Breast implant removal - very pleasantly surprised

I decided to remove my implants for several reasons. No regrets but they had become heavy, uncomfortable, sometimes painful and not aligned with my current lifestyle.

I booked in with Dr Samuel Yang in Brisbane for a consultation after looking at several surgeons. Most other surgeons had a BMI requirement (which I was over), and the only other surgeon I was wanting to see was Dr Zackariah Clement at the Gold Coast, but this was a further drive so I decided to see Dr Yang first. There was a waitlist so in July I booked an initial consultation date for December. I was contacted a week later to move the consult appointment up to late August.

The consult was good with Dr Yang discussing my goals and explaining the realistic surgery outcomes. I looked at possible surgery dates and selected 13th November. The surgery estimate was sent to me the next day with amounts for surgeons fee, anaesthetist and hospital fees including what the Medicare rebate would be. I also booked in for the second consult (a requirement for plastic surgery) which was a phone appointment a few weeks prior to surgery, and a garment measurement with the nurse.

Surgery day - I got dropped off at midday for surgery around 1 or 1.30pm. I had to fast from 5am. The hospital check in was smooth. The anaesthetist Dr Brendon Buzacott was great and came to explain his process and see if I had any questions. Afterwards Dr Yang came by to draw me up and again check for any questions. Not long later I was wheeled in and put under, surgery took around 2 hours.

I woke up maybe around 4.30pm, was in and out of it for awhile. Around 5.45pm I was discharged and my husband took us home. I hadn't been through a day surgery before and I definitely prefer the Thailand process of staying overnight after general anaesthetic! But it wasn't too bad.

I'm a few hours off being two days post op - I have drains in which can be annoying but have a little bag to carry them round. I've been managing well with Panadol and nurofen. I took one stronger pain medication tablet but it made me dizzy so probably won't have another one. The pain hasn't been too bad, a couple of twinges in the drain area and it feels like I have done a big chest workout. My toddler hasn't got the memo to be gentle with mum so dad is doing most of the work there!

I have my first follow up appointment on Monday 20/11 with Dr Yang and their nurse. Hopefully the drains and stitches can be taken out and I can finally shower!

As for how they look, I was very pleasantly surprised! I know it's very early, but they look so much lighter and nowhere near as saggy as I thought they would. I'm looking forward to watching the healing process and seeing how they look in several months. I had a lift when I had the implants put in almost 7 years ago, and with weight gain and pregnancy I wasn't sure how they would turn out. One looks a little misshapen and I'm not sure if this is from the lift scars, but aesthetics wasn't my goal and I plan to have another lift in several years anyway.

I'll update as I go through the healing :)

Before photos taken morning of surgery

Photos taken the day after surgery - the left boob has a weird shape, possibly from previous lift scars? Very impressed with how they look though!