POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal REVIEWS
51 yr old explanting 23 yr Old SILICONE Implants and Having Breast Lift and lipo - Houston, TX
ORIGINAL POST
I got my implants when I was 28. I had breast fed...
WORTH IT$17,000
I got my implants when I was 28. I had breast fed my son for a year and I got divorced a year later. My tatas looked like deflated, stretched out balloons and I couldn't imagine EVER letting another man see me without a bra. A friend of mine was getting a "boob job" and I decided to get one as well. I got silicone implants just before all the big news stories broke about how silicone implants were causing so many problems and were then taken off the market for several years. My friend had a lot of problems with hers and she was part of the huge lawsuit against the manufacturer (Dow I believe) and she was awarded $300,000. I never had any problems with mine other than the fact that they were heavy and I didn't have a breast lift at that time, so they were definitely not "pert"...
Jump to today and I am 51 and VERY READY to get these things out of my body! They are still heavy and uncomfortable and I have absolutely no desire to have any larger breasts now than whatever my natural tatas turn out to be. I really do want them to be "pert" though, so that's why I decided on the lift. Shortly after i got my implants I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Crohns. I have had constant joint pain in my hips and knees for years regardless of what the doctors try. I am praying that after my explantation my joint pain will go away or at least get better. My husband is completely on board, so I am very lucky in that regard.
So far I have had a consultation with 1 ps and I have appointments with 2 others scheduled over the next few weeks. I was very disappointed by my first consultation because the before and after pics weren't very good and I actually got to see a patient of his that had a breast lift a year ago and I thought they looked terrible (although I refrained from saying anything negative at the time). I won't name names, but this is a ps that I found on realself and he had some good reviews and the pics online looked pretty good. Anyway... onward and upward! I am hoping to have my surgery in January since I have a lot going on over the next few months. I will update after I have my next consultation next week. I love this site and feel such a sisterhood with everyone that has or will go through the explantation process!
Jump to today and I am 51 and VERY READY to get these things out of my body! They are still heavy and uncomfortable and I have absolutely no desire to have any larger breasts now than whatever my natural tatas turn out to be. I really do want them to be "pert" though, so that's why I decided on the lift. Shortly after i got my implants I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Crohns. I have had constant joint pain in my hips and knees for years regardless of what the doctors try. I am praying that after my explantation my joint pain will go away or at least get better. My husband is completely on board, so I am very lucky in that regard.
So far I have had a consultation with 1 ps and I have appointments with 2 others scheduled over the next few weeks. I was very disappointed by my first consultation because the before and after pics weren't very good and I actually got to see a patient of his that had a breast lift a year ago and I thought they looked terrible (although I refrained from saying anything negative at the time). I won't name names, but this is a ps that I found on realself and he had some good reviews and the pics online looked pretty good. Anyway... onward and upward! I am hoping to have my surgery in January since I have a lot going on over the next few months. I will update after I have my next consultation next week. I love this site and feel such a sisterhood with everyone that has or will go through the explantation process!
Replies (3)
November 13, 2014
Congratulations on explanting! I had mine out a few months ago and wish I could go back in time a kick myself in the butt for ever thinking I wanted implants! I'm sorry you are feeling bad but I have attached site about autoimmune disease, this is Dr Bergman and I have been following him for over a year now, you will love him.. Get better soon! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdSeqUWNByc
Replies (8)

August 21, 2014
Don't settle for the 1st PS you saw - for whatever reason, you didn't connect with him so it's best to keep interviewing other PSs until YOU FEEL you are in the right hands for YOUR body. You said it well - we are a sisterhood here - offering the support that others in society do not understand. Congrats on making the decision to explant - that's the first step in your healing process. I look forward to following your story as we are close in age and have had these toxic bags in our bodies way too long.

August 21, 2014
Thanks for the kind words and encouraging comments Happy and Holistic! My next consultation is Tuesday, so I will post an update after my appointment.
August 28, 2014
I really agree with this. Connection to the ps is so important. Trust and a sense of caring from the surgeon makes all the difference. This isn't like we have a hang nail. This is an emotional decision as well as a decision based on health. I think the person we work with needs to be sensitive to that and understanding. I've seen a lot of posts on this site where docs have actually told women they would look terrible after explanting, in an off-handed way. Giving the option of new implants, a lift, etc is fine as maybe that what some women want to do. But, many of us have had these (26 years for me) for so long and just want them out, and our health back. A surgeon who gets it like mine did made ALL the difference.

August 28, 2014
Isn't it funny too JoeLooseSkin how (now that we are older and wiser!) we see these implants and .....they are not so pretty. They look fake because they ARE fake. I'd much rather see a droopy boob than one padded with a toxic bag.
August 28, 2014
I agree!! Mine look really good to me now! Funny, I should have just appreciated them then!

August 29, 2014
OMG! I SO agree with both of you ladies!!!! By the way - I just told another friend today while we were swimming that I was planning on "getting rid of these" as I grabbed my boobs and all she said was "don't you like them?" And I said , well, these are implants - and she "uh huh" and I thought well DUH! Of course she knows they are implants! I never told her before mind you - she just could tell. Anyway, I thought it was funny. She probably wears an A cup and I have no idea how she feels about that, but if mine were to go to an A after explant and lift then I sure wouldn't mind - I would actually like it because I'm so tired of carrying all this weight on my chest!!
August 29, 2014
Yes, the weight becomes unbearable I think. Neck and shoulders can't take it. It's funny, it didn't seem that bad in the beginning but over the years - ugh.
Love the username, Naturaltatas!

