IMPLANTS REMOVED: YAY!

Bettyboops

Hi Ladies,

I had a request from a fellow BCO member to start a topic about my recent implant removal after living with the implants for a year. I know everyone has individual experiences so I am not saying that is is the right way or the only way. I am posting for women who have gotten implants and are exploring removal or women who are contemplating whether they should get implants or not. Also, this topic can be for women who have had implants removed and want to share experiences. 

My story is that I had a double mastectomy in Feb. 2013 due to three areas of DCIS and lobular in one breast. The other breast was removed as prevention. My mother died of breast cancer so I was not taking any chances and felt very sure about that. I was kind expected to do reconstruction as I progressed through the army of tests and doctors. I was lucky and had a skin sparing mastectomy so the docs recommended implants. I also did not want to cut up other areas of my body to make "breasts." I felt that was not right for me but I know it is for many women. 

I was in a "fight or flight"  state of mind and I was not able to proper research under such stress. I was not in my body, I was somewhere else. In the end, I had a double mastectomy with tissue expanders put in at the time of surgery. 3 months later, after the tortuous expansion process, the tissue expanders were removed and the implants put in during a second surgery.  After about 9 months I realized that I had a low grade irritation in my pec muscles every day and never felt like I had recovered. Long story short, I saw my original PS and a second opinion PS and the second surgeon did find that the way things had healed and the way the implants were placed was causing me pain. He deemed it medically necessary to have them either replaced or removed. In order not to have to get off the surgical "bus," I opted for removal without any further reconstruction. My implants were removed in June of 2014. Phew, what a relief!! 😃

I am about 10 weeks post explanation and I feel great! I'm so happy to get muscular function back and not to have an irritating foreign object in my pec muscle. Most importantly, I feel I am moving on. Clothing and prosthetics are my great interest now. It is actually fun compared to what I have been through. Remember that getting implants after a mastectomy is completely different from women getting them for cosmetic reasons when they have breasts intact. 

Note that I am not starting this topic to be promoting being flat or promoting using prosthetics. It's all very individual and I feel we women should be accepting of whatever decision someone makes. It's possible to be flexible and to go flat sometimes and wear prosthesis sometimes, as I have recently found out. It doesn't have to be a black or white situation. 

Best, 

Moderators

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm sure it will be helpful to other members. 

Bettyboops

thanks, I hope so!

Best,

auroaya200882

*bump I never had implants but I share the feeling of freedom from going "flat". For me it's liberating and nowadays I don't even use the prothestic and nobody seems to notice or at least no one says anything directly to me. Either way, I wouldn't care, I feel comfortable in my own skin, literally.

Aurora

exbrnxgrl

bettyboops,

What a great, succinctly written post. It is very hard, when faced with a bc dx, to have to digest all the info associated with that, let alone research everything there is to learn about recon. I am also glad that you mentioned that recon is not at all like cosmetic augmentation. Sadly, I have heard more than a few women talk about how if they have to have bc at least they'll get a boob job out of it. They need to understand that recon, by whatever method, is nothing like a boob job.

I think the toughest part is that no matter how much research you do, there is no guarantee that you will be comfortable or happy with the results of recon. BTW, I am saying this as someone who has one step implants and is very happy and pain free but I acknowledge that I had no way of knowing, in advance, if this would be the case. I will give kudos to my ps who is highly skilled and does only recon, not cosmetic surgery. I am so glad you're doing well.

farmerlucy

Thanks Betty - The things I've wondered about are 

1. What happens to the pocket?

2. What happens to the alloderm?

3. Does the plastic surgeon remove the spared skin? Or does the PS just pull out the implant?

4. Will you be even more concave since you once had a pocket, than if you'd never had recon?

5. Do you get immediate relief from the iron bra syndrome?

I appreciate you so much Ms Boops! 

Bettyboops

hi auro,

Yes, I can see just moving on and not even caring about prosthetics and such. Great that you have! I too feel really. Comfortable in my own skin.

Best,

Bettyboops

hi ex run,

 Great that you chose an option that worked perfectly for you! Yes, a boob job in cosmetic terms is nothing like recon. I can't tell you the number of women who said to me that millions of women have boob jobs so it must be safe. It's apples and oranges by comparison. 

