John G. Chapple, MD (retired)

I've decided to go ahead and get the tummy tuck. I'm nervous but I booked my appointment today for next month.
I had a botched lipo done 5 yrs. ago and have hated my stomach ever since. I should never have done lipo in the front stomach area. My stomach and bb were great before. Now my bb is lopsided and have a lumpy tummy.
I feel confident with my PS, Dr. Gross in Santa Barbara. I would love any feedback and advise!
Thanks for being here!

Updated on 23 Jul 2015:
I'm a bit afraid of the surgery and recovery time. It's such a big surgery. It's also very costly and it's hard to justify the cost. I would hope I would love the results and feel much freer in my body.
Torn!

Updated on 28 Jul 2015:
I've decided to make the time and get my TT. I'm excited and nervous but it seems the excitement is winning out. I'm reading lots of posts and preparing. I have a bedside comode, Go Girl just in case, walker with a seat, lots of pillows, back pillow, leg pillow, neck pillow, sippy cups with a straw, making juice Popsicles, an ergomatic recliner, toilet riser, pads and more. So, I'm getting ready! I'll have cough drops and water by my bed and much more. Actually, I may be in the recliner more.
I have my first post op the next day after surgery so will be staying overnight at a friend's house. The next day I will go home about 2 hr. drive. PS will prescribe percoset and a sleeping pill. He does a drainless TT and I believe I will have lipo to the flanks and bra area and possible muscle tightening. Exciting!

Updated on 25 Aug 2015:
I've decided to go with my breast explant PS Dr. Chapple in Santa Barbara. I feel very confident with him and he did an amazing job on my explant. He does not agree with a full tt as I don't need it and don't have enough skin. He's going to do a mini tt with no muscle repair and a little lipo. I feel very comfortable with this. I'm sure the recover will be much better. I have been reading of many people with serious intestinal problems years after having a full tt. Bacteria seems to get in there as well as problems with the muscle tightening. I don't feel it would be work the risk and I'm glad my ps suggests a mini. He'll just go in my c-section scar and go about hip to hip addressing the skin way below my bb. I'm going to schedule in October.

Updated on 21 Sep 2015:
Going with Dr. Chapple for mini tt.

Updated on 7 Oct 2015:
I'm one day post and feeling pretty good. I had a lower abdominal, skin only tt with 600cc of lipo. I had hoped for lipo in the flank and bra roll area but he said no to that at the last minute. I was very disappointed.
I'm super swollen but can see the lift of the mons which is nice.
I had no pain until the numbing wore off and then my scar was burning. I took one pain pill and it worked great for about 4 hrs. I hate taking them so I just went to bed. Hard to sleep and get comfortable.
I got up at 5pm and researched Advil. A couple of nurses posted that Advil is given to C-section patients 24 hrs. after surgery. They said it is the drug of choice!
I took one and no pain at all! Love Advil! I have no issues with bleeding or ulcers so I felt it was ok. I feel really yucky after Vicodan and Tylenol so this is a lifesaver.
I'm in no pain and walking around fine. I thought it would be much worse but it's a breeze today. Now, to wait until swell hell goes away...

Updated on 11 Jan 2016:
I'm thrilled with my results.
The first few months things are healing and shifting and it's easy to get discouraged. The swelling has really gone down and I can see my results. Good news is that it's going to just get better! I'm 3 months and 2 weeks post.
I can't tell you how amazing it is. It's so well worth it. I'm actually really glad I got a mini.

I am very confident and happy having Dr. C. do my explant. He's very experienced and does many of them. I have had another procedure by him and he is top notch. He's very caring of the patient and a true artist. I can't wait to be rid of the toxic implants. I'll be free to hug deeply, run and jump, sleep on my stomach, buy a bra anywhere and wear anything without looking too provocative and having it fit. I know my body is constantly fighting off this foreign object and it takes a toll on ones health. I really can't wait to be free and healthy. He will be using a local numbing at his office surgery center. It should take about 40 minutes. I will update before and after.

