Breast Implant Removal, Capsulectomy & Mastopexy (Lift) 10/10 Worth It

Able to get out and walk for exercise and enjoy it. A bit groggy and having difficulty focusing on work. Still very tired but not in too much pain.

2 Weeks Post
Had to take a long drive for the follow up appointment which left me sore. Pain is totally manageable otherwise. Doctor advised I can take the post surgical crop tops off for bed moving forward.

3 Weeks Post
Itching and nipple sensitivity is quite uncomfortable but I understand this takes time. It feels less itchy if I keep the post surgical crop tops on. Can now stretch my arms above my head and out to the side comfortably. Exhaustion has subsided. Bruising now very light.

I had breast implants placed in 2017 after visiting a surgeon in Melbourne, Dr Hamish Farrow. I wanted my breasts to be perky and cute as even though they were small, years of sport had left them saggy. I spoke to Dr Farrow about my insecurities around my sagging boobs and the large size of my nipples but he convinced me not to get a lift and nipple reduction but breast implants instead. Despite my gut feelings I went ahead and got implants and of course found they didn’t address my concerns. In fact I because more insecure with implants because being larger chested my clothing style no longer suited me and I found that I couldn’t present myself to the world in a way I felt reflected me.

Now in 2024 having finished having babies I was so happy to get my breast implants removed and get the lift and nipple reduction I wanted all along.

I saw a plastic surgeon on the Sunshine Coast, Dr Theo Birch but I found his bedside manner lacking. He didn’t seem to have any interest in me as a person or what my goals for the surgery were. He didn’t listen when I said I was experiencing pain from the implant and initially quoted my breast implant removal as cosmetic rather than medical, completely disregarding the pain I was in. He also said he wouldn’t perform a capsulectomy at the same time as a lift as interfering with blood supply to the tissue before a lift was too dangerous, but it was my understanding from all my research that capsulectomy is necessary when removing implants especially if you’re in pain. Dr Birch also has a mandatory 2nd appointment rule before booking in surgery which I think is a good step to ensure a patient is fully informed, however, my appointment was going to be a Telehealth in between surgical cases so they couldn’t provide me with a time at all. I also felt it unprofessional to see patients between surgical patients when he should probably be giving each of us his full attention. All in all I decided Dr Birch wasn’t the right fit for me.

I ended up with Dr Ben Green in Brisbane. He was fantastic. Took time to understand my goals and my family/living situation and work which is important because then he knew what to recommend for my recovery. Dr Green is a breast specialist working with many women with cancer and other breast related issues to he understands breasts and a woman’s relationship to them very well.

Recovery
Day 1
Woke up from general anaesthetic extremely groggy but immediately felt relief with the weights off my chest. Couldn’t sleep more than 15 mins at a time this night. Dr advised this was because of the anaesthetic. Also had one very painful drain but the other side was merely uncomfortable. This is the one night I needed to stay in hospital.

Day 2
Had drains removed. The painful side hurt so much being removed but I was very relieved to have them out. I was able to shower. At this stage I’m constipated and bloated but looking forward to going home. Still in pain and on strong painkillers but the main issue is exhaustion from not sleeping overnight. I can feel fluid in the left side of my chest cavity and it gurgles if I bend right over or lay flat. I am so happy with the appearance of my boobs. They look so cute and so me.

Day 3
Feeling more human after a good night sleep in my own bed. Still holding fluid and bloated. I was able to try on some of my clothes and I am ecstatic with how they look. I feel like my old self. The scales are showing my weight 3kg heavier than what I went into hospital at. I was prescribed coloxyl but I also had some movicol which has provided a lot of relief tonight.

Day 4
Feeling tired. Breast are starting to itch which is a good sign that the incisions are healing. Much less bloated. The scales are now showing my weight as 1.5kg heavier than what I went into hospital as so the water retention must be easing off and it helps I’m better able to open my bowels. Colour is changing around my incisions and I am still so happy each time I look at my chest! It feels great to have the implants out.