So pleased they're gone! - London, GB

Oh, I know it's scary... I would encourage you to listen to your heart on this one. If you feel you need them out, then you do. I would give your body time to heal afterwards. Trust in its ability to recover. I'm thinking that maybe your nipple pointing down has something to do with the contracture. That might resolve post explant. Good luck with this tough decision.

I'm kind of in the same situation although my implants are only 4 and a half years old and they're not PIPs. I found something in my right breast about 3 months ago that I suspected to be a rupture and had a lot of discomfort and pain starting about a month after that. I'm not really in any kind of pain anymore but I knew I just had to get them out of my body as soon as possible. I just knew they were doing something to my body that they weren't supposed to and I just wanted to be free! I already had implants when I met my husband and so at first (and even now) he was kind of unsure about what my breasts will look like after taking the implants out and if we'll both be happy with them. I do understand where he's coming from though, because he's never seen me without them! He has no idea what to expect as I'm pretty much the same way.. Although he's not 100% sure about the surgery, he knows that this is important to me and he wants me to get it done. He still jokes about me getting implants again in the future, but no, that is NOT going to happen as long as I'm alive and well! I think your husband is worried about the outcome, which is understandable. You know he loves you as the way you are, but you with the implants is all that he knows. Just tell him how this is important to you and how much pain it's causing you and it will cause you in the future. Tell him how you don't feel comfortable in your own skin, and you want your old self back. Tell him how you need him during this time as it is hard for you too. Tell him you both will have to do a lot of getting used to, but it'll all be okay. Tell him you're scared too. But you know you need to do this. I'm scheduled for Dec. 27th and I'm so scared about the surgery itself and what I'm going to have after that. We're all here for each other! Hope to here from you soon again! :)

Hi.. I am 6 days post explant after also having severe capsular contracture / rupture/ fluid build up in my right breast and also rupture in left which was discovered in surgery. Anyway. . My story is similar to yours as in breast size and feeding my daughter for 9 months with implants. 7 months ago my right breast went very hard and huge compared to the left one. Fortunately after several appointments NHS agreed to remove them (only) as I had had 2 day surgeries in last 10 years to remove benign lumps. It took me a good a few months and lots of researching to decide to go ahead with explant only and heal before I decided what to do next. I'm 44 and met my partner when I was 26.. he has never seen me with my little real boobs. I was upset and concerned like you that he wouldn't find me attractive without a new set of implants. But with time and talking he understood my reasons for not wanting to deal with more problems (potentially) in the future and also not wanting more unnecessary scarring from an uplift. Okay so here I am on day 6 still bandaged up so 'we' haven't been able to have a proper look.. I am definitely small but peering down compression bandage I have still a cleavage and peeking upwards I look like I have a little curve. Hubby seemed pretty pleased and there was me always thought he was a big boob man. He had joked by the way when we knew I had to have them removed 'can you get some even bigger ones'.. not very funny I thought. My advice to you would just be get them out as soon as possible and just recover. . If you hate how you look after 6 months consider uplift or fat transfer. If I have any dints I might go along that route. I hated the way my hard boob looked and the other drooped probably with the weight of the implant (and age). You know it will probably look better than it did is what I'm trying to say. Big hugs to you because I know how stressful and worrying it is. I will let you know how mine look next week when I go back to hospital.. yikes! ...so bloody pleased they are out though. And I look slimmer without them ;) x

I feel really sorry for you. Just get them out, you'll be surprised how god they will look. I'm also from uk, had mine out last week, so happy with the results.

You're so close! I'm excited for you! I know it's scary (I'm scared too- but I have to get mine out because of a ruptured implant... I too have a toddler and want more babies) but have faith in your body to heal. Also, is it possible for you to consider the lift and fat transfer after you give yourself some time to heal from the explant? You might be surprised what our bodies can recover from. And if you are wanting to breastfeed after explant it will be more likely if you don't have a lift right now. I just thought I would offer suggestions. Either way, you're going to be so happy to be able to hold your little girl close and really feel her next to you. :)

Hey Northernlass, I hope your surgery went well xx

Not long now until your operation. I hope everything goes well. I am sure it will. Good luck, take care of yourself and remember all the girls here will be supporting and cheering you on xx