I'm 60 with Very Old Implants and Suffering from Aggressive Rheumatoid Arthritis - Texas, TX

It's a long history and I am kind of private so this is kind of hard to start, but I have been reading this site the last few weeks and it has helped immensely so I do not want to only be a "taker". So...here goes.
When I got married in the 70's I was a small perky 32B, 5'1", 100 pounds and all was good. After kids and exploding to huge breasts at their birth and a few months of nursing I retreated to absolutely nothing. All I needed was a training bra but tried to find padded bras that would stay put but it was very frustrating. I wish I had known with time and gaining a little weight some breast would come back but I didn't. So in 1986 when kids were too young to notice I got textured silicone implants over muscle to try to have a 32B again. I even took a picture from our honeymoon to show the doctor. Well, I woke up to a full C. I was not happy but my husband certainly didn't mind so I adjusted. But after 27 years, menopause, health issues, 5 years of prednisone, and 15 pounds of weight gain I grew to a full 34 D. I hated it! I would wear a 4 on bottom and 6 or 8 on top so dresses were very difficult. Then over the last few years they were getting harder and moving up my chest making things worse. With how old they were, I knew I needed to do something. I worried about emergency surgery and I take strong biologic RA drugs (IV every 4 weeks) that suppresses my immune system that needs to be stopped before surgery. After my husband read some of the stories here he understood more about the life span of implants and my situation and fully supports me. So, I contacted a surgeon I have very high regard for a recommendation of who to see and he gave me a name of a surgeon he highly recommended for a consult. I got the nerve up and made an appointment. More update later.

In the past week I went for my consult and annual mammogram. This will cover the consult. My husband and I went to see Dr Bradley Hubbard with Dallas plastic surgery institute. I have documented "white coat" syndrome so I was nervous with sweaty hands but I felt prepared after reading many of your reports. Thank you! I only waited a few minutes which was great! He first came in and talked about general options before I got undressed. We got some overall things covered before the disrobing which was very nice. I took replacement off the agenda immediately. With my health and having to stop my RA drugs for operations ( which is big for me because I have had so many joints under attack at one time that I cannot get dressed, get out of bed, or off the toilet without help) I do not want an implant in me to cause future issues. So, that left explant and explant with lift. After discussions, health issues considered, examination, etc we decided on just explant for now. Since I have a suppressed immune system and higher risk of infection and hindered healing time, it is the safest thing to do. If I decide I want a lift it would be done at a later time. We would have more knowledge of my healing and what is left after several months. He does think both are ruptured and definitely have thick capsules. He will take out implant and capsule out at the same time so any silicone will stay in the capsule. I need to see how long I need to be off my RA biologic IV before surgery. I will ask my RA dr this week. My husband and I felt very good leaving his office. I later remembered a question I forgot to ask and emailed him. I got an answer later that night! Impressive. I hope to have it done in October.

I went for my annual mammogram. I was happy with my timing after my consult and before surgery. I have had the same technician for many years. She is very good, has silicone implants herself, and puts you at ease. I told her about my plans and that the dr said he felt that my implants were certainly ruptured. None of this surprised her..she said at 27 years of course but being kept inside capsule and not obvious by mammogram. Shock to me! She just didn't understand the no lift at this time. But although 59 she is in a newish relationship instead of married 35 years with RA, so that makes total sense. My mammograms have increasly hurt each year and this one was the worst. My left one which is the hardest was very difficult to get a get a good picture and hurt! I don't know how it is to to have a mammogram without implants....guess I will know next year. They will be so small I am not sure there will be to mammogram:)