45yrs, 390cc PIP Textured Silicone, Under Muscle - Hamilton, NZ

It's amazing what can change in 15years.
If I could go back & chat to the 29yr old me, I'd have a few things to say that's for sure!!! Firstly... never let a man lower your self esteem... Secondly... don't get implants!!!
After some research & a ps recommendation we both left New Zealand & flew to Sydney to a top surgeon. There was no discussion of health risks or replacement time frames. Operation went well. But from day one I felt top heavy. He went larger than we discussed. Then the 2012 PIP nightmare happened. I never saw it on the news & didn't know I had PIP implants. Have had the past 3-4yrs with strange health issues that would come & go. Very sore hips & joints, achey muscles in neck, back, chest & arms, foggy brain, leaky gut symptoms, headaches, in somina, fatigue, very dry skin, sore & dry eyes.
All the visits to the doctor over the years & all tests would come back normal.
Then I started getting a burning sensation inside my breasts. Around the same time I saw a book online called 'The Naked Truth About Breast Implants'. I took this book to my doctor. She dismissively said 'I very much doubt it'. That was 1 month ago. I have since done my own research & have found support groups of A LOT of women who have illnesses from breast implants. I am appalled with the lack of support out there. Have been told NZ Govt/ACC won't assist & Australian Govt won't assist... and yet thousands of French & British women are getting their PIP implants removed because the Govts understand the injustice that has happened.
I'm currently researching NZ surgeons & I'm facing $15,000 operation cost (which I don't have), disfigurement of my breasts, years of detoxing the leeching silicone & chemicals & the costs of that), & fear of future health concerns. It was just not worth it!!!!
I know I'm not alone in my fight to regain my health from breast implant illness.
Please ACC/NZ Govt... help heal the NZ victims of this PIP injustice!!!

So... the last few years of health issues have left me feeling exhausted & disheartened in the medical profession being able to help me. I'm a person that ways up all the facts & am quite logical so I've been making sure I am fully informed. (Wish I'd been fully informed from my previous surgeon BEFORE getting implants)!!!
I joined a FB Breast Implant Illness support group of women who share information about proper implant removal & detoxing after explant...(1000's of women & 50ish joining per wk). This group has access to daily advice from leading surgeons who specialise in treating women with illnesses from their implants & they have a list of worldwide recommended surgeons who understand breast implant illness (BII) & how to treat it. Surgeons are added to this list based on getting excellent reviews & following proper removal protocols.
I also sort independant advice & information from these specialists who have been dealing with breast implant illness & implant removal for many decades.
Armed with this information, my husband & I met with a local recommended surgeon last week. Without doubt we left his appointment feeling like he cared about my situation & the outcome. He listened to my concerns & need for proper en-bloc removal with total capsulectomy to make sure all the PIP chemicals remain in the scar capsule. Although I felt like he doesn't quite understand the serious illnesses that are getting caused in MANY women from implants over time, I feel like he will do his best to get these toxic bags & ALL the scar capsule out of me (which will have leeched toxins & silicone in). And that it needs to be removed properly for my health to improve.
I'm hoping my gut feeling in him is right!!!

So... nervously I arrived at the clinic at 12:30pm with my husband. We said our farewells & I was put into the care of the admittance nurse Julie. She was delightful & so good at keeping me calm. We went through the process & I was in my gown & on the bed ready for pre-surgery discussions with the anesthetist & surgeon. Julie assured me I would be seeing her face first in a few hours. I warned her that I would probably be telling everyone that I loved them when I woke up (which I did & always seem to do after general).
I awoke & Julie was there as promised... my husband was called & he was there as I was getting clearer... and then Stuart came in with the implants & capsules to show us. Hubby took photos & we discussed what he'd found & how it went. So relieved!!! I was wheeled into the next room & hubby & I were given tea & sandwiches. After a while hubby left to go home & the night nurses came on (Jan & Val). They were older nurses that had done there training together years ago & were hilariously like an old married couple. They organised dinner for me & that was even followed by chocolate self-saucing pudding with vanilla icecream (it all tasted deliciously home made). They kept my pain medication right all night & helped me to the toilet. They got me breakfast in the morning & got me sorted to have a wash in the ensuite. They had taken a liking to my homemade wheat bags so I gave them one each to say thank you for looking after me.
Julie came back on shift & my husband was called (I got him to bring with him a wheat bag for Julie too). Stuart popped in to check on me & then I was discharged to go home. My husband looked after me at home really well for the week he took off work. I had drains in for a full week & drained about 650mls each side in total. It was such a relief to get them out!!!