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POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal REVIEWS

So Glad They're Gone! - Salt Lake City, UT

ORIGINAL POST

I was 22 in 1996 when I felt that I needed to get...

Sr11074
WORTH IT$400
I was 22 in 1996 when I felt that I needed to get breast implants. I had just finished breastfeeding my baby daughter. I commented to my husband that maybe I should consider breast implants and without hesitating he enthusiastically replied yes! I wasn't 100% sure that I wanted to, but he wanted me to, so I scheduled the surgery and went ahead. shortly after surgery, they encapsulated. I had to have a capsulectomy and one of them was still quite firm after, but it was bearable. I went on with these implants for years. Finally in 2007 my right breast began to shrink. I had a leak in my saline implant. It got smaller and smaller. I finally went back to the surgeon and asked him if I should just have them taken out, since my empty breast wasn't a bad size on its own. He said, "Oh, you don't want to do that! they won't look right. Once you've had implants, you can't just have them out. How about we put in some nice gel implants?" I thought about it, and decided that it would probably be best, but I told him I wanted to go smaller. Well, after the surgery was all said and done, I ended up larger than before. I felt very self conscious. I'm 5'4 and 105 lbs. I barely have a butt, and here I was walking around with giant D cups, I did this for a year before heading back to my Dr.'s office. He tried to talk me out of explant, but I wouldn't sway from my decision this time. I was scared. I was quite worried about how it may look, but I wanted those fake silicone bags out of my body.

Sr11074's provider

John E. Keiter, MD (retired)

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

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Replies (2)

UPDATED FROM Sr11074
4 days post

Recovering

Sr11074
So far it hasn't been bad. A little ibuprophin and a lot of rest. I am anxiously awaiting the healing and fluffing.

Replies (15)

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November 11, 2013
Wow... Good for you! You look fabulous! Did your doc say anything about using compression to help the pocket heal down onto itself?
November 11, 2013
Just a compression bra. I've read where ace bandages are used. I had a complete capsulectomy, and there was quite a bit of drainage, so penrose drains were inserted. I've had them removed now, and continue to wear the compression bra. I hope it'll do what I need it to do!
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November 12, 2013
What kind of compression bra do you have? Do you like it?
November 12, 2013
I like it, yes. It's almost a sports bra, except it has hooks in the front to clasp. I got it when I had my implants put in, and it's perfect for compression after.
November 11, 2013
Wow..you look amazing!!!!
November 14, 2013
Thank you :)
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November 11, 2013
Congrats on the explant....you look fantastic!
November 14, 2013
Thank you so much
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November 12, 2013

I think you look beautiful au naturel! Thank you for sharing your experience on RealSelf.

November 14, 2013
Thank you! I really appreciate your comment! It's great to have the positive input!
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November 12, 2013
I think you look so good without them!! Thanks for sharing your story - I have to have a capsulectomy as well, so I'm curious how different it is to recover from that vs. just a "simple" explant. Please keep us posted on how you're healing! :)
November 12, 2013
thank you! I'm not sure how much more simple it is without the capsulectomy, because I have no basis of comparison. However, it hasn't been bad. I probably would have taken prescription pain killers the first two days if I didn't have such a bad reaction to them. I was very tired, partially from pain and partially because I had worked the entire night before surgery, and went straight to the surgeon in the morning. It made a long day and consequently a long recovery! I'm five days out now and back to work. Last night at work I accidentally walked into the door I was opening for myself (not even sure how that happened) and it hurt. quite. a. bit. I don't think I damaged anything though. Also, some Doctors will put drainage tubes in, some won't. I think because of the capsulectomy, mine chose to. They were just simple penrose drains, which are basically like rubber drinking straws. They allow drainage to ooze into gauze pads in your bra. They are usually removed in 48-72 hours. All in all, I think a capsulectomy is more traumatic and painful than a simple explant, but its been easier than I thought it would be.
UPDATED FROM Sr11074
6 days post

Explant

Sr11074
I asked to keep my implants after. I thought it would be nice to have them for whatever reason, but as I was recovering, I wondered if they would freeze. I put them in the freezer and used them for ice packs. They were fantastic. I highly recommend trying it!

Replies (11)

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November 14, 2013
You look great! How large were your silicone implants?
November 14, 2013
250 cc
November 14, 2013
You look great! Congrats! I'm like you and waiting for the fluffing to happen!
November 14, 2013
When did you get your explant?
November 14, 2013
November 5th.
November 14, 2013
Do you mind me asking how expensive your explant surgery cost?
November 21, 2013
Mine only cost 400.00 It was done under a local anesthesia.
November 16, 2014
Hi there, You look fabulous! I'll be having mine taken out via an arrows incision
November 16, 2014
Sorry, that message wasn't finished! I meant to say that I'm having my implants removed via an areola incision, like you. Was that ok?
November 17, 2014
It was so simple. Just local anesthesia and they were out within ten minutes. Recovery was really fast. It's nothing like getting them put in.
November 17, 2014
Great, thanks. It seems most are having them removed through an infra-mammary incision, which made me wonder... Can't even see your scars! I'm having full anesthesia as the ps is removing a very swollen lymph node in my axilla, causing quite a lot of discomfort. Next Monday....