POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal REVIEWS
Removal of 15 Year Old Saline Implants Under Local w/ Oral Sedation
ORIGINAL POST
Let me start by saying you ladies are wonderful. ...
WORTH IT$2,500
Let me start by saying you ladies are wonderful. I am so very glad I stumbled upon this site a month ago and can't thank you all enough for sharing your stories & photo's & giving me hope. Anytime I'd looked up breast implant removal in the past I'd find not so flattering photo's, a few horror stories and was really scared of the outcome, like so many of you. This site has made a world of difference.
I had saline implants put under the muscle in 2000 when I was 22. I honestly don't even know the manufacturer or size he put in; it never occured to me to ask & he didn't tell. I'd been teased for so many years about my small breasts with many nicknames given, and was so insecure & felt this was what I wanted. I was (I think) a 32B before implants. I was so excited to be able to get them & have cleavage & shape! Of course I had my doubts, but this was what I'd wanted!!! The day of surgery the PS left me in the exam room for a good 15 minutes while they readied the OR. Ever fiber of my being in my brain & body was saying run, run, RUNNNN, don't do this!!! I was so nervous & it was not good to leave me alone that long! But I also felt I'd come this far, just do it cause they'd already been paid so I might as well get something to show for it before I lose all my money & get nothing! I wish I'd listened to my gut.
The surgery took 4 or 5 hours, MUCH longer than expected! I woke up in excrutiating pain & feeling like I had an elephant sitting on my chest! The next few days were torture with chest crushing pain. I was bruised beyond belief! And wondering what the hell I did to myself?! Oh, and not to mention as I laid on the table before going under, I saw the implants he picked for me & they were huge!!! I was like "This isn't what I wanted!!" and so right there, I had to pick out smaller implants for myself - in the OR! I just wanted some size & shape, not monster things in me!
The implants rode high for almost a year, then finally started to drop & I liked them ever so briefly but then for the next 14 years I've wanted them OUT! They hurt - bad at times! I can feel the implants & horrible rippling & this isn't natural feeling at all! Even though they're smooth they feel as if they have a sharp edge that is constantly rubbing the inside of my breast - like a paper cut. I lost nearly all nipple sensation with them. When I lie flat, my boobs actually slosh to the sides of my body & aren't even on my chest at all & indent on me! My PS promised me they'd be beautiful & fine & last "FOREVER". (I was never told they needed replacing or removal at some point.)
Fast forward to two years with implants - I ended up diagnosed with a rare auto immune disease and have been on disability ever since. It's made my life hell. I always felt the implants had something to do with it but doctor's assured me saline are safe & there was no way; but I still had that in my mind they had something to do with it & it was too much of a coincidence.
In 2008 I decided I had enough of the implants, could live with whatever results I got & scheduled a consult with my original PS to discuss removal. However, I was also in the process of finding a new place & happened to find an apartment at the time of the appt. so I cancelled it cause I figured I couldn't remove them & recover properly while moving. I now take this as a blessing in disguise, as my PS was banned & license revoked shortly after due to scores of malpractice suits & botched surgeries that came to light! I was SO very thankful I'd had to cancel my appt. after all that came out, cause he may very well have killed me with my illness! So I put the idea on the backburner, meanwhile daily thinking how much I hate these things & want them OUT!
This past summer I found a lump in my right breast. I went thru the doctor's & testing, and while my lump ending up being a harmless cyst, I needed a stereotactic biopsy done cause of what else was found during the mammo. Luckily what they found wasn't cancerous. Phew! Well, either the mammo did something or they nicked me during the biopsy cause about two months ago I noticed my right breast is getting smaller than it ever was & is actually getting squishy, as how a real breast feels. This concerned me greatly & it's time to think about taking them out again. Even if saline is suppposed to be "harmless" they need to come out; one is ruptured & it's a medical necessity for me, especially given my health problems. I can't take any chances at this point. Albeit it is a slow leak, it is a leak none the less where I have noticed the changes in my breast & that it is getting smaller each week.
I have a consult scheduled with a PS for tomorrow evening (Feb. 9th), and my best friend is coming along with me to help my nerves. I've been with my boyfriend for 20 years now and he always said "Don't do it, you'll hate it!!" but I did it anyway. So he's known me before, and with them & I'm now getting a "told ya so" lol Unfortunately he has his own doc's appt so he can't come with me but I'm grateful for the support from my friend.
