POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal REVIEWS
61 Years Old and Explanting Saline Implants After 23 Years
ORIGINAL POST
First, I want to thank everyone here for sharing...
happytobemeagainSeptember 26, 2016
WORTH IT$14,000
First, I want to thank everyone here for sharing your stories. You have helped me understand the risks and given me the courage to make the choices I'm making.
Back in 1993, when I removed the bandages after my original (beneath the muscle) breast augmentation surgery, I immediately felt regret. I had been a pear-shaped woman, big hips and small breasts (barely filling an A cup), newly divorced, and feeling as though I needed to be more balanced physically to be attractive. Well, my new breasts did give me the X shape I wanted, but I had ended up being larger than I requested (a DD instead of a C), and I felt as though I had two bowling balls strapped to my chest.
Ten years later, my left implant ruptured. When I asked about having them removed, the surgeons I talked to strongly discouraged me, telling me I would end up being concave and unattractive. I had (mostly) gotten used to my implants by then, though they always felt foreign and uncomfortable in my body, so I opted to have both implants replaced, and downsized. I still ended up a D cup instead of C, but was happier than before.
Now, 13 years later, my right implant has ruptured and I'm ready to have them out, with no lift (well, I'm going to give my body a year to heal and adjust, and then see what's what).
Luckily, my Kaiser insurance will cover the explant surgery, so I will only owe for my deductible and up to my max out of pocket, which is doable. Dr. Price's is very qualified and I liked him immediately, but his OR schedule is very full and the earliest date they could give me was December 21st (yeah, right before Christmas). However, I have been feeling some pain and discomfort from the ruptured implant, so I went to see the doctor this morning to find out if everything was normal, and, lo and behold, he had a cancellation for this Wednesday!
So I took it!
Wish me well. I will post before and after photos soon.
Back in 1993, when I removed the bandages after my original (beneath the muscle) breast augmentation surgery, I immediately felt regret. I had been a pear-shaped woman, big hips and small breasts (barely filling an A cup), newly divorced, and feeling as though I needed to be more balanced physically to be attractive. Well, my new breasts did give me the X shape I wanted, but I had ended up being larger than I requested (a DD instead of a C), and I felt as though I had two bowling balls strapped to my chest.
Ten years later, my left implant ruptured. When I asked about having them removed, the surgeons I talked to strongly discouraged me, telling me I would end up being concave and unattractive. I had (mostly) gotten used to my implants by then, though they always felt foreign and uncomfortable in my body, so I opted to have both implants replaced, and downsized. I still ended up a D cup instead of C, but was happier than before.
Now, 13 years later, my right implant has ruptured and I'm ready to have them out, with no lift (well, I'm going to give my body a year to heal and adjust, and then see what's what).
Luckily, my Kaiser insurance will cover the explant surgery, so I will only owe for my deductible and up to my max out of pocket, which is doable. Dr. Price's is very qualified and I liked him immediately, but his OR schedule is very full and the earliest date they could give me was December 21st (yeah, right before Christmas). However, I have been feeling some pain and discomfort from the ruptured implant, so I went to see the doctor this morning to find out if everything was normal, and, lo and behold, he had a cancellation for this Wednesday!
So I took it!
Wish me well. I will post before and after photos soon.
Replies (14)
September 27, 2016
Hi I am thinking of haviny implants removed.I also have Kaiser insurance. How do I go about seeing if they would cover my implant surgery. Thank you for your post so helpful
September 27, 2016
Hi Litlady - When I went for the consult with the plastic surgeon, he told me that Kaiser covers explants (not lifts or replacements) as a matter of course. Give them a call and get an appointment with your Kaiser plastic surgery department. I was so happy to find out it is covered!
September 28, 2016
I hope all went well today! Please keep us posted. Judging from your photos, you are going to look great!
September 28, 2016
It was meant to be! I look forward to following your story. Best of health and recovery.
October 1, 2016
was your fee really 14,000? I'm right behind you having my surgery Oct 11th in Los Gatos for 4100. I wonder what the difference is?
October 1, 2016
Yes, that's what I was told when I called member services to find out what my co-pay would be. I was pretty shocked. I had been quoted 9-13k from a private plastic surgeon. I can only assume it's that high because it's done at the Kaiser surgery center, and their overhead costs are much higher than a private practice would be.
$4,100 seems low, though, especially in this area of CA. Is your doctor going to perform a capsulotomy?
$4,100 seems low, though, especially in this area of CA. Is your doctor going to perform a capsulotomy?
October 4, 2016
yes he is removing the capsule too. No lift however...... strange. Yours seems extremely high. Thank you for the reply.
October 16, 2016
So .. when my final bill came in, it was actually for over $16k. It's a good thing all I had to do was pay for my deductible!
UPDATED FROM happytobemeagain
1 day pre
Before Explant Photos (with right ruptured implant)
happytobemeagainSeptember 27, 2016
Tomorrow's the day! So I thought I'd better get some photos up. As you can see, I have two different sized breasts. I'm hoping that after the explant both will end up looking approximately like the right one does now, though I'm expecting a lot more concavity and less volume right after the surgery. I'm not looking forward to the recovery period, but am definitely looking forward to finally feeling soft and all me again.
Replies (6)
September 28, 2016
I too have a similar situation. I have ne ruptured implant and the other is leaking. I'm 50 I had my first implants put in at 23. They were in front of the muscle but then had them replaced 14 years ago with saline implants behind the muscle with a breast lift.
