43 Years Old with 15 Year Old Implants. UK. Leeds, GB

Hello Ladies… Three weeks ago I googled ‘implant removal’ and by some ‘minor miracle’ I found ‘Real Self! Since then, I’ve been gripped. I’ve stalked the website and spent most of my day waiting for the next explant update (along with reading as many reviews as possible). I would like to say ‘thank you’ to all you ladies. The reviews are honest and incredible.

Fifteen years ago I had breast implants. Nobody could have stopped me. In my naivety I imagined they would feel just like the real thing (but we all know they don’t!) Now I’m older and wiser. I’ve had 3 children, been married, divorced and now I’m very happily re-married. I’m over 14 pounds heavier. I suffer from extreme stiffness (and back pain) and somehow I can’t shake the thought that this may be as a result of having breast implants. Everything I have done is self-inflicted. I knew that I would need a revision within ten to fifteen years, but thanks to Real Self, I now know that I can have an explant (and you never know, the results might be OK?... Fingers crossed!)

My natural bust size is 34A. I am now a 34D. My implants feel like cold rocks and I am so conscious of them when I hug anybody. I sleep really badly every night. I would naturally sleep on my back and I cannot, due to my implants. I have found a PS and I’m booked in for a consultation on the 8th, November 2014. I am so excited (and extremely nervous!) The consultation is private and will cost £175. There’s no turning back now. I wish everybody luck and love and I hope that my review will help others (just as all the reviews have helped me) x

Here you are (deep breath), some pre & post implant photos. I'm cringing as I post them! I REALLY need to spend the next few months losing some excess weight. I'm pear shaped and I really don't want a belly bigger than my boobs after the explant!

Thank you Ladies for all the kind and helpful comments I have received so far. I went for my initial consultation yesterday, since then I’ve spent the last 24 hours trying to get my head together. Where do I start? OK… First, Ill tell you about the consultation and then tell you how I feel.

I was really apprehensive. I arrived half an hour before my appointment, armed with a list of questions and a photo of how I looked before I had implants.

My consultant examined my implants and my worst fears were confirmed. I have grade 3 CC, a possible rupture on the right implant and a swollen lymph node (on my right, under my arm). The plan is to have the implants removed, if they are ruptured, the area needs to be cleaned out and the lymph node investigated. As regard the capsule, I am going to have a partial capsulectomy, but if necessary (and depending on what he finds) a full capsulectomy has not been ruled out. I am not having an MRI to determine the rupture, as I am having my implants removed (and having the MRI would be a waste of money). I will have a general and stay in hospital for one night. I might have drains (depending on the procedure necessary). The cost of the procedure will be approximately £4000 sterling, which is more than I hoped.

I have very little breast tissue. I can perhaps pinch a little under the breast, but the upper pole is all implant. My PS does not expect me to have a good aesthetic outcome. Have a look at my photo with implants. You can see I’ve got the ‘rock in a sock’ look, so basically I’m going to have the ‘sock without the rock’ look after the explant and he warned me that I would have some sagging.

I’m ashamed to say, I don’t know what type of implants I have and my consultant was curious as to why I didn’t try to find out after the PIP scandal. An honest answer would be, ‘I was too scared’. I stupidly didn’t realise having an explant (without replacement) was an option. I thought I would have to have a revision and would be stuck with implants for the rest of my life. In fact, even if I wanted one, a revision would be a bad idea, as I would probably have CC within a few years and would be back to square one.


So how do I feel? GUTTED. I secretly hoped that I would have more breast tissue, as I am around 14lbs heavier. I want to be one of the ‘Realself’ girls who have a fantastic aesthetic outcome. I wanted the procedure to be cheap and easy. I was very naïve and I am quite shocked at how invincible I thought I was. All in all, I felt quite numb and ashamed. It’s time to put things right, to feel healthy, natural and all me.


To round things up; I can’t wait to have the explant, but I am terrified of the outcome. I plan to lose some of my excess weight over the next few weeks and on the plus side I know I have made the right decision. Thank you for reading my review and I hope it helps someone in the same situation x


PS. I will not have a date for surgery until the end of next week. I will update my review then, although I am hoping it will be just after Christmas.