62 Years Old. Silicone Implant Removal and Lift. Perky and Perfect and Happy - Melbourne, FL

It's a long story and not unlike many I've read here. I got my first implants around age 30. Silicone over the muscle. They were perfect... except for repeated encapsulation. I had the capsules broken up a couple times externally. Eventually I learned to just live with it until 2002 when I fell and broke both the implant and the capsule. i had gooey silicone everwhere. The surgeon I chose did a pretty good job of cleaning me out at that time. I thought I wanted them gone then - I was 50 but the surgeon told me that I'd need to leave them out for 6 months before a lift and in the meantime I'd look terrible. She talked me into silicone again. I was so afraid of the results. I think in an effort to make me look as good as possible she went bigger and because of the mess of silicone she had to put a larger implant in 1 side. I was sorry from day 1.
So, finally after another 13 years and reading all the stories here I decided we could afford the surgery I wanted and felt with the right surgeon I could get the removal AND the lift at the same time. I chose the second surgeon I 'interviewed'. And I couldn't have chosen a more skilled surgeon or compassionate one.
I had my surgery this past tuesday with the removal and lift. She was honest and let me know because of the damage of the leaking silicone and more scar tissue that I'd be quite small and that she'd do the best she could to make them look good but I was a 'difficult case'. Well, see for yourself, as my husband said at the 'unveiling' OMG - I look just like I did 40 years ago. I love my new profile. I look slimmer and like the older athlete I am. Gone is the matronly look that larger breasts can have on older women!
I have a reasonable amount of tolerable pain that is manageable with NSAIDS. I do tire easily but I think that's normal. I slept nearly the entire first day. I will try to post again next week when the steristrips are off. Oh, I had 2 drains and 1 was removed the day after surgery. the other isn't collecting much and will come out tuesday. I can't wait to go shopping for cute little padded push up bras instead of big boulder holders. This was big load off my chest!
thank you to all who bravely posted your stories and photos before me - you each gave me the courage to make the right decision.

I had one drain pulled the day after surgery and they left the other one in. It's pumping small amounts of yellow fluid now. It will be so nice to have it gone!

I spent some time last night trying on clothes in my closet. Some are now too loose on me but others look much better and I'm even thinking I can wear smaller tops now. I'm still pretty bruised and the bruises are getting colorful.
I had to work at getting my arms above my head and touching my fingertips the first few days. In just went slowly, one arm at a time. Everything felt so tight.
I originally got implants to look better and although they were beautiful for a very long time I was never totally comfortable and always wore a bra. NOW I think I will be comfortable and look amazing being bra less.
So far everyone that has seen me says I look way more proportioned and it's an improvement - including my tennis pro that tells me I will be faster and get better swings. Bi will post more photos tomorrow after the drain is out.
I have some soft Warner bras that stretched to fit when I had the implants and fit fine now but without all the spillover.
I do think opting for the lift at the same time was a good decision.

I had the last drain pulled today. Goodbye pus pot! I had felt a couple of lumps near my armpit and was so worried I was developing more scar tissue/granulomas. I was feeling the ends of the drain tube under my skin. So, bye bye lumpies with the drain.
Here's the fun thing: I let my husband feel my 'new' breasts last night- how soft and squishy they are. You know what he said? "They are warm!" I'd dealt with the ice cold [RS bleep] for so long I had forgotten that real breasts are warm.
Im posting a few new photos taken today. One so you can see my new Bali Bra in a medium size. Extremely comfortable. There are some strange bruises. One up near my armpit and another crescent shape just outside my nipple.
My next milestone will be when I work the steristrips off this week. I don't know what the right decision is for anyone else but this was the right one for me.