I am lucky enough to be able to share a photo pre-implants in 2004, after breastfeeding three babies. I had 240 silicon gel implants and all went well until 2013 when I found lumps under my right armpit, this was then seen in an MRI as silicon in a couple of the lymph nodes. It's not clear how this happened as there were no signs of a rupture. It's been suggested a "gel burst" or "gel sweating" on the outside of the implant itself. This sounds shocking I know, but realistically its not life threatening and the swelling of the lymph node could also be aggravated by a foreign presence and could shrink over time. With this presented to me, my breast surgeon and I decided to change the implants and I took an opportunity to step up slightly in size to 255 silicon gel implants. Fast forward 18 months to March 2015 and I have just had a recent MRI and ultrasound as I was continually anxious about the lumps under my arm and was recommended by my breast surgeon to talk with a breast oncologist so that I could be under her care and watchful eye (this was more for my peace of mind). So the MRI and ultrasound was for her to have an up to date complete picture of where I am at. This revealed an intra-capsular rupture on the left implant. I called my breast oncologist and told her I want them out and she said there was no point coming in to see her then and I should go straight to my surgeon to discuss options. After speaking with my breast surgeon, he wasn't convinced there was a rupture, but that there was a slight fold in the implant which can present as a rupture. After discussions with him and the anxiety I was experiencing, I have decided to take out my implants. In doing so we are going to take a wait and see approach and give my natural breast time to recover and then make the decision to lift or not. I am 52 years old now and am a petite blonde with slim build and love to exercise. My only concern is I don't know what bra size to buy. To my delight Heidi Klum has brought in a pretty bra line and has an "A cup" if that is where I end up and also Pleasure State. Even the Bendon sport bra has an "A cup" if need be. Originally I was a B. Going in next week I am excited! I know this is the right decision for me and am not worried about possible complications regarding the appearance of my breasts and am prepared to wait and see whether there is a breast lift needed. To be honest, I can't wait to be free and my husband (gotta love him) says he loved my own breasts and doesn't care what the result will be as long as I am happy (married 22 years, 3 kids). So I have pre-implant photos and 2nd implant photos. Watch this space when I am comfortable taking "after explant" photos. Updated on 5 May 2015: Just had the call from the hospital and am booked in at 2pm tomorrow. This is really happening and I can't wait. Spoke with my surgeon today to discuss the procedure and what happens to the capsule (membrane) surrounding the implants etc. and he will do what's necessary. I have full faith in him and can't wait to have the weight lifted off my chest! Ill have a lovely rest in hospital for the night and hopefully over the weekend will post on how I feel. There's no lift as he wants to wait and see down the track so that's that ladies. How exciting... Updated on 7 May 2015: HI lovely ladies. I'm sitting in my hospital room, they are out and I feel good. I went in about 3.30pm and my surgeon came to have a chat beforehand. He marked the original scar just at the ends so he could remove it, looked at the side profile and commented about not too much of a drop (maybe because it's been behind the muscle). Woke up, all done. I had shaking while in recovery (that's the effects of the anaesthetic) then back to my room. I'm bandaged with a compression bandage but not too tight. My daughter arrived with lovely Thai soup for both of us and my sister and niece arrived with white chocolate muffins - I'm in heaven. So far no pain. I've just been given one little pill called endone and that should take me through the night. I have drains but minimal in them. I'm looking forward to a restful night. Huge hugs and thanks for all the support. Will post progress photos x Updated on 7 May 2015: First morning, dreadful sleep because I had a gravelly throat from anaesthetic tube, otherwise was comfortable. My surgeon came in to check on me and told me call it women's intuition or similar - the right implant was pristine but the left one that was thought to have had a small rupture or fold, turned out to be a big crack. Thankfully was contained but the area was completely cleaned out. How lucky was I that I wanted them out. I think the body just knows on some level. Anyway, just solidified for me that I made the right decision. So bandages were cut off and despite saying I didn't want to see them yet, I