Bye Bye Boobies
I got breast implants in 2011. The surgery went...
My goal with the implants was to fill up my "rock in a sock" looking breasts. With the recommendation from my ps, I decided on 450cc high profile saline implants. Per my doctors recommendation I went above the muscle because I did not want a lift (wasn't ready for the scars). He said below the muscle placement could cause the "snoopy" deformity because of the amount of sagging I have.
So fast forward to 2017 and I'm ready for explant. Why I am getting them out:
- shopping at special stores for bras is a pain
- finding shirts that fit and look flattering is so difficult
- tired of my hands and arms going numb
- brain fog
- difficulty exercising with these monsters (no running here)
- i have put on weight in 7 years and they just keep getting bigger
- look at my face when you talk to me please
- I am trying to hide them with clothes
- neck issues
- additional sagging
I could go on but I'm sure you understand if you're reading a post about removal.
My ps recommended several different options. I decided on having them deflated in office. Then after a few months, I'll go back and give him an answer on removing the bags and getting a lift or just removing the bags. I'm scheduled for in office deflation 9/13/17.
I'll post before/after pics from 2011 when I first got them done and how they look now. I will put them up later today or tomorrow.
amy0625's provider
Current pics
Replies (2)
Is $4,200 too much?
The $4,200 is straight removal of saline implants, no removal of capsules. Does anyone else think this price is high?
Any recommendations on less expensive ps near Harrisburg Pennsylvania. I'm willing to travel up to 2 hours.
Replies (5)
Yes!!!! That seems very high! I consulted with 5 different Plastic surgeons in the Pittsburgh area. All of the estimates I got for removal of everything, including the capsules, were in the $ 3200 to $ 3500 range. And that was in March-April-May of this year. I finally found a fabulous plastic surgeon through the recommendation of another Real Self member, Dr. Julio Clavijo-Alvarez. His practice is Re-Nova Plastic Surgery.
He did my explant and lift in one procedure. He waived the fee for the explant and just charged me for the lift. The total cost for everything, including his fee, the anesthesiology fee, and the out-patient surgery center fee was $ 8900. Best money I ever spent! And the out-patient surgery center is a beautiful state-of-the-art facility 5 minutes away from his office.
I asked Dr. Alvarez about whether or not capsule removal was necessary, and he said it would totally depend on the condition of the capsules once he got in there. If they were not thickly scarred and calcified, he would opt to leave them, which was fine with me since it meant less dissection, less bleeding and less loss of tissue. At no time did he tell me that the cost of the surgery would be more if he removed the capsules.
Plus, the "good news" about having implants placed on top of the muscle is that they are much easier to remove...again less dissection and tissue loss. I didn't even have drains post surgery.
I knew from the way my breasts sagged even before I got implants that I was not going to be happy with how they looked post-explant. I know many women on this site have had beautiful results with just explanting, as their own natural breasts "bounced back," so to speak. But I knew there would be no "bouncing back" in my case, particularly since I had gained weight and my natural breasts had gotten much larger than at the time of my initial implants. So I opted to do everything at once...one surgery, one surgical fee, one general anesthesia, etc.
I know you said that you were only willing to drive within a two hour radius of Harrisburg, but Wexford, where Dr. Alvarez'a office is located, is only about a three hour drive for you. I simply CANNOT recommend this doctor enough. Not only is he a talented artist, he is so compassionate and caring. He gives each of his patients his cell phone number and encourages you to call him with any questions or concerns. The only two problems I've had, and they've been minor, have come up on weekends. In both instances, he's called me back within a minute of my texting him. I would really encourage you to make the trip to see him, (he doesn't charge an initial consultation fee), if you haven't found a doctor you really like in your area. Good luck!!
I'm going to check out the doctor you recommended. I most likely will need a lift but I can't see paying almost $12,000, which is what I'd be charged for removal and lift!
Thanks for your help1
Replies (2)
So...JUST A HEADS UP....Saline bags will RUPTURE at some point. They aren't meant to last and the bag will get a tear in it if it is deflated, just a matter of time. Now mine were deflated 10 years ago, but like I said, as I aged, they got WAY worse over time and very emotionally difficult to deal with.
So maybe this is all a blessing...and now I wonder, what it would be like to just have no implants at all....except I would be left with flabby, stretched out skin and what would look like cuts in chest where the pocket was.....and no babies as an excuse :( (moms, I know your pain now!!!) I don't know what to do....Feels almost like this is all a punishment now for doing something so stupid so young. But I guess implants are not meant to last and at some point we all will deal with somewhat of some issues. Seems getting rid of them will eliminate any forced issues in the future except for self esteem of having the droopy stretch out skin and crater chest.
Good news is for those that have gained weight....THAT you can reduce for nearly no cost, just takes some time, but that can come down in time without thousands of dollars and surgery :) So at least there is a positive there.
Good luck with recovery and hope you enjoy the deflation, I know it changed so much for me!!! Just watch out, because they are deflated, they will tear eventually.
Cheers!