Getting them OUT!!! - Bethlehem, PA

I had my BA surgery 9 years ago when I was in my mid-twenties. I have always been very petite and weigh the same amount now (with a 9 month old baby!) as I did in high school. Back then, I was a 34A and just never felt feminine in my slim, curve-less frame. I wanted nothing more than to feel beautiful and womanly and I thought implants would give me that confidence I was looking for. I was almost obsessed with breasts at that point, even checking out the boobs on the Disney princesses my niece loved so much! After a ton of research and a lot of thought I had my surgery done, and I did begin to feel more feminine. Measured at a VS store, I was told my new bra size was a 32D (which is really hard to find, let me tell you! But 34Cs also worked)

Fast forward several years, and I am beginning to feel more and more "ashamed" or "embarrassed" about my body. I am still petite and feel that my breasts are just too big for me. I have realized that I don't stand up as straight as I should and find my shoulders to be rounded inward at times because I don't want to push out my breasts anymore than necessary. I am also a new mom and am nursing my 9 month old daughter, so my breasts have been a big focus of my attention. And I just don't like the way they make me feel anymore!

I began googling "breast implant removal" and now I just cannot stop thinking about having them removed. I want them out ASAP, but also want to continue to nurse my baby and provide her with the nutrition she needs, so I plan to wait a few more months. My issue right now has been deciding whether to use the same surgeon who did my surgery initially (though he is in a different state, so I am thinking I wont), deciding when to do this surgery (how long after I stop nursing particularly), and trying to determine how the surgery will impact my care of my daughter (can I lift her, rock her, hold her after this procedure?)

For some reason I was very nervous to call for a consultation appointment. I finally did it today though! I am seeing Dr Chung on 6/5 for a consultation to review my options for explanation. The office staff seemed surprised that I wanted implants removed and did not want new implants put in. Surely I am not the first one who has done this though- all of the stories on this website are proof! Can anyone explain to me what exactly a capsulectomy is? Does everyone who is getting implants removed need this? What are the benefits of having a lift as well? I hope the surgeon will explain all of this to me too, but I would love to hear the opinions and advice of you knowledgeable ladies!

While these past 9 years have been fine with my implants (no health issues or pain), I just want my soft, natural breasts back and I want to feel like my little A's are ok after all. I want to stand up tall and confident, little boobies and all, and feel beautiful! Thankfully, I have a wonderful, loving husband who I know will make me feel beautiful no matter what my body looks like. Being a new mommy, I want my daughter to grow up loving her body just the way she is. And what better way to teach her that than to be a role model for her! Thank you to all on this site for sharing your inspiring stories and pictures of your beautiful natural selves.

Had my consultation with Dr Chung on 6/5. He was really great and did not at all push me toward a lift or getting smaller implants and really seemed to want to understand how they are effecting me and why I want them out. He offered two options- removal under local anesthesia with capsules remaining (about $1500) vs removal with capsulectomy under general anesthesia (about $2500 for surgeon and surgery center fees), done in a surgery center and with the need for drains after. He pointed out that my capsules appear very soft and pliable, there is no capsular contracture and rippling can be seen in some areas, which is a sign of a thin capsule. He really left it up to me to decide which option I preferred. I have not set a date and have not fully decided yet, but I think I am leaning towards the explantation in office under local. The price doesnt matter to me that that much, both are less than what i paid for them initially! I have a baby at home and anything I can do to make for an easier recovery would be ideal, so I think I'd rather not have the drains. I just cannot wait to get these things out of me! Like so many other women have noted, I just hate feeling like there is something fake inside me. Everyone's after pictures look so nice and that is so encouraging- but even if I look like a skinny flat chested little boy, I wouldn't care! Right now I am watching my beautiful baby grow and (selfishly!) waiting for her to be done nursing so that I can schedule my procedure date. Can anyone tell me what their experience of explantation under local was like?? How long would I need to be out of work for this? Am I not going to be able to hold my daughter post-op? Also where can I buy a great compression bra? You all are so wonderful- thank you in advance for any insights or ideas! :)

Well I am now one step closer to my explant! Six months after my initial consultation with the ps, I have finally called the office to schedule a surgery date. The surgeon had offered either local anesthesia in the office surgery suite or at a hospital under general. I have opted for the in-office procedure. I have not stopped thinking about getting these awful things out, but time has just gotten away from me between work and my family life. But I have been back on this wonderful site and reading all of the happy stories of successful explants has made me know for sure I want to do this more than ever. I just hate feeling like I have something fake inside me and can't wait for them to be gone. The surgeon's secretary offered me a date of 1/27 but I cannot do that day so I have left a message back asking for the week after. When I hung up the phone I thought to myself "oh my goodness, I am going to be FREE again!"

And along with finally calling and taking the next step in this process, I have also finally taken some pictures. My implants are saline and under the muscle, and I can't recall the exact cc's, but I think something like 300-350. My right breast has become larger than the left, and interestingly enough, that is the side my daughter has preferred to nurse on. I have not yet fully weaned my baby and am still nursing at bedtime. I'm hoping this surgery won't interfere with that, the surgeon said it wouldn't, but I am getting to the point now that I would be willing to end nursing cold turkey if I had to. I want these out THAT badly! I just can't wait to have little boobies again- I want to stand up tall and straight and not feel like I have to hide them anymore! I will update soon once I pick a date! I'm soooo excited!