Best,

Bettyboops

hi farmer,

To answer your questions, everything is removed including spare skin. A skilled PS will cut all that away so it's all a flat surface. Muscle is sewed back together so there is no pocket anymore then top layer of skin is seen back together flat. There is immediate relieve from irritation, which I guess you mean by iron bra,  Areas that are "concave" are really not an issue for me. I guess it is a tiny bit concave around the incision sight. It's not one big hole or anything like that, at least not for me.  It just looks like a flat chest with scars and that's what you'll look like under clothes unless you wear a prosthetic of which there are tons of options. The topic "bras and prosthetics"is where I share information about that with lovely group of ladies.

I don't know what alloderm is. I didn't have that but if it was inside you, they should take it out or you should ask them to take it out. Nothing should be left in there but muscle, at least that's how I understand it. I wouldn't want anything artificial left in there. I'm happy to be free of an artificial object in my body. It just took me a little longer than some to figure that out!

Keep in touch and let me know if you have any other questions.

Best,

DiveCat

Alloderm isn't "artificial"..it's cadaver skin and over time it is integrated with your own tissue...it's no longer a "separate" thing so your own blood vessels and tissues are integrated with it. I imagine it would be removed as part of the removal of skin though as it is stitched at bottom of muscle to create the pocket that you would no longer need with implant removal.

I am happy to hear you have found relief, Betty. I am one of those lucky ones who has had a smooth recovery and has no pain, irritation, or discomfort issues (they really just feel like my breasts) and am thrilled with my outcome,  but I also know that things could have gone the other way for me. Unlike exbrnxgrl, my PS also does do cosmetic surgery, but that does not take away from his skill with reconstruction which he also does a good amount of. Even skill aside, a lot of my outcome depending on just plain luck, in my opinion. I was pretty cynical and prepared for the worst!

Also, I agree it is nothing like breast augmentation, and it irks me when it is compared to such!  Not that those with BA's can't have similar complications including capsular contracture and ongoing pain issues (and many of them do go under the muscle and can experience discomfort) but there certainly are many key differences. 

Bettyboops

thanks divecat!

I know the "capsule" was removed during the implant removal so whatever was there, alloderm maybe?, was also removed. Thanks for the clarification. Great you didn't have any problems. It's so individual isn't it. I guess the main thing is being happy with your individual decision. 

Best,

Bettyboops

I'm still psyched about my implants being removed! I'm feeling so much healthier and comfortable as I progress. It's now about 3 months after my implant removal surgery. Sooo glad they are gone! I swam freestyle today and am starting to do more resistance exercises that need upper body strength. Never could do that with the implants. I felt so helpless and weak. Now I am feeling stronger. Just sayin'  In case I can help anybody...

Best,

glennie19

glad to hear you are doing so well, Betty!!

Bettyboops

thanks glennie! I do enjoy the prosthetics discussion too. I guess we are on at the same time today! I love your doggie picture Icon. So cute!

farmerlucy

BB - I gotta say I'm kinda jealous. 

Bettyboops

hi Lucy,

Oh, don't be jealous, just do what you want until you get it right. I'm annoyed I took the long route to flatness instead of going direct like some of my flat sister friends but I'm glad I finally got here.  I wasted so much time and had to take way too many pain meds and antibiotic drugs in the process. I got arthritis in my hands while I had the tissue expanders in...the docs say no connection but I think it's definitely that my body was stressed with toxicity or the like. I hope I can get it to go away... It happened so fast! In any case, If there is anything I can help with, let me know. 

Lucy, you also have a cute doggie icon!

Best,

glennie19

Ava dog says thank you for the compliment!

Bettyboops

It's now four months past my implant removal surgery and I have not looked back! Best decision ever. I have been wearing prosthesis which has been totally comfortable. At night and weekends, I don't wear them. It's great to have the option. Either way I'm feeling happy and healthy and strong.

Best,

farmerlucy

Betty - I've been meaning to ask - is there any tightness at all?

bobogirl

Bettyboops:

You rock!

XXXX

jmz

you have asked all the questions that are running through my mind! 

AmyQ

bettyboops, did you need drains after the removal surgery?

Thanks

Amy

Bettyboops

hi farmer lucy ,

Nice to see your post! I don't have tightness. I did do physical therapy starting about 6 weeks after my surgery. Only for about 8 weeks, once a week. I am loose and strong in the pec area. I am still doing exercises at home lifting small weights and stretchy band stuff. 