UPDATED FROM Naturaltatas
3 months pre
2nd Consultation
I had my second consultation today with a very kind and skilled ps. I was able to ask him all the right questions thanks to all the wonderful information I've found on realself from all you lovely ladies.
His fee was quite a bit less than the first ps I consulted with and I definitely felt more confident with this ps, but he DID mention several times that I would probably be happier with my results if I replaced my current implants with smaller ones. I finally got it through his head that I DONT WANT any more implants in my body and that I don't care if my breasts are smaller after the explantation and lift or that the upper pole will probably not be full.
Anyway, he is a definite possibility, but I still have one more ps that I have a consultation with on September 12 that has tons more before and after pics on his site than either of the other two that I've seen, and I'm excited to hear what he has to say.
I think I've also decided to try to schedule my surgery for the first week of November instead of waiting until January because I just really want to get this over with so I'll quit obsessing about it!!:) :) :)
His fee was quite a bit less than the first ps I consulted with and I definitely felt more confident with this ps, but he DID mention several times that I would probably be happier with my results if I replaced my current implants with smaller ones. I finally got it through his head that I DONT WANT any more implants in my body and that I don't care if my breasts are smaller after the explantation and lift or that the upper pole will probably not be full.
Anyway, he is a definite possibility, but I still have one more ps that I have a consultation with on September 12 that has tons more before and after pics on his site than either of the other two that I've seen, and I'm excited to hear what he has to say.
I think I've also decided to try to schedule my surgery for the first week of November instead of waiting until January because I just really want to get this over with so I'll quit obsessing about it!!:) :) :)
Replies (19)

August 26, 2014
Thanks for the update on the 2nd consultation and for staying firm on what YOU believe to be the best thing for YOU. Remember, most PSs are in the business for profit and if you get off the surgery merry go round then they no longer have you coming back every few years with issues. I love my PS and he understood how firm I was to explant and did not try to convince me otherwise, BUT he still said at the end of the consultation..."down the road...if you change your mind, you can always get implants back in." UUUUHHHHHH NO. I understand why you want to get it over with - I feel so obsessed as well about it. But it is very important that you take the time to find the best PS for YOU. I look forward to hearing how #3 goes!

August 28, 2014
I'm so happy for you that you've made your decision. I so get it about the obsessing part. That's what I did and ended up doing it right away. I was in some pain though and I knew they were most likely ruptured and wanted them out once I realized what the pain was likely coming from. It's been a week and a half and I feel great. I know you will too. Thanks for your post and keep us posted. Looking forward to hearing more.

August 29, 2014
Thanks for the encouragement JoeLooseSkin! Yes, for sure more important in your case to get them out right away. I can't wait for the day when I can say "it's been a week and a half and I feel great"!!!! :-)

August 29, 2014
You and I have similar stories Naturaltatas (SO love that profile name!) - I will be 50 next month with 19 year old implants - since we are older and have had them in a long time - our results may not be as pretty as some of the others on here and that's ok - a wonkiness pretty is good enough for me! I am at a place in my life of FULL ACCEPTANCE of what will be.... WILL BE. I want to feel MY soft boobies and I want to LOVE me at this age, healthy, whole and as holistic as possible. I will follow your story and look forward to the updates!
August 29, 2014
If it makes you guys feel better I'm 57 and had mine for 26 years and I love the way they look now. In fact, they look as they did long ago, at least for the most part. Surprises me though. Just to give you some food for thought. Or, should I say, some boob for thought! :)

August 29, 2014
That's very encouraging to hear...thank you JoeLooseSkin! Love the boob for thought!

August 29, 2014
Thanks H & H, you're right - we are similar! Although I must say, I still would like my girls to look pretty good after my explant and lift - that's why I'm paying the extra money! ;) I do agree though that they probably won't look as good as some of the younger ladies on this site. That is totally okay with me be updates I'm not trying to be in my 20's again (heaven forbid!), I just want to feel good again, and a little lighter! BTW - no offense to you ladies in your 20's about my comment - it's just that personally, my life is WAY easier now and less stressful and less hectic than it was in my 20's - YAY to retirement! :)

August 29, 2014
I just realized that your explant date is only a few weeks away! Wow! I'm really excited for you HappyandHolistic!

August 29, 2014
BAHAHA! Boob for thought! :0) I went back to look at your pics and I don't see any. Did you post any? I'd love some more inspiration!
August 29, 2014
I chickened out on posting pics. But, I think I will post before and after of my lift. That way you can at least see post explant. Sorry to be a chicken! Lol

August 29, 2014
Thank you - I'm so excited and can't wait - I am SO ready for this!

August 31, 2014
I SO understand being nervous about posting the pics! I was nervous too, that's why I cropped mine super close so nothing would give away my identity! I look forward to seeing yours - thanks for your courage! :-)
August 31, 2014
You bet! I'll keep you posted on what the PS says about the lift on Tues as well. Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend.
Here's a list of supplies that might come in handy for your recovery.
Please keep us posted!