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POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal REVIEWS

Removal of Cohesive gel anatomical shape breast implants

ORIGINAL POST

I had my first Augmentation at 19. Going from...

ALB96
WORTH IT$6,000
I had my first Augmentation at 19. Going from about a 34A to a 34C All of my teen life I wanted bigger boobs. My first implants were saline. Under the muscle. 8 years later my left side ruptured. I had lost feeling in the left breast and I could feel rippling and movement or a popping feeling almost when I touched my left breast. Approx a year later the implant ruptured. I went back to my same surgeon and discussed my options. A new cohesive gel implant was what was used to replace the saline implants. Though I did not go any larger in the size of implant my cup size increased to a 34D (Victoria Secret Bra's) It has been almost 10 years now since having them replaced. I have since had 2 children whom I expressed breast milk for with a breast pump for 15 months each time. After nursing I am now a 36C wearing a full cup style bra. For the most part I had not had any problems. However for about a year now I have wanted the implants removed. 6 months ago I was doing a self breast exam and noticed my left breast seemed very firm. The firmness has progressed and my breast is now very sensitive to the touch in the nipple region especially. Because of the cohesive gel being a gummy bear type consistency I am unable to tell if the implant has ruptured. I have tenderness around the side of the implant (under my arm) and the tissue feels bumpy around that area. I'm not sure if it's because I want them removed or not but now I physically HATE the way they feel in my body. I have want them out more then anything. My fear is that after having implants for almost 20 years and having nursed 2 children what will my natural breast look like. I was 19... And now at 37 I am no longer in that frame of mind where having a large chest is a priority of mine. I feel them inside my skin and I hate it. Every day I grow to hate them even more. I have numbness in my arms and hands and neck pain also on the left side almost all the time. In no way do I want to have the implants replaced with another set of implants and the thought of them cutting my nipples off and replacing them in higher position to do a lift makes me worry that I will lose feeling in both my nipples forever. I just want to be free from this feeling. I just want them out. I am angry at myself for having them done in the first place. I have considered doing a fat transfer using far from my other areas to create fullness to my breast after removal. But my research findings have been very mixed. Some women have had fantastic results and others have not. I am torn.

ALB96's provider

Steven Morris, MD (license revoked)

Steven Morris, MD (license revoked)

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Replies (17)

February 27, 2016
i'm a little older than you, but similar time span. 27-46 and nursed two kids. first pair saline under the muscle, second pair silicone. i'm scheduled for my explant march 15 and possible doing lift and fat transfer. i was a 34AA before, so almost no breast tissue. i would say based on what i've seen here, your young enough and may have enough breast tissue, you might be fine with just taking them out, but it's a decision that only you should make based on what you want.
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February 27, 2016
Thank you for sharing your story!... welcome to the club!... Many of us are over these things and like you I've fed...but four children!... Mine are gel under muscle ... And I've just found out both are ruptured although I couldn't tell until my lymph nodes were full of silicone so I joined this site the day before you ... I've had health issues too and you're welcome to read my loong story and view my pics... We are here to give you courage and support to do whatever you feel is right for your body, I've found these ladies like sisters, you'll enjoy it too! ...and there are so many questions to be answered so... Welcome! :) I look forward to sharing your journey ... Oh and yes I'd heard same bout fat transfers, but this site might through ones with more success give you a name of a doc that has the most success perhaps?... I'm trying a natural cream post op, yet to schedule only found out few days ago why lumps under armpit etc, now weekend... Anyway it is called naturaful... The Youtube vids of it have worked on even a man, so I'm trying that... So that's another option no one seems to speak of or know about here?... It's worth a look!... Hey all the best luvy, my two cents worth is you have beautiful skin, no stretch marks like me, so you'll probably retract back into very near original condition, most here have found with age they actually have a wee bit more afterwards!... But first go through a sunken stage for a couple weeks... Isn't it great we get to see how others feel and look so we know what to expect?... Most love being natural again!... So I'm looking forward to it, I'm sick of being poisoned and wanna be free at forty! ;) take care n look forward to your next post! :)
February 28, 2016
Welcome! You have come to the right spot. This site has been so helpful with real stories of real women getting their implants out. Many on here have found that they have larger breasts then before the implements were placed. Mine definitely are. I am five days post so there may still be swelling. Good luck on your journey and keep us posted.
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February 28, 2016
I know how you are feeling and I think that is something many who have explanted have in common, we grew to hate them. I had 100 CCs of fat grafting done in each breast on 13th Feb, just the lower pole from the BA causing distortion which did not improve after explantation. Well the problem with fat grafting is that the PS has no control over what fat lives or dies. Hopefully their technique is good, but it is still moving fat from one spot to another. I am not sure that fat grafting was the best decision for me now that I have done it. I have decided that after 1 year if I am not happy with my breasts I will revisit implants or just love them as part of me. Good luck in your decision.
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February 28, 2016
Ps, I don't want to risk permanent nipple feeling loss either so even if my little old boobies sag I will stay as is I believe, well that's how I feel now anyway, and am going to try the naturaful cream that plumps and firms...if it works as well on me as on the man they had use it I'd be chuffed! :) so that's another option / product for you to look at?!..at least it's worth a look!...they have video time dated logs and all, it seems good...
UPDATED FROM ALB96
2,016 years post

Pictures

ALB96
I can see a slight difference in the left side.