It is just so crazy to me, reading all these stories, how almost all of us have felt the same way. We wanted them for whatever our reasons were, and thought we'd be happy but it seems there are quite a lot of us aren't. I'm so glad I'm not alone in my feelings. Implants do NOT feel natural. I actually do not even know my bra size as I get wireless ones in size Medium cause I can't take underwire at all & the wireless ones with an actual size - I just can't find one that fits comfortably or perfectly; no one could determine my size! I hug my female friends & feel their squishy breasts & wish I felt that way! Then I wonder if they are feeling these balloons on my chest?! To be honest, I never really told but a handful of people I have them, and that includes NOT telling family members as well. So many don't know. And now I'm wondering if they all know anyway, cause they probably feel them when they hug me so who am I kidding?! Why are we excited to get them but embarassed to tell anyone we have?! The first year or two was ok with cute revealing tops but after that I've tried to hide them with baggy shirts & am very thankful I didn't get very big ones!
It was a poor decision, one I've regretted for 15 years and it's time to change that. I found my before BA pics & can see the upper pole flatness, the spread I had between them giving me zero cleavage and can see why my young mind was thinking I wanted them. But I had boobies!!! It wasn't like I was totally flat as a board, they did have some shape & size & perkiness to them! They may not have been perfect or big but man does seeing the only pictures I'd taken of them make me want to cry & want them back more! I'm at the same body size & just a little under 100lbs, so I'm hoping I have something left to them but with the right one deflating, I can feel that I've probably got more breast tissue than I'd expected, so I am hopeful. But at this point I'd take anything, if it just means having them out. And having this leak start is giving me the kick to do so. The idea of finally possibly getting them removed is exciting but this is surgery, and surgery is scary and I am especially scared of the risks of complications after removal given my health history.
I'll take some current photo's of myself in the next day or two & will let you know how the consult goes.
I had saline implants put under the muscle in 2000 when I was 22. I honestly don't even know the manufacturer or size he put in; it never occured to me to ask & he didn't tell. I'd been teased for so many years about my small breasts with many nicknames given, and was so insecure & felt this was what I wanted. I was (I think) a 32B before implants. I was so excited to be able to get them & have cleavage & shape! Of course I had my doubts, but this was what I'd wanted!!! The day of surgery the PS left me in the exam room for a good 15 minutes while they readied the OR. Ever fiber of my being in my brain & body was saying run, run, RUNNNN, don't do this!!! I was so nervous & it was not good to leave me alone that long! But I also felt I'd come this far, just do it cause they'd already been paid so I might as well get something to show for it before I lose all my money & get nothing! I wish I'd listened to my gut.
The surgery took 4 or 5 hours, MUCH longer than expected! I woke up in excrutiating pain & feeling like I had an elephant sitting on my chest! The next few days were torture with chest crushing pain. I was bruised beyond belief! And wondering what the hell I did to myself?! Oh, and not to mention as I laid on the table before going under, I saw the implants he picked for me & they were huge!!! I was like "This isn't what I wanted!!" and so right there, I had to pick out smaller implants for myself - in the OR! I just wanted some size & shape, not monster things in me!
The implants rode high for almost a year, then finally started to drop & I liked them ever so briefly but then for the next 14 years I've wanted them OUT! They hurt - bad at times! I can feel the implants & horrible rippling & this isn't natural feeling at all! Even though they're smooth they feel as if they have a sharp edge that is constantly rubbing the inside of my breast - like a paper cut. I lost nearly all nipple sensation with them. When I lie flat, my boobs actually slosh to the sides of my body & aren't even on my chest at all & indent on me! My PS promised me they'd be beautiful & fine & last "FOREVER". (I was never told they needed replacing or removal at some point.)
Fast forward to two years with implants - I ended up diagnosed with a rare auto immune disease and have been on disability ever since. It's made my life hell. I always felt the implants had something to do with it but doctor's assured me saline are safe & there was no way; but I still had that in my mind they had something to do with it & it was too much of a coincidence.
