Breast Implants: Stories

I am so sick and tired of reading statements from these so called educated doctors on the safety of breast implants. I had silicone gel implants put in under the muscle in 1988. I was told then that they are absolutely safe and would last my lifetime. I also returned to the doctor who did my implants in 2000 after the big scare regarding all the bad publicity about implants and the harm that they could do. My surgeon told me he would remove them at no cost but assured me that they were 100% safe even after 12yrs. and I had nothing to worry about so I decided to do nothing.

I had my annual (1 yr. late) mammogram about 2 weeks ago and was told that I needed an ultrasound due to the fact that both sides looked like they had ruptured. Yes, lying on the table I could see for myself that they had both ruptured and I was told that they had leaked through the capsule and into my lymph nodes. After going to see a surgeon regarding the removal, I was told several things that I was never told before regarding implants. I understand that after years of science, new materials, etc. that newer and better implants are available but wasn't this the same statement that was made back in 1988?

My health started to go down hill about 2-3 years ago. I thought it was just my age (53 then)and stress. I would have burning sensation in my breast, shortness in breath, flu like symptoms all the time, fatigued and within the last year my eyesight has really changed. I went to doctors, had blood work done, went to eye doctors and nothing was ever found. I even had mammograms. Everyone said I was fine and was told it was because I was just getting older. Well, I know my body was trying to tell me something.

I have researched several websites with testimonials from women who have had ruptured implants and they too have had the same symptoms. Thankfully, most of these women have regained their health after having them removed but unfortunately not all of them. I hope that after my surgery next month, that I too will be one of the lucky ones!

So, for all you Doctor's and women out there who say that implants are safe, don't need to be replaced every 10 years. aren't linked to any other disease, that silicone is safe once it breaks through the capsule...........DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!

Thousands of women including myself are living with and through this nightmare. I am not trying to capitalize on this or sue anyone but I am DISGUSTED that women aren't being given the complete truth about implants regardless if they are silicone or saline. We need to know the facts and the truth so women can make an educated decision on weither to have implants put in or weither to have them removed but stop telling us that there is nothing to worry about when our lifes are at stake!!!

Jessie if you had done your research and ask any PS there is no evidence that proves that implants cause autoimmune diseases and there is no evidence that PROVES that it doesn't! Therefore it is INCONCLUSIVE. Even my Allergan info booklet talks about this and I am sure Mentor does too. So where better to get this info than straight from the implant companies???
Oh and if you did your research you would see that most of these studies are funded by the implant companies. And even if implants are 100% safe it is still a foreign object in your body that your body can react to.
And YES you are right Jessie...you really do need to make sure your input is valid....which if the extent of your research is only looking up 2 websites and that is it than you need to realize you don't know what you are talking about.

I wished I would have read this posting before I had my surgery done but I didn't even know about this site at the time.

Very informed replies from both ladies. NO OTHER DEVICE IN MEDICINE HAS BEEN STUDIED AS SILICONE BREAST IMPLANTS. AND FINALLY AFTER15 YEARS OF STUDIES BY THE FDA THEY WERE RELEASED AND FOUND TO BE SAFE

The above comment was for the lady who had them for 31 years.

Hi. I had implants for the first time when I was 26 and had them removed at 31 due to some fibromaygia symptoms I attributed to them. Since then my sister who's never had implants came down with it too, and I found out both my mom and my grandma had symptoms but you just didn't talk about aches and pains then. I was faced with a hard decision to have breast reconstruction or not this year at age 41. The good news is that silicone has come a very long ways in all these years. I got the new gummy bear silicone implants. The great thing about these is that you can cut them in half and the material stays intact and doesn't move around your body...NO more gell bleed !!! I love my implant...I get the other one to match my lost breast next month. I'm not scared of them anymore. I believe they are as safe as they can be now. Before if you were punctured it cold leak into your body...now not so much. So I advise you research a good doctor and get them replaced with the new gummy bear implants. It will give you some peace of mind and those implants are due to be replaced anyway!!! Good luck...I feel ya.

I had the same silicone implants for 31 years. I breast fed 2 babies. I did have to have them replaced this year due to scaring. Other than that they were no trouble for me. If you had your implants in 1995 they were probably saline. Silicone was cleared again by the FDA after 2000. I believe that most of the claims of problems were from people wanting to make money and using junk science to back them. Try not to worry too much about them.