Stringalong....Explant and Lift! - Scottsdale, AZ

Hahaha!! Thank you soooo much, Want2littles!! YOU have an amazing body!! I see that you are in excellent shape, and that will go a long, long way in your recovery! I know you must be just beside yourself with anxious feelings and nervousness. It is so hard to wait for the big day. I'm sure you will have excellent results and I can promise you, you will be so happy for making this decision!! Small breasts ROCK!! Nothing feels so good as a natural one!! Good luck to you. I will be checking your status!!

I appreciate that, Be natural! I've read your reviews and see that you are having a difficult time with one side. I sincerely hope that with time and doing the massaging, the breast will improve. The human body can do amazing things to heal itself. It is still very early in the healing process, so hopefully it will improve for you over time. I wish you all the best and will be checking in on your reviews!

Thanks, Elephantlady! I read that your date is 10/01. Congrats in advance! I know you have had those implants for even more years than I did, but I can honestly tell you that I feel RIGHT when I look at myself in the mirror! It was a bit of a shock at first, but very quickly it felt totally natural, like I'd looked this way forever. It's like those 23 years never happened!!! You will be very happy with how good you feel!!

Thanks so much, Ncj! I just read your review and see that you are very recently implant free!! I am so happy for you and I agree totally that one's health and family are the most important things in life. Big boobs, small boobs.....who cares!! What matters is our health, and no way are implants good for ones health. I hope you are doing well. Rest and be good to yourself. And won't it be wonderful to hug your little one hard with no rocks in there?? :)

It will indeed! We can get up close for REAL snuggles now! :) Real boobs = real hugs!! :)

Amen to that! Imagine hugging someone without your boobs popping in your brain!

OMG!! You totally crack me up!! So funny----so true!!!!

Hey, waterbags! Thanks so much! I am indeed using LittleHugger's recipe! It took me awhile to get the oils I needed because I decided to order them online. Before getting her mix together I was putting argan oil on them. I hope you are doing well. How are you feeling??

Feeling great! I love life with no implants! And I love how well my shirts fit. I am excited for cooler weather and trying on sweaters without trying to hide my heavy boobs!

Hi Waterbags, can u tell me what littlehugger's recipe is? I'm getting my implants out next month and also having a cresant lift done. Thanks! Lisaroxy

Hi 1986! I am having no trouble with anything. I can do everything I want, shop, drive, cook, laundry, etc, with no issues. They just feel achy at times and I guess I'm not as physically active as I would like. Part of that is just being in Arizona where it is so darn hot right now. You can't even go walking. To be honest though, I don't have to go back to work until next month, which is great. I don't think I would want company right now. I like having this time to just heal on my own and be able to take it easy. I guess it would depend on who was coming and for how long!!! Hahaha

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and answer so many questions. Only my husband knows about my implants and future explant, expect medical personnel, and I was wondering about 2 weeks after explant so your info really helps. Not sure how I will heal due to prednisone and biologic RA drugs. I will be glad to be on the other side:)

Thanks, Elephantlady!! I hope you are feeling less anxious about your removal. I think the worst part is just finding a doctor and getting a date set. Then there is the waiting!! Your day will get here and you will have so much support from all the wonderful ladies out there going through the same thing!! We all belong to the same club!! Haha!

Thanks, momto! I think you are looking great, as well!! I hope you are feeling better with each passing day! They really do look terrific!

Thank you :). I just can't wait to get rid of this non sexy compression bra I have to wear LOL

For someone who is yet to have surgery, have consultation next week, would like to know how your surgery went. Did you do a lift also. About how long would you say the surgery takes----how old were the implants?

My implants were 9 years old. I had Saline and one of them failed. I had an anchor lift done and replaced them with 450cc Mentot HP silicone. My surgery was about 2 1/2 hours. My surgery went really good. Your welcome to look at my profile.

Thanks, Soon! I hope you are doing well!!

Well thank you, Tiny!! I feel so much younger now that I am small and perky!!

