Breast Implant Removal: Stories

I am 33 years old, I received 525 cc saline implants 7 years ago and I have hated them for about the last 6 years. Starting at a 34B, the implants made me a 34DD. I started developing severe neurological problems over the last 2 years, very similar to MS. A neck MRI revealed that I have a herniated disc (maybe the horrible posture for the last 7 yrs?). I am a small girl, 5'3" and 130lbs, so the implants made me look and feel like a big spectacle! I started wearing big loose tops and feeling awful about myself. I quit hiking and exercising, and got very depressed. After reading so many stories about other women going through this, I decided to talk to a surgeon. I went to University of Virginia hospital and saw Dr. Campbell in November 2012 and decided to just get them explanted and not lifted. If they look bad down the road, I'll think about a lift later. I do not have insurance, and the hospital is working with me on a payment plan because the back neck and chest pain were considered a medical problem. I am only one week post-op (surgery 12/26/12) and my back feels 10 years younger already! I never even took a pain pill after surgery. This was the best decision I've made about my body, and I actually love my small boobs. I missed the way I fit into clothes before I wrecked my body with those things! My left side has some fluid build-up right now, as the drain slipped out the 2nd day home in my sleep. I'll post some pics in a few days after my follow-up appt. Has anyone had to have fluid drained post op? Right now I'm wearing the tight surgical bra, with an ace bandage wrapped around it to reduce the fluid...

I went to my follow up appointment and my Dr actually did an internal lift while removing the implants. He did a partial capsulectomy (anterior) which allowed some internal stitching and lifting to be done.

** still bandaged very tightly with swelling in the left breast, will post after photos in a few days ** I am thrilled with the results!

The left side continued to swell and hurt, so I went in to the E.R. yesterday morning (Sunday 1/6). I was admitted and kept overnight, today they used a catheter, needle, and local anesthetic - drained around 300cc seroma. New drain in just the left (huge tube) stitched in until Thursday when I go back in, but now they are the same size yay! I am exhausted, but very relieved to be home and resting now. I'll try to take a few photos tomorrow.

Tomorrow I go back to the PS to have the drain removed from the left breast. I took 2 pictures today in hospital bra, still taped up sterile around the drain catheter, so I'll take better ones when bandages come off tomorrow. Hurts like crazy with this tube inside :/

So it's been 2 1/2 weeks and I feel so free! Happy, lighter, more energetic, sitting up straight, breathing better, neck and back pain GONE. I finally feel petite like I was made :) What a relief!!!! I took some photos today - since the left breast was aspirated then drained an extra 4 days (got it out Thurs 1/10) the right side (your left) looks a little bigger with just a little swelling yet. They are filling out more each day, and taking better shape on top. My PS told me to sleep in a really tight sport bra every night for at least a month, so the breast tissue heals together up top instead of sags. He described the healing process as similar to "post-liposuction"- the fat that is left binding together. My skin still looks irritated from all the abuse and tight bras, but clearing up.

Not sure if I put in my review, but I have 3 children. I breastfed my 2 girls for a year each, the're now 12 and 14 years old. My youngest was a preemie, I had to pump rigorously to get milk to come in at 32 weeks gestation. He was able to nurse after coming home from the NICU, but sadly only a few months later my milk stopped. I got the implants a year after he was born instead of giving my body a chance to heal and bounce back (Feb/2006).
Of course as I have aged 7 years, I've gained a few pounds (like 20). I am so thrilled that some of my body fat has proportionately gone to my breasts. For all that I've put my body through I'm feeling proud of the way they look only 2 1/2 weeks post explant. Do not be scared what you'll look like, our bodies are resilient. Big pornstar boobs did not make me feel better about myself. Unfortunately thousands of dollars and some backaches later I have learned to love my body. I want to be an example to my teenage daughters, and I have been 100% honest with them about the whole process. They have stated they'd never even think about doing it after what they've seen me go through. Guess that lesson is priceless.

