Implant Removal After 26 Years - And Then Breast Lift. - Los Gatos, CA

This is a continuation of another review I did regarding my implant removal. I don't have photos of when I had the implants in but they didn't look or feel that great after having them in for 26 years. I have posted photos post explant though, and post opp breast lift today. My story is very similar to many others here. After breast feeding a child and then losing weight, doing aerobics, bouncing up and down without a good bra for many years, I became a bit saggy in my early 30s. I was a 36 C so my size was ok but everything sat too low! In 1988 I went to a plastic surgeon and he didn't like the idea of me having scars with a lift at my age and suggested implants to "lift" things up. It's now known that a lift is minimal with implants alone. But then, it seemed like a good idea. I was also told the implants would add volume and a rounder shape which they did. So, I had the implants put in, subglandular. I liked them, didn't have any issues with them
initially. But, I did notice that things still sat too low, and, I had to wear an even MORE supportive bra than before. This is something I didn't like from the beginning. Also, I developed capsular contraction right away in the left breast. The surgeon tried squeezing it with his hands - OUCH! - and that didn't work. I got used to things over the years. I heard about the auto immune disease scare in the 90s, and wondered from time to time if I should remove them. When I would ask a doc during an exam about removing them after 15, or so, years, they would always say, "If they're not bothering you, don't worry about it". I wished I had gotten them out when they WEREN'T bothering me.The years went by and this last April I noticed pain in my left breast, chest, shoulder, upper back, and general body aches (the aches started around 40 or so years post) that were all pretty constant. In April, I also felt a buldge in the top of the left breast. At the same
time, the left breast become harder and harder. Meanwhile, regular mammograms were all coming out normal. I did find out later that the buldge was seen on the mammograms but I wasn't told about it until I asked. They said that they only let you know that you don't have a mass or cancer, not ruptures etc. Only if you look up and ask for records! Not thrilled about that. So anyway, I asked my surgeon, Dr. Howard Sutkin about removal. I had done procedures with him before, they were great and he was the only one I trusted to work with me on this. When we first talked about removal he mentioned replacing the implants with a lift. At this point I hadn't decided on a removal without replacement, I assumed I would just get new implants. I went home, looked at this awesome site further and saw so many women that removed implants and looked great! This site has been a huge help with insight, support and guidance. I also began to realize that having something
foreign in my body was not for me (I know, I'm slow, it took 26 years!). Now, being in my 50s, I did not want to go for more surgery to remove yet another set of implants in my late 60s or early 70s!! Arthritis will surely be enough to deal with! So, I went back to tell my surgeon that I wanted a removal and a lift. No more implants for me. He's such a nice, caring man. He did not try to talk me out of it, he didn't tell me how awful I would look, he said, "great, we'll do it under local". Yay! So, that is what we did. It was SO easy, and quick. The implants were ruptured which didn't surprise me.I was concerned about what artifacts he would find in there! But all went smoothly. I immediately felt better after removal and am feeling better each day. I felt lighter, happier and free of something that was always in the back of my mind to worry about. Of course this procedure can be different for everyone depending on surgeon recommendations and what
needs to be done in regards to anesthesia. As far as my health goes in regards to the implants, I think there was possibly an immune response, not auto-immune response, to the implants. I found that I didn't get richer, prettier, or have wonderful men chasing me down the street because I had "perfect" boobs! I wished that I hadn't gotten the implants, they really didn't change my life for the better. I could have had a lift and possibly been happy. I was athletic at the time and really looked fine. I'm happy that I have chosen not to get implants again.This is just such a relief. I also realized that I didn't really look that bad before I got them and I'm not that bad now, just more droopy after having implants in. So, today I had my breast lift and they look like what I should have had many years ago. Now they're bandaged up, to be revealed Monday! . I will update as things they progress, and I heal. Thanks to all of the nice ladies that posted
their photos, shared their insight, stories, and realities that actually made it easier for me to come to this decision.