Name: Almost 30 Year Old Implants GONE! One Year Update - Wesley Chapel, FL
Item: Paul Albear, MD
Rating: 5
Author: beagleMama

Hello lovely ladies. I have gleaned so much...

9 Oct 2012
1 month pre

Hello lovely ladies. I have gleaned so much information (and inspiration) from your stories and I've decided that its time to begin to share my story.

Years ago in the mid-80s I decided to get breast implants. I wasn't terribly unhappy with my size (34 B) but it seemed to be what everyone was doing at the time. My husband said that it was up to me if I wanted to do it, but I'm pretty sure that he wasn't unhappy with my decision. He's always been very supportive of all my decisions over the years...and he is now as well.

Fast forward to the present...well a few months ago. My gynecologist called me after my annual mammogram and said that my right implant was bleeding silicone. He also told me that it was about the same amount that showed on my mammo the year before!! WHAT? No one bothered to call me last year! Evidently this was not present on my mammo of two years ago...but still!

I had already decided that I was over the big-boobed look, but didn't have the financial resources to do anything about it (hubby under employed for the last few years). I also have a very atypical form of Multiple Sclerosis and wonder if my implants might have something to do with that. I know, I know, there have been studies done that refute this, but they only followed those ladies for about nine years post implant. I have slight numbness in the three middle fingers of my right hand and now, recenty have been battling frozen shoulder on the right side (same side that is leaking). I don't expect these issues to go away upon explantation, but it would be a nice added bonus. I've read on other sites that women have had similar issues and they felt better after their explantation. Placebo effect or not...I'll take it. I also have capsular contracture on both sides (right more than left) so its really time to do this.

I've put on a few pounds over the years so I'm now a 36 D-DD. I'm hoping that I'll at least remain a B cup, but if I don't I'm all right with it. I've taken up running and my boobs are just an annoyance when I run. Like other ladies here have mentioned I have to buy shirts in a larger size to accomodate the "girls"which makes me look bigger all over.I've also found that I try to buy bras that minimize my chest because i feel like my boobs look disproportionately large for my size (fake). I'm looking forward to looking a little more streamlined.

My doctor is Paul Albear and I really like him. I saw a few surgeons before him any they all gave me the "you'll be unhappy with how you're going to look" and "don't you want to re-implant?" speeches. He was the only one to not suggest anything beyond explantation. He said to give it a good six months after surgery to let things settle and see how I feel.

I also found out that my insurance covers the explantation because its medically necessary, so now cost is not an issue. YAY!

My surgery is tentatively scheduled for November 8th, so I've got one month to go.
I'l post some current pre-op pics.

Well I've been reviewing everybody's pre and post...

13 Oct 2012
1 month pre

Well I've been reviewing everybody's pre and post op pictures and it hit me that I've probably got a good decade in age on most of you. I'm trying to find someone that "looks like" me to help gauge what my end result might be. I'm hoping that my skin still has some elasticity left. Does anyone know of any good products or techniques to encourage the "fluff fairy" to visit? Lol.

Well I've removed my surgery date for now. The...

4 Nov 2012
26 days pre

Well I've removed my surgery date for now. The PS's office had an issue with whether to do the surgery in a one day surgery facility or a hospital. The PS was under the impression that, because I was using my health insurance to pay, the surgery had to be done in a hospital (not the case). Then he said that he needed cardiac clearance before the surgery, which I already had, so the cardiologist's office had to fax my records to the PS's office ( I don't have any cardiac issues, but they at one time thought that I did). This all took a lot of back and forth phoning on my part to all these doctor's offices. THEN my surgeon was out of town for awhile...sigh. I think maybe, finally I'll get my surgery date scheduled some time this week (fingers crossed). I'm beginning to wonder if he really wants to do the surgery. I just want to get it done before the end of the year as I've already met my deductible, and if I do it next year it will add $750 to my portion of the cost :(

Well I now have a surgery date...November 30th. I...

5 Nov 2012
25 days pre

Well I now have a surgery date...November 30th. I called my PS's office first thing this morning and scheduled it. I'm so ready to do this. I'm not even that concerned about what I'll look like after. I guess that's the up side of having so many scheduling delays. I'm looking forward to looking like a 56 year old should look. Now I just have to settle down and wait and try not to get too nervous in the meantime. Twenty five days seems so far away.

Well, I haven't been on here much lately because...

