POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal REVIEWS
43 Year Old with 17 Year Old 350CC Saline Implants Under Muscle - Vancouver, BC
ORIGINAL POST
My implant were done in 1997 through my armpit and...
Vangirl71October 26, 2014
WORTH IT$4,000
My implant were done in 1997 through my armpit and ended up very asymmetrical. The right one was too high, formed CC right away and the left one was too low. My doctor advised me that they can push the left one higher and re-stitch it. I had no faith in him and left them as they were.
10 years later (2007), I started seeing different doctors for getting them removed. One particularly bad experience that I wanted to share was one of Vancouver's 'top' surgeons who asked me to undress, measured the difference and told me to keep them - that they have issues but 'men' like them regardless. I told him I still want them out and he informed me that he doesn't even DO removals but his partner does. The jerk just wanted to see my boobs. :(
In 2010 I became a mother and the irregularity got worse and worse. The right one climbed higher and the left one dropped more and more and the pain was unbearable. It was no longer an issue of wanting them out, I NEEDED them out.
My GP referred me to 3 surgeons. First one insisted I get a lift because they'll be deformed, the second I didn't click with and then the 3rd was Dr. Leslie Kerluke. Our first appointment he was 90 minutes late which started me off on a bad note with him but when he came in he told me everything I wanted and needed to hear. He told me not to get any revisions until at least a year because "mother nature" is capable of doing wonderful things. I liked him very much at that point and we went ahead.
In the meantime he took a bit of time off because of some health issues and my issues deteriorated fast. The left one dropped another 1 cm within a matter of months and I needed to wear a support bra 24/7, even to bed, and it wasn't enough. Walking in the house I used my hand to hold up my left boob. I had pain all day every day.
I had two more meetings with him before my surgery and I liked him more and more every time we met. Finally October 9th was the day of my removal. The pain was pretty bad for the first two days but by day 3 I was off pain-killers and quite mobile. The pain is 1/10th of getting them put in.
I'm now on day 16 and I've posted some pics. I actually think they looked better right after surgery because the right one seems to have shrunk since then. That was the one with CC which was removed, so it's to be expected, but I don't care - the left one is pain free!
To be honest, I don't even care at all how they look, I know it takes a year for them to get to their full shape. All I know is that right now, I'm pain-free for the first time in years, and natural! It's the best feeling and they feel so good to touch. I can't stop rubbing them, lol.
I've been single for 2 years and ironically I met someone about a month before my procedure. We were never intimate before the surgery even though we were saw each other frequently and I think we're getting close to that moment and it's funny because even with my shrivelled up, stitched up boobs I'm more confident than I was with my implants.
In fact, from the start I've been very insecure about them. My ex at the time I got them hated them because he said I no longer allowed him to touch me and every boyfriend since has gone through a similar experience. It's ironic, we do it to be attractive but in many ways they take our confidence away.
I'll post more pics in a few weeks. Thank you to all the lovely ladies for sharing your stories. The weeks leading up to it were very stressful and this site was very encouraging. I hope my story does the same for someone else.
10 years later (2007), I started seeing different doctors for getting them removed. One particularly bad experience that I wanted to share was one of Vancouver's 'top' surgeons who asked me to undress, measured the difference and told me to keep them - that they have issues but 'men' like them regardless. I told him I still want them out and he informed me that he doesn't even DO removals but his partner does. The jerk just wanted to see my boobs. :(
In 2010 I became a mother and the irregularity got worse and worse. The right one climbed higher and the left one dropped more and more and the pain was unbearable. It was no longer an issue of wanting them out, I NEEDED them out.
My GP referred me to 3 surgeons. First one insisted I get a lift because they'll be deformed, the second I didn't click with and then the 3rd was Dr. Leslie Kerluke. Our first appointment he was 90 minutes late which started me off on a bad note with him but when he came in he told me everything I wanted and needed to hear. He told me not to get any revisions until at least a year because "mother nature" is capable of doing wonderful things. I liked him very much at that point and we went ahead.