Updated on 18 Feb 2015:
I don't understand how the front desk can be so rude. Do they not realize this reflects on the doctor? I was never able to get a consult with Dr. Chalekson. I was only able to schedule explant through the front desk. When I emailed questions they were never returned. When I asked questions the front desk particularly Kathleen, were down right rude. I don't feel confident when the doctor won't see me yet insisted my paying $500 to schedule an un-diagnosed surgery.

Updated on 3 Mar 2015:
Dr. Chapple made me feel really at east. He's very gentle and comforting. I felt he had done so many explants that he was an expert. He even drew images of the surgery for me to understand the exact procedure. That is never done! He's from England and has a great bedside manner. He speaks to you with kindness, gentleness and as an equal. He goes into great detail to give you the best explanation for your questions. I feel very at east and confident with him. He is submitting the request to my insurance. I am waiting on approval and then I will book a date!

Updated on 10 Mar 2015:
My date is April 7th. I can't wait. Dr. Chapple is originally from England and has the best bedside manner, is prudent and very wise. He's done thousands of explant and I feel so comfortable with him. He's like a sweet grandfather figure.
He said it's hard to tell if I have thick CC (Baker's III) or if the capsule is just holding tight to the implant making it feel hard. He suggested a simple explant. He thinks it will be fine and the capsule will contract and absorbe by the body. Less surgery is much better for the body. He said if for some reason the capsule gives me any problem (he was very sure it wouldn't) then he can go in and remove the collapsed capsule. He said it's much easier to remove when it's collapsed. He felt too much is invasive. My insurance is covering it. I think the body heals itself. I can't wait to be rid of the bags that my poor body is in constant motion trying to fight off. That alone can cause immune problems etc. I have also seen many women who have had a simple implant removal and felt energy and health right away and continued to be healthy. Can't wait!

Updated on 14 Mar 2015:
Oh, I'm so excited. I really can't wait. Hope I heal well. I went shopping today just to look at the pretty spring dresses and tops. I took for granted that I was so limited in what I could wear. I realize I can wear any of these pretty dresses after explant. Ok, now I keep thinking I'll still be big. Anything is smaller than a DDD. I was originally a small B/large A so even a C will be great. Can't wait to buy new bras and have this weight off my chest. I think they are about 4lbs. all together.
Ugh!

Updated on 17 Mar 2015:
Surgery went so well. I felt really at ease and comfortable with the Dr. The 2 hr. drive was beautiful at 6:30 this morning. Santa Barbara is so beautiful, balmy and lots of flower scent in the air.
I got in at 9am and was prepped with an IV of Verced and something else, I forgot. I felt very good. The doctor even held my hand! He's like a gentle breeze. I felt nothing and came around very well. I was given my implants, 2lbs each and heavy. I was all finished at 10am. We drove home and I slept the whole way. I felt great. I had my first hug and it was amazing. I can feel those endorphins now as my chest touches all the way! They look great. I was expecting the worse but so far great. They seem to be about a C cup now. I think they will get smaller? Let's see...
The implants were intact. My capsule was soft with no contracture. Dr. Chapple said they were hard because they weren't fitting in my body. My 1st consult with Dr. Donath said I was a Baker 1V. Wow, amazing. Dr. Chapple is an older doc who has seen so much and is so wise.
So, no drains, no pain and some stitches. A little sore but taking tylenol. I'm so pleased with how they look. Oh, my implants were super sticky no matter how much I washed them off. I couldn't get it off my hands! PS said implants bleed because the silicone is so microscopic that it comes out. I ate an orange after washing my hads 3x and got some silicone residue in my mouth. It burned. I had to get a paper towel to try to get the residue out. Imagine how it must be in your body! Can't understand why they are used. The implants were heavy and had a yellow tinge. PS said it was limph fluids that leach into the implant. Crazy! So so so glad they are out. I threw the toxic bags away. I wonder if I'm swollen and they will become smaller. I was originally a small B and wanted to go to C so maybe that's what I will end up with.

