Hi ladies,
I've been reading so many of your stories and discovered I'm not alone. Try as I may, there is no hiding these big, hard, misshapen, painful and leaking boobies. I was flat as a board and athletic when I was young. Got my first set of implants at 26 after breast feeding two babies. They were 300cc silicone over the muscle, wonderful and I loved them. Another boob job at 46. Dr. Wells here in Lexington, KY told me I needed a lift, but I didn't want to get that invasive so I said no, just replace. He gave me 400cc silicone under the muscle and I hated them from day one. I would have done better had I taken his advice and gotten a lift and smaller implants. Oh well. This time I will listen to the docs' advice.
A recent mamogram and ultrasound showed leaking silicone in both breasts.
These honkers need to go. Here's my goal:
1. Health. Get the leaking silicone out of my body.
2. Comfort. I have pain from capsular contracture.
3. Beauty. OK, I just don't want to look like a monster in or out of clothes.
Sounds simple, huh? Not so much. I'm not in the best health due to epilepsy and high blood pressure, so that's a thing.
I have two consultations scheduled. Dr. Turner 10-5-17, that's tomorrow! Dr. Levan 10-18-17. I attempted a consultation with Dr. Levan two weeks ago, but they sent me to the ER with a blood pressure of 225/125. See what I mean about not so easy? I must say, Dr. Levan and her staff were super professional and caring when I saw them that day. I liked her personally and she has 20 years experience. I'm already leaning toward her due to her experience. The advantage of Dr. Turner is he specializes in breast reconstruction, but he has way less experience. I want the leaking giant implants out, a lift, and am not sure if I can take a concave look so am open to an itty bitty implant if advised. Still don't know what to do about that.
I will have to get permission for the surgery from my neurologist because of the seizures. I have this thing called a VNS which is kind of like a pacemaker for the brain. It is implanted in my chest wall above my left breast. It's about 2 sq inches in size and lies under the skin next to the scar.
I'm posting some pics that I took of myself. If these pics are not good enough representations I will ask a friend to take more for me, just let me know.
The journey begins...
Updated on 9 Oct 2017:
Care Credit approved financing, Neurologist approved surgery, one consult done and one more to go. PS recommends removal of implant and lift. Capsular contracture and silicone leaking in both breasts. He thinks I have enough breast tissue to look OK when the implants come out. I've been talking to my friends who can't imagine what I'll look like flat. I'm not getting much positive reinforcement from them. They don't know what encapsulated silicone implants feel like. Ouch!
Updated on 21 Oct 2017:
Been on consultations, picked out my PS and gotten financing. Everything is prepared and I am ready to schedule explant and lift, EXCEPT, now I'm having second thoughts about the lift. The implants are coming out no matter what, but do I really want to have a lift at my age? Help!! I need advice. I wonder how much difference there will be in my looks if I have a lift or don't have one. Nobody sees me naked and I've had no request from [RS bleep] to do a centerfold. I'm worried about how invasive the lift is. I'm worried about scarring, because I tend to scar poorly. I'm worried about infection and my nipple health. I'm WORRIED. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Updated on 25 Oct 2017:
I am scheduled for implant removal without lift on November 9th. That's only two weeks away! I decided against doing a lift at least for now. I want to see how they look before I do such invasive surgery. They may be just fine, if not, I'll do a lift next year. Pre-op next week. I'm using Dr. Therese-Ann LeVan in Lexington, KY. St. Joe East Hospital.
Updated on 9 Nov 2017:
Doc said this was one of the worst cases she ever saw. Both breasts extruding silicone and scar tissue so thick it was difficult to differentiate from ribs. Right boob will eventually look mostly normal, but left boob looks almost like a mastectomy. I’m not going to look at my breasts until I have somebody very supportive with me or she suggested maybe when I came for postop. Yes, I will send pictures. I hurt really bad unless I keep ice on. Ice does the trick and makes me out of percent comfortable along with the pain pills. Believe it or not, I’m still glad I did this. Doc said they absolutely must have come out. I’m just thinking, no wonder they hurt so badly.From my profile in the mirror I look pretty flat on the right side and completely flat on the left. Docs said I could use a little padding or an external device in my bra on the left side to make them look good enough and clothes. .
Updated on 10 Nov 2017:
I have a lot of bleeding through my drains. I can’t imagine not having drains with all of this blood coming out. I can shower tomorrow and will post Nudies then.
Updated on 11 Nov 2017:
Pain is much less than I thought although I am on pain pills. Not been doing the best job at sitting still. I feel like I should hurt more and feel worse after a 5 1/2 hour surgery to remove these implants and all the crap. I’ll get the picture of the ruptured implant’s in all of the scar tissue next week and share it with you.
Updated on 12 Nov 2017:
Updated on 12 Nov 2017:
Updated on 13 Nov 2017:
I was scheduled and paid for 2 1/2 hour surgery, but that surgery ended up 5 hours. Do y'all think I'm going to get a bill for extended surgical suite, anesthesia, and PS time? If they send additional bill, I'll have to pay it and be grateful for the good work they did. I don't know how I'll come up with that kind of money, but I'll work it out somehow. Thank you so much Dr. Therese-Anne Levann.
Today I put on a sweat suit instead of jammers and I'm flat as a board. Don't know why the pics make my boobs appear larger than reality. I love the new lean look with flat boobies instead of 10 pounds of boob in a 5 pound sack. Drains come out in two days, Wednesday 11/15/17. Not sure why, but even my face looks thinner. I'll post pics when I find my phone.
Updated on 15 Nov 2017:
I still have too much drainage for the drains to be removed. I will go back next Wednesday and try again.
