Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.

POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal REVIEWS

16 Year Old Implants Made Me SO Sick ..finally Removed!!

ORIGINAL POST

I got mentor saline 275 implants behind the muscle...

SEASHELL67
WORTH IT$3,199
I got mentor saline 275 implants behind the muscle in 2001. Just the "in" thing I guess. Never had much issue with the implants. I started having SEVERE fatigue in 2004 and pretty much every diagnosis from sjogrens to non-specific autoimmune to fibro. BUT all normal labs. I am currently 50 and always been a runner, type a personality. GO GO GO until I became so sick that some days I would lay in bed and cry. Excercise became difficult. It hurt to touch any place on my body, eyes red and glassy, brain fog out of this world and fatigue. I met with my implanting DR in 20015 to remove them. He REFUSED saying they were not broken, they do not make women sick and laughed at me. Also said you don't need to remove the capsule as the body absorbs it..NO IT DOESN"T!! I spent 2 more years of feeling like H*%%, Finally I saw a news story about BII. Breast implant illness. I immediately started goggling. Found a FB group of over 22,000 women with the exact same symptoms..both saline and silicone. Remember saline are enclosed in silicone. I called to schedule explant with my implanting DR BUT again over the phone (I could hear him in the back ground) he refused to do it. Through the FB page I found a DR in Tucson as I have family there. He does the PROPER REMOVAL. You HAVE to have the capsule removed that forms around the implant as it contains toxins from the implant. I flew down on Aug 15th for pre-op to meet him. Loved Dr Taki and Marlena the main gal I deal with through emails. Surgery was the 16th. It was more complicated than he expected. My capsules were much thicker than he thought and really attached to the ribs. Lots of scrapping had to be done. I did get my implants back. The valves are yellow and funky stuff floating in them. I will get pathology in a week. I have been tightly wrapped since day after surgery. Tomorrow I am hopeful to get drains out and shower!! I did also have lipo to abs and flanks so that is adding to my recovery. I only took pain meds for one day as I hate how it makes me feel. Just tylenol and I am managing. Lipo swelling is going down a bit. I will keep posting updates as I am looking so forward to getting my life back. Also my implants have NO info on them other than 275. Does not day MENTOR and no serial numbers. lipo was an extra 2000.00

SEASHELL67's provider

Raad M. Taki, MD, FACS

Raad M. Taki, MD, FACS

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

SEASHELL67 rating for Dr. Taki:

Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
Phone or email responsiveness
Staff professionalism & courtesy
Payment process
Wait times

Replies (9)

