“The Experience”

I can't answer any questions, but it sounds like I am in the same boat! I still have my implants because i am breastfeeding, but in a year or two, i can't wait to get them out and be natural again. Have you felt good on a daily basis since the explant? Did you lose feeling in your breasts?

AHH wow me too! I just got 425cc in January 2008, and went from a 34A to a 36C/34D (way too big for my body). Then had a baby in May 2009. I went to a 36D with breastfeeding. I am weaning my baby now and can't wait to have a consult with my doctor about either having them removed or replaced with a much smaller implant! (I think if I were to have them just removed, the results would be scary.. I would not be left with my perky As, I would probably have very deflated almost As). Why did I get myself into this mess?

Well, I guess I am not the only one. I have had implants for 11 years and two children since. I have wanted to remove them for years but am scared too and right now I am also nursing. I feel like they have never been a part of my body and now I ache everywhere - whether or not from the implants I don't know but I feel like they are a total health risk. Wish I never got them and had the self esteem when I was younger to live with small and sagging breasts (I had already nursed one baby). By reading the responses to this topic it looks like a difficult decision to make and is not as easy as I thought it would be to have them removed. Any comments would be appricated.

I underwent breast augmentation in 2001 and had 350cc overfilled to 375cc, underneath the muscle. I went from an 32A cup to 32D. It was way too big- I wish I would've had better counseling on which size to get for my body frame. Well, I want to go smaller or have it removed all together, but I'm afraid of how it'll look if I don't have a replacement. My doctor said that he can remove my current implants and let my skin and muscle tighten up for a month. That way I can decide if I want to stay all natural or go back for smaller implants. He won't charge me extra for this. He also says that by doing this, it'll give my new implants (if I decide to get them) a better chance of settling into a tighter pocket and not float around and end up causing problems. It was nice having bigger breasts for a while, but I am not looking forward to the removal part. I think it's going to look really ugly at first. Oh well.... *sigh*

Once the implants are removed from a sub-pectoral insertion, how long does it take for the muscle to mend - particularly if it was placed between muscle tissue with an alo-derm sling. Was hoping to see an answer posted.

FAO CSN Did you get yours removed? I went from 34A to 34C only 3 months ago and really want mine removed but am afraid of the results!!!

I had implants almost 10 years ago. I was originally a 32B and now a 32DD, not by choice. I look ridiculous. Way too big for my body frame. Did I say I'm a size 2. People are always starring trying to figure out if they are real or not. I want them removed badly. My husband says I wanted them now I'm stuck with them. Please help, I need advice, what should I do? Help!!!

I have had implants removed TWICE- the first time it was because they were way too big for me and were very hard- I was embarrassed to hug people- my perky A's were way more fun! Then after the removal I couldn't deal with the new feelings of inadequacy but right before the surgery day I realized that I actually liked my breasts and that they were very nice never the less I was in my early twenties and didn't get advice from anyone- had already scheduled the surgery and thought that I would lose my money. Anyway I continued in this cylce and honestly it was very hard at first but after about 2 or 3 months your breast regain some of their roundness and start to almost reform. I regret every having them and I regret replacing them- removing them was difficult but SO rewarding-I felt so much sexier to look down at my own cleavage and to feel my own soft breast. At this point I am planning on removing them for the last time but have a couple of financial obligations to take care of so I probably won't do it for a year or two- I don't want any more debt from this hang up so I am just slowly saving and reminding myself that I can have a different outcome and I will be much happier.

I have had implants for around 11 years now. Having them removed 4/1/10. I am so happy to be able to have them removed. I got them for the wrong reasons, the husband. I have never liked or enjoyed them. Luckily I never did have any health problems, just do not like the way I look. I am 53 years now, and want to be back to my natural self. I will be also having a lift done at the same time, and using the same surgeon who did the implants. Started I believe at a 32C - Now am a 34D I look foward to buying tops that button without going a size larger to get them around my breast. P.S. no longer have the husband.

I had Mentor Replicon silicone implants 19 yrs. ago & now find through records that 1 was subpectoral & the other was subglandular; & up until 1 yr. ago; after I was given a huge dose of Levaquin for what I thought was a chest cold the implants were fine & I was in good health,& now the tendons are all pulled up on one side of my chest/breast & the other they are all compressed due to the Levaquin damage, & the implants are both encapsulated & Stage 4 ruptured & hugely distorted & extremely painful. I also had Levaquin-induced Lupus for the past year & have had 'Frozen" shoulder for 6 months. Does anyone know if a surgeon takes out my old implants as I want them to & we don't put new ones back in what happens to my tendons, muscles, breast tissue left? Will it all be damaged? Will I look like some kind of freak with saggy , flat skin? I am a small size 4 5'5" in shape 48 yr. old One doc says he wants to take them out through my nipples(they are very small) & not ever put new implants back in. I don't see how this is possible without extensive nipple/breast damage. The other doc says he wants to take the old implants out under the breast crease & definitely put new ones back in & it won't matter if I go the same size(34D) or if I go smaller to a C it will be fine with no lift. Can anyone who has has this done comment or can any surgeons offer their professional advice? Thx:)

