I’m 55 and Removing my Breast Implants Adding Lift

As promised, I will add photos! Before implants 8 years ago, after implants 8 years ago and now 2 weeks before explant. And I made a typo, my former username was Madison5269 (I had the numbers wrong in my last post).

So countdown to under 2 weeks til surgery! I’m so excited! I ordered a pouch for my drains, froze chicken soup for recovery meals and plan to freeze more meals. That was an absolute lifesaver for me after my implant surgery and tummy tuck. It kept me eating healthy foods and al I needed to do was heat them up. I made a list of healthy foods that help with healing: pineapple, berries, broccoli, greens, protein. I will buy them on Sunday before surgery. Since I live 90 minutes from the surgery center we are staying in a hotel the night of surgery just to be close by for the first 24 hours.

I figured I would list my symptoms of possible BII: brain fog, inflammation, hard to lose weight, past 5 years swollen left foot with no pain, but after every test could not be diagnosed, occasionally shortness of breath, fatigue, sharp pains in my left breast, rash under my left breast on torso, joint pains . My left wrist is throbbing as I write this. At the same time this could be menopause or getting older and busy life so we will see!

I hope I am not confusing anyone with my photos! I added 1 before implant photo, a few after implant photos, then my 2026 before explant photos.

I looked back on my review from 2018 where I was so excited to get breast implants. (I had to start a new username here on Real Self because I couldn’t access my account but my old account was Madison5265). Anyway, I was married at the time, 47 years old, in my best shape ever and was so unhappy with the sag after weight loss. I got way too large implants for my body type, but then again that is what I wanted. I wanted high and round and huge. That’s what I got! I loved them for about 2 years, then slowly started gaining weight. I could not take the weight off. So 8 years later and 45 pounds heavier on my 5’2” frame! I have been wanting to get them removed for past 5 years but after a divorce, did not have the financial means.
Last month I suddenly broke out in a strange skin rash under my left breast. Also felt sharp pains, and feeling around, I noticed that my left breast was very hard and my right one soft. That was what caused me to make the decision to get them removed now.
I am going through menopause. I have been watching tons of explant videos on you tube and noticed a theme. Breast implant illness. So all this time I blamed my brain fog, exhaustion, joint pains, shortness of breath, trouble losing weight even though I eat 95% time clean and work out 6 days per week., etc on getting older or menopause. My surgeon said, maybe it is menopause and getting older and maybe it is BII. Definitely can be a combination of both. He believes in BII. So besides that point, I want to be healthy and natural and smaller. I am tired of wearing swimsuits where all you see are 2 huge cantaloupes. I am tired of looking way bigger than I am. My breast implants were huge but with the 45 lb weight gain, omg they are obscene now. It’s all people notice. I want to mention I took off 8 of the 45 pounds and do not want to go back to 111 lbs from 8 years ago. I hope to lose around 15 more pounds and will be very happy!
I researched surgeons as my original PS who put them in quoted $27,000 to do an explant, partial capsulectomy, reduction and small lift. And that was after his $4,000 former patient discount! And believe me, I know this is skill and serious surgery, so I don’t expect it for nothing, but that was way above my budget. I’m in NJ which probably raises the price.
So I found a wonderful PS in Pennsylvania who I felt immediately comfortable with, he has done many many explant surgeries. He said it is his most common surgery to perform now. He believes in BII. His pricing fit into my budget and so November 2, 2026 is my day! He believes the implants are most likely causing the trouble losing weight, so he is not worried about me losing the weight before surgery. I believe I have lots of inflammation from whatever is going on in my left breast. So we decided on a C cup because I have lots of breast tissue a total capsulectomy and a lift. After I lose weight he said I will be at my desired B cup size and it is an easy fix if I find that there is a bit of sag after weight loss.
So join me on my journey and I cannot wait to update you on every step! I am happy to answer questions along the way! So excited for my surgery!
I will post before and after photos.