Saying Goodbye to 15.5 Yr Old Implants - Can't Wait to Be Small and Natural - NJ

1 Day Post Op - I went to the PS office the day after surgery. There was really no need to but I wanted to stop in and get more details on the surgery. She said it took a little over one hour. The left side was more problematic in removing the anterior capsule. It was embedded within parts of the pectoralis major. My pecs feel slightly sore, more so on the left side and there is more fluid coming out too. I only took 2 ibuprofen the day of the surgery and stayed on the antibiotics for the duration with the drains in. No full showers - hand held shower for the lower half, and washcloth for the upper half. Hubby helped me wash my hair over the tub.

4 Days Post Op (today) - Called the PS's office with the daily drainage volume and was told I can go in any time to have the drains removed. Went in as soon as I could. Feels so much better without the drains. The only discomfort I felt after the surgery was the sore throat and the drain incision area. Still feel slightly sore in the pec area on the left side.

Left breast is definitely bigger than the right.

My explant surgery took place yesterday. We were at the surgery center for a total of 3 hours. The actual surgery took about an hour, slightly longer than planned. When we arrived at the center, I was asked to remove all my clothing except for my underwear and to put on center issued socks, gown, and cap.

The nurse took a urine sample to make sure I'm not pregnant, checked my vital signs, had me sign a number of forms, and gave me instructions on how to operate and measure the drains that will be inserted during the operation. She hooked me up to a glucose IV, and later attached an antibiotic drip to it. I took the Zofran (anti-nausea pill.)

The anesthesiologist went over his check list and asked for my height and weight. He also wanted to know how my teeth are, which I found strange but later understood why he asked. Lol.

The PS measured the nipple to fold distance and my left breast was 1.5cm longer than the right. She said she'll decide whether she will remove some skin at the incision (to help even out the 2 disparate lengths) after she remove the shells, but most likely she will leave it alone since the breast tissue will continue to retract. She said she will remove the anterior (front) side of the capsules and possibly the entire capsule if it can be removed easily (otherwise it will involve more cutting which causes more bleeding.) She marked the incision site under the breast folds and I was led into the operating room.

It wasn't until I saw the operating room that I had a flash of nervousness. The equipment and instruments hit home that I am undergoing surgery. I was asked to lay on the operating table and my arms were loosely strapped down, warm blankets were placed on my body, an oxygen mask went over my face, and the anesthesiologist begin to administer the intravenous anesthesia. I was out almost immediately.

I woke up in the recovery area with a sore throat. Apparently during the operation, the anesthesiologist used Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) anesthesia which involves inserting a tube contraption down the throat. This is an alternative to using a face mask to administer gas anesthesia. A few of the benefits of using LMA are it keeps the airway clear and the dosage can be kept low.

I left the center with a drain on each side of the breast. A little stinging sensation at the drain incisions, but nothing like the discomfort and pain I felt when I got the BA. I took the ibuprofen when I got home and once before bed.

Here are some of pre-op preps I made in the last few days (surgery is on 5/8)

1) fill out prescriptions - antibiotics, ibupropen, and zofran (to prevent nausea)
2) purchase front closure cotton bras (I got Fruit of the Loom cotton bras from Walmart)
3) take either Arnica Montana or Bromelain (I got Arnica and started taking them 5 days prior to surgery)

A nurse from the surgery center will call me the night before with instructions. I'm not nervous nor excited. Just anxious to get the shells out and heal from the surgery. I believe most if not all of the saline has leaked out, so hopefully my breast size will not be too much smaller after the surgery.