I'm 50, I got my implants when I was 28, I loved them I went from barely B to full C, that was about 30 year's ago and 80lbs. ago. Now I'm disabled, I have to use a walker and I have neurological problems. I'm not sure if my implants caused this, I've worked in a lot of factories, in the last nine years I've had 6 surgeries, 3 was because of lumps in my breast, after the last one, I had reconstructive. I now joke, with my closest friends. I call one Sillie and Sallie, because I have one of each. The reason I my tumor got so big because, my insurance ran out. I had a business that was struggling, so I went back to factory work to get proper medical care. I've worked very hard my whole live, now I'm totally disable and broke, I'm going crazy! I have a doctor's appointment in October, I don't know what to do. I don't feel pretty anymore, I always spent time hiking, swimming and white water rafting. Now I can only use pools that have lift chairs, I've also never been overweight before.Besides being disabled, I'm in sever pain, moody and I can not sleep. I do understand why women get implants but if I had it to do over, I don't think I would. I know your thinking I'm stupid, for saying think but I had almost a textbook figure, I did Aerobics 3 to 4 times a week and I even enjoyed it. I don't know if my implants are causing these problems, but I'm not to sexy. I'm overweight and pushing a walker and as much as I would like to meet Mr.Right, I don't feel good about my body. Can anyone help me?

I had silicone implants almost 20 years ago and wanted to take them out after having my second child because my breast got so huge (40 D) and saggy. My original breast size was 34B. I did not do much research when I had my implants and did not know much except that they were placed under the muscle based on a recent mammogram. My breast size was 36 C and my husband just loved them because they were so soft and "natural". Now that I am turning 50 and gained about 30 lbs (I am 5'5 and weigh 157 lbs), my breast just make me look very top heavy. I am scheduled to have them removed and a breast lift afterwards because my PS told me that I will look very deformed if I won't have a breast lift. He said that I will have a longer horizontal scars than the current horizontal scars that I have from the implants and a vertical scar and scar around my areola. My husband is not so happy that I won't have an implant replacement but respected my decision. I am so afraid that I will be so grossly deformed with scars. Nevertheless, I am scheduled to have the surgery on Oct 21 because I am so tired of my large breast size. Can anyone let me know what I need to expect? Any advice? Thx.

Had to join to tell my quick story. I had implants before I gave birth in 1984. Was unable to breast feed as my milk didn't come in when I gave birth in 1986. I had scar tissue, capsular contractions, hardening of the implant, ultimately, silicone leakage (due to a painful mammogram where I was literally squeezed too hard) and consequently had approximately 7 surgeries before eventually having them removed. I was sick for no apparent reason for years,flu like systems out of nowhere for a few days and then I carried on. I had 3 or 4 new setsover the years deplanted in 2003. I went from a 34B to a 36C originally. I am now 50 years old and am very comfortable with my own, natural breasts. At first they were a little deflated, like a fallen soufle, but perked up over a 6 month period. My implants were on top of the muscle and I am thrilled to not have them any more. I am posting this as I want people to know there is life after implants. I still have large breasts as the breast is mainly fat and I am 20 lbs overweight at least right now. But Iam happy to not to have to worry about foreign bodies in my body.

I got saline implants at age 34 after breast feeding 3 kids. I was always a 34B but after nursing you know what happens. I went to a 34C and I was very happy with the result. Two years after my implants, I started getting autoimmune problems. My thyroid shut down. I had chest pains, weird chills at night, numbing in my hands and feet, joint pain, memory loss, shortness of breath, decreased activity, my pelvic floor muscles are contracting constantly and I have to go to the bathroom 4-5 times a night, you name it. I have spent thousands at Doctors and they couldn't figure out what was wrong. Well girls, if you are having similar problems take a look at a condition called Sclerdema which woman are getting, a large percentage have implants. I am 44 now and I have really enjoyed my implants but I will be scheduling, tomorrow, to get them out. They are literally killing me. I am afraid of the "look" after, but want my healthy life back, if its not too late. I am so sick most of the time. I feel these things are toxic. Good luck to all of you and thank you so much for your comments! It is so helpful.

I had saline implants for 14 years and just had them removed last week, for the same reasons that you all are mentioning. They were too big, too hard, I didn't feel comfortable with them (especially now that I'm in my 40's) I found that I was always wearing baggy shirts. My husband (who met me after I had the implants in a few years) admitted that he never really liked them anyways.

So I had the explant with a breast lift. (1 week ago)(lollipop lift) the explant would have been free but the lollipop lift cost me 4000$ but I really wanted it done and saved up for it for 2 years. I'm happy now, and feel like myself again. It's a good feeling. I still have the surgical tape on but they don't hurt. The only thing that is very uncomfortable is wearing the support bra after. It's VERY tight.

Also there's a big difference between my formerly d cups and my now large A cups. I haven't gone back to work yet, but I wish I didn't have to wear the support bra so I could wear a slightly padded bra for a few months because i dont' want people at work to notice or talk about it.