I am feeling really torn about when to let my husband see them. He's never mean, but never good at compliments either. I was expecting the worst outcome, but am pleasantly surprised at how nice they're looking. I'm afraid he will (not intentionally) hurt my feelings and get me down. I remember after I weaned my son, and before implants (few months altogether) I always wore a top to bed. I was much thinner then and think my breasts actually looked worse as they were just mostly post-breastfeeding saggy skin. Now I weigh about 130 and have some boobs, but not what he's used to seeing for the last 7 years. Maybe I'll buy a few cute nighties until I get brave enough. Any suggestions? It's easier for me to put pictures on the internet for total strangers to look at than show my own man, I know it sounds backwards.

I'm hoping that some of you who are recovered long enough to exercise can answer this. My arms feel so fat and flabby around the top/armpit area since explant. Not so much loose skin, but WAY more out of shape than I ever remember before implants. Ugh those dumb things were giving my side boobs. Has anyone had that problem and/or found a good exercise that helped tone it up without doing too much too soon?

3 weeks today - took pics after shower so all the sport bra wrinkles don't show. I hope these encourage people and doesn't scare them lol - I am thrilled how they are coming along :)

Second day in a row I've woke up on my stomach. My back hasn't felt this good since I was a teenager. My husband keeps telling me how much he sees a difference in my happiness and energy. We went grocery shopping yesterday and he said "I can't believe I have to tell you this, you are walking too fast!." Before explant just 3 weeks ago, I was so messed up that I'd hold onto the handle of the grocery cart and he would pull it from the front so people wouldn't notice how pitiful I was. He just smiled at me and said "wow things keep getting better" :) To all of you who are worried about what your significant other says, remember there is a lot more to a relationship than nice boobs - my man is so happy to have the spunky wife back that he hasn't dared mention my breast size. I was scared this was going to make him look at me as less sexy, but instead I am realizing how much he actually cares.

A friend of mine saw me at the grocery store the other day and looked at me as if she were sad for me that I "had to get them out." I smiled and said "are you kidding, I chose this and I have never been so happy to have my own little boobs!" I explained the misery, and now the relief - and she just smiled and said "I'm still getting some." Like I have said, I'm not "anti-implants" but I have learned a priceless lesson for myself that I hope I can at least share with others who only hear the great things about implants.

I hope all of you wonderful ladies are healing nicely - physically and emotionally. I would not have made it through this experience without everyone's honesty and encouragement here.

It's been almost 1 month! For everyone contemplating getting your implants out, I will tell you my life has changed so much since I explanted. I knew I was "not feeling like myself," but looking back I was really, disgustingly sick. I didn't realize just how bad it was. I know many of you want them out because of pain in your neck, back, arms, chest - and trouble breathing. I had severe pain for years (I'm allergic to pain meds, so just dealt with it a long time), ALL of which is gone.

I had SALINE implants, and the worst of my symptoms were neurological. I spent thousands of dollars on MRI/CT scans, going to a neurologist, and getting other tests done - was even sent to a neurosurgeon for the herniated disc in my neck. My decision was this: I told the Dr's it was a terrible idea to rearrange my spinal column when I knew it was the implants ruining my posture - let's get them out and give me 6 months to see if my symptoms improve. I am too young for a neck surgery that could do more harm than good. I was having trouble walking (literally dragging my numb left leg around for months), had embarrassing and debilitating tremors in my hands, numb fingers (i dropped everything i picked up), writhing pain that shot from my left boob to left arm, speech difficulty at times, memory fog, and peeing on myself was the most troubling symptom of all. It was a real time of despair, thinking I probably had MS and would keep deteriorating. I was shopping around for cute walking canes, seriously!

EVERYTHING has cleared up, within one month! It's unbelievable, I have even told myself "don't get your hopes up..." but it's real and I feel so healthy and happy!! I haven't felt this amazing and youthful, well, since my youth!!


On another note, how many of you post-explant have had serious indentations in their shoulders from bras, and have they gotten noticeably better since explant? My shoulders look very deformed, and I can't wait to get out of these suffocating sport bras =) Anything in particular help??

