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POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal REVIEWS

Getting Explanted Next Wednesday, Anxious About Outcome! - Newport Beach, CA

ORIGINAL POST

Reading this site has been immensely helpful. All...

niknik01
WORTH IT$5,800

Reading this site has been immensely helpful. All the ladies here look great and have given me confidence to do this.

I had casually thought about breast implants occasionally for a few years but was never serious about it until the beginning of this year when I expressed an interest and my boyfriend was enthusiastic and encouraged me to go for it. I figured I had the money, and at the time it seemed like a good idea. I quickly researched doctors and implant info and had the surgery on March 13 this year. I got very caught up in the excitement of it and just got sucked into it like a whirlwind. I have always had small breasts (even during breastfeeding I barely increased one cup size), and really never gave them much thought. My breasts were not a source of insecurity or anxiety before.

I was a 32A/B before surgery. My original plastic surgeon recommended 500cc high profile silicone implants to achieve a full C/small D size. I wound up a 32dd/ddd and they are just way too big for me. I noticed it immediately after surgery and have been self conscious since then. They look and feel very fake. I can't lay on my belly or hug people without wondering if they feel the implants. I can't stand the "foreign body" feeling that I'm constantly aware of. They are starting to ripple in the cleavage when I bend over and have dropped quite a bit. I got the implants because somehow I thought they would improve my appearance and my confidence, but I am more self conscious now about my breasts than I have ever been.

I have thought long and hard about whether I should exchange to a smaller implant or just explant completely. I'm worried that I would have the same feelings about a smaller implant and have decided I just don't want them in my body at all. I am worried about future complications and don't want to risk the need for more surgery. I just want to be done with this.

My plastic surgeon is confident that I will return to close to my old appearance before I had surgery. I am not as optimistic though and am pretty anxious that my breasts may be permanently damaged by these large implants. My skin seems like it's in good condition and they've been in a short time, so hopefully I won't be left deformed. I wish I hadn't done this but hindsight is 20/20 I suppose. My Dr is going to do some capsule work to raise my creases up, and do some internal suturing and a scar revision. My surgery is in six days!

niknik01's provider

John Milam Shamoun, MD FACS

John Milam Shamoun, MD FACS

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

niknik01 rating for Dr. Shamoun:

Overall rating

Replies (24)

July 27, 2012
You haven't had them long, I am positive your breasts will look like they did before,you will be just fine!
July 31, 2012
Thank you for your encouragement! I hope you are right :) Are you thinking about explanting soon? I think I saw you are looking in the Fall to have surgery?
July 31, 2012
You are very welcome! Yes I am crossing my fingers to have the money to get them out this fall, so I will have lots of time recovering and wearing cute little sweaters and not have to worry about a bathing suit for almost a whole year!!
July 27, 2012
Girl....your story us almost identical to mine, however I have had move 9 months and 400ccs. I would LOVE to chat w. You on the phone. I PM'd you my number if you are willing. I decided today they are coming out. They have been the focus of mine and my boyfriends life. Its horrible. I think in 3 or 4 Weeks they are coming out. Hope to chat!
July 31, 2012
Hey! I pm'd you back. Since I made the decision to explant my anxiety level has gone down so much. I'm sure you will look fine afterwards :)
August 12, 2012
Spoke w u on JBI and we all in same boat. I want mine out too but I'm a little bigger (450). How long did u wait Niknik? How long have u had your Sgfit? Yes explant may be the only way to get small enough. I loved my body and now I'm miserable. Yes, any help and advise greatly appreciated from Niknik. Thanks
August 14, 2012
I'm 400ccs and had mine 10 months
March 21, 2013
I have had so much anxiety over these implants!! I feel like that too! Like there is a foreign body inside of me! I need to call the plastic surgeon and get them removed!!
March 21, 2013
I ended up downsizing abd feel sooo much better. I kept my 400s in for 16 mos before I was downsized. Im.glad I waited for my decision to be made
July 28, 2012
my implants look a lot like yours! I am looking for surgeons at the moment, I have had mine for 3 years. I am sure you will look great because you had a nice shape before and also you havent had them for long :) i can really identify with the feeling of a "foreign body"
July 31, 2012
Hi Ana, thank you for your kind comments. I really hope my breasts have "memory" and snap back and forgive me for this! I read your story. I think you should seek a second opinion on explant. I think your youth, small implants, and relatively short amount of time they've been in will be on your side.

