hope things progress as you hope. You seem to be doing really well! I wouldn't care at all what people at work might think. So what. Life is too short. It's your body and health and how YOU feel. Not what they think. Your husband shouldn't worry about that either. He's fortunate you didn't have to have a mastecomy due to cancer! Tell people you had a breast reduction if that makes you feel more comfortable. No one will ask more questions. And if they do, just say it's personal.
June 19, 2014
HI, thanks for your comments! The itching I had in the left breast that had the old hematoma that the body never reabsorbed just turned to dry "stuff" the doctor said but was walled off all in the same site and for some reason just started to cause itching through the skin. It never showed up on any mammogram either or palpation exam, etc. Since it had been so long with the silicone implants, I just decided to get them exchanged and see what was in there and that's what they found. That was about seven years ago but then since I tried those under the muscles, all sorts of problems listed in the original post started to happen. I've spent WAY too much on this one part of my body, so I'm glad they are out. I would suggest you look around for various prices too as it depends what all will be involved with your procedure but I was able to negotiate some with my surgeon since I'd been a "frequent flier" for a while. The pain with this is LOTS less than with implantation as the implants aren't getting in the way anymore. I think my worst pain was that dumb drain that was stuck.
June 19, 2014
Good to know! Thank you. I'll be checking around to get a consult and go from there. This may still be a year or two off for me yet. I'm not really experiencing pain or necessarily having horrid issues, but I've had them for 20 years and they just aren't going to last forever. They're much bigger than they were in the beginning too, and the weight of them worries me for my stretching skin! I'm glad you are doing well and are happy!
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June 18, 2014
Thanks for sharing your story. I think you are going to look great. I got my last drain out on Monday and I didn't really feel it. The first one I almost fainted. Boy that one hurt. Hope you continue to get better and that the fluff fairy comes by soon !! Good luck
June 21, 2014
Thanks. Those drains were the worst. Glad you're doing well too!
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June 19, 2014
Thank you for the update. Time will definitely heal. I suggest you try to stick to bralettes or bandeau bras for now. You may be disappointed by the waste of money when the regular bra does not fit.
June 25, 2014
HI, thanks, I tried on an old bra and started laughing as it is SOOOO big compared to now. LOL