joyful

Bright Smile

Disappointed!

Two 30+ Year Old Implants Removed Yesterday; Four Hour Surgery! - Santa Cruz, CA

Hi Alanna1383, I'm wishing you the very best for your surgery on March 27. I was nervous beforehand, too, and my heart goes out to you ~ sometimes I think the waiting was the hardest part! When I implanted, the incision was periaereola, but the explant, because of the rupture, was through the fold under my breasts. I have healed up nicely. No matter which way you go for the explant, I'm sending you the very best for an easy surgery and quick recovery!

Hi Alexandra33, I think it's normal to feel a little down after getting implants removed! First, let me say I hope your mood lifts soon! It's a big procedure (over 4 hours for me when I had mine out last year) as well as a big change in appearance. I've seen lots of photographs of people who've explanted who looks GREAT after their implants are out! In my case, the implants were in for decades and when I started, I was an A cup, so my end result is back to an A cup. The result is definitely better now, several months later, than it was after surgery, so please try to be patient to see how Mother Nature "fluffs" you. I ended up with some "dents" above my nipples and some flatness on top after the explant, which is sooo different than my B cup implants had me looking before. It's been an adjustment for me! I wear a very slightly padded bra & look good in my clothes. I made a conscious decision to celebrate improved health without the implants, so far, so good! I sometimes think about replacing my implants, but doubt I will actually ever follow through, especially since there is a small lump that is being "followed" by 6 month mammograms (probably an oily cyst from the surgery, but my 1/2 sister has breast cancer, so I'm not exactly resting easy). I'm just glad to feel healthy and have more sensation! Best of luck to you; this is a wonderful forum and I'm sure you'll find lots of support here!

Hi andi22,

Thanks for checking in w/ me! I'm doing well! I have my six week follow up appointment next week on Wednesday.

My breasts are still somewhat "dented" above my nipples (on one side more than the other), and it might be my imagination, but I it's getting less "dented" as time goes by. I'm still sore where one of the drains was and will ask about that when I see the ps. It's not comfortable to wear a bra of any kind; I'm just wearing a stretchy tank and enjoying being smaller-breasted in my clothes (the soft bras I got roll up and hit the scar lines under my breasts so I can't wear them yet for longer than an hour or two). I feel liberated!

My husband still thinks I'm sexy :~}

I'd love to hear how you're doing, too!

Hi ladypro,

I'm so sorry about your dad suffering with liver cancer and having limited time to live. You are going through so much right now. No wonder you are focused on just being healthy. My sister has been given a year to two years to live (breast cancer) and my priorities are so different now than 30 years ago when I had my implants (like you, insecure back then). I had my explant just over a month ago and decided not to re-implant; I just want to be healthy even if my breasts are not perfect.

Insurance covered my explant (which hopefully you have), so cost was not an issue (small copayment, but nothing in comparison to paying for the whole thing). My heart goes out to you as you make your decision.

Blessings, Joyful

Hi AnnMa (and gosh, I just saw the 5/31 post from Rachel K just now, too!) I had the same implants in for approx. 30 years (double lumens). AnnMa, my implant surgery was done in my PS's office under local, and I was back at work right away, too (of course, I was younger then!) Having the explant and capsulectomy took me longer to recoup from, although it still was not bad. I was back at work within a week (6 days) and could have gone back sooner (I had phone consults despite no actual patients in my office). My explant surgery took 4 hours (both implants had ruptured); drains were necessary and not fun. Still, I am so glad that I have those implants OUT completely. You mention migraines; I have been diagnosed with cluster headache syndrome and don't know if my implants had anything to do with that. I also had trigeminal neuralgia in October, 2011, which, thank God, went away with over-the-counter migraine medication (excedrin migraine formula). It's hard to know what could be implant related and what isn't. I was glad that within a week and a half of my explant, I was tossing my almost two year old granddaughter up in the air to the sounds of her laughter. The period of time before the explant is often the most difficult with the anxiety and uncertainty of how the surgery will go and what the results will be. As for me, my breasts are no longer super full but they are sweet and mine and I love them! I'm wishing you all the very best as your surgery approaches.