POSTED UNDER Mentor Breast Implants REVIEWS
27 at time of surgery - Breast Implants - A Cautionary Tale. Tulsa, OK
ORIGINAL POST
This isn’t a horror story as there were no major...
angel3181January 18, 2015
$3,500
This isn’t a horror story as there were no major screw-ups but it is a caution. I am writing this in January 2015 and had my implants done November 2008.
I had always wondered about breast implants. I was a 32A depending on who measured me and I had the problem most small-breasted women have – shirts/dresses not fitting right in the chest. I always felt inadequate even though none of my boyfriends or my husband complained. I’m sure most women with small breasts can relate.
Fall of 2008, one of my coworkers got implants and was thrilled. A bit later, she decided to go back and get them reduced a cup or 2 but she still loved them. Another coworker then went to the same plastic surgeon for implants and a lift. She was thrilled also. This gave me encouragement as I had 2 women near me who had experienced it and I had a recommendation to a doctor instead of picking one out of the phonebook or from a Google search.
Before going for a consultation, I did a lot of online research: Saline vs silicone, under muscle vs over muscle, sizing, etc. I talked to the plastic surgeon and felt comfortable enough to set up the surgery for Nov 21, 2008. We decided on 350cc moderate saline and he used the Mentor brand implants. I opted for under the muscle for a more natural look. I went for saline because I didn’t like how if silicone implants leak, it’s not noticeable and it can be harmful to your body but you don’t know it’s happening. With saline, if it leaks you know it more easily and it’s not harmful to your body. My incisions are under my breasts.
I was nervous day of surgery but I got through it. I close my eyes on the operating table and opened them, what felt like seconds later, confused as to how I was fully dressed again and looking to see if my chest was bigger. I got home, slept, and woke up in a ton of pain but we called the doctor, loosened the strap that was around me and was fine. Recovery commenced.
I was ecstatic at first! I read online that it was common to be kind of euphoric for a bit afterward before settling down. I bought a halter dress for a holiday party and actually filled it out! I was so happy. My surgery scars healed quickly. My implants settled properly. Everything seemed fine.
Six months later, I could still feel the implants in my body though when moving. I was still experience discomfort and pain with them. I also had issues with the nerves in my breasts. The doctor simply said, “They should feel like part of your body by 6 months. Feeling in your nerves might come back.” My response was, “Well, they don’t feel like part of my body and my nerves are still messed up.” He had no answer. Also, I want to point out that there was no mention of possible nerve damage leading up to the surgery. I was never told that was a possible risk with surgery. As this was my first surgery, I had no knowledge of that on my own either.
So here are my results, which have not changed since 2009:
-Most of the underside of both of breasts have NO feeling. If I close my eyes and someone touches me there, I don’t know they are touching me.
-The rest of my breasts have some sort of nerve damage as well. Let’s say I have an itch. If I scratch it, it’s either incredibly uncomfortable or flat out painful. I don’t mean that the surface of the skin is painful. It’s not that at all. The pain/discomfort is deeper down in the tissue.
-Before the implants, I never wore a bra at night when sleeping. Since the implants, I have to wear one to sleep. If I lay down in any position, I can feel the implants moving and it’s uncomfortable. A bra keeps them more in place. I only take off my bra for a shower now.
-If pressure is applied to my breasts, they hurt. For example, if I am sitting in a chair and bend forward to tie my shoe, my breast pushes against my thigh. It hurts.
-Because I had them done under the muscle, my pectoral muscles were cut and had to heal back. They have never been the same. Anything that really engages those muscles is uncomfortable, such as pushups.
-My implants are bigger than I wanted. I said we decided on 350cc but he filled them to 375cc. We didn’t discuss doing that beforehand. Aside from that, my breasts are bigger than I would like. I am either going to go to a surgeon at some point to reduce them or to remove the implant all together, though one surgeon already told me that won’t be possible.
Final thoughts: If I could go back in time, I would have never got the implants. I would gladly have them removed if I could, however, that won’t fix the nerve damage. I still plan on going to have them removed if possible or at least reduced. I will not go back to the same surgeon, obviously.