Hi alliV! Thank you for the tip on using oil! I never thought of that. I just read both of your posts on my timeline, and we really have a lot in common. At 64, I definitely have a different perspective on life. My husband and I have been married for 32 years, and we have 2 sons together plus 2 sons from my previous marriage. I made the decision totally on my own to get those implants after our second child together. I was pretty thin and had hardly any breast left after babies. What I did have was pretty droopy. My husband supported me because he thought it would make me happier about myself. However, I never liked them or felt like they were really me!! Fast forward 23 years and here I am! I am so happy to finally have taken the big step and gotten them out! However they end up looking or feeling I will be happy! I finally am back to being natural and all me! It is an exhilarating feeling! I will be here to support you through your ordeal. Best of luck!

I truly appreciate it. I was feeling very isolated until I found this list a few days ago. (How many of us are there?) So glad you are feeling well. You've earned all the good stuff! My implants have never given me any problems (as far as we know) & are a part of me so this is very weird. My husband has wanted me to get the implants out since the mid-1990s when all the Dow legal things started. Yep. I have the Dow silicone models. An irony is that Dow in Midland MI used to be one of my export accts in the 70s. Who knew they'd play an important part in my personal life?!! Again, happy for your getting through the bad stuff & so positive about the future.

Hi alliV! I was just wondering if you joined the class action suit against Dow? I did, however my silicon implants ended up being McGhan. I think that if you joined that you might be able to get financial help with getting them out. Really not sure how that all worked, but I know they did have to pay out quite a large amount of money. And a note about life's timing....I had my surgery in the fall of 1990. It was right after that when the whole implant thing exploded. I NEVER would have had them done if I had just waited a little bit!! Such is life!

Yes. The deadline to get $5,000. explantation payout is October 2014. That's why it's my moment-of-truth. I can't put it off any longer. I opted out of the suit & accepted the $2,000. offer, since none of my tests showed I had a disease claim. And I did have tests. Which insurance covered. I have all the surgical notes, including the photocopy of the Dow label that they accepted as documentary evidence. The thing I should have done was to be explanted before the 'rupture' clause deadline. The settlement people advised me to do that, with the thinking that even if the implants were intact, if something happened during explantation, more $ would have been available. I wasn't ready then. My doctors over the years have fallen into 1 of 2 camps: get-the-time-bombs-out-now or they've-created-their-own-environment-leave-them-alone. I went the docs who told me what I wanted to hear. My breasts look entirely natural with the implants. More so now that I have more body fat than when I was younger (& so were they lol) I lost that too perfect water balloon look & even though I exercise regularly, there's a certain amount of Golden Girl droop. With no exceptional health issues, it's been easy to put off dealing with what I've thought of as maiming my body. So here I am. Feeling stupid at 64 yet mourning a loss of what I've come to think of as my body. It's good for me to read others describing themselves as "finally me" after explantation. Of being free. I am looking forward to having the issue settled & not worrying about what-if... And let's face it, mammograms are bad enough in general. Adding compression to something you're afraid of rupturing makes no sense. As tempting as it is to have the PS remove the silicon & slip in new perky saline replacements... no. I realize I will be lucky if I come out of this without any bad surprises. Why sign up for more worry & possibly grief. The literature they give now says average 15 yr life of a saline implant. I'm turning 65 this year ... I hope to live longer than that (don't we all?) I don't want to be dealing with implant issues any later in life. As I said...counting myself lucky if I get out of this without bad surprises.

Hi Loobeedoo! I am so happy to hear you have had improvement with the pains and the numbness. You look absolutely GREAT! It is so helpful to be able to talk to someone who is now a year post op to see how things can expect to progress. Did you have any problems with lumps or scar tissue? Thanks for the nice comments!!

