So , I'm going to be short and not so sweet. Had Dow implants when I was 25...."5th anniversary
present". 4 years later Hubby ran off with a flat-chested nympho who was supposed to be my best friend. RIGHT!!!
They were ok for a while, but everybody just wanted me to model Tshirts and had no love for me as a person. About 10 years in, I was not happy. Hubby #2 abused me, both verbally and physically. That lasted less than a year.
Then I met the love of my life. 29 years now and I know it is cliche but is truly my best friend and has blessed me with a son and many years of happiness. When we got married I told him of my implants and he said that it must have been important to me at the time. I never felt comfortable with them and actually avoided any attention he paid to them. I hated them!!! I felt so fake!!
Then, they started to capsulize and I had two hard lumps. I hated to hug anyone because I felt like I had two rocks in my chest.
Fast forward to this year when I knew something was wrong when I felt the left one getting softer again and a bulge out to the side. I had a mammogram and an ultrasound and indeed I had a rupture.
OK, the radiologist said I needed to get them out. YESSSSS! Of course I was too late to get any money from the Dow settlement and my implant Dr. is probably dead as he was old when I got them. After totally ignoring them for 42 years YES, 42 years!! they had to come out and I told my Hubby that needed to happen. I had to take $ out of my IRA to do it but I know I won't regret it. I am done!
My surgery is in 2 days and it can't be too soon for me. I'm a little stressed as I don't know what I will look like after 42 years, but I don't really care. Just want them out!
Hope to keep this updated as I go through the process. So happy I found this site so I know I am not alone in this dilemma.
Updated on 25 May 2017:
I'm ready!
The past 3 weeks since my consult have just dragged by. Thanks to this site, I don't feel so alone about doing this. I will talk to the anesthesiologist this evening and try to sleep so I can be in the surgery center by 8:30 am .
I will have a general as the Dr thinks the surgery may run into about 2 hours. After all he has to scrape away 42 years!
I am a little anxious about the results, but I have seen amazing transformations on this site. I want my health back and old squishy boobs so I can hug my hubby, my son, daughter -in- law and two little grandsons as tight as I want without hard rocks in my chest. I have wanted to do this for a long time, just didn't have the means to do it. Now, since i am ruptured, I had to take $ out of my IRA to do this but I think it will definitely be worth it. I am going to take a before pic tomorrow morning after my shower. Then we will go from there. wish me luck!
Updated on 27 May 2017:
My surgery was yesterday May 26. We had a nice surprise when Dr Daniel discovered that the left side (which showed the rupture in the ultrasound) was not really ruptured but only deformed within the capsule so we didn't have any loose silicone to search out. They came out nicely. The staff at the surgery center could not have been any nicer or more comforting. I had a general and felt no ill effects at all. Smooth as silk. And nice surprise, when I was in recovery I received a beautiful little vase of cut flowers from Dr. Daniel and his staff.
I slept for a little while when my Hubby brought me home but not a whole lot during the night. I can't believe they're really gone after 42 years!!!!!!! I was able to eat steak and baked potato and salad for dinner last night. Boy that tasted great! I am so lucky that I don't suffer any effects from anesthesia whatsoever.
I have been drinking lots and was still awake at 2 a.m. so and I made a scrambled egg and tomato sandwich. Yummm
I feel absolutely wonderful!! My Hubby has to keep telling me to take it easy. I want to jump for joy!
I am squished in a very tight wrap so I have no idea what I am like. I do have cleavage out of the top of the wrap, but that could be all. Don't care. I have two drainage tubes and was up measuring and emptying about every 2 hrs. but I am well within tolerance and it has slacked off this morning.
I am posting a photo of pre-op and one post op this morning with wraps and drains.
I want to thank everyone on this site for all the support. Maybe this (feeling younger already), old, lady can give a little help to all you gals who are ready to be you again.
I will keep posting as I go through the journey to find my real self again.
Updated on 29 May 2017:
Well, I am 3 days post and am feeling great. The lower back pain I've had for years is gone. The pain in my left armpit is gone. Getting kind of tired of the drains , but nothing too bad. I can tell if I am doing something that I shouldn't be doing because it HURTS!
Have post op on Thursday. Hope I can get the drains out and maybe a bra instead of this wrap. It
is pretty tight.
Anxious to see How much of "me" is left. Hubby is very supportive which is a great help.
Will keep updating.
Updated on 31 May 2017:
I think I have trying to do too much the past few days. Having pain in the drain holes right in the middle of my armpit! They are a little bit red where the tube comes out of the armpit so might be getting a small infection. I am taking augmentin every 12 hours, so I should be OK. I have my post op tomorrow so I hope the drains can come out. Other than that, I am feeling great. I think I still have some boobies down there...we will see soon.
Updated on 10 Jun 2017:
Hi Girls. Just thought that I needed to update. 2wks out and I am so ecstatic that I chose to do this. I still can hardly believe they are finally gone! 42 years of stress gone in a few hours!! I am feeling almost back to normal. Still twinges of pain now and then , but for the most part, I am feeling great!
I am posting a pic of post 9 days. Waiting for them to "fluff" but overall I am pleased that I have boobies that are still there. My hubby has been so supportive and said that I didn't need those things in the first place.
Updated on 11 Jun 2017:
Took a LONG shower this morning and the tapes over the incision sites loosened up so I took them off. The scars aren't bad and I seem to be healing nicely. Still pretty tender but looking better than I expected. I attribute my success in part to the great vitamins the PS started me on 2 weeks before my surgery. They are by VitaMedica and consist of morning and evening taken with food. Then 3 days before surgery I started taking bromelain with quercetin. After surgery i took arnica montana. I didn't do to well with the arnica as it gave me creepy legs at night. I am still taking the others at a lower dose. I am healing unexpectedly fast and easy. Will keep all you wonderful gals updated.
Updated on 17 Jun 2017:
Well I have a great deal of satisfaction with myself for doing this. I took some pics this morning after my shower and I look more like what I expected. Left is bigger than the right, but that was the one with the misshapen implant that we thought was ruptured. The right is a little bit pruney but i'm hoping it will" fluff' I jiggled and bounced in the mirror. Haven't jiggled in 42 years. It was GREAT to see. I will keep you gals posted. Think freedom rocks!!
Updated on 18 Jul 2017:
Hi girls,
I am about 7 weeks out and doing well. Not a whole lot of fluffing but I feel tingles and some small bits of pain every now and then. I'm sure I am still healing inside. So glad I did this. I am thankful every day that they are gone. The best thing are the real squishy hugs that I can now give to all the special people in my life. Real hugs after 42 years are amazing. Anyone considering explant should know how great it is to be real again. WOO HOO!
Updated on 5 Aug 2017:
I woke up this morning in bed on my stomach!!! I remember ( pre implant days) always liking to sleep on my stomach with my hands under the pillow. Boy that was sure a long time ago( 42 years)!! I was so thrilled to do that again.
I am about 10 weeks out from my surgery. No real changes in appearance. Still kind of pruney when I raise my arms and not a lot of fluffing. Still ecstatic that I got them out!! Love wearing camisoles and no bra. Loving hugs, and loving myself, and loving the way clothes fit. A few tingles now and then but healing well . Scars are disappearing and are feeling better. Using coconut oil on them and it is working. Will keep updates coming. They seem to be all good. Thanks to all of you on this site. It is a great help on this journey. Hugs to all!!!.