Implants?

star2017

what’s it like having them? And did you go in after 10-15 years to change them? What concerns have you had

bew66

Hi Star,

I can only tell you what my experience with cosmetic implants was like.  I had textured, silicone gel implants under the pecs from 1989 til 2004.  When I got them, the PS said they were "lifetime devices", which I now know they are not.  From the get-go, my right breast was achy all the time, just a mild achiness that never seemed to relent, but I tried to ignore it because I was afraid that any surgery to remove the implants would leave me deformed looking (pretty much what my original surgeon told me).  In 2004, I started seriously researching implants and their problems. I was shocked to find that they degrade inside the body and need to be exchanged every 10 years or so.  I learned the only way to evaluate them for leakage was thru an MRI. Went to GYN, she had no idea of what I needed, but ordered an MRI per my request.  MRI showed both implants were ruptured, and on the right side, silicone seemed to have migrated into my lymph nodes.  Had them removed (enbloc I think it is called, where the surgeon removes them intact inside the scar capsule to prevent more leakage of silicone into tissues) and had a lift at the same time.  It was such a relief to get them out.  Fast forward to 2017, my first 3D mammo showed distortion in one breast that biopsied benign, and I have to wonder if the surgery was the cause of the distortion.  As for what it is like having them, I never liked them and was sorry immediately that I had done the surgery.  They never looked quite right (my nipples were a little low on the breast mound, and the implants were a little too high, never settled properly, which made me look like my boobs started just slightly below my clavicles.)  Could never lie comfortably on my stomach.  But when I got them, I was in my 20"s, very thin, with almost no breast tissue.  When I had them removed, I was in my 40"s, had gained 50-60 pounds, and by virtue of that weight gain, had sizeable boobs!

Now I want to share a couple of friend's stories.  The first one is a friend who had a PBMX in her mid 20's because her mom had BC early, and her breasts were very cystic.  lnitially, she had saline implants sub-pectorally, and was not happy with them but lived with them for a few years. Then she went with silicone, sub-mammary, which she was much happier with.  To date, I think she has had them replaced 3 times, plus minor adjustments for asymmetry, the last time was recently when she fell and ruptured one of them.  Two of my other friends have had reconstruction after mastectomy with their own tissue. They both seem to be happy enough with their choices, and look normal in their clothes, but both had extensive hospital stays with their surgeries.

Having said all this, if I were to lose a breast to cancer, I think I would still go with an implant (I know! sounds crazy) simply because of the longer recovery time needed for reconstruction with natural tissue. Either that, or a falsie for me.

Hope this was a little helpful to you and I wish you luck on your journey.  Maybe some ladies with more recent experiences and more similar circumstances will be along to share their thoughts soon.

star2017

Bew, thank you for the detailed response. I don’t intend to do a flap surgery (for the same reasons you mentioned) so it would either be implants or going flat. I had planned to do implants but it was before I had really thought about complications. Thank you for sharing

NotVeryBrave

There's a huge difference between having implants for augmentation vs reconstruction. I can't speak to long term results or complications since it hasn't yet been a year for me since BMX with immediate recon.

I look normal in clothes and pretty good in a bra or bathing suit. My implants are silicone and above the muscle so only covered by my skin - therefore some ripples are evident. I could have fat grafting to help with that but haven't as of yet.

It is not true that implants must be replaced every 10-15 years. Most implants have a 10 year "warranty" these days but many will last for 20 years or more. Many women have them replaced due to complications or dissatisfaction about them for one reason or another. I've already considered exchanging mine for ones that are not so wide at the base.

I think it must be fairly difficult for a PS to choose the implant since so many women seem less than happy with their results!

And most don't have sensation any longer after the surgery. I have random feelings of burning, pressure, or sharp zings. None of these feelings are horrible, more of a nuisance. I get tired of always being reminded of my chest, I guess.

Unfortunately - there is no way to know how things will be for you. You could try the recon and go flat if it doesn't work for you. Or you could just go flat, but if you change your mind then it becomes more work later to change your body.

Good luck with these decisions

amtreb

I am only 2 months out from my reconstruction with implants. They will never feel "normal" but the look and feel pretty good to the touch. I only have a slight sense of them being there, maybe bc there is no sensation in the skin due to the mastectomy. I also have over the pec implants which I understand is easier to recover from than under the muscle. Mt PS said they have abs a 10 year life span so we will track them. I know people have issues and illness related to implants so i guess I will just monitor myself as best as possible. Going flat was not an option I was able to wrap my head around.

There are s few threads on here about breasts being reconstructed entirely from fat grafting. There is a PS in Florida that developed this particular