Yes, I've had a few concerns along the way. I found a lump which seemed fatty and moveable near the bottom of the lollipop scar. I went to the breast clinic and had a mammogram, ultrasound scan and manual examination and was told that it looked like scar related tissue and not to worry but to go back if it got worse. It seems to have disappeared now thank goodness. I notice in my pics that I'm less symmetrical than I thought so I've been wearing the MaCom bras when at home. My PS scooped some fat to make a better breast shape for me and I think it has moved a bit - maybe being integrated back into my body? I don't know for sure, but I thought it would be good to keep it in place as much as possible. You're welcome about the comments - you look amazing!!!

Thank you Nerja1! I do feel great having those rocks out. I wish women interested in getting implants were required to read the reviews of ladies on this site!! All of our experiences reflect the horrible effects of those implants. It is sad that so many of us feel compelled to add those bags to our bodies because of some standard we need to achieve to feel good about ourselves. I have read your profile and see you have had a long, difficult road. You do look amazing now and I hope you continue to do well!! Best of luck!

No, my original PS retired awhile ago. This doctor was recommended by my gynecologist. He has an excellent reputation in this area. When I first met him, he was totally supportive of my decision to not replace the implants. He went through the whole procedure and really took his time answering my questions. I actually read some reviews about him on this site from other women that had gone to him. I am very happy with his work and the results I have so far. How are you doing with your situation?

I ask because being new to this area I have no referrals. My Family Doctor here does not have any recommendation--only "heard of" is what I hear. First PS a referral was sent to doesn't do the explantation, so I was told. Her office recommended another and my GP is sending referral in on Monday to her. Then I will call for a consultation and see how I feel. In the meantime, I am thinking that I am very impressed with the job and the manner in which the PS you had approached and performed your surgery. Ironically, we just moved from the Anthem area north of you, and will be visiting back there in September. Wondering if I should pursue a consultation there. That is where I am this minute!! Best---EL

I live in the Dallas area and it is full of PS so you could drive 5 hours instead of a plane trip. I will not have mine done until October, but my surgeon was highly recommended....Bradley Hubbard. Maybe before heading to another state where follow up care could be harder to arrange, you could explore him or other Dallas surgeons.

I would certainly highly recommend him. I know he seemed expensive, but for something this important, I don't think you should shop by price unless you absolutely have to. Scottsdale is an expensive area! It would be worth it for you to just meet him and talk! Another thing I just thought of was possibly calling and asking if Dr. Parson could recommend a PS in your area. You never know! He might be able to give you some names.

1986mistake, you are an answer to a prayer. Absolutely willing to drive to the Dallas area. ( The credentials are very impressive and one Dr. who addresses removal!!) Will let you know what happens and when--hopefully. Certainly, a consultation is in the agenda.

Have appt the 30th. Nerves and anxiety. Suppose that is a "normal" reaction. Feel that the journey has begun and now there is no turning back.

Did you find one in SA or coming to Dallas? Having the consult for me was a big hurdle.

Coming to Dallas. One of the doctors that responded to a question that I had, said to check the pics and see the surgeons work. Very good advice. This will be a HUGE hurdle , but think once over, I will be more comfortable. Were you?

Yes, my husband and I felt good when we left consult. Write down all your questions before you go. I did but still forgot to cover one. I emailed and quickly got a response. I like feeling if I have a question after surgery, I will be able to get an answer even on the weekend. Good luck!

Nerves, anxiety...yes. I've been all over the map since the day before my consult & explantation became a reality instead of something I'd have to do "some day" -- that was Aug 13th. Some day is 8/27. I was thinking this morning that there may be 7 stages of grief; 50 shades of Grey; but there seem to be endless moods & a lot of self-talk when it comes to this!\

Sounds like a very good situation. All the best

On the positive side, you have only had several weeks between the consult and the "some" day to let the mind do its funny tricks. I am afraid that I will have 2 months to let myself go crazy worrying. :)

Thinking of you-- you are on my mind wishing that all goes as you hope. Soon, to be on the good side and no more wondering.

Thanks, angelface!! It certainly is nice to be on this side! So far, things are going really well! It feels just great to be free of those rocks!!