I had my first implant in 1974-silicone over the muscle. That quickly encapsulated and I had to have a re-do, still over the muscle. In those days, physicians tried new tricks with each implant-the second time he put some prednisone in with the implant hoping that would stop any encapsulation. Good luck! It did not work so my surgeon put it under the muscle. This was the 3rd procedure. It encapsulated anyway and a crazy plastic surgeon (mine was out of town) tried to rip the capsule since I was in so much pain by squeezing my breasts with all his might. What pain and, again, it did not work. I moved to another state and tore the capsule while cleaning my bathtub. Again I had to have the implants removed and replaced due to the pain; this time the surgeon used a different type of implant and, guess what, they encapsulate anyway. I had them removed and replaced and, guess what, they encapsulated. I went to another surgeon since this one passed away and he put in saline implants and guess what-they were Mentors and one of them collapsed. They had to be removed and replaced with silicone again. AND GUESS WHAT-they encapsulated again..By this time, I had very thin skin and needed Alloderm to hold the implant. Guess what-they encapsulated. One more time, I had a revision-with Alloderm again and now the surgeon who was a doll and a woman said, since you are in so much pain and they are encapsulated again-not to mention riding almost up to my clavicle-scars everywhere and lots of pain, we should explant and leave them out. On October 24th this year I did just that. My chest feels so much better without the heavy weight of the implants. They were only 300 cc's. Since I had no breast tissue to begin with and all the explants and capsulectomies took away whatever I did have, I am afraid to look. At my age, I am 72, it really does not matter---and I guess it never really did, except in my own mind. I was a Ford Model years ago (biggest modeling agency in New York) so I must have been pretty. I think women should reconsider leaving alone what God has created. After all "Father knows Best". If you encapsulate, consider not re-implanting. It will probably only happen again! God Bless
Updated on 28 Oct 2014:
I think the decision to explant was God's way of showing me that I needed to take a step back and view my life's decision regarding taking care of myself. My pre-explant EKG was abnormal. I had to have a stress test before I could be cleared for surgery. I had the surgery and fainted again-I had fainted previously before the surgery-and if I do it again I will have a real problem with my heart. I would not have known had I not made the decision to explant which required lots of pre-surgical testing. I think it's time to rest-really rest...our breasts are not nearly as important as our physical health but we take that for granted. At 72, I think I need to consider that I am not 25 anymore even though I have the strength and energy of some one that age. I'll keep you informed as to my progress both healing and health wise. Thank all of the ladies who shared their experiences. They really helped. I hope mine will also. God Bless!
Updated on 2 Nov 2014:
Today is a scary day for me. I got up, went down to breakfast, started feeling dizzy, pain in neck and throat. I guess I really do need to see a Cardiologist. However, my implant removal is healing nicely. My drains are out, I look really different from all of you gorgeous girls post op but I feel great about what I did. Best decision I have ever made. I am putting coconut oil on my scars and found a Jockey XL bra with high back to wear plus two others in Marshalls for $10.00 with removable padding. They are great. Yesterday I fast walked for twenty minutes. That was exhilarating! I purchased several things from the Internet which don't cling and they fit really well, "surprise, surprise, surprise" as our friend Gomer Pyle would say (if you are old enough to know who he is)! I also bought silicone gel to assist with scar improvement and some creams for massaging breasts to enlarge them but my PS says wait until next week before using any of that stuff. I love you all for your stories and support during this not-fun time. Some of us don't have anyone who really understands and supports our decision and having you all takes care of that. This is a fun, educational and emotionally comforting site and I am sooo thankful for it and you. Keep sharing and God Bless!
Updated on 3 Nov 2014:
Today I am 7 lbs. lighter and I love it. The weight loss is an unexpected benefit. I would love to go back to exercising but, I guess, in time. I have an appointment with a Cardiologist on Thursday and I hope there is just a little tweek he can do to solve the issue. I wish I could take a few selfies and put them on this site but I am not as smart as my Smart Phone...I see my PS next Monday and her nurse on Friday if there is an issue. I know there won't be one and I look forward to many happy days of silicone gel over scars and breast massage. I don't want to turn out like Jane Mansfield but a little bit won't hurt..Thanks ladies for all your support. Happy Sailing.
Updated on 10 Nov 2014:
Tomorrow I have a visit with my PS. My cardiologist has ordered me to wear a CardioNet MCOT (Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry) in plain English like a Holter Monitor only it notifies him if I have any irregularities at the time I am having them-Holter does not. I have not had any more episodes for a week and I feel I won't have any more-at least I hope not-but with this monitor he and I will know if there is any real problem beside life's stresses. I will put it on after my visit to Dr. Arya. I don't want anything to interfere with what she is thinking and going to recommend. All"s Well that Ends Well. God Bless All!
Updated on 14 Nov 2014:
I am massaging with the herb indicated on the Real Self Website by one of the girls. I, also, put a 1/8 teaspoon of fairy dust in a glass of water each morning. I am healing well but it appears I will have to have another surgery in three months. Oh well. Such is Life! My results regarding breast tissue are more than I expected which is good and perhaps will improve as time goes on. Thank you ladies for all your support and I will send pictures if I can get time with my daughter to show me how to do it with my Apple Smart Phone. God Bless....