29 Nov 2012
1 day pre

Well, I haven't been on here much lately because I've just been playing the waiting game - but no more. My surgery is happening tomorrow morning at 11. Eeeek!!!!! I'm so nervous, but anxious to get it over with. I'm going to stay busy tonight by washing the sheets and cleaning. I guess its kind of like nesting when you're pregnant. Lol. I'll post pictures when I can. Until then...

Thanks for the well wishes everyone :) . We're on...

30 Nov 2012
Day of treatment

Thanks for the well wishes everyone :) . We're on the way to the surgery facility now. We'll talk later.

Well, it's over. When we got to the surgery...

1 Dec 2012
1 day post

Well, it's over. When we got to the surgery facility we found that they were running behind so I didn't go in for surgery until about 1:30. When I woke up it was around 4 PM. My surgeon thought that my surgery would be pretty straightforward, but when he got in there he found that both sides had ruptured and there was silicone everywhere. I also had a lot of calcification that he had to get rid of. I think he had to remove a lot of tissue, so I may be more of an A cup after the swelling goes down. I haven't peeked inside my bra yet, but whatever I find in there will be alright by me. I'm not that sore and I haven't taken any of my pain meds yet at all. He initially didn't think that I would need drains, but ended up having to use them because of all the digging around that he had to do. I am definitely glad that I did this. I already feel leaner, and I'm looking forward to buying tops without regard to my size and how I look in them. But more important than that... I feel healthier already. So glad to get that junk out of my body. I'll post pictures later. I feel a nap coming on. Lol

I've finally gotten around to posting post-op...

3 Dec 2012
3 days post

I've finally gotten around to posting post-op photos. This is before my first shower and you can see the imprint of the gauze on my skin. Other than that, I think they look OK so far (considering what I've put them through). During my shower I noticed what other ladies here have said...I'd forgotten how soft boobies can be.

The output to my drains is decreasing each time we measure it, and the nurse said that if its less than 20mls per day that my PS will probably pull them when I see him this Wednesday. I hear that can be a little "ouchy" but I'm so ready to be rid of them.

All in all, I'd say that my boobies are very forgiving of me and I can say that I'll never put them through anything like this again... Lord willing.

Well its been a month since my surgery. My boobs...

2 Jan 2013
2 months post

Well its been a month since my surgery. My boobs are still a little sensitive as are the scars, but this is improving every day. My right breast is pretty numb on the right side from my nipple over but my doctor said that the sensation will most likely return (he actually said "With a vengeance, sometimes"). I still think that it has all been worth it. I've been trying on some of my shirts and I'm so happy about the way I look in them. I don't miss being "big" AT ALL. My daughter and I went to Victoria's Secret the other day and I found some pretty bras to try on. I didn't buy any though, as I'm still a little too sore for underwires just yet. The clerk there measured me and said that I'm a 36 C. I don't feel like I look like a C cup... its probably due to more side boobage than before. Like other ladies here have said, my boobs seem wider. I think they've maybe tightened up a little bit but not that much. Time will tell and, hey, I'm 56 years old so I'm not expecting super perky boobs anyway. I find myself standing much taller as I'm not trying to hide my big boobs. All I know is that I'm THRILLED with the new me.

Well, its been around 10 weeks since my surgery. ...

23 Feb 2013
3 months post

Well, its been around 10 weeks since my surgery. I'm feeling a lot less sore, but still a little numb on the right side. I afraid that if the fluff fairy was going to visit, she would have been here by now... but no worries... I'm still happy with my result. And, more importantly, happy that I relieved my body of the stress that I was putting it through. On that front, my neurological symptoms have shown no change, but I'll be patient. Like I said before, they were in for 28 years... my body has a lot of undoing to do!

I have noticed that a little nagging, constant soreness that I had between my shoulder blades is now gone. Probably a combination of less weight in the front and better posture. I don't feel like I have to hide my giant bazongas anymore!

All in all, I would say that this is the best favor I've ever done for myself. Now... on to a happier and healthier life :)

Also, one more thing... thank you to all of you ladies who have had the courage to share your journeys. It certainly made my trip a little less lonely.

One Year Post Op Photos

30 Nov 2013
1 year post

Hello again ladies! I've been very absent lately but its time for my one year update. Things have been uneventful fortunately. My breasts are finally feeling like they're all mine again. I have no soreness anymore and my numbness has finally gone away. My neurological symptoms, although mild, are still the same, darn it. But I feel blessed to have good health. I just wanted to share what the removal of 29 year old implants on a 57 year old looks like at one year, in case anyone is in a similar situation.