POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal REVIEWS
52 Years Old, Saline Unders, Chronic Pain, One More Week Until They Are Out!
ORIGINAL POST
Hi Everyone, I joined this forum a few months ago...
KCfromCTJuly 15, 2017
WORTH IT$2,600
Hi Everyone,
I joined this forum a few months ago and I have to say this place has given me the courage and inspiration to be implant free. All of us are from different walks of life but we have this common bond of wanting our implants out. Some for just out growing them, others for pain and illnesses. I am so grateful for you all sharing your experiences.
I got my 300cc Mentor smooth saline implants back in 2002. I went from an A to a small C cup. I was happy with them for years but I went from 100lbs to 120lbs and my boobs grew with me. I am only 5 feet tall. Not too bad of a weight gain but I did not think my boobs would grow after being flat most of my life.
Last August was when it all went downhill. I should say it could have been years before that as I never tied in my other ailments until I found you all on RealSelf. I went from perfectly healthy to hypothyroid and I had no idea I was until after my dr did routine bloodwork. My hair started thinning.....I thought it was age. Now I shed lots of hair daily. My periods stopped at age 44. As the years went by, I could not sleep a full night....wide awake with sweats and chills to this day.
Last August though, I started to feel mild pain in my left breast, along with neck, shoulder and back pain. I spent so much money on xrays and MRIs and they found 3 bulging disks in my neck. I sit at a desk all day and I know my posture is not good. Physical therapy didnt help. I even had an MRI of my implants 2 months ago and I was told they are intact. Spoke with my original plastic surgeon who said it's not the implants but he would remove them if I wanted.
Fast forward to now.....left breast hurts really bad now, it sits slightly higher but not hard? Looks a little bigger than the right breast. The right is now starting to hurt too, especially if I do too much.....I can't lift things, doing dishes hurts, can't walk my dogs, bras are awful but I have to wear one at work and my back, shoulder and neck pain is chronic. The only thing that helps are muscle relaxers and ice. Heat makes it worse. I also get muscle spasms in my back now.
My friend had breast cancer and she told me to go see her PS for a second opinion. Dr. Sofer dx'd me with CC in the left breast, grade 3. I feel like these boobs are trying to "pull their way out of me". It is weird and awful at the same time. Plus when they "pull", I get blue veins all over my breasts.
So I am going for my pre-op appt on Tuesday and surgery is Friday. I am scared but it can't hurt anymore than it did when I got them in, right? My original PS said he could do it locally but this doctor wants me under general. I am fine with general.....had other surgeries years ago and I am the type of person who doesn't want to know anything when it comes to surgery. Doctor Sofer is charging me $2600 for everything whereas my other PS wanted $3500 to have it done in his office. And of course my insurance covers nothing :(
I could care less what I look like afterwards as I just want this pain GONE and I hope this is part of the solution as I have seen many posts on here of no more pain! And there are so many pretty padded bras out there now. Also looking forward to not having to safety pin my blouses so the buttons won't pop and maybe I can fully zip up my jackets again in the winter time!
Sorry so long of a ramble but I am alone and have nobody to talk to. Husband moved out of state for work and I will be following him in a month. I give my boss notice this week, get the surgery, hopefully heal and start a new job end of August.
I do not have pics of before my BA but will try to upload what I look like now in a bit. Thanks for listening!
I joined this forum a few months ago and I have to say this place has given me the courage and inspiration to be implant free. All of us are from different walks of life but we have this common bond of wanting our implants out. Some for just out growing them, others for pain and illnesses. I am so grateful for you all sharing your experiences.
I got my 300cc Mentor smooth saline implants back in 2002. I went from an A to a small C cup. I was happy with them for years but I went from 100lbs to 120lbs and my boobs grew with me. I am only 5 feet tall. Not too bad of a weight gain but I did not think my boobs would grow after being flat most of my life.
Last August was when it all went downhill. I should say it could have been years before that as I never tied in my other ailments until I found you all on RealSelf. I went from perfectly healthy to hypothyroid and I had no idea I was until after my dr did routine bloodwork. My hair started thinning.....I thought it was age. Now I shed lots of hair daily. My periods stopped at age 44. As the years went by, I could not sleep a full night....wide awake with sweats and chills to this day.