August 21, 2017
wow, I am having the same problem, but I can't afford to have them out. My body hurts to touch anywhere and I had to give up my job of 11 years because I can not physically do it. my back hurts so bad on the left upper side and around the ribs. I have suspected it is the implant on the left side since it hurt for over 3 months to lift my left arm. Thanks for the information. I will start a savings account and find a doctor who will take them out.
August 23, 2017
I had the EXACT same problem. I would cry if you touched my body. Been diagnosed with EVERYTHING yet NOTHING in labs. I am anxious to see what my health does with them out. I could not afford it either but couldn't risk my health any longer. My went on a cc and I will pay it off. DR Taki is amazing and more affordable if you can get to him. There is a fb if you want to be invited. Message me.
August 26, 2017
Freedonmins01 depending on the type of implant and when you got them some insurance companies cover explant if you have CC grade 4/5 and some implant companies cover explant if they are silicone before a certain year. Please check out "breast implant illness by nicole" and do your own research on there. It amazes me how many ill women there are with the exact same symptoms and it is FINALLY being heard on the Dr's show and news channels!
August 22, 2017
Hi Seashell! Congratulations! I had my 17-year old toxic saline bags removed in April. I had become ridiculously ill with no explanation over the years. Health has been returning - even in ways I never associated with the implants - steadily since removal almost 4 months ago. Funny you mention the Mentor implants. My implant bearer card identified my implants as Mentor, but when I had them removed I found out they were PIP.
August 23, 2017
How did you find out? Mine have NOTHING on them but 275 and I am not in Mentors data base. I even bought their insurance. I am going to call again after I get home. I am flying back today.
August 23, 2017
The manufacturer of my implants was easily determined by the labeling on the implant. I found out from my explant surgeon (not the same surgeon as the one who performed the augmentation). He had never heard of PIP. I was horrified to find out that I had been walking around with PIP implants for the last 17 years given all the controversy and what was discovered about PIP. I don't know how you would make a determination as to manufacturer without labeling on the implant. Curious to hear Mentor's explanation for selling you insurance, but not having you in their database. Have you tried contacting your original surgeon's office for your records? I know it's a longshot based on the number of years since your surgery. I hope you have a safe flight home, and am wishing you a speedy recovery and return to health. Trust me. You are going to be so happy with your decision - happier and happier as time goes on. Everyone is different, of course, and we all heal at our own pace. It's been almost 4 months since my explant surgery, and so far: my Hashimoto's is improving (based on not only the difference in my physical health, but based also on blood test results); my hair stopped falling out; I awake rested in the mornings and do not feel like I'm ready to do a face-plant all day long due to the nightmarish exhaustion; I do not have to fight myself to wake up in the morning (with the implants, I awoke feeling drugged every day - like I was trying to come out from under anesthesia); I sleep at night (yay!); night sweats gone; I regained my sense of smell; stopped snoring; weird skin issues gone; brain fog gone; I have energy, energy, energy; eye problems resolved; back/neck/shoulder pain gone; no more migraines; I caught a bug from my granddaughter and kicked it within a day - didn't turn into strep throat or bronchitis (this was a huge improvement for me - was constantly getting sick with implants); no eye twitching; no finger twitching; no bone and joint pain; fingernails are so much healthier and stronger - have stopped splitting; am growing hair on my arms and legs for the first time in years; libido returned; heart palpitations gone; anxiety gone; and on and on and on. Not kidding.
August 27, 2017
I have called mentor 2 times with my reference and lot number. The second call the man said the numbers have are mentor number so they are prob mentor. But for some reason I am not in their data base. I am home and doing well! I am so thrilled to read you are on the lighter side and feeling great! So encouraging to see all those symptoms disappear!!! I can't wait for all this illness to be accepted by the FDA and women stop getting implants! I say remember when fibro was not a "thing" and now it is real... going to be the same for BII!!!!! Much love on your healing!
August 27, 2017
Hi Freedomins01. If you go to Breast Implant Illness Healing by Nicole that Seashell67 referred to, you will see my post for a $4200 check with two links for more info on the Explant Assistance Fund. Take the time to read both links as well as all the comments. It may take some time but it will give you all the info you need to get those toxic bags out of your body if you were implanted before 12/31/2006. The heal is real ladies... I just explanted 8/9/17 and have energy out the roof! Mine were silicone from 1985 so you can imagine what they looked like coming out- DISGUSTING! Once you are part of the closed group, you can google my name (on the one with the check) and see what they took out if you are not squeamish. Prayers for you to get them out and happy healing Seashell!
April 3, 2018
Really would love to se your results as of 2018. How has your health improved since? Thank you for sharing. You had mentioned cupping to help nipples to pop out again, can you please elaborate? Thank you!!!!
UPDATED FROM SEASHELL67
7 days post

One week today...

SEASHELL67
I am one week out today. Feeling much better but still get tired as still in recovery mode. Went shopping for some sports/compression bras yesterday. I have a pretty good dent in the left side where there was more scraping. Arm pits get sore very easily too. Being able to lay down to sleep in amazing after 5 days in a recliner. Each day gets better!! Not sure why my photos are upside down.. I can't rotate them.

Replies (7)

User Avatar
August 25, 2017
I'm so sorry you went through that. I started having symptoms after graduate school in my first job within a year, massive mitt fatigue and pain throughout my muscles. I didn't get the implants until three or four years later but the situation continued. I'm very interested to hear what you find out about toxins in your implants. Good luck to you and I really hope to hear that you're feeling 100% better when you get through the recovery :-)
August 26, 2017
I am feeling GREAT! I am 10 days out as surgery was on Aug 16th. My implants came back clear from fungi but I would like to do more testing. There are floaty's in them and how did they get in there? My capsules tested positive for "chronic inflammation" which would explain why my body was acting as if I had an auto immune disease but all tests were negative. I am so hopeful that all symptoms disappear and I get my life back!!! FYI Look up what are in implants, silicone or saline! The list of TOXIC chemicals is disgusting!
User Avatar
August 25, 2017
FYI: Are You Allergic to silicone? If you are it would give you similar symptom. It's like being caught in a constant state of reaction and it compromises your immune system.
August 26, 2017
No allergy just the toxins in the implants.I have had a diagnosis of about every autoimmune out there but my labs are all negative. Fibro, brain fog, rash on my legs for 6 plus years that is clearing up, major fatigue, chronic cough and difficulty swallowing, memory loss...the list goes on and on! I am feeling great at this point! Please check out "breast implant illness by nicole" on FB....23,000 women can't be wrong!!
August 27, 2017
You look amazing to be only one week out! You have more breast tissue remaining than I do as I am now a full A or small B. Again, I explanted 8/9/17 and my nipples are inverted after 32 years of having those toxic bags in. I will start "cupping" at week 4 which Dee on BII Healing by Nicole states will help my nips. After you get a visit from the fluffing fairy, I think you are going to be very pleased indeed. Congrats! It only gets better from here!
October 6, 2018
Any updates on your health these days and 1 yer update on your physical results? I hope you’ve done nothing but improve!
March 25, 2020
Is there any update pics for final reveal and scar