I was scared to receive this filler because I was afraid it would look weird and I thought I really didnt need it. Wow! What a great surprise, completely worth it and the injectable was used in another location. Dr. Hollan did an amazing job. I know the Doctors skill is extremely important in this procedure and I couldnt be more happy. I have received Botox from Dr. Hollan for over two years now. Very happy.
First I want to thank all of you for sharing your experiences. Until I found this site, I didn't know it was possible to remove the implants without being deformed, which is what my PS told me. I wanted to share my experiences as you have all been so kind to share yours. I have had three sets of implants. The first set was put in in the early 80's. Saline. I was always very flat chested and discovering breast implants was like a dream come true for me. However, the minute I saw them, right after the operation, I hated them. They looked weird, they felt fake, and I asked the PS to take them out, but he said I would hate my body again and I should just live with them. Being young and naive, I did just that. They broke about one year later. My then-husband said if I didn't replace them, he may not stay. Again, insecure and naive, I replaced them, this time with silicone, and this time the PS went bigger, even though I asked for smaller. Again I hated them. And the then-husband left me anyway. I developed cc in the worst way over the years. That set of implants were in over 20 years. I finally got the courage to seek out a PS to remove them. I still got the lecture that I would be deformed and they showed me some awful pictures to prove it. I agreed to be reimplanted, but with smaller sizes, 200cc. They actually looked great and I was happy for a while, still feeling fake but at least I wasn't deformed. Recently I have been thinking of my age and my health. My health is great and I want it to stay that way. Also, the implants started to get firm again, and both looked different. I decided that I would do a little research and I found this site. All of you look so amazing after explantation that I went back to the PS and said take them out. She agreed. I had my surgery Sept. 19, about 5 days ago. It was an easy surgery, no complications. And I feel wonderful! I love the way I look too, I have my real body back and I am walking on a cloud! Yes, I am flat, and yes I am sagging, but I am so happy I finally got those fake plastic balls out of my body. They are small, but they are soft and warm. My husband thinks I look fantastic, by the way. He is extremely supportive, the kind of guy who looks to the inside of a person as opposed to the outside. He said he doesn't understand why women would do that to themselves, put in fake breasts. I told him he is a rare breed of man! I want to share something else with you all. Someone on this site recommended the Handful bra. I have already bought 5 of them! They are fantastic. Soft, comfortable, no wires, and they have removable pads, pads that are pretty small and flat, but give definition. And you can stick two pads in for even bigger sizing. I would highly recommend these for those of you who are as small as I am. They even look good under tee's. Their website is called Handful.com and it's a company started by and run by women. Thank you all again for your frankness and your pictures. It gave me the courage to go through with something I have wanted to do for 30 years. I hope my pictures don't discourage anyone. I feel real and beautiful, and think that I look great for having these things in me for 30 years, not as saggy as the PS said I would be. At 58 years old, I finally have my real self back. Updated on 23 Sep 2012: Forgot to mention this: the new Handful Bra now comes with adjustable straps. I would recommend that one. It fits much better than the original! Updated on 24 Sep 2012: It's been six days now since my removal. No changes to speak of. Which is a good thing because any change would mean my breasts were getting even smaller, haha. I still feel great and happy and wish I would have done this years ago. Shame on all those doctors for making us women feel we would be deformed if we removed the implants. My main regret in this journey is that I didn't appreciate the positive things about my body when I was young, but instead focused on the one negative - small breasts. I have an ok face, a healthy body, good skin, good hair, and if I would have looked closer would have realized I had a cute little body. Now I have my little body back, but with scars. The first implants went through my nipples. Why on Earth I would allow anyone to cut into my nipples is beyond me. They never looked or felt the same since. The second implants went in under my armpits. The third set went in, and came out, underneath my breasts. They are my battle scars, my battle with my insecurities, and I finally won that war. Again, I want to thank you all for your stories. They gave me hope and courage. You let me know I was not alone with these fears of removal. Updated on 26 Sep 2012: Today is one week since my explant. I still feel great. I am posting a new picture. The tapes are off and my scars look pretty big and ugly, but my PS went in through the same scars to take the implants out so I wouldn't have two sets of scars. I am sure they will get better with time, and honestly they just don't bother me that much. I feel like my breasts are settling in a bit more, not so dented looking. Still flat, but that's fine with with. There really hasn't been a whole lot of change. I am feeling so much more like myself again. I never felt right with those implants, even after all those years. I had my little flat chested image in my mind all that time, and then I would look in the mirror and go "oh, yes, that's what I look like now, ugh" It feels wonderful to have my real self image back, and to feel like an individual again, not just some cookie-cutter big breasted woman. I am going bra shopping today. I have my Handful bra's for when I want to wear my tight tee's and sweaters, but I want some cute little cotton and lacy things too. I am feeling so good about being small again that I may not even wear the padded bra's as much as I thought I would! Updated on 26 Sep 2012: Hello everyone. Went for my one-week check-up today. My PS said I am doing great and I don't have to come back for any more check-ups if I don't want to. She said my scars will heal up just fine. She also said the pockets that were made for the implants will slowly close up too, so maybe my saggy skin will start going away. I told her that in a month or two when I am fully healed up I want to go back and have her take some pictures of my "after explant" to put in her picture book that she shows women so that women can see that implant removal doesn't always mean deformity. She thought that was a great idea. On the bra shopping front, I did find a few cute things. Nordstrom is always good for choices. Not much in my AA size. But I did find a couple of lacy bralettes and a couple of soft teeny bra's for when I am feeling brave enough to go out without padding! Which I actually did today! Updated on 28 Sep 2012: Update to my love of the Handful Bra. I hate to say this, but I put in a big order and out of 5 bras, only two had a good fit, even though they were the same size. And the tanks are way big, and not cute. I feel like I went on and on about the bra's as I had received one and it was so flattering and comfy and cute that I ordered a bunch of them. Well, when the order arrived today and I tried them on I found they all fit different and did not fit me well. I would still promote this bra, because I love the two I kept, but just don't order a drawer full like I did, haha! Updated on 30 Sep 2012: Update to Handful Bra: OK, I know I am acting a little crazy here, but I just had surgery, haha. Anyway, I re-tried on the Handful bra's before sending them back, and they all fit good except two of them. And I have decided to keep the tank tops as well. I have actually lost some weight during my recovery period (I lose weight easily) and everything I own looks a little baggy on me now. I think I was being impulsive in announcing the bad fit on these bra's when in actuality, my body has changed a lot in the last week or so. Anyway, I am keeping most everything I bought. I have been trying on clothing with them today, and I look like my old self, but with my real body underneath it all. Wish I would have just gone with padded bra's years ago. Still feeling great. Not much change to my breasts. My PS put the tapes back on my "cuts" because she said I wasn't fully healed and they would rub on my bra and maybe open. I can't wait to start exercising again! Another week.