In 2008 I decided I had enough of the implants, could live with whatever results I got & scheduled a consult with my original PS to discuss removal. However, I was also in the process of finding a new place & happened to find an apartment at the time of the appt. so I cancelled it cause I figured I couldn't remove them & recover properly while moving. I now take this as a blessing in disguise, as my PS was banned & license revoked shortly after due to scores of malpractice suits & botched surgeries that came to light! I was SO very thankful I'd had to cancel my appt. after all that came out, cause he may very well have killed me with my illness! So I put the idea on the backburner, meanwhile daily thinking how much I hate these things & want them OUT!
This past summer I found a lump in my right breast. I went thru the doctor's & testing, and while my lump ending up being a harmless cyst, I needed a stereotactic biopsy done cause of what else was found during the mammo. Luckily what they found wasn't cancerous. Phew! Well, either the mammo did something or they nicked me during the biopsy cause about two months ago I noticed my right breast is getting smaller than it ever was & is actually getting squishy, as how a real breast feels. This concerned me greatly & it's time to think about taking them out again. Even if saline is suppposed to be "harmless" they need to come out; one is ruptured & it's a medical necessity for me, especially given my health problems. I can't take any chances at this point. Albeit it is a slow leak, it is a leak none the less where I have noticed the changes in my breast & that it is getting smaller each week.
I have a consult scheduled with a PS for tomorrow evening (Feb. 9th), and my best friend is coming along with me to help my nerves. I've been with my boyfriend for 20 years now and he always said "Don't do it, you'll hate it!!" but I did it anyway. So he's known me before, and with them & I'm now getting a "told ya so" lol Unfortunately he has his own doc's appt so he can't come with me but I'm grateful for the support from my friend.
It is just so crazy to me, reading all these stories, how almost all of us have felt the same way. We wanted them for whatever our reasons were, and thought we'd be happy but it seems there are quite a lot of us aren't. I'm so glad I'm not alone in my feelings. Implants do NOT feel natural. I actually do not even know my bra size as I get wireless ones in size Medium cause I can't take underwire at all & the wireless ones with an actual size - I just can't find one that fits comfortably or perfectly; no one could determine my size! I hug my female friends & feel their squishy breasts & wish I felt that way! Then I wonder if they are feeling these balloons on my chest?! To be honest, I never really told but a handful of people I have them, and that includes NOT telling family members as well. So many don't know. And now I'm wondering if they all know anyway, cause they probably feel them when they hug me so who am I kidding?! Why are we excited to get them but embarassed to tell anyone we have?! The first year or two was ok with cute revealing tops but after that I've tried to hide them with baggy shirts & am very thankful I didn't get very big ones!
It was a poor decision, one I've regretted for 15 years and it's time to change that. I found my before BA pics & can see the upper pole flatness, the spread I had between them giving me zero cleavage and can see why my young mind was thinking I wanted them. But I had boobies!!! It wasn't like I was totally flat as a board, they did have some shape & size & perkiness to them! They may not have been perfect or big but man does seeing the only pictures I'd taken of them make me want to cry & want them back more! I'm at the same body size & just a little under 100lbs, so I'm hoping I have something left to them but with the right one deflating, I can feel that I've probably got more breast tissue than I'd expected, so I am hopeful. But at this point I'd take anything, if it just means having them out. And having this leak start is giving me the kick to do so. The idea of finally possibly getting them removed is exciting but this is surgery, and surgery is scary and I am especially scared of the risks of complications after removal given my health history.
I'll take some current photo's of myself in the next day or two & will let you know how the consult goes.
Natural Again's provider
UPDATED FROM Natural Again
26 days pre
First PS consult
Thank you ladies! The consult went ok. He was a very nice, soft spoken man who not only explained things to me, but answered all of my questions for the things he hadn't covered on his own. I greatly appreciated he understood why I was there & didn't pressure me into replacement which is a HUGE plus for any PS. Though we did discuss there are risks with how the breasts might look without replacement, but that was as far as that went. I also learned I am about 300cc though it would be hard to tell for sure until they were drained & measured.
I feel like I should still explore my options though, (which is just always a smart thing to do in instances like this) and have scheduled a consult with another PS for next week, who seems to have more experience with explants than the PS I just saw. I'll know for sure once I speak with him directly. I have a general idea of what I want done, and feel the PS I choose should at least be on the same fence with me for the majority of the surgery. I also have a 3rd consult with another PS on March 4th as well. Again...just something I want to explore the feelings on a few doctor's before deciding on "the one".