Updated on 15 Nov 2014:
Today, Saturday, I got out of bed feeling really great. I think my dogs knew I was doing well because they both slept right up against me-one at the head and one at the chest. I feel like an oily Wap (I'm Italian). I am covering myself with Almond Oil, Real Aloe Vera from a cake, and any other natural oil I can order from the Internet. Usually General Anesthetic has some adverse affects and I think mine is really dry skin. I am three weeks postop and don't have to see my PS for another 3 weeks. When I look in the mirror, I have to say my PS was right. I was flat as a board before my implants-now I have a decent amount of breast tissue. Considering my many cc's and their complete removal, it's a delight. All's well that ends well! God Bless us All.
Updated on 12 Dec 2014:
My PS told me that I would need a fat transplant to make my breasts look human and would, also, need my nipples moved up. That's all right with me but I can't afford it right now. I am exploring PS's in Mexico-looking up credentials etc. From what I have seen on this site, the ladies who used these surgeons were very pleased. They are not licensed in the US-I checked but at one time I knew a great anesthiologist and his brother-an Allergist who are renowned in Phoenix and they were both educated in Mexico. They were great and were Board Certified in the US.
I took pictures but I don't want to scare anyone by posting them since mine is a very unusual case. Eleven procedures and each time for encapsulation makes a big difference. I am pleased that I am in the shape I am in at this point. My PS says wait six months before making any decisions. I think that's a good idea. Thank you so much ladies for all your information, thoughts and prayers. This is a great forum for information and education. I love it. God Bless.
Updated on 5 Jan 2015:
Going to see a Hand Surgeon who also does Plastic. I have had 5 surgeries to my right CMC Joint and they have failed (that joint in at the bottom of the thumb). My left hand is in trouble now as well. Also, I think my breast explant will need lots of revision i.e. moving my nipples to my thigh, scar revision, etc. I hope this PS can help. He is one of the few PSs who is contracted with Medicare and that's who paid for my explant due to soo much pain. It's so great to have everyone giving their thoughts, prayers and ideas on this Site. It's a great help and encouragement. Thank you Ladies from the bottom of my heart. God Bless..
Updated on 10 Feb 2015:
I was told today by a prominent PS that there really wasn't much that could be done for me. I don't have enough fat for a fat transfer and what I need is a lift also but I have bad scaring and that will make it difficult. Bad news but it is what it is. My daughter will be happy since she is concerned about me having another general anesthetic at my age. I'm glad I was not able to add pictures to the site because my breasts are sooo deformed they might scare some ladies. Mine is not the normal result. Thank you for all the kind words. They mean a lot ladies...
Updated on 11 May 2015:
I had a fat transfer from my abdomen to my breasts and it helped somewhat. I now have something to hold my bra down. I will need another fat transfer in July but this time my new PS will have to cut through scar tissue to be able to put more fat in the right places. I trust him and am looking forward to looking normal again. By the way, I had the hand surgery at the same time I had the fat transfer. The hand surgery turned out to be the most difficult and painful surgery I have ever had. It has been one month and I am still in so much pain and am wearing a split cast. I hope it is all worth it. We really need our hands...Don't get old...Ha, Ha, Ha! God Bless you all.
Updated on 21 Jun 2015:
I spoke with another PS and her idea of what should be done was totally different from the PS who did the transfer. However, she was looking at my somewhat bigger breasts from the fat transfer. I went in to see the PS who did the transfer and told him about the other PS. He said he intended to do a lift after the next transfer. It's hard to know who is right and who is not. I'll wait and see. I just keep massaging and hoping for the best. I have so much scar tissue from the previous procedures that it's hard to know what to do. Internal scar tissue makes it very difficult for the new surgeries to heal correctly. I have pictures of my first surgery-the removal-and of the fat transfer but I am so Smartphone non-literate as to how to get them into my computer it' nuts. Thank you all for your interest and kind words. I'll keep you informed. Oh, by the way, my hand surgery is finally starting to heal. It still hurts but it is getting better. God Bless...
Updated on 28 Jun 2015:
Hi. My hand surgery is finally healing and the pain is almost gone. My fat transfer didn't solve the crease issue and I was going to have another in August but I have to go back to work instead..am out of money. My son is really in trouble now having a large protruding disk C6-7. He couldn't use his left arm so he tripped and fell. He broke his right arm and now has no arms to use. Due to his Rheumatoid Arthritis, he is not healing well or at all. What else can go wrong for him? He has been put on Morphine in very large doses for the pain and he is not in his right mind. Thank God my nephew lives with him and can help. It's amazing sometimes the challenges God allows us to have. But, as the old saying goes, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." Take care sisters and thanks for all your support.
Updated on 11 Aug 2015:
Hi friends...My fat transfer didn't work as we hoped. I have retained a little but the large crease running up and down my left breast is still present. I was told by the PS who did the transfer that I need another transfer but I don't think I'm going to do it again. I got a second opinion and was told that all I needed was to have the scar tissue resected that was holding the crease in place and a lift. Right now I am concentrating on getting a job since money is tight and not looking in the mirror much. I know my surgery was not a success but I don't regret for a moment having my implants permanently removed. At my age-which by the way is now 73-healing is totally different from most of you ladies so, please, do what has to be done before you get to be old enough to know what needs to happen but too old to expect a wonderful outcome. That is what I wish to all my dear and caring friends on this site. Thanks for sharing and God Bless.