Last August though, I started to feel mild pain in my left breast, along with neck, shoulder and back pain. I spent so much money on xrays and MRIs and they found 3 bulging disks in my neck. I sit at a desk all day and I know my posture is not good. Physical therapy didnt help. I even had an MRI of my implants 2 months ago and I was told they are intact. Spoke with my original plastic surgeon who said it's not the implants but he would remove them if I wanted.
Fast forward to now.....left breast hurts really bad now, it sits slightly higher but not hard? Looks a little bigger than the right breast. The right is now starting to hurt too, especially if I do too much.....I can't lift things, doing dishes hurts, can't walk my dogs, bras are awful but I have to wear one at work and my back, shoulder and neck pain is chronic. The only thing that helps are muscle relaxers and ice. Heat makes it worse. I also get muscle spasms in my back now.
My friend had breast cancer and she told me to go see her PS for a second opinion. Dr. Sofer dx'd me with CC in the left breast, grade 3. I feel like these boobs are trying to "pull their way out of me". It is weird and awful at the same time. Plus when they "pull", I get blue veins all over my breasts.
So I am going for my pre-op appt on Tuesday and surgery is Friday. I am scared but it can't hurt anymore than it did when I got them in, right? My original PS said he could do it locally but this doctor wants me under general. I am fine with general.....had other surgeries years ago and I am the type of person who doesn't want to know anything when it comes to surgery. Doctor Sofer is charging me $2600 for everything whereas my other PS wanted $3500 to have it done in his office. And of course my insurance covers nothing :(
I could care less what I look like afterwards as I just want this pain GONE and I hope this is part of the solution as I have seen many posts on here of no more pain! And there are so many pretty padded bras out there now. Also looking forward to not having to safety pin my blouses so the buttons won't pop and maybe I can fully zip up my jackets again in the winter time!
Sorry so long of a ramble but I am alone and have nobody to talk to. Husband moved out of state for work and I will be following him in a month. I give my boss notice this week, get the surgery, hopefully heal and start a new job end of August.
I do not have pics of before my BA but will try to upload what I look like now in a bit. Thanks for listening!
KCfromCT's provider
UPDATED FROM KCfromCT
Day of treatment
And they are out!
KCfromCTJuly 21, 2017
Saline unders removed today at a surgery center under general anesthesia. Don't remember a thing and woke up fine.....up and walking around. Got myself dressed and we went for pizza! I was put into an itchy sports bra so took that off as soon as I got home and put my own one on that I bought at Walmart. Got a peek......not as ugly as I thought and I actually have boobs where before the implants, I didnt. A little sore around the incision sites (under the breasts) but I wont need pain killers. I have to take Keflex 4x a day so I loaded up on probiotics. Amazing how that awful boob, back, shoulderblade and neck pain GONE immediately. And I am breathing much better!
Replies (9)
July 22, 2017
Hi KC! Congratulations! So happy for you. I'll pop back in this weekend and share my story with you, but for now I will tell you that my dramatic hair loss stopped sometime in the first week or two after explant. At the 3-week mark I began growing hair on my arms and legs. It had been years since I'd had any hair on my arms and legs, and my armpit hair came in so slowly I only had to shave it occasionally. Now I shave it daily. I, too, developed a thyroid problem that ended up as Hashimoto's Disease. I had absolutely nightmarish exhaustion every day - no matter how much sleep I got or didn't get. That is gone. I sleep now and awake refreshed. When it is time for bed, I feel sleepy - not head to toe ready to fall on my face exhaustion. I'll share more with you later, just saw your post and wanted to comment right away. I'm 3 months out and so happy every single day that I explanted. I think you're going to be amazed at the changes that will come with things that you probably have just gotten used to and/or never even connected to the implants. Happy Healing!
July 22, 2017
So glad to hear it will get better! Not only was my hair falling out but it turned very wirey and brittle. I am going to go for a new hairstyle this week. It is all one length and a big mess. I want a new do! I am 52 and felt like I am 80 years old. And yes....hair barely grows on my legs and under arms. I just want to be normal again. Right now I am totally hating the tight sports bra. I think I would feel sooooo much better if I could take it off. But then afraid of seromas. Will talk to the dr on Monday when I go. Boobs look very sad right now but the excrutiating back pain is gone!
