325cc HP Sub-glandular, and capsular contracture. Not Happy. Eyelid surgery too.

Hello all, I have contemplated writing a review for quite a while. Since my roller coaster is still on full throttle I figured it's as good a time as any. I had my BA 6 months ago at age 47. I was a small 34B. I wanted a natural look, not too big, would be happy with a large C. The first and only doctor I visited explained the pros and cons of going over the muscle verses under, and that he did not want to go under. I am a fitness nut so it made sense to go sub-glandular.

At my first appointment with my PS, I never saw any implants, or discussed the different profiles available, I wasn’t measured. I explained what I wanted and he said 325cc would most likely be a good choice and he would make final decision during surgery. So I left it up to him. I considered visiting 2 other doctors but I really liked my doctor and just didn't see any reason to. He is very well known, the celebrity doctor in our area, and assured me he's done over 6000 BAs and knows what he's doing. Before leaving my first appointment I asked him if Botox would help some wrinkles under my eye. He answered "that's surgical" and explained the upper and lower eyelid surgery. I had considered doing my upper lids in the future, but I never realized lower lid surgery would smooth out wrinkles (it doesn't by the way). My quote included a discount to do all and I decided I may as well do it all at once.

This was my very first surgery and I was more nervous about the general anesthesia than anything. Everything went smoothly though. The pain wasn't too bad. I was very surprised however to see High Profile on my implant card. I said as much a few days later at a follow up appointment, and he answered that I won't have ripples with HP and that I can still expect that natural teardrop shape.
I massaged as instructed, and went back to the gym at 6 weeks doing legs only. At 7 weeks on Monday I did a couple of arm exercises with light weight during my workout. Wednesday morning my right implant wouldn't move in the pocket and was high. I developed capsular contracture in my right breast at 7 weeks.

That day my doctor performed a closed capsulotomy (he squeezed my implant until the capsule popped). It sort of felt like bubble wrap popping. It hurt. It was immediately softer though. The nurse wrapped me tight in a wrap that I wore for about 24+ hours.

By Monday it was high and tight again. I was feeling pretty low and figured going to the gym would probably help my spirits. I read online that lots of girls work out with capsular contracture, and my doctor didn't say to take it easy or anything. So I did some light weight at the gym Monday, went to the Rodeo Tuesday, just got back to life.

By Wednesday afternoon my right breast was extremely swollen. I already had an appointment to see my PS the upcoming Monday but wasn't sure if I should wait. I spoke to the nurse and she had me text her a photo. She showed it to my doctor and texted back "I showed him the photo he said come in Monday ". Thursday it was a little more swollen so I decided to post a photo to the doctors here. I knew my doctor was in surgery Thur/Fri so didn't know what to do. They assured me I needed to make contact again. He returned my call quickly, had me send him a photo, and called me several times that evening to check on me. He was going to meet me at the hospital that night but I felt comfortable waiting until Friday morning.

It was hematoma and seroma. My right implant was replaced at 8 weeks and he removed some of the capsule. I’m guessing I must have had some fluid building up then exercise made it worse. After surgery I was prescribed Singulair to help prevent cc from recurring. My PS was very compassionate, kept telling me how sorry he was and how rare this was. He actually had only seen one case similar to mine in 30 years, and that patient had contributing health issues.

One month after replacing my right implant, my left breast became firmer. It didn’t ride high like the right though. Then a couple weeks later righty got firm again and started aching. My right one stayed higher after the revision surgery. It was actually slightly lower before BA. My PS said it was due to scar tissue. I know they can’t predict how the scar tissue will heal so, it is what it is.

At my follow up appointment in May I expressed concern about how hard they both are, the shape (no slope), and the ache. I asked what my options were, what I would look like if I decide to explant, if we should consider going under the muscle since lower cc risk. He didn’t want to discuss going under and said he was concerned about explanting since I experienced so much seroma. He referred to how much better they looked now, comparing to how they looked at emergency surgery, and considering my experience, I should be satisfied with a little asymmetry. He appeared uncomfortable and rushed out saying, maybe you’ll get used to it, see you in 6-8 weeks.

I know they were not “twins” before and I am ok with a little asymmetry, but they are hard and my right one aches. I am embarrassed to wear a bathing suit because they look fake and are hard. I’m afraid to hug people, I can’t find a pretty bra that fits right, most bras hurt. My most comfortable bra doesn’t have a wire or lining and it’s a 34DDD, and still has a gap under the strap on right side. Top Drawer sold me a 32 F! At least it has a lining.

So I visited a few other surgeons last week and learned Strattice is being used for CC, with amazing results. I read a study that was done on 75 patients for CC, follow up was up to 4 years, with no recurrences. 2 of the doctors I met with said they have had no recurrences. It’s very expensive though.

I must say, I was impressed with the new patient process at 2 of the PS offices. I was shown implants, measured, examined and told I had Bakers Grade 3 at one, and the other PS said Grade 3 on left and 4 on right breast because I was in pain on that one.

I scheduled my follow up appointment with my PS last. He thought I looked great. He barely examined my breasts. Just a light squeeze mainly on my breast tissue, and said they aren’t that bad. I asked what Grade he thought they were and he said “2... maybe 2 ½”. I asked about Strattice. He said it’s used for padding/pocket repair, then changed the subject. I guess they shouldn’t discuss if they don’t have experience using it for CC. Understandable. I asked again about explanting and he said “I wouldn’t do anything. They look good, remember how they looked before?”

I didn’t have a melt down or anything, just smiled and asked, “So you wouldn’t do anything? But my right one aches.” He confirmed he wouldn’t do anything and didn’t acknowledge my pain comment. I’m somewhat a quite person, shy, so of course I’m not going to push the issue.

All 4 doctors agreed that I would be saggy if I explant. I’ve only had these for 6 months and I’m scared they may be right. I wasn’t saggy before and would be devastated to go through all this and end up smaller and saggy. I’m going to go for it. Remove capsule, replace with lower profile, under muscle, with Strattice. Wish me luck! I’ll probably start another review on the Revision side :-)

The last few months I could only guess that they were not supposed to feel like this. It’s been very confusing trying to decide if I could live with the pain and firmness. They have never felt like a part of me but instead like 2 balls sitting on my chest. It pulls really tight along the bottom when I raise my arms above my head as well.

During recovery I think most of us have concerns that we're healing as expected and occasionally question something that just doesnt look right. Sometimes it's really nothing and that reassurance is comforting. Sometimes we know something isnt right though, and need an explanation.

There were several instances during my recovery with the eyelid surgery and BA that I just couldnt get an answer.