Updated on 16 Nov 2017:
Not sure what happened. Maybe the drive to PS and back or maybe the poking and prodding. Neither the drains or the stitches were removed. I was very sore and even had a low temperature of 99.9. It was a long painful night with lots of getting up and down. I had to loosen the bra and take a pain pill. Tired this morning.
Updated on 19 Nov 2017:
Getting my drains out tomorrow, 11 days after surgery. Had a rough couple days, but that's over and I'm better now. Thanks to you girls for all the positive comments and wise advice. I would be absolutely lost without this site. I'll post pics tomorrow after the drains come out. I may even put on something nice and fix my hair. Nah, JK!!!!! Not likely. I live out on my farm with a bunch of critters who like me in coveralls.
Anybody notice weight loss? I've lost at least four pounds and I don't feel so puffy, especially noticeable in my face. I can't help think all that loose silicone and irritated tissue was causing systemic issues. Thank God it is gone gone gone.
Updated on 21 Nov 2017:
These are my ruptured implants and the scar tissue that was removed with them. I had my stitches and drains removed yesterday. I am now 12 days postop. My breasts are still sore, but I feel better everywhere else! Strangely, even without these 400 cc And all that tissue which was removed, I don’t feel that I look much different in clothing . I had been squishing them down in sports bras Because they were too big and fake looking. I look better natural.
Updated on 22 Nov 2017:
From the pictures it does not appear I have changed much since the original unveiling. I think this is pretty much what I am going to end up looking like and I’m OK with it. Quite OK! I think in the past I would’ve thought I was too flat chested but now I think I look natural and good. No, make that great!
Updated on 27 Nov 2017:
I am finding it hard to navigate around the site to check up on you ladies. I hope all are doing well.
Updated on 29 Nov 2017:
My left breast had more damaged tissue removed from extruded silicone. Doc told me after surgery it was one of the hardest cases she has worked in 25 years. I am glad she warned me in advance. Not sure why, but it doesn’t bother me at all. My boobies and I are much happier post explant. I Amazoned chic filets which come tomorrow. They will be nice to have if i wear something form fitting, which I do a lot.
Updated on 30 Nov 2017:
I have these so that if I wear something formfitting my breasts are closer to the same size. They’re pretty cool.
Updated on 24 Dec 2017:
Hi ladies! I've lost about five pounds after my explant and have noticed my face isn't as puffy as before. I've lost some water weight and swelling. Big news is I'm having fewer seizures, less nausea and dizziness. I swear I feel healthier without the implants. I'm not one to jump on a band wagon about the implant disease, but.... seriously, I think I had implant disease. Wouldn't it be cool if my epilepsy were controlled? I'm seeing my neurologist in January and am tempted to have another eeg to see if maybe, just maybe, I'll get a better reading than in the past. My epilepsy came out of nowhere in my late 50's without any good reason. Could it have possibly been an additional reaction by my body to those implants? I'm just reaching here. But, wouldn't it be totally cool if my brain stopped having seizures????
Updated on 4 Jan 2018:
I want to thank all you girls for helping me make the decision to have my implants removed and not replaced. For the coaching, counseling, and confidence building.
This picture is taken today, eight weeks post op. My Lefty had a lot more tissue removal and damage, it even looked screwed up before surgery. I do not expect that breast to look much better. With that said, I LOVE my new figure and natural feel.
My general health is better. I’ve lost puffiness and inflammation all over my body. Lots less pain, not just breasts, but everywhere. And here is the real shocker...No seizures since the surgery. That may just be a coincidence, but it’s been years since I’ve been this long without a seizure. Two months is incredible.
Updated on 7 Jan 2018:
Hey folks, I went to a party this afternoon with a snug bra, not padded, no Chick-fil-A’s. I discovered my personality is much bigger than my fake boobs ever were. This is a big revelation for me and I hope that you all who are thinking about Explanting will someday feel as good as I do today.
Updated on 27 Jan 2018:
I found this bra on Amazon. Warner's Women's Daisy Lace Wire-Free Bra with Plushline. 38C fits perfectly even though my left breast is smaller. Somehow, it just accommodates both breasts great. Also, the lumps, bumps, and inverted nips are resolving themselves very nicely. The HVAC dude actually lost eye contact for a second!!! Never thought that would happen again, but it does. So happy with my results.
Updated on 8 Feb 2018:
OK, ladies. Here I am 3 months post-op no lift. 400cc silicone under the muscle. Had implants since I was late 20's. Grade IV capsular contracture on both sides and a cyst by my left nipple was also removed. All capsule removed on both sides along with suctioning of free silicone. 5 1/2 hour surgery. Doc said I would look like I had partial mastectomy on left side. There is an obvious dent where the cyst was removed, the nip is concave, and of course a considerable size difference in my breasts. Even with all that, I think my boobs look just as good as the rest of my rockin' bod and I'm happy. If I'd had a lift, the results would likely be more symmetrical, but it isn't important enough to me to justify the money or the additional surgery.
Updated on 19 Feb 2018:
I went three months seizure free post explant, but I did have a seizure the other day. Certainly not the frequency I had before as I was having them daily and now only one in three months. I can live with that. Seizures are not on the BII list and I had no idea I would have any change in them, but I most certainly have. Neither PS nor Neurologist attribute this change to explant, but I don't think it is just a coincidence. Also, now that I don't have giant rocks on my chest, I'm going to start yoga! 61 and never done it before. I'm excited about it but keep postponing starting. Not sure why. I think I need an accountability coach! Hope you are all doing well and good and loving your natural soft boobies!
Updated on 1 Apr 2018:
Thank you, ladies for all the uplifting chats and advice. I'm going to be offline for awhile and will not be able to see your posts. Please note that I have changed my username to be more anonymous...