Best,

Bettyboops

Amy

yes, I had a drain on each side for about a week. Wasn't too bad except no shower until they were out.

Best,

Bettyboops

thanks Bobo! I appreciate your post!

Best,

Bettyboops

Jeanne,

I'm so glad this topic helped someone. It's better for me to move forward and try to help others than be stewing in regret. I feel lucky that I finally got to the right place because I was not in my own skin during the implant process and living with them.

Best,

msphil

hello all, msphil telling of my experience, I was planning my wedding when diagnosed, I had L mast, 3 months of chemo before surgery and 3 months after, with reconstruction, ,  I had one treatment with the expander, and then the week of Christmas my Fiancee husband now, rushed me to E R, for I was burning with fever, and the implant had hardened, with pain unreal, I was admitted it was removed and I was so happy, I wear prothesis, and I am doing well. Thank GOD, am now a 20 yr Survivor.  (idc, stage2, 0/3 nodes, chemo and rads and 5 yrs on tamoxifen) 

Bettyboops

hi msphil, 

Such a great ending to an awful experience. The expanders are evil for some women. The whole procedure looks good on paper but in reality, my opinion is that it is legalized torture of women.  I know some women have gone through the expanders and implants and are happy with results. So I don't judge because breast cancer makes for tough decisions. I'm not a fan of the expanders or implants although I have had them both. Thankfully, all are removed and I'm flat and very happy with prosthetic bra and prosthesis. Don't  even think about it anymore. Just put the bra on and go...or not! Nice to have the choice. 

Best, 

AmyQ

The more I read about your experience the more I am envious.  I have been having worsening of truncal and right arm lymphedema so I think implant removal might improve both.  I am inspired to return to my PS and discuss. Thanks for posting your experience.

Amy

Bettyboops

hi Amy Q

Your original surgery date was around the same time as mine! I had my BMX right before Valentines day in 2013. It was on the 11 th of February. Don't be jealous at all. Just take some action to help yourself feel better. I am so glad that I took action. The surgery will not be anything like the original one. It's much less of a deal. Mine was two hours total from surgery to my hospital room and it was only overnight. I was home in my own home the next night. I can't encourage you enough. I still tell my husband how I shudder to think what state I would be in if I had not gone for a second opinion. Of course, you have my best wishes whatever you decide. If you do go for another opinion, let us know your progress.

Best,

Surfergirl55

I am 59 years old and was diagnosed in March.  It has been 6 months since my BMX and 4 months since my exchange.  I am finally getting to the point where all the muscle spasms, itching, electric pings and tightness is much better.  However I am not sure I am really happy with my reconstruction.  I told my PS that I did not want to go too big,   and from the side the 500cc's don't have much projection,  but they are wide, like hamburger buns and the left side sticks out to the side more than the right side. There is no cleavage at all.   I don't know why they are uneven,  I guess it has to do with where the TE's were placed.  I look OK in clothes but when I look at myself in the mirror it drives me nuts.  Plus I can always feel the implants when my arms move a certain way. I brush them allot.  Never felt that with my real girls.   Also they move when I flex my pectoral muscles.  I work out and do bench press and other chest exercises and they  move when   the muscle flexes.  Sleeping on my sides is still uncomfortable,  no pain but uncomfortable enough that I am flipping around all night long.  I haven't tried to sleep on my stomach yet.  After I do any work outside in the garden I can feel a discomfort in the lower area where the sling is.   I am going to give it a year and see if things improve and at that point decide whether I want to keep the implants or have them removed.  I too was wondering  if the alloderm sling is removed and also the excess stretched skin.   I wish I had talked to other ladies who went thru this and I wish I had found this forum before my surgery.   I hope all you gals out there who are facing surgery do your research and do allot of reading before you decide and really drill your PS.  I guess my plastic surgeon was right,  he said that reconstruction is for looking OK  with your clothes on,  not with your clothes off.  But he never told me about HOW it was going to feel.   I salute all you gals who were brave enough to remove your implants and go natural.   Bravo!!!   I would love to hear from more gals out there who had their implants removed-how they felt before,  and how they feel after their surgery.  God bless you ALL!!!  And thank you.