July 28, 2017
Hi KCfromCT, Did your PS removed all the capsules or left them in? I also have saline and wanting to explant as soon as possible but I am not sure about capsule removal....
July 30, 2017
He left them in. Felt great until I started doing too much. Going back to ps next week one more time for a check. I need to lean to take it easy but we are in the middle of moving so not so fun. Ps said my left capsule was scared but he did not want to take it out. Hoping I dont have to go back to gwt it out. Boobs feel great except for the steri strips. Just back pain back again, but if I take it easy the back pain goes away
July 30, 2017
Thank you for your reply. I hope you won't have to go back and have another surgery to take out the capsules. I want to explant as soon as possible because I am sick and I think it is from the implants but the only PS who does complete capsulectomy has a 1,5 year waiting list so I am considering getting the implants out without removing the capsules. But I am scared to do a big mistake.... Did your other symptoms improved after explant?
July 31, 2017
Wow that is a long wait to get the capsules out! I am thinking if I need mine out I will find a doc at my new job....ivy league college with a hospital there. Sore chest gone, breathing problems gone, insomnia all gone, eye twitching gone, rashes gone, headaches and sinus pressure gone. Eating red sauce again with no problem. Still have back pain if I do too much but I was dx'd with 3 bulging discs so that will take some time.
July 31, 2017
Maybe just getbthe implants out fornnow to seenifnyoubfeel a little better and still wait fornthe capsules to come out?
July 31, 2017
That is what I will do if I can't find another Ps who removes the capsules. I hope my symptoms will get better by only removing the implants, I have daily headaches and neck pain, recurrent UTis and IC, recurrent vaginal infections, many food allergies, dry eyes, sinus and throat problems, and I have no energy at all. I can not figure out that I would have to wait more than a year to get these things out and start to heal....
August 1, 2017
My neck pain is much better but still having left shoulder vlade pain but I havent been exactly resting. It was my first day back to work and it was agony. Back hurt....yucky desk job but NO BOOB PAIN! So I will take the back painover the boob problems! I am so sorry that you are feeling so unwell and I bet once you get these implants out a lot of these problems will go away. I started having problems with some food like anything with red sauce and wine would get me all stuffed up with a headache and now I have no problems at all and can eat whatever I want. My energy level is definitely back to where it was but physically I shouldn't be doing everything that I am doing and I am sleeping through the night which I haven't done in a year. The dark circles and bags under my eyes are gone probably because I am sleeping so well now. I hope you can at least get the implants out soon and see how you feel and you could always go back for the capsules but I know it's a pain financially unless you're lucky and insurance will cover it. I had to put my removal on a credit card and although I had pain Insurance still would not cover it. But what matters most is that you get well soon so whatever it takes.
UPDATED FROM KCfromCT
5 days post
6 days post op with pics
KCfromCTJuly 26, 2017
So today is day 6 and I feel pretty good except the incisions are still bothering me quite a bit. I am not sure if it's the steri-strips or the stitches or both? I went bra shopping yesterday and seriously I forgot how flat chested I was before implants and I was not happy. Any bra bothers me right now because the band even if I go a larger size still feels tight because it rubs on the incisions which are in the creases. However I did find some cute bralettes made by jockey that I bought at Target and they are very soft and slightly padded so I should look okay with that on under a work blouse. And looking at my breasts the left one which was my problem child and had the contracture is larger than the right one. Before the explant it was painful and rode high and seemed to get larger. After my explant both breasts were so shriveled up that I didn't want to look at them anymore until yesterday and this is where I noticed that Lefty is bigger than righty. It doesn't hurt or anything but I called my plastic surgeon and asked if it could be a seroma and he said to email him pictures. I did that this morning but haven't heard back from him yet. Maybbe they are kust starting to unshrivel?. Right now I am in a tight sports bra that zips in front that I got at Walmart and it is driving me insane because I hate tight clothing. I'm still happy that this was the best thing I ever did but I am glad I have work off for the week except I am bored. We are moving in two weeks so I decided to do some light packing and I'm wondering if I should have done that or not but I was very careful. I just filled boxes and then kick them across the room with my legs so I wouldn't have to lift them. Anyway I never had pictures of my boobs with implants but they were basically a large C with capsular contracture on the left one. I'm going to try and post a pic right now and would like your thoughts on what you think about Lefty being bigger than righty. Before implants my boobs were never even and I'm hoping that's all it is. I would appreciate any thoughts.