I had always wondered about breast implants. I was a 32A depending on who measured me and I had the problem most small-breasted women have – shirts/dresses not fitting right in the chest. I always felt inadequate even though none of my boyfriends or my husband complained. I’m sure most women with small breasts can relate.
Fall of 2008, one of my coworkers got implants and was thrilled. A bit later, she decided to go back and get them reduced a cup or 2 but she still loved them. Another coworker then went to the same plastic surgeon for implants and a lift. She was thrilled also. This gave me encouragement as I had 2 women near me who had experienced it and I had a recommendation to a doctor instead of picking one out of the phonebook or from a Google search.
Before going for a consultation, I did a lot of online research: Saline vs silicone, under muscle vs over muscle, sizing, etc. I talked to the plastic surgeon and felt comfortable enough to set up the surgery for Nov 21, 2008. We decided on 350cc moderate saline and he used the Mentor brand implants. I opted for under the muscle for a more natural look. I went for saline because I didn’t like how if silicone implants leak, it’s not noticeable and it can be harmful to your body but you don’t know it’s happening. With saline, if it leaks you know it more easily and it’s not harmful to your body. My incisions are under my breasts.
I was nervous day of surgery but I got through it. I close my eyes on the operating table and opened them, what felt like seconds later, confused as to how I was fully dressed again and looking to see if my chest was bigger. I got home, slept, and woke up in a ton of pain but we called the doctor, loosened the strap that was around me and was fine. Recovery commenced.
I was ecstatic at first! I read online that it was common to be kind of euphoric for a bit afterward before settling down. I bought a halter dress for a holiday party and actually filled it out! I was so happy. My surgery scars healed quickly. My implants settled properly. Everything seemed fine.
Six months later, I could still feel the implants in my body though when moving. I was still experience discomfort and pain with them. I also had issues with the nerves in my breasts. The doctor simply said, “They should feel like part of your body by 6 months. Feeling in your nerves might come back.” My response was, “Well, they don’t feel like part of my body and my nerves are still messed up.” He had no answer. Also, I want to point out that there was no mention of possible nerve damage leading up to the surgery. I was never told that was a possible risk with surgery. As this was my first surgery, I had no knowledge of that on my own either.
So here are my results, which have not changed since 2009:
-Most of the underside of both of breasts have NO feeling. If I close my eyes and someone touches me there, I don’t know they are touching me.
-The rest of my breasts have some sort of nerve damage as well. Let’s say I have an itch. If I scratch it, it’s either incredibly uncomfortable or flat out painful. I don’t mean that the surface of the skin is painful. It’s not that at all. The pain/discomfort is deeper down in the tissue.
-Before the implants, I never wore a bra at night when sleeping. Since the implants, I have to wear one to sleep. If I lay down in any position, I can feel the implants moving and it’s uncomfortable. A bra keeps them more in place. I only take off my bra for a shower now.
-If pressure is applied to my breasts, they hurt. For example, if I am sitting in a chair and bend forward to tie my shoe, my breast pushes against my thigh. It hurts.
-Because I had them done under the muscle, my pectoral muscles were cut and had to heal back. They have never been the same. Anything that really engages those muscles is uncomfortable, such as pushups.
-My implants are bigger than I wanted. I said we decided on 350cc but he filled them to 375cc. We didn’t discuss doing that beforehand. Aside from that, my breasts are bigger than I would like. I am either going to go to a surgeon at some point to reduce them or to remove the implant all together, though one surgeon already told me that won’t be possible.
Final thoughts: If I could go back in time, I would have never got the implants. I would gladly have them removed if I could, however, that won’t fix the nerve damage. I still plan on going to have them removed if possible or at least reduced. I will not go back to the same surgeon, obviously.
Replies (11)
January 30, 2015
Thank-you for sharing your experience, so sorry it didn't turn out as you hoped, I hope you can find a surgeon who can help you when you are ready...:0( [RS bleep]
March 29, 2015
What reason did the dr give for them not being able to remove the implants? If you don't mind me asking.....
