Implant Removal Under Local Anesthesia - Personal Experience

The posts on RealSelf were so helpful and informative for me and helped me feel good about my decision to have my implants removed so I wanted to share my implant history and personal experience in hopes of helping others make the decision to explant! I am 29 years old, 135 pounds, and explanted after 9 years last week (scroll down to bottom for explant information :))I had breast augmentation at 20 with saline implants under the muscle. At the time, I chose 300 CC implants and my PS ended up overfilling them to 350 CC on one side and 375 CC on the other (a common practice I am told). I went from a A/B cup to a D cup and was never truly happy with the decision as I was very athletic and always felt 'weighed down' by the implants, doubling up on sports bras to do almost anything. After about one year, I made the decision to have my implants removed. I chose a different PS and after the consult, he convinced me at 21 years old that I would be very unhappy with my breasts if I explanted because they would be saggy and deflated. He advised me to exchange the saline implants for a small silicone gel implant and I agreed. I exchanged my saline implants for 225 CC silicone gel (gummy bear) implants.The silicone gel implants looked more natural but I was still unhappy with the way they felt. I could never sleep on my stomach, running was uncomfortable even with two sports bras, and I could always feel them moving around in the capsule. I had these implants for 7 years when the right implant started causing me pain. I would have an aching pain in my breast. I also started having joint pain in both of my knees, elbows, right wrist, and right ankle. I don't know if that was coincidental but I saw my doctor and was tested for several conditions that could cause the pain including Celiac, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and a Rickettsial titer (for tick born diseases). All blood tests were negative so I started on a high dose of a joint supplement. The pain waxes and wanes still but improved with the joint supp.I read all the forums on Real Self about removing implants under local anesthesia and found a PS in my area that would explant under local (through RealSelf). I called my previous PS that placed my gel implants to get the records on them and they told me (without telling me) that explanting under local was crazy and I should not do it. My implant removal surgery was 2/13. I took an Ativan and a Valium 30 minutes prior to my procedure and the entire thing took about 45 minutes. I was so nervous that I would faint as I have a tendency to, but once the meds kicked in, I was totally relaxed. My PS told me to wear headphones if I wanted to, so I listened to music for the entire procedure. I think it helped me a lot! I was awake the entire time, but kept my eyes closed to stay relaxed. My PS used an inframammory incision and numbed the area (which was the worst part). The first prick felt like a bee sting but then the lidocaine kicked in and I didn't feel any other injections. There was one area that was not totally numb and as he was using the cautery, I felt a pinch. I told him and he added more lidocaine. I didn't feel a thing after that. The whole procedure was over before my playlist :) I sat up and put on my own clothes, walked out to the lobby and got into the car by myself (my husband was with me). I slept most of the day of the explant. The second day I was still feeling the effects of the sedative but by the third day I felt so much better. I only took one pain pill on the day of the procedure and then switched to Tylenol after that. I have been icing both breasts 4 to 6 times per day.The location of the incision has been the worst part as my bras are constantly putting pressure on the incisions. I am almost a week post-op and feel so good other than the soreness of the incision! My boobs are so small but if they don't 'fluff' back up, I don't even care. I feel more feminine now than I ever did with my implants. I am an A cup now and am guessing I will probably end up a full A/small B cup. My breasts are missing the fullness on the top that the implant provided but are not 'empty'. Each day they look better and better. I go back to my PS tomorrow for my post-op appointment and I will see if I can get my before/after photos and post for reference.If you are considering explant surgery, please don't make your decision based on other people's opinions. It is such a personal choice and only you should decide what is right for you. I regret waiting as long as I did to have mine removed, but am so glad I finally made the choice to have them totally removed!