I feel like I should still explore my options though, (which is just always a smart thing to do in instances like this) and have scheduled a consult with another PS for next week, who seems to have more experience with explants than the PS I just saw. I'll know for sure once I speak with him directly. I have a general idea of what I want done, and feel the PS I choose should at least be on the same fence with me for the majority of the surgery. I also have a 3rd consult with another PS on March 4th as well. Again...just something I want to explore the feelings on a few doctor's before deciding on "the one".
Replies (8)
February 11, 2015
So proud of you! For those of us who have past nightmare experiences, the need to find someone we can trust is vital. I am going tomorrow for a second opinion. The issue of blood flow for anything beyond explant, as explained by the insurance referral doc, was important and upfront honest. I am curious if the local guy I see tomorrow provides a similar response. I was bothered by the referral doc's lack of concern for the medical need of explant following the puncture via biopsy. He would not even look at the ultrasound images to discuss what the suspected lump might have truly been (the biopsied area that later deflated me). Came right out and said he wouldn't discuss any medical issues because this was a PS consult, but assured me that he would biopsy anything odd once he was in the removal process.. Aside from that, he seemed knowledgeable enough to do a good job.
February 11, 2015
I feel that a breast reconstruction specialist (breast cancer specialist) is the way to go. They create amazing, natural looking breasts out of some horrendous results. It is truly mind boggling what they can do.
February 11, 2015
That is very interesting that you say that. I actually have a 6 month follow up on Monday with an oncologist breast surgeon because of what was found in the mammo that required biopsy. I actually wondered if *he* could do anything for me as far as removing them but also thought it's the PS who is the one to reconstruct. I am definitely going to ask him his opinion on the matter & if this is something he has done or could do for me, as far as removal since one is leaking.
February 11, 2015
Personally, that would leave me a little leery if he didn't want to discuss anything about the lump or acknowledge further complications with a leaking implant. That just wouldn't give me a comfortable feeling. Continue to explore your options for sure. I know it's a pain, but we really have to find someone knowledgeable, and on our side thru most of it. Have you seen an oncologist breast surgeon yet? If you haven't, you probably should since a lump was found. I'm doing a 6 month follow up with mine on Monday.
February 11, 2015
Hey -- read my new plan I posted -- yes, I am going with a surgeon who does breast work -- NOT the network guy -- thinking I need to be where someone is taking my health into consideration rather than serving their business's best interest! She is researching a completely different procedure for me than what PS offer, and I can get it done in town and sooner!
February 12, 2015
my doctor was a PS who was also a breast reconstruction specialist. I found him specifically for his two specialties for I believed such a doctor could do the best job. I am glad I chose him, he told me exactly what to expect and he was right. He was also very unjudgemental and he never questioned my decision to explant.
February 12, 2015
YES!! Good for you! So far, it appears the insurance company is not covering my costs, or admitting fault, unless I get an attorney. They plan to hold me to my deductible, all $5,000 of it. So, screw them! I found a new doc today, and I can use those same funds for her -- she's a general surgeon who has most of her experience in breast reconstruction. I get to stay in town, and her surgery group accepts my insurance. She wanted to research a different type of explant procedure for me to help bring about a better result -- she really wants to reduce my skin volume. As she was thinking about it and examining me, I had an idea pop in my head. Rather than an incision under the boob crease, I wondered if she could go above the breast (further up in the chest area) in order to do some skin reduction up top after explanting -- bringing the skin up at bit (kind of like a lift). Since I am a high risk (poor vascularity around nipple area) for necrosis with any common "lift," she loved the idea! Shoot -- I was fully resolved that there would be nothing but skin left and was okay with it, but she is amazing and cared about the lasting look way more than I did. If I have scars above, but less skin, I am game for it! I do not care if I have scars -- they fade easily on me. Drains will be separate ports below, but I would have no scars to interfere later with bras underneath. I am trusting she finds no reason to abandon this route. If she does find a medical reason to not do it this way, it will be back to just the traditional explant method, leaving flap jacks only. She says I have about 1/8 cup (at most) of actual breast tissue, so literally all skin. She's never done explant this way, because most women don't want to see scars, but sees no reason why it isn't feasible. She has re-made lots of boobs (mostly for cancer patients), and loves the unique challenges for each women she treats. Quite interesting! AND -- OMG -- YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS-- She thinks the radiologist completely missed the lump during that biopsy! It is still there, so if it is a true lesion, she will get it out. She said they NEVER should have done a needle biopsy on me. This lump required an excisional biopsy for accurate pathology! She thinks it is most likely scar tissue, but wants to take no chances.