April 12, 2016
It's been awhile but I believe he said something about the amount of excess skin there would be due to the size of implant. I fully intended on getting more opinions.
April 3, 2015
My mother had saline implants and had a similar experience, not with pain but with the feeling that they were moving around and unnatural. She had a revision with smaller implants, silicone instead of saline and it was a world of difference. She wished she hadn't waited so long to exchange them. I hope you find a solution, either through explant or revision. Silicone has been found, through decades of careful study, to be as safe as saline, so that is what I opted for. One week post implant, I feel great. Periareolar incision was performed with small smooth silicone implants, and I already have full sensation back. No pain. So sorry to read of your experience...I wish you all the best!
April 3, 2015
And I want to add that consent forms for ANY surgery always list nerve damage as a potential adverse complication. I'm sorry that they didn't go through the form with you more thoroughly. I would ask for a copy of your consent form to review to ensure that it was indeed listed as a potential side effect. If for some reason it was not mentioned, that is ground for litigation. Again, best wishes to you.
April 12, 2016
You may be right in that it was listed in the fine print somewhere but I can assure you I read anything else. Since it has been years, I honestly don't see any reason. The doctor kept acting like it was no big deal. Every time I went in, he would say that the nerves should get feeling back by 6 months. When I went in at 6 months and told him there still was no feeling, he had nothing to say about it. Even if the form does say it somewhere and I somehow missed it, which is possible, surgeons should tell you the risks of surgery before you agree to surgery - not just assume you read every word on a long few pieces of paper. We do trust doctors to tell us what we should know. He never told me that I may permanently lose feeling. Every time I brought it up in the post-op visits, he never said it either. He kept saying the feeling should come back by 6 months. Thanks for the well wishes!
UPDATED FROM angel3181
6 years post
27 when I got the implants
angel3181January 20, 2015
I forgot to mention my age. I was 27 when I got the surgery and am 33 now.
Replies (9)
January 30, 2015
My story is like yours but I needed a lift too (ugh)- my breasts are scarred for life! I also have nerve damage in my left breast at 9 mos post op and there are certain exercises I can not do! Ugh I feel ur pain!
April 3, 2015
I have to tell you I personally think they look amazing!! :)
April 12, 2016
Thanks! Unfortunately, due to all of the discomfort with them, I don't enjoy them. Looking at them even just reminds me of all of it.
September 18, 2015
join the breast implant removal board and post a review up there (even if you haven't gotten them removed yet). the gals there can help you and support you along your journey if you decide to explant. you will be amazed at many of their results. 98% satisfaction rate too
July 4, 2016
I don't know if you're still on the forum, but THANKYOU for writing this. Thank you so much for all the detail. I will stick with what I have, and just be happy. All the best to you, and I hope things work out for the future
July 4, 2016
Thanks! I do still get emails when someone comments so I keep up with it. :)
I'm glad I could help. Do what's best for you is really all I can say. I'm still trying to come up with money and a surgeon I trust to get them removed.
I'm glad I could help. Do what's best for you is really all I can say. I'm still trying to come up with money and a surgeon I trust to get them removed.

July 4, 2016
I too had too big of saline implants. You can get them deflated and go from there. I was deflated in May. I felt better by the time I got to the parking lot. I was going to do silicone but hubby said no way. So j am doing fat transfer in August.
July 4, 2016
Thank you! For your story I changed my mind about getting implants as well because I was hearing to many stories like yours or worse. I want to love me for me and not fit into what the world thinks I should look like to be considered beautiful or complete as a woman. My story is like yours on why I wanted breast augmentation. But no one else cares about them but me and I asked myself why is this? It's not me it's the world feeding my thoughts on how I should look and I decided to say no !I really wish you the best and thank you for your real experience.
Thank you for sharing your story with us on RealSelf. It's important for women to know the various possible outcomes of breast augmentation surgery. I am sorry to hear about some of your chronic issues. Hoping someday you'll have results you like without the discomfort.