Faulty Pip Implants to Be Removed. - United Kingdom

Hello everyone, here’s my story: I had silicone implants in July 2000. I was 27 at the time and 34a/b. I was also pear shaped and wanted to be evened up and to feel more feminine. My aim was to be a c cup, as i didn’t want anything too obvious. I went to a company called Bodylooks as the surgeons that they used were well-respected NHS surgeons within good private hospitals. The company has since gone into administration.

The implants were done in the July 2000 and were bigger than I had wanted, turning out to be a 34dd. I never wanted an obvious boob job and didn’t want anyone to know (apart from very close people). To be honest I have always been embarrassed as I didn’t want to be seen as a fake... part of me was still that shy girl inside who used to cover herself up with baggy clothes. Since I have tended to keep myself covered up and not promote the fact that they aren’t real, but saying that I was very pleased with the look in clothes – just not too tight ones! I definitely gained more confidence. Unfortunately there were some downsides. I lost a lot of sensation in both breasts, with numbness on the underside and with nipple sensation virtually non-existent in one breast and ridiculously painfully sensitive in the other. Obviously this wasn’t ideal (but I wasn’t happy with what the look of my boobs were like before anyway....so i kind of accepted it as a downside). The really difficult part for me came when I had my children, as I was unable to breast feed - I believed the surgeon when he said that I would still be able to bf . But for me, one nipple was numb and the other was so sensitive that it felt like a needle was being put through it. Psychologically this really affected me as I felt like a terrible mother. But who knows, perhaps the children may have been affected by leaching silicone…one can’t say and will never know. Other downsides were obvious ones like sleeping on your front/hugging people etc.

By 2011, I knew that because my implants were nearly 12 years old that they would have to be changed. I was kind of burying my head in the sand as they weren’t causing me any obvious problems. Then the pip scandal broke out in the news in the UK late 2011. I didn’t honestly think I was affected as on the hospital website it had said that all patients who had received pips had been written to in 2010, which I hadn’t. I called the hospital and they confirmed that the implants were pips. I booked an appointment with a consultant for the next week. That weekend I was in a complete state, and it didn’t help that I found a lump on one of the implants, which made me totally paranoid! I really didn’t know what to do as far as the implants were concerned. I’m at a totally different part of my life as I was then…now married, two children, more inner confidence etc. Then I found this site and gradually everything became so much clearer (so thanks to everyone who posted their stories!)

So last week, I went to see a breast reconstruction expert at the hospital. He offered to remove and replace the implants (for free!), but I’ve opted for a removal instead. I have booked in for the two weeks time. I am nervous, worried about what I will look like, worried about scars, sensation, tiny bras and boobs, sagginess; all the normal worries I’m sure. So keep posting stories and updates. I will keep you updated and will put some pictures on soon!! Counting down the days…

Hi ladies. Thanks for your well wishes. Am now in my gown waiting for the op. my surgeon and anaethetist have been round and I'm programmed in for 3pm. Nervous, with a dodgy tummy. Worried i will be awake in the op and that the anaesthetic won't work (is this a weird thought!?!) I'm also starving as no food since 6am!

Have been resolute I want them out although there's always a 1% 'am I doing the right thing' question. But I know deep down its the right decision.

Will keep you updated!!

Feeling much better this morning. Am in hospital as stayed overnight. Was very nauseous yesterday and sick after te anaesthetic. The reaction to the pain killers etc also made me realise that although I thought I was dying in childbirth (not literally) actually I'm so glad I didn't have any drugs as last night I felt really awful.

This morning am feeling very tender and sore but mobility is good. I've also put on my macom bra and that feels much better than without. My breasts look pretty sorrowful. Very saggy and empty, but I know 100% that I've done the right thing. They're small but they feel so soft and I don't look top heavy and frumpy (although now I need to seriously tone my backside so I don't look so pear shaped!!).

My consultant has been round. He said my left implant was ruptured and that he cleaned it all out well. He is happy this morning and seems to think I will have a quick recovery - and I agree with him.

