implant removal

Hi ladies,

Before I start, I want to thank you all for posting your incredible, brave and sometimes a teeny bit scary stories regarding implants and the long road to making the decision to explant. I have found this website both informative and encouraging and it has reinforced my own decision to explant in a couple of days on 31st Aug. I had 330 cc Allergan silicon implants over the muscle originally in 2003 aged 35. I'd had my children and was left with very little due to breastfeeding and I had lost an awful lot of weight which looking back was probably due to some sort of post natal depression and anxiety after the birth of my first daughter. The thing is, I didn't rush into making a decision to have implant surgery, I considered it over a couple of years, but after a thorough consult with a very good Harley Street surgeon I went ahead. My reasons for having implants were most likely lack of body confidence with the weight loss and I felt somehow that I'd lost my femininity over the years of bringing up 2 small children.
I recovered fairly quickly after the surgery and went from a A to a 32DD. It's quite ironic that I have spent the next 13 years trying to cover up my chest and hide the fact that I'd had implants never telling any of my friends, only my family knew.
I felt embarrassed by the size of them and I have had many health problems from literally the day post op, starting with a lung collapse on returning from the hospital. I had to have an operation to put this right subsequently and it has been quite a catalogue from there onwards!
I've had frequent flu, colds, ovarian cysts, fibroids, a nipple rash and discharge, endometriosis, a large fast growing lipoma on my back, difficulty swallowing, unfortunately due to these health issues, I've undergone no less than 8 various operations under anaesthetic over the past 18 months.

In 2013 I decided I wanted the implants out and I went back to see my original surgeon. He was really nice but told me (as seems to be the case with many other ladies on this website) that my breasts would be a disaster if I removed without replacing and it would affect me mentally, seeing myself in this state.
Reluctantly I agreed to smaller implants, I asked for the smallest he would agree to and this was 255cc Allergan textured silicone implants.
Again the surgery was quick and recover straightforward.

Over the last couple of years I keep coming back to the fact that I wanted them out and I felt frustrated that I'd been talked into replacement when this wasn't what I wanted.
Due to all these health problems I know I can't prove it and I accept it might not be related but I feel the implants aren't helping me.
Like some others of you, I am also frightened by the seemingly frequent bad news stories about silicon implants and their safety past and present and every time I hear another news item regarding them, I feel very upset, anxious and angry with myself for ever having gone down this route.
So.. enough is enough I have arranged to finally go ahead and have scheduled my removal operation for 31st Aug. I had a consultation with a different cosmetic surgeon who was more local in July. He was patient, listened to my concerns (I kept it pretty short!) and said he'll remove the implants, not all the capsules and if I have to have drains, they 'should' be removed by the time I leave the hospital, I'm being admitted as a day case.
He told me to expect to wear a supportive sports bra continually for 6 weeks afterwards.
I am having the operation through The Spire Hospital group, I feel they have a good reputation.

I've had my pre-op tests last week and been given surgical soap and nasal drops to wash with and apply for 5 days before which I've been doing.

I vere between being quite excited about finally getting rid of these implants and just getting on with my life and being really anxious and worried about being disfigured afterwards. It's a weird unsettling limbo to find yourself in!
Not that I've seen any disfigured ladies on here, you all look pretty great to me afterwards very quickly and your results have been comforting and given me a much needed boost!

I've never posted anything before on any websites, I'm not at all computer savvy and even posting photos is going to be a technical challenge for me, I'm a very private person but I feel strongly that the support and caring shown to others on this website is so valuable and I'm posting my story in the hope that perhaps it will help another lady out there come to a difficult decision.
All our reasons for originally going down the implant route might vary, but our reasons for deciding to explant seem very similar and it's wonderful that we can all offer support to eachother through a difficult time!

I will post again with pictures hopefully if brave enough after my surgery on Wednesday.

Hi ladies
Just a quick update as I'm not long out of surgery didn't go down til midday in the end.
I was really nervous, I think it's probably normal, the journey to the hospital then the wait & finally the lonely walk down to the theatre, all builds the stress til you go to sleep..
I think it took a couple of hours, I have drains, one of which was causing sharp pain upon waking in the recovery room, the consultant says I probably pulled it when they moved me in theatre which aggravated it. The other side is painless.
No tight bandages or covering (which has surprised me as I thought this was the norm), dissolvable stitches covered with plasters for now. I was hesitant to look initially but they changed my gown so I did get a peep. I think everyone expects theirs to be the most awful result of anyone and is convinced myself that after 13 years of over the muscle implants they'd be in terrible shape, but, ladies, I must say, I'm relieved and quite pleased with what I e seen so far.
They feel softer and not too creased up. However bear in mind the picture I took is of me lying far back so when I stand up they might 'crash and burn'!
The P.S came in to see me, said no ruptures but interestingly there seem to have been 2 capsules, a thinner one and a thicker one, one side of which was pretty well stuck to my chest wall. I am guessing this was from when I had them replaced in 2013, the old capsules weren't completely removed.
Drains aren't producing much and will come out tmw am, I'm being given regular tramadol as pain relief but I feel ok.
Sports bra die support rather than compression for 2 weeks day & night following surgery and he reckons that that should be sufficient.
I'll try & post this photo, not my strong point but want to record this journey (hate that term of phrase!) accurately for those of you lovelies out there agonising over the question of explanting!
Love to u all. Xx

Home again and had a long sleep this afternoon. One of the drains was sore and my Breast was painful after removal but I was just unlucky, the nurse said I must've moved it when I was moved in theatre. They just feel weird when removing the drains but not a big deal.
Incision sites underneath are a bit painful but have only taken paracetamol today and will take a tramadol to help me sleep tonight.
Dressings to be removed in a week, mustn't get them wet til then so no showering (worst luck)! No driving for a week or heavy lifting and no arms waving above my head! I will take some photos of the battered boobies tomorrow as they're all smooshed in a tight sports bra right now & uncomfortable to pull on and off.
Very pleased I have explanted though, no doubts over my decision and the nurse in the hospital said they are seeing more women now explanting without replacement. Nite nite ladies. X