Silcone Implants Removed After 25 Years After Infection, Scarring, Capsular Contracture - Thousand Oaks, CA

This will be a long one, so pull up your chair!

This site has been incredibly helpful to me during my journey to explanation. I got my first set of silicone implants in 1991 at the age of 29. I had always wanted an augmentation as I remained a stubborn 34A with a bony chest until I became pregnant and nursed my son. Seeing myself as a B cup was pretty compelling! After researching, I selected my PS and told him I wanted to be a 34C. He advised an under-muscle placement. After surgery, I discovered I was a 34D (I've since learned that many PS seem to feel that we want bigger than we say). I think the implants must have been 350ccs. Oh well, I thought, at least I have boobs! Fast forward 10 years and my right implant ruptured (can't quite remember how it was discovered). This was in 2001 when silicone implants were off the market but because I already had them, I could get them again as long as I agreed to be followed by Mentor. I had both replaced and requested smaller implants, but they could only go 25cc smaller to qualify for Mentor replacing the ruptured implant. Surgery was straightforward, no real issues, size didn't seem to go down at all.

In 2006 I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I had never heard of it, but learned that it's an autoimmune disease where the body starts attacking its own intestinal wall, causing bleeding ulcers. I learned how to manage my symptoms with a combination of first-line medication and a strict no grain, no starch, no refined sugar diet. However, within a few years, I started getting capsular contracture in my right breast (the one that ruptured in 2000/2001). It worsened up to 2012, when the breast became so hard and deformed I had to do something. I again had the implant replaced, but elected not to replace the left side since it had not experienced any problems. Less than 18 months later, I again got capsular contracture in the right breast. By this time, my original PS had retired, so I saw his replacement, who advised waiting to do anything to see if the contracture worsened. This PS was extremely knowledgeable, having been a researcher in plastic surgery at UCLA for decades. He understood the possibility of biofilm on the implants causing the encapsulation, and agreed that there might be some relationship between my colitis and my ability to fight off biofilm related bacteria, thus causing the scarring to occur. In late 2014, I developed an infection in the right breast, which the new PS treated with flagyl. The infection responded quickly and went away. He told me that I should consider undertaking a protocol to strengthen my immune system in preparation for doing implant replacement using the new gummy bear implants. He felt that by following a protocol of antibiotics and supplements, I could drastically reduce my chances of recurring encapsulation. I was thrilled that he grasped the interrelationship between my colitis and other functions of my bodies, and felt that I would follow his advice.

This August, I had to go out of state to help care for my terminally ill mother and deal with her passing. About a week into it, my right breast (the "good" one) began to swell, and I knew I had another infection. My PS was awesome and helped manage me remotely over the phone, prescribing Flagyl again since it worked the first time. However, due to the massive stress I was under, it didn't help. He then moved me to Keflex, which reduced the swelling a little bit, but then plateaued. I returned home after being on antibiotics after 3 weeks, and having read posts on RS for hours on end. I also read Susan Kolb's book The Naked Truth about breast implants.

By the time I left for home, I was completely on board for a bilateral explant with no implant replacements. My PS had told me that if I still had the infection when I got home, he wanted to explant. But of course he anticipated that he would replace the implants. During my first visit upon returning home, he was a little taken aback when I announced I wanted an explant, but quickly got on board and explained the process. He spoke with me at some length about the emotional impact, and expressed concern that I would not look the same as I had for 25 years. He said I might not be symmetrical, and would likely be very wrinkly and saggy. I told him I was prepared for that, and said, "well, even if I do realize I don't like how I look, I can always get implants later, right?" He said, "of course you can." So, I said I just wanted to get the implants out and let my body heal itself. By this time, I had lumps in my left armpit lymph nodes, one on my right breast, and one near the right side of sternum. I was convinced they were all silicone lumps. I'll add my before pics and post another entry about the procedure and the after ...

I had my surgery on September 24 (just didn't have time to complete the full post earlier). The doctor removed both implants, along with a silicone-filled lymph node under my left arm, one from my right breast (a mammary lymph node), and a third near my sternum on the right breast, which was scar tissue infused with silicone. He also reattached my pectoral muscles to the breastbone, to hopefully correct the pulled-muscle look I got every time I flexed. The left implant (from 2001) had split and according to the PS, was surrounded by a yellowish fluid. He showed the two implants to me during a follow-up appointment, and the left one was scary looking! It was all yellowish and had some black floaty things in it. Yuck! No wonder I had an infection. The right one (from 2012) appeared to be intact. As you can see from the pics, my left breast has good shape, just pretty droopy. The right one is pretty mangled looking from all the scar tissue removal. I'll post more pics this week as it has improved quite a lot in the 10 days since surgery. I had drains that had to be left in for a week, and honestly, the drain on my left side was the most horrible part of the recovery! It was apparently in a super tender area of my side, and it got inflamed, and just hurt like the dickens. I was so glad to get that thing out! I am really happy to have those implants gone. My chest is pretty flat, but I honestly enjoy looking at my profile in the mirror now. I had gotten tired of everything being tight across my chest. I'm actually looking forward to being able to buy padded bras - in fact I already picked up a set of the "cutlets" and they will totally do the trick if I want to look more filled out.

I did have some conversations with my PS about a possible fat transfer procedure down the road. But for now, I'm pretty happy with where I am. I hope my poor little right breast shapes up, but I am optimistic that it will. And if it doesn't, well, I consider myself lucky that this is the result of my own choices and not due to cancer, which is what causes a lot of women to have to deal with breast deformities and removal. Here's to my return to the itty bitty [RS bleep] committee! :D

Hi RS friends - I am feeling SOOOO much better now that the drains are out. I am still getting a little tired every day, but have been doing short walks and other household activities, while also trying to minimize my arm use so that I give my poor tissues the optimal environment to heal. The swelling around my left breast has gone down even more, but I definitely see some indentations and feel bumpiness on the side nearest my armpit. It feels like the nipple is pulled toward that side, too. I'm worried that side is going to develop adhesions or something due to all the scar tissue and silicone node removal. I'm going to discuss with my PS on Thursday, but even if that's in the cards, I'm not too stressed about it.

I had some girlfriends over on Saturday and they were so nice to me. Two of them said, "We never even knew you HAD implants!" and one made the comment that I looked great with my new figure. She said, "You know how when someone colors their hair and the color looks good, but then they use a color that's their true natural color, and it just looks great? Well, that's how you look now." I thought that was so sweet.