Sorry if the review is bitty. Am doing it via my phone.

I will update with pictures over the next few days. I jut want to reiterate that already, although they are a sorrowful state I am certain that the explant was the right thing to do. Thanks ladies for all your inspirational stories.

Xx

hi all, just thought i would give you a quick update. have just added some photos. these were taken less than 48 hours after surgery. the cuts are quite sore, but havent needed any pain killers since last night. i am wearing my bra 24/7 and have to wear some dvt socks for a few more days, although i am actually back to my normal routines (ish).

i feel so happy that ive had them out. when i got back from the hospital, even though i was sore, i went through my wardrobe trying on different clothes - and i cant believe how much better i look now in clothes than i used to. i even tried on my tankini which looks great now (and my boobs feel so soft!!) i had shyed away from wearing this tankini on a recent holiday as my boobs were spilling out if the sides, as well as there being such an obvious line of cleavage and under my arm.

i'm really excited about what the future will bring; delicate tops without looking all frumpy, bikinis without looking chesty and fake, exercise without two great lumps on my chest bouncing up and down, hugging my family and friends without feeling like all theyre hugging is a pair of rock hard boobs, never having to have an unnecessary operation again (and paying lots of money for it), as well as buying some lovely new gel bras (and possibly fillers that i can decide whether or not i want to wear!!). i definitely made the right decision.

thanks all! will keep you updated soon. x

well life is getting back to normal. hubby went to work two days after the op, and i'm trying to cope with two toddlers...thank god for friends. feeling tired, and need a good rest. perhaps with the weekend being here, then i can leave the childcare up to the hubby!! (hope its more than wishful thinking).

my cuts are starting to itch a little. i assume that this is the healing process (??). havent really taken my bra off yet and its pretty uncomfortable at night - i feel like i want to be free! perhaps i need to take more pain killers at night to ease the sleeping. am also finding going up and down stairs hurts! i have to cup them as i move!! a funny sight i'm sure.

apart from that all feels good - no regrets. cant wait till i can wear nice normal bras and that they start to fluff up. xx

hi ladies.

its now one week post implant. today was the first day that i actually feel like my normal self. back to the routines, lifting my toddlers out of the car, carrying my two year old when she refuses to walk (shes a madam) and generally just more energetic etc.

last night i took off the padding over the steristrips. havent taken the steristrips off yet. basicallly my ps is 200 miles away, as i have moved house since my op 12 years ago, and to get them removed for free i needed to go back to the same hospital. anyway i mention this as i was meant to have a meeting with my ps to take off the steristrips etc...so now i have to do this instead. i started to peel off one edge and chickened out, so i will leave for a few days.

as for pain, i dont have to cup my boobs when i go downstairs anymore, and now the pain i have is from the scars. i felt the scars and although theyre neat (i think!) they are thick, but i remember this when i had my ba.

i went out yesterday, and managed to find some natural 'scar cream' from the organic pharmacy. i also bought some pure rosehip oul to mix with it, and then an extra treat of some massage oil. all their products have no parabens, sls etc and are very natural...so i will look forward to using those. i really wanted to buy some bras, but that has to wait for three weeks i imagine.

anyway! will take some piccies of the scars when i am brave enough to remove the strips. still have my macom bra on. have had enough of wearing it at night, but i know its not long. the boobs arent really fluffing up yet, but to be honest i never had much breast tissue anyway, so am not that hopeful... but i reiterate, as in all of my posts, that i am still happy with my decision :-)

xx

hi ladies

just a quick update as i wanted to put some piccies on. i tried on a few of my old non padded bras which i used to wear with my implants before my two children (they have no extra internal padding or chicken fillets).

i was very surprised at the results. i'm not brimming over the top by all means as quite empty boobs, but it just goes to show that with a little support and not the post surgery bras things arent so bad after all!!

unfortunately i cant keep them on, so back to squashed boobs i go. xx