I do not want to keep having surgeries. I'm concerned with what my breasts will look like once they are out.
Good luck (((hugs)))
I do not want to keep having surgeries. I'm concerned with what my breasts will look like once they are out.
Good luck (((hugs)))
September 28, 2016
Good luck. I'm sending good vibes that everything turns out to your satisfaction. Good news is I have not read one comment on regret. Blessings
September 29, 2016
I hope everything went well and you are resting at home now. I'm right behind you with my surgery scheduled for Oct 11th. Let us know how everything went. Take care.
October 4, 2016
So a plastic surgeon at kaiser permenente did your surgery?
Did you have iv sedation or general anesthesia? You look great.
Did you have iv sedation or general anesthesia? You look great.
October 4, 2016
Thank you, Tabatha12. Yes, a Kaiser plastic surgeon did the surgery. I really liked him and felt comfortable in his care. I was under general anesthesia.
UPDATED FROM happytobemeagain
1 day post
One Day After
happytobemeagainSeptember 29, 2016
Thank you all for your good wishes. The surgery went very well -- "textbook" according to Dr. Price. They told me I'm not supposed to remove the dressing until my drains are taken out, so the pictures are of me, all bundled in dressing and post-op bra. The ace bandage around my middle is just there to hold the drains in place and out of the way.
I don't know if I'll be able to wait that long to see the results. I may just have to cheat and take a peek ... but not today. I'm going to let things settle down.
The Dr. took out both implants and performed a capsulotomy (sp?), which means that instead of taking out the capsule altogether, he takes out some of the capsule and then "cross-hatches" the remaining capsule so that it will heal together. He said that with saline implants, you don't always need to perform the capsulectomy.
I have had no nausea, at all, and I've been fairly comfortable. In fact, I think my breasts hurt less now than they did before the surgery! I feel very good about this decision ... lighter both physically and emotionally.
I'll post more later, as I see the results.
I don't know if I'll be able to wait that long to see the results. I may just have to cheat and take a peek ... but not today. I'm going to let things settle down.
The Dr. took out both implants and performed a capsulotomy (sp?), which means that instead of taking out the capsule altogether, he takes out some of the capsule and then "cross-hatches" the remaining capsule so that it will heal together. He said that with saline implants, you don't always need to perform the capsulectomy.
I have had no nausea, at all, and I've been fairly comfortable. In fact, I think my breasts hurt less now than they did before the surgery! I feel very good about this decision ... lighter both physically and emotionally.
I'll post more later, as I see the results.
Replies (6)
September 29, 2016
I'm following you closely. My situation is very similar. So glad to hear your feeling so well. Sending good thoughts and gentle ((((hugs))))
I'm wondering before they were removed could you feel the bags under the skin? That is all I feel these days.
I'm wondering before they were removed could you feel the bags under the skin? That is all I feel these days.
September 30, 2016
Thank you, Marjo23. Yes, I could feel the bags, especially on the ruptured side. It had folded up and was poking me in the ribs at times, quite uncomfortably. I was fortunate that the doctor had a cancellation and I could get in for surgery so quickly.
September 30, 2016
P.S. I read your review page, so I know you are worried about what you will look like afterwards. I think we all go through that because there is so much large breast worship in our culture. I'd gotten to the point where I wanted the implants out so badly, I didn't really care what my breasts would look like afterwards. But of course, that's not totally true. I'm worried (haven't seen them yet). I'm blessed to have a truly supportive partner who I know will love me and be attracted to me no matter what my breasts look like, and having that kind of support means a lot. Sorry if this reply is a bit rambling. My excuse is that I'm on pain meds LOL.
September 29, 2016
congrats on finally getting back to nature! I think your ruptured breast looks quite good so you will have a good chance at not needing a lift at all when things settle in. I just had my surgery consult for Nov 22nd Op date.....and my PS said I should wait on a lift too(I have a lot of weight to loose).
September 30, 2016
Thank you, SusieQ22 :-). Good luck with yours, too. And if you do decide to have a lift, it's better to wait because there are fewer chances of complications when you aren't doing both surgeries at once. At least that's what I understand.
December 18, 2016
Congrats on your successful explant! Your results turned out great. I hope you are healing well and enjoying your natural beauty again. I am now 1 month post explant and could not be happier with cosmetic results. Turned out my 275cc implants were only half full, my implant shell had started to literally disintegrate (smooth saline that should have had clear shell but it was opaque from the breakdown for the silicone!), which explains all my autoimmune issues. I also had capsule tissue growing INTO the implant valve, and tested positive for fungus in both capsules and implants. I was left with a nicely shaped full D cup after explant. My doc said no lift needed & thinks I will likely retain C cup even after my weight loss. Firm believer now we should wait on a lift if you've had them many years. Ladies who had implants to correct deflated or sagging breasts at later age may be better candidate for lift with explant, than those of us who did not have such issues. I've got a long way to go with healing from chemical and biotoxin issues, but have already had 2+ years of chronic vertigo almost immediately resolved with 72 hours post explant. I feel a little better each day. All the best to you, cheers!
Hey there, and welcome! Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us. I hope you'll get lots of support from the community. Have you checked out the Breast Implant Removal forum yet? Here's a great post to get you started. Hope you'll enjoy reading it. Wishing you lots of luck! Can't wait to see your photos when you update us :)
Breast Implant Removal Tips (Pre-op, Surgery Day, and Post-op)
You're welcome! Thanks so much for adding your photos. Your experience will certainly help others when making confident choices.