Updated on 18 Mar 2015:
Feeling great today. Only took 2 tylenol yesterday. I saw a review where she tried all kinds of sports bras. She loved the Danskin Now 2 pack from Walmart for $12 the best. I got the Seamless Racerback Sports Bra and I love it! Very comfy and perfect for after surgery. They also make one that zips up the front but PS said not to worry about it. It was easy for them to put on me.
I love my new boobies. So far there is no upper pole projection and I love it. They are about a C but still swollen. I'm hoping they will be smaller. I feel lighter, taller, younger and thinner.
I can't believe I was worried at all. I haven't taken anything for pain today and don't need to. I slept on my back, side and stomach last night. Pretty cool. I was sore when I went to bed but woke up fine. Showered and changed my steri strip tape on the scar. I noticed a couple of bruises under the left breast. It's a bit more swollen than the right so that makes sense.
One poster here said she had a ton of swelling and got a seroma that kept needing drained. She emphasized not using your arms for at least a week. I'm adhering to that pretty well. She said she did laundry the next day. I get it because you feel like superwoman but I'm taking the help and relaxing. My PS said the seromas are rare and any fluid build up will be absorbed by the body. I encourage anyone on the fence to go for it! You will not regret it. I was lying on my back taking in deep breaths and realized how I couldn't do that with implants. It's good! Hugs are the best, releasing endorphins that were impossible with big implants.

Updated on 18 Mar 2015:
I didn't need the uncomfortable ace bandage. PS said just some mild support sports bra was all I need.

Updated on 20 Mar 2015:
I felt a little more energy but as the day went on I felt very weak, nauseous and thirsty. Is this normal? I've stopped the ex strength tylenol which is 500 mg. I realize it's so bad for your liver and not sure if that's making me sick. PS said to just stop all meds. Anyone else feel weak still on day 4? Not sure what's going on with me. PS said there should be no blood pooling up so that's good.

Updated on 5 Apr 2015:
I feel better and better all the time. I started cardio/dance after 1.5 weeks. It was fun but draining. I can tell I'm still healing but feeling really good at this point. Love my new (old) breasts! I can't tell you how good it feels. So much more energy! It's so cool to breath deeply and not feel any wheezing. It's so much lighter too. Dancing is amazing now. So light in the chest makes for better posture. I still have to be easy using my upper body as I'm still healing. Love my breasts! Did I say that already? :) They look really good. I am wearing really comfy sports bras or no bra. I think I'm a small C or large B and I love it. They are already firming up. I've been massaging in the shower and using coconut oil. Scar is soft and I don't even feel it. I removed my stitches day 9. They were starting to itch. I felt my body was ready to have them out too. Felt no itching after removal. Healing great, loving them and I really encourage everyone to engage in this love affair with their body. It's so freeing!

Updated on 21 Jun 2015:
I can't believe how amazing I feel. So much energy. I can run, jump, lie on my stomach, hug deeply and feel the water going all down when I drink. It's amazing. I can also breath deeper. I never knew how much implants take out of your life.
I'm still wearing sports bras and that feels best. I got measured today. I'm a 38C! Yippee. That's a lot smaller than a DDD. I feel freeeee! My breast look really good. I had one side under the muscle and one over. That's what I came out of surgery with so I guess that's what the PS decided on in surgery. My breast that's under the muscle has more side boob even though to look strait on they look great, perked up etc. I'm not sure if they are still healing and adhearing back to the chest wall. I imagine there is still more healing to come. They feel so nice and squishy too and they are all mine! It's such an amazing feeling. Also, I don't even notice them anymore like I used to. They are just a natural part of my body. I thought I would lost my femininity but I didn't at all. As a matter of fact not one person even noticed! If you're on the fence about this jump down and run over to your PS and take these toxic bags out of your body. Your poor body will thank you for it. No more fighting the foreign objects on your chest.

Updated on 25 Aug 2015:
I'm very confident in Dr. Chapple. He has suggested a mini tt instead of the full with no muscle repair. He will do some lipo contouring to correct a botched lipo.