3 Times is More Than Enough! 54 with 400cc Silicone - Tampa, FL

Thank you all so much for sharing your stories, pictures and experiences. For about the past month or so I have been following many of you and your progress and now feel like I’m well informed on what to expect before during and after the surgery, and how to take care of them after. That information is so valuable and I feel very fortunate to have stumbled onto this forum/ website.

My story started 17 years ago in 1997 when I was 37 years old. I had always been endowed (36D) during high school and up until I had my daughter they were pretty perky but they had lost their fullness and I wasn’t happy with them anymore. A friend had recently had BA done and she was thrilled about them and they looked wonderful and she just thought she had the best PS ever. I made an appointment with him, thinking maybe I just needed a lift. He thought if I just had implants put in I wouldn’t need the lift. Well I went with what he recommended. I don’t remember what size he put in me… but they were huge, like around a 38DD. I remember sitting in his office during one of the follow up visits in tears. His assistant tried to tell me that they were beautiful… I knew they weren’t. I didn’t want bigger. I wanted firmer. Not only were they huge but they seemed to sag farther then my originals.

I dealt with them for three years until I got the nerve and money to have them done again but this time I did some research and interviewed several PS. In 2000 my new PS performed a lift and exchanged the implants. He did a wonderful job and I was very happy with them until I started getting capsular contracture on the right breast. So in 2004 I had another set of implants done, this time silicone implants.

So…. yes that’s right… that make’s 3 sets in 7 years!!

Well about 4 years into the third set, I started getting capsular contracture in the right breast again and also the left. I refused to have another set and was afraid to have them removed because of what I thought my breasts would look like after… so I’ve dealt with the issue for the past 5 years. This has included monthly visits to my PS for heated ultrasound treatments to try and keep the capsule loosened and also taking MSM (glucosamine) daily. I believe that these treatments have helped as it has not gotten any worse and I have not been in any pain. (Though sometimes at night I have trouble sleeping on my side due to the way they fall. If I sleep with a body pillow pulled in tightly next to my breasts it’s more comfortable.)

Anyway my last mammogram in May revealed intracapsular rupture on the right breast. So at this point I really don’t have a choice, they have to come out. I’m scheduled to have that done on August 21st. I’ve questioned my PS on another lift being done at the same time, but he said a lift may not be necessary and that I should wait 6 month post to decide on that. I’m hoping that he is right about that and think after seeing all of you ladies with your wonderful results maybe I won’t need one either.

It pretty much makes me sick when I think of the money I spent for these things that I’ve had such a love hate relationship with for so many years. I did find out that my 10 year warranty on my implants is not up until October, so at least the surgery center and my PS are covered at 100%.

I’m not sure if I’ve had any medical issues related to the implants. I have had some knee (joint) pain and I’m fatigued sometimes and maybe have a foggy brain once in a while. I’m thinking maybe that is just a part of being 54 years old now. We will see if they disappear after the surgery.

I have gone ahead and purchased a couple of Playtex/Bali sports bra’s but have left the tags on just in case they are not the correct size they can be returned. I guess it’s really a guessing game at this point as to what size I’ll need, I currently wear a 36DD, so I thought maybe a 36D might work. Actually the one’s I got cover a range of sizes so I should be good with them.

I really can’t believe how excited I am about getting these out! More so than when I got them. I’m so curious about what I’m going to look like afterwards since there was a lift preformed when the second set was done and I have nothing to compare it to without implants. I can’t wait to hug someone without feeling the pressure against me or worrying that they can feel them. I’m sure I will sleep better and shopping for clothes will be an entirely different experience!

I did not realize until after taking these pictures how terrible they really are!! yuk!

Pre-Op is on the 19th of August, so I'll update then.

Had my pre op today with the surgeon and the surgery center. Signed lots of paper work.... pretty much saying I know all the risks. He wrote four prescriptions. Antibiotics, pain killers, sleeping aid and also something for nausea. I'm all set to go on Thursday morning. Grocery shopping is done, laundry is done and the house is clean so all my husband has to do is take care of me! Lol. I'm calm right now but this morning I was very nervous, just worrying about getting there on time and also going under again. I'm really very happy to be having the implants removed and just getting on with life implant free! I just wanted to say thank you too all the ladies who have shared your stories. It has made going through this easier.

The explant went well today. It was scheduled for 10:30 but I did not get taken to the surgery room until noon. Needless to say I was starving by then. The procedure took around an hour. Just the implants removed and I was put under for it. I have two drains that are producing very little. I normally get sick from the sleep medication but this time I haven't. I've taken one pain killer under the direction of my caring husband, tho I don't think I needed it. Really no pain at all. Just my throat is really sore from the tubes. I have a follow-up in the morning and I'm excited for the "little" reveal.