In the meantime he took a bit of time off because of some health issues and my issues deteriorated fast. The left one dropped another 1 cm within a matter of months and I needed to wear a support bra 24/7, even to bed, and it wasn't enough. Walking in the house I used my hand to hold up my left boob. I had pain all day every day.
I had two more meetings with him before my surgery and I liked him more and more every time we met. Finally October 9th was the day of my removal. The pain was pretty bad for the first two days but by day 3 I was off pain-killers and quite mobile. The pain is 1/10th of getting them put in.
I'm now on day 16 and I've posted some pics. I actually think they looked better right after surgery because the right one seems to have shrunk since then. That was the one with CC which was removed, so it's to be expected, but I don't care - the left one is pain free!
To be honest, I don't even care at all how they look, I know it takes a year for them to get to their full shape. All I know is that right now, I'm pain-free for the first time in years, and natural! It's the best feeling and they feel so good to touch. I can't stop rubbing them, lol.
I've been single for 2 years and ironically I met someone about a month before my procedure. We were never intimate before the surgery even though we were saw each other frequently and I think we're getting close to that moment and it's funny because even with my shrivelled up, stitched up boobs I'm more confident than I was with my implants.
In fact, from the start I've been very insecure about them. My ex at the time I got them hated them because he said I no longer allowed him to touch me and every boyfriend since has gone through a similar experience. It's ironic, we do it to be attractive but in many ways they take our confidence away.
I'll post more pics in a few weeks. Thank you to all the lovely ladies for sharing your stories. The weeks leading up to it were very stressful and this site was very encouraging. I hope my story does the same for someone else.
Vangirl71's provider
UPDATED FROM Vangirl71
1 month post
1 month later
Vangirl71November 15, 2014
Well I'm loving my boobs. They feel so good being natural and no more daily pain from the complications. The scars are also healing nicely. When I lie down they are more visible - the left one more than the right one. The right one is barely noticeable already.
Also, when I bend over the tops look a bit shrivelled but it does not matter one bit. I will not be getting a lift even if they never fluff and I am ecstatic about them.
I don't feel self-conscious in clothes either they really fit my frame. Most people don't notice either. I just look like I've lost weight.
I had mentioned in my first post that I met someone a few weeks before my surgery (after two years of being single!). Well, we're now officially dating and I'm sooooo happy he never saw my implants. It wasn't even the least bit awkward actually that he met me during such a transitional phase. He asked why I would even get them in the first place and there really wasn't a good answer. Insecurity? That's about it.
I'm so blessed. Definitely "worth it".
Also, when I bend over the tops look a bit shrivelled but it does not matter one bit. I will not be getting a lift even if they never fluff and I am ecstatic about them.
I don't feel self-conscious in clothes either they really fit my frame. Most people don't notice either. I just look like I've lost weight.
I had mentioned in my first post that I met someone a few weeks before my surgery (after two years of being single!). Well, we're now officially dating and I'm sooooo happy he never saw my implants. It wasn't even the least bit awkward actually that he met me during such a transitional phase. He asked why I would even get them in the first place and there really wasn't a good answer. Insecurity? That's about it.
I'm so blessed. Definitely "worth it".
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM Vangirl71
1 month post
Picture - 1 month later
Vangirl71November 15, 2014
I guess the iPad format wasn't jpeg, I couldn't upload. Here they are!
Replies (6)
November 16, 2014
Hi. You look really great. Hope you are feeling well. If I may ask? Did your doctor remove your implants en block? Were they silicon or saline? No drains? Did you have stitches which needed to be removed after 2 weeks? Over or under the muscle? You are very lucky your GP gave you 3 doctors to speak with. I live in the Central Interior of B.C. now. My family Doctor is in North Vancouver. My Doctor said I was on my own in seeking advice and research about removal and did not offer any referrals. I had to do all my own research. I saw two doctors. I decided to go with the second one. He was very helpful and suggested I have them removed and to wait and see how I feel about going back to having my natural breasts. He even started off by saying "if you were my wife.....". Quite honestly, going into his office at the time, I really did not even consider "not having" implants. Had I known about Dr. Kerluke, I would have liked to meet with him as well. I am booked December 3. I've waited a long time (since my first consultation way back in June). Long wait list for consults and then a long wait list for the surgery. I'm thankful its covered and it will be performed at the hospital. I just want them out now. I just hope my Doctor is the right choice for this operation. Happy healing and take care.