February 12, 2015
I am very happy for you. I pray your surgery goes well. Sounds like you are in excellent hands.
UPDATED FROM Natural Again
25 days pre
LIES that my PS told me
I found the after-care booklet my doctor sent me home with. He told me this in person as well and young, naive me believed him.
Replies (11)
February 11, 2015
Yikes!!! I don't know what else to say. I'm sorry your decision to explant was kind of forced upon you because of the rupture. Our stories differ there as my implants are fine (rippling but otherwise ok), but I just want them out. I believe we are the same age though and have had our implants for roughly the same number of years. I wish you luck in your search for a great PS! Stay in touch.
February 12, 2015
It's really ok, cause it gave me the kick in the butt and courage to finally go thru with something I've thought about for years anyway. We are the same age, and same as far as NY/NJ area too!
February 12, 2015
Wow. Is he still in practice?
I have a leak and am interviewing Drs now. Thank goodness for this site as I have learned so much.
Be sure and research the En Bloc procedure and ask the Drs about that. Dr Kolb in Atlanta does many Explants and does them all En Bloc. If they are not done this way you can have problems. Many Drs do not do it as it takes longer and takes a fair amount of skill. Also check out Dr. Melmed in Dallas, he has done over 3,500 Explants and Dr. Feng in Ohio, she has done many Explants also and I would go to, her but it is to far from Florida. Dr Kolb is on YouTube speaking about how BI make women sick. She has also written a book about it. Also Dr. Melmed was interviewed about this.
I also found a website where women post their pictures and tell their stories. It is Shirley's-wellness-cafe.com. You have to type in Breast Implant and it will pull it up. Click on the names and you will be able to read their stories. I became sick this last year, never been sick before and my Thyroid is messed up and has a nodule. I have heart palpitations, ringing in my ears, my vision is weird sometimes, all kinds of strange things and I feel it has been caused by this slow leak in my implant. I can not wait to get them out. Mine have been in since 93.
February 12, 2015
VERY similar symptoms here, so don't think you are alone -- not all docs will concur when it comes to saying the implants are a root cause -- but, there are many women on here who experience improved health following explant. I hope to become one of them!
February 12, 2015
License was revoked & he was suspended thanks to extensive malpractice suits & botched surgeries. Not just for BA either, he was a butcher for the entire body. I am thankful to those doctor's who acknowledge implants can cause health problems. I dislike those who won't, but wouldn't you say there are too many of us with similar symptoms to not connect the dots here?? It's funny how the FDA comes out saying "safer" implants are available, so why not fully admit a lot of implants, for a very long time, weren't safe at all? Thank you for that website, I am going to check it out as I haven't really found other women talking about their experiences except on this site.
February 12, 2015
Wow
February 12, 2015
Yeah -- WOW! Is this guy living in the dark ages? Between phone consults and the two in-person docs I've seen, everyone of them has said 10-15 years -- period!
February 12, 2015
He swore they'd last forever & never needed replacing. Luckily for future BA patients, he is NO LONGER in business! License was revoked & he was suspended thanks to extensive malpractice suits & botched surgeries. I'm just thankful he didn't botch my surgery, I just happen to hate the implants cause they're just not for me.
March 30, 2015
wow thats insane! he even went as far as putting it on paper... he should be sued for that lol
March 31, 2015
A true salesman, for sure! I never got the chance to sue cause the almost 50 malpractice suits he had against him put an end to his career! No wonder why, with those lies he gave out!
Replies (13)
I agree that your pre-BA breasts were perfectly nice, but we put so much pressure on ourselves to conform to society's image of what a woman should look like. Please don't beat yourself up for getting these. It sounds like you've grown a lot and learned a big life lesson along the way, which is invaluable. I'm looking forward to following along on your journey! Do you have your doctor picked out yet?