While it's not obvious in my pics, I have some mild symmastia that is obvious when I push my breasts together. It's so frustrating because all I really wanted was some nice cleavage, and now I just look weird in push up bras :( My surgeon is going to suture down the area along my cleavage. Hopefully it'll look normal afterwards.
July 31, 2012
i had an aweful experience with the first surgeon. at first i thought the surgeon was right but i read comments by other women saying surgeons would make out the worst case senario, and put you off it. i guess it just really hit me all he said. i will be looking into seeking a second opinion later on the year, i am so busy with work right now. i hope i can find someone who will at least understand my feelings.
ahh my symmastia is also more visiable when pushing the breast together and in push up bras. is he going to use permanent sutures?
i will be checking this page to see how you get on, stay positive and keep us updated!
July 29, 2012
hi there

i completely understand where youre coming from with the 'fake' feeling, and if you feel like that now only after a few months (rather than in love with your boobs as they are so new), then you are definitely making the right decision with explanting as i imagine you would probably feel the same with a smaller implant.

you looked a lovely shape before and its been very recent, so i'm sure your surgeon is being honest about your result. in anycase, i had my implants removed after 11 years and after two pregnancies. theyre droopy, stretchmarked and empty, but i LOVE them as theyre mine!!! i am so much more confident and feel so content that i'm now 100% me!

good luck with your journey x
July 31, 2012
Thank you flashgirl! My fear is that I wouldn't be happy with a smaller implant. I think you're right that I'd still be bothered by them! I think you look fantastic post-explant! I hope to get a similar result.
July 29, 2012
Your case is pretty similar to mine, except for you've had your implants in for a was shorter period of time. Check out my before and after photos. Your surgeon is right to be confident that you'll look exactly like you did pre-implant. You're an ideal candidate for explant - young, good skin, implants not in too long, and you have a good amount of natural breast tissue. You're going to look awesome after your explant! Can't wait to read your updates!
July 31, 2012
Thanks sweetbee! I've read your story and looked at your photos and you look amazing. You look like your breasts are actually bigger now than they were before implants! I would be so thrilled with your results!
UPDATED FROM niknik01
Day of treatment

I am home now from surgery. Everything seemed to...

niknik01
I am home now from surgery. Everything seemed to go well. Everyone was really kind and the anesthesia went off without a hitch (no nausea at all which was a big concern for me). I developed a cold over the weekend and was worried that this would affect the anesthesia or maybe I would end up getting postponed. They said it wouldn't be an issue though. I woke up in quite a bit of pain around my incisions and inside the breasts. I think the pain inside is coming from the permanent sutures.

I had a a snack and took a Vicodin when I arrived home and it seems to be helping. I'm wearing a surgical bra that is stuffed with some medical-type styrofoam and gauze for compression. I haven't seen them completely but I took a quick peek and things seem ok so far. I think I'm pretty flat underneath the dressings but I was like this before implants. I am really relieved this is over and am now just hoping for a quick and smooth recovery. I'll try to upload a photo after my big reveal at the Dr's office on Friday. Thank you everyone for your well wishes, it means a lot.

Replies (10)

August 1, 2012
Hi niknik01!

Thinking of you today! Good luck :) [RS bleep]
August 1, 2012
Thanks! The support means a lot.
August 1, 2012
Good luck girl! We shall chat later!! :)
August 1, 2012
Thank you! Talk to you soon
August 1, 2012
Sending you some positive healing vibes today! Looking forward to updates :-)
August 1, 2012
Thanks Sweetbee, I hope I do as well as you!
August 1, 2012
Glad you're home and feeling well! Happy healing!!
August 2, 2012
Happy healing!!! I'm so happy for you!!
UPDATED FROM niknik01
5 days post

I'm five days post op and back at work today. I'm...

niknik01
I'm five days post op and back at work today. I'm a nurse and was worried I might have a difficult assignment but so far today I have been lucky and things are going well. I rarely feel any pain, mostly if I overuse my chest I sometimes feel throbbing pains round my sternum. The stitches were removed on Friday and now I just have steristrips covering them. I feel relieved at the appearance of my breasts. They aren't perfect but I feel lucky that they are pretty similar to their old appearance. I'm hoping they tighten up over the next few weeks. Right now they feel really soft and kind of delicate, if that makes any sense! All my breast tissue is in the lower pole. I wonder if this will improve.

I'm happy I once again can lie on my belly and hug people properly. When I'm all healed I'm definitely getting a massage ASAP! I do feel a bit self conscious in clothing since I'm wearing a tight sports bra. It compresses them down so I look pretty flat! I'm looking forward to wearing a wire bra with some padding. I tried on some bras at gap body over the weekend and I'm fitting into a 32b pretty well, which is about what I was before my first surgery. I'm glad I have those huge implants out of me. I've had the rare doubt about whether I should have just downsized, but then I remember how miserable I was with implants. I have no regrets explanting. Now I just need to forgive myself for this expensive learning opportunity!

My surgeon said I had mild bottoming out in both breasts that just would have gotten worse with time. I had my creases lifted, and he cauterized the capsule so that it would scar down to my chest wall.

Replies (21)

August 6, 2012
i have just seen your updated photo, i think you look great! with a little more time you are probably gonna look like you never had the implants!
August 6, 2012
Nik you look AMAZING!!
August 6, 2012
I agree! You look brilliant!!! :))
August 6, 2012
Wow, you look really great! Did you say the doctor raised your creases? I have to have that done when I get mine out, so I'm curious. If he did, there is absolutely no bruising from it! Congratulations!
August 7, 2012
You look fantastic!! Almost just like me, except for I think you've got a little more natural tissue than I do. I finally figured out that I'm a 36A, I was so resistant to that 36 before because I saw that as "fat," but I wear the 36 because my breasts are set wider apart so the cups need to be wider apart, it's not that I've gained any weight. Anyway, congrats! Sending you good healing thoughts :-)