Today it has been one month since I got the implants out! Because of the extra energy and no pain, I've been exercising and much more active :) Today I weighed myself to see the progress, and I'm 10 pounds lighter than when I got home from surgery!! My breasts haven't shrunk any either with the few pounds shed. I'm still frustrated about getting my upper arm/armpit area in shape, but showing improvement.

Congrats to all of you that have explanted lately, and best of luck to you ladies trying!!

While changing sport bras this evening one rubbed under my incision and I felt burning. I looked at it in the magnified mirror - my incision under the left breast was all red in one corner with puss, yucky little spot on the end not fully closed. Eeehhh will have to call the PS in the morning. I dread taking antibiotics or anymore needles, it has a knot there now that hurts. Just when I was dancing in flowery fields singing LOL :)

It has been 6 weeks now, there's been a significant change in my breast size size and shape since week 2-3. I've worn the sport bras at all times! I decided not to buy more than 1 real bra a few weeks ago, thank God I didn't waste money because I'm sure I will need a C cup. Before implants I was an A/B of sloppy post-breastfeeding skin that I squished into the small cup. Now I actually have some volume!

The biggest news - I FINALLY SHOWED MY HUSBAND YESTERDAY!!! (up to now I've only shown the dr's)
We were getting ready to go watch the superbowl. I was getting dressed in our bedroom's bathroom, he was in the bedroom. Lol I stood there in the mirror pep talking myself, "just go out there!" So I did, he was getting dressed looked up, I was in my jeans, boots, no top. He did a double take and grinned at me. That turned into a bigger smile and he said "Wow, I was not expecting them to look that good!" YYYYAAAYYY =) I felt at that point an awesome feeling that I've made it, through an amazing journey of finding real self-worth and a true understanding of beauty and perfection. Best feeling ever!

I love all of you ladies on here and wish you the best healing and happiness!!

8 weeks of happiness!! I put up a final set of pictures since mine have fluffed another cup size. I went to Victoria's Secret with my daughter Sunday and we got fitted together. 34C!! (both of us lol and she is 14) Pictures of my cute new bra too :) I am loving life and feel completely healed and healthy! Still keeping off the 10 pounds I lost since surgery, and now that I'm able to lift and run I believe 10 more will be coming off soon!

HAPPY HEALING LADIES - xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

2 months have passed! I'm back to fully working out now, able to do 30 minutes aerobics with hand weights, jog a mile, and feel great doing it! This is a huge milestone for me, I had gained weight over the last few years with implants robbing me of my energy. It was impossible for me to just walk through the grocery store a few months ago without help. Now my family and I head out to the nearby track every time it's nice out to go run with the dogs and kids. Unbelievable. I knew I'd feel relief, but didn't think my life would turn around so completely so quickly. Grateful!!! =)

Wow, 3 months has passed. I was in bed most of the time until 12/26/12 when I got them removed. In the last 3 months my husband and I have started making our home into a little farm. I get outside a lot, take care of all kinds of critters, exercise, and feel happy. Not much has changed, but I'm putting updated pics up because I lost weight and and feel much more petite, and the boobs haven't shrunk much! =) I hope everyone is healing well, and those who are patiently waiting, hang in there! Best thing I ever did for myself.

One thing I've noticed since explant - my hair is growing again! My hair sat brittle on my shoulders for the last 2 years (same time I was sick) it just didn't grow. Since I got the implants out in Dec '12 my hair has grown more than 5 inches in length. Loving all the little changes as my body heals :)

http://thescarswillfade.blogspot.com/

Here is my latest blog post about removing my implants.
I hope all of you beautiful ladies are healing, happy, or hopeful to get there soon! My weight is still down 20 pounds since explant ~ I feel amazing and full of life!!

STILL SO FREAKIN' HAPPY, I just had to tell everyone :) I have so much energy, play outside all of the time, and I am LOVING my body in summer clothes! http://thescarswillfade.blogspot.com/2013/04/breast-implant-removal.html