Replies (1)

February 27, 2016
I am 54 with 26 year old silicone under the muscle. I have a small rupture on my left one, and am having explanation only, March 1st. Your's does sound like a rupture. I confirmed my rupture with an ultrasound and MRI. While I've had no problems until now with my implants, I am excited about getting them out! I too started with a 34 AA, and went to 34C. Then over time I've gained some needed weight, and am 34D now. It's too big for me and phoney looking at my age. "Barbie Boobs"! I have always hated the hard feeling of them as well. While being grateful to finally have breasts for the first few years, I now have different priorities, like my health. Good luck on your decision!! I certainly support you getting them out!
UPDATED FROM ALB96
2,016 years post

Hate the feeling

ALB96
I honestly don't know if it's my mind playing tricks on me because I just want them taken out or what.. Today I swear it felt like they were burning the inside of my skin. I seemed to have a lot of discomfort on the left side where the incision area is. They are so uncomfortable to me lately. More so now then ever before.

Replies (5)

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February 28, 2016
Same here!... Mine have been more uncomfortable and sore since knowing they were ruptured, I don't know whether its just that I used to put discomfort down to being prementsrual or what, but I'm more aware n just want them out asap!!... And I'm scared to lay in my fav position to sleep, on my tummy!... I'm living on this website every spare minute to absorb n learn as much as I can... I'm sorry you are facing this as well, but at least you know we know what you're going thru! :)
March 14, 2016
Thank you so much for your comment, I know we aren't alone in this battle. I just keep researching, and being denied by the local Plastic Surgeons, I also have been to a general surgeon, he admitted that "yes", I have silicone poisoning but referred me to a PS, again denied. The GS said I am very fragile at this point, I think that is why he referred me.
I contacted Dr. KOLB office in Atlanta, she said that she could do the explant, and treat me for the silicone poisoning.
I am one of four in my family that had the implants, my mother, and two sisters. We all went to the same PS, had the same silicone implants that all ruptured, mine went into my lymph nodes, and I was very ill for two yrs. We all had them removed and replaced by a so called safer implant. I have freestanding silicone throughout both breast, right is more prominent than the other. The silicone adhered to the ribs and if the doctor was truthful, other places to.
The eldest sister had the 2nd set removed, but it was too late she was diagnosed with breast cancer..but it was much more detailed than that. I rec'd copies of her medical records yesterday, and from what I am reading over 1000 pages. It all stemmed from the first set of silicone implants, the black mold left in her body, botched surgeries by inexperienced surgeons with not enough knowledge about they were dealing with. She died a terrible painful death. The breast went first, then portion of right lung. I am in shock, and so frightened because I am ill same symptoms.
I don't know where to turn.
Keep doing your research, and the best of luck to you.
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March 14, 2016
Oh nooo Sweetheart!... Oh no!... [RS bleep] I'm so sorry to hear this!... I lost my younger brother almost two years ago, and that's hard enough...,but without this extra fear you must be having too... I'm so terribly sorry for you and your situation!... I've just bought Dr Kolbs book the naked truth about Breast implants... I'm so glad you have got a good surgeon and someone who really can help get the poisoning out!... I have it thru my lymph nodes too on both sides now, and am booked for surgery, paid n all, for the 6th of April... Isn't this industry accountable for a lot?!.. :( perceived beauty has robbed us of so much... I will private message you hun, if you don't mind?!... [RS bleep] Big air hugs!!! [RS bleep]
February 28, 2016
When your hands start turning purple, white with no feeling until you place a warm compress or hot water on them to get the feeling back, or having so much thoracic pain you feel like your having a heart attack. So frightened that no one doctor can tell me the cause, but I can. I have my second rupture bilateral.
The silicone starts to sweat when they get 98.0. Research and read everything you can on ruptured implants. Good luck.
I wish you luck.
March 15, 2016
I have scheduled a consult with my original surgeon on the 29th to discuss what my options are. Every day that goes by I hate the discomfort of them more and more. I just want to be free and feel my own skin again. I'm so afraid of the outcome. Afraid of the appearance they will have after almost 20 years and having nursed 2 children. However I just want to be and feel healthy again.