November 17, 2014
Hey Sandysan. I don't know what removing implants en block is, but no, I did not have drains and no stitches to remove. I had sutures that needed to be snipped on the edges shortly after the surgery but the body absorbs them so no need to pull them out. As for the drains, I guess I was one of the lucky ones, I did not have a lot of bleeding so I didn't need them. Overall, it was a very easy surgery.
I'm on week five now and it's almost as though I never even had implants in life. No pain at all which is amazing after 17 years of living with various issues including numbness, pain and nerves.
Dr. Kerluke is amazing and yes, my GP is also wonderful for his referral. I remember my old GP basically laughed at me when I asked about the issue. She made me feel like it was all my own doing so there is nothing she can do. I get why she'd think that but let's really consider the issue - let's say a skier or mountain-biker assumes many risks when participating in certain behaviours but that doesn't mean they should be left on their own when they need medical assistance as a result of their activities. Why should implants be any different?!? It's not up to a GP to decide which activities are just and which aren't, they are there to provide medical assistance to their patients who need it.
Anyway, I now live about 40 minutes from my GP but he will forever be my GP because he is a caring man. I could not thank him enough when I saw him last week for his referral to Dr. Kerluke.
All the best to you. I can't stress just how good this feels. Every single day I wake up feeling so blessed, so natural. I look at them all the time, I apologize to them, I feel them. I feel like a massive weight has been lifted off of me. Literally and figuratively.
I do consider myself fortunate in the sense that my breasts looked pretty good from the start but I understand the stress. The weeks leading up to it I was a mess. I had no idea what they'd look like, what they'd feel like, if I would have any complications. The night before the surgery I took a sleeping pill because I had such bad anxiety but I still woke up at 3am and could not get back to sleep. In the end though, they were perfect. All that I had hoped for.
You'll notice that 96% of us on this surgery say the same thing and that's what I kept thinking to myself. That the chances are strongly in my favour.
All the best. I can't wait to see how things go for you.
November 17, 2014
Thank you for answering my questions. It is really hard to find a good GP. I recently went back to my child hood Doctor and felt quite comfortable with her initially.... no major health issues. However, when I received news of my second mammogram from her, it seemed like things changed. She was quite short with me. This has left me very frustrated and has created a lot of anxiety for me. When I first moved up North I had seen a great GP at the local medical clinic. I was happy with her but she moved and was replaced with a new Doctor. His English is not the best and I felt that he lacked personality and compassion regarding my breast implants. Plus what really chokes me up is that my first mammogram results were never discussed (evidence of calcification and just found out a month ago) with me because the results came back right when the previous doctor left the clinic. Good thing I at least had the second one and it was done on Broadway where they have more experience with implants. If I may share one thing with anyone who has implants or who is considering getting them, is that you must follow up. It seems to me that if there is no evidence of cancer, they don't notify you of results. Well it's all in the past now. I'm moving forward with what has to be done. I can't wait to put this behind me. It's always on my mind. I'm tired of not being able to plan or think of the future until I get this done. Even shopping for winter clothes is not fun anymore. I keep wondering how I will look in certain tops after the explant. I like clothes and dressing up. Right now all I'm wearing is loose clothing and scarves so my boys won't see such a drastic difference. Good thing it's winter, at least LOL! Well, I'll keep you posted! 17 more days to go! BTW "en block" is a procedure I've only heard of on this sight. It means the implant and scar tissue gets removed all at once.
November 23, 2014
They look really good. My boobs look similar to yours, I hope that when I get the explant mine will continue to look like yours! Lol. How do they look from the side? A few people on here complain of hallowness where the implant was when they lay down. Have you had issues with that?
Replies (9)