peeked. To my pleasant surprise I'm happy with this early result. I'm home now and will wear a comfortable compression bandage for 3-4 days, then a comfy support bra. Drains were removed and I'm now back home. Suns shining and house is peaceful, one of my cats has buried herself into my shoulder and turned on the purr button. Updated on 9 May 2015: Hi ladies, just wanted to show you the bra I bought to slip into for the next couple of weeks. I'm still lounging about in bed, keeping warm and happy to report I have no pain, can move my arms freely and have full feeling back. Will post another photo in a few days. Updated on 14 May 2015: Just updating at my one week post op mark. Recovery all but done, a little tender at incision mark and particularly on my right side where the drains were taken out and it is still weeping ever so slightly, or that could have just been when I changed over the bandage. I know it's only been a week so I'm not expecting miracles, but my right breast is better than my left one. When my surgeon removed them, the right one was pristine but the left had a big crack in it. Apparently the surrounding tissue wasn't compromised but the left side had a good clean. From memory my left was not entirely as big as the right but over time will the left fill out a bit. Please reassure me, I know it's early days. I'm still really pleased that I've explanted and was looking at bras today, fine lines and pleasure state have some absolutely gorgeous bras but not sure if I should be doing that yet. I'm still wearing my crop top support bra - how long do we wear this for? Updated on 7 Jun 2015: Hi Ladies, I'm back!! After not feeling great for a couple of weeks, I then broke out in shingles. I had a small rash over the same area (left side of torso) when I went in for the explant and was slightly itchy, that seemed to calm down. I did inform the admitting nurse about it but it didn't seem to come into play in the scheme of things. Then about a week ago I broke out into a band of angry red lumps which turned out to be shingles. Its part of the chicken pox virus, so if you've had chicken pox you are at risk of shingles at some point in your life, usually as a result of a certain amount of stress (in my case) and maybe a compromised immune system. Anyway on the road to recovery and up to posting pics. Still not entirely happy with my left breast, but I do see slight improvement, so trying not to stare at it, as this doesn't help and just letting it do its thing. I've posted a pic of the compression bra I wear at night and this keeps me contained I feel. During the day I'm still wearing the Playtex support bra and every now and then the soft Berlei bra, which is a slightly padded bra with no underwire. All feels good. The right breast is still a little more tender than the left and I have been putting Bio Oil on the scars which at this stage look very neat and should heal up nicely. I love my real breasts and don't regret for a minute explanting. I have a much nicer cleavage as it is soft and natural (even though small) and I love the way they feel. Have just been out for a walk today, first time in a while because of the shingles and am now home having my spicy pumpkin and leek soup that I made yesterday + dollop of greek yogurt. Its all about putting the vitamins back in and getting the body as healthy as you can. Hope you're all well, loving all your explants. Hugs to all x Updated on 29 Jul 2015: Just wanted to post and let you lovely ladies all know that all is well. Its been a while since I posted as life got very busy and I've just been getting on with it. I have my first appointment with my surgeon tomorrow as he had been away and then I went away and then had to wait a while to see him and as I have no concerns, there was no rush. I still have silicon in the nodes and at certain times, they can ache but if both my surgeon and my oncologist (I am under her care also as I have anxiety about breast cancer due to what I've been through) advise to leave them alone, I will go with that for now, but will ask again tomorrow. In a nutshell, I am so glad I've explanted and have gotten to a stage where I don't think about them much. I think I love them and that's a good thing. They are petite and bra size ranges from an A to B and occasionally a C in Calvin Klein depending on the fit. I recently went to the Maldives for my husbands 50th and had to rock a bikini (which was way earlier than I had anticipated as Australian summer isn't till the end of the year). But I was very comfortable and my scars were concealed and are healing nicely. I still wear my black soft compression bra at night and sometimes through the day will wear my Lorna Jane soft bra. Most of my clothes still fit and I have no regrets. Hope all you ladies are doing well, I think of you all often xx