Replies (23)
July 26, 2017
Looking good. I developed seroma after explant that caused one breast to swell. I sent my surgeon pics and he immediately arranged ultrasound and aspiration of fluid. I had this done twice. All settled now.
July 27, 2017
Doc called and said it looks fine as that breast was larger to begin with but he wants to see me one more time next week before I move. Cant wait til these steri strips come off. Bras hurt and they hurt and itch like crazy. Sleeping in a tank top tonight. Need a break. Not like I have any boobs left to slosh around lol
July 27, 2017
Hi KC! I was supposed to log on over the weekend to give you more info, but my daughter-in-law was sick, so I unexpectedly had my granddaughter over for a few days. For now, though - the sports bra bands bugged my incision as well (and band kept riding up on incision) and my cure was to fold a paper towel and place just below areola and let it go down below band line of sports bra. It worked great for me. I've seen other posts where they have used socks to take some of the band pressure off the incisions.
July 27, 2017
Other solution is to get a bra like my Macom one where the band sits much lower and nothing rubs on scars. It's the black bra in my photos
July 27, 2017
Great idea! I just stuck some socks there and sooooo much better. I also staarted taking advil liquigels and the swelling has gone down. Didnt happen with the tylenol. Now off to the hairdresser for a new do and wondering what they are gonna say when they see my flat chest yikes
July 27, 2017
Welcome to being implant free. I just wore a soft sports bra that sat below my incision line. Even after the stitches came out the incisions can be a little tender. That's normal. Give your breast some time to fluff up before you judge them. 5 days is not enough time...wait a couple months. Things change. I had no problems with fluid and I had remove without taking the capsule under local anesthetic. I'm so happy I got my implants out. I look thin and sporty instead of a heavy chest. I can't believe it's already been 8 months since I removed them. Happy healing
July 30, 2017
I had to ditch the sports bra today. Wearing a tight cami that I found in the bra section is much better! My shoulderblade pain is back with a vengence though but probably because I drove 5 hours from CT to NH and thought I could move some light things as we are in the middle of moving. Another 5 hour drive back to CT tomorrow :( on ice now which helps
July 28, 2017
May i ask witch doctor and what the prince? Thank you!
July 30, 2017
I used Dr Sofer in Fairfield CT. General anesthesia at the surgury center. $2600
July 28, 2017
Hi I think you look great!! Had mine out 5 months ago under local. My left one was bigger at first too but now they are both the same size. They are still changing very very slowly now. I have dimples under my breast when I lift my arms and that's the part that is getting better slowly. I found the Tommy Copper bras at Bed Bath and Beyond were a good compression bra. I had sloshy fluid in both breast but it went away on its own within days of wearing that sports bra. And I massaged them which also helped the fluid move out. Pain in my neck went away and migraines are so few now. I think I'v had 2 since having them removed when I use to get 2 to 3 a week! So be patient being healthy is so nice!! My boobs are so soft now I just love them!!
July 28, 2017
Hi Explant wish, I also have migraines almost every single day that I think might be caused by my implants. I want to have them removed to see if it gets better. You said you explanted under local, did you have the capsules removed or only the implants?
July 29, 2017
Just the implants. My doc said that your body created the capsules and knows what to do with them. I know now that the implants were causing the migraines since I'v only had 2 in the last 5 months. You will love having them out!!
July 29, 2017
I just want to ask you one more thing... Did your other symptoms also disappear or got better after explant?
July 30, 2017
Mine did.....breathing better, no chest pain, hair not falling out in clumps, no weird rashes. No ssinus headaches
July 30, 2017
hey girl great results! I have different sized bewbs too! Its not a big deal most of us do and you can barely tell...I think you look really good...one thing I will suggest is checking into the liquid collagen that I take because its amazing and I think every woman explanting should take it,,,,,,my breasts look so much better, my skin, hair and my digestion are doing so much better...just thought id suggest that if you wanna chat message me!!
July 31, 2017
ok I private messaged you with the details! You will love it....everyone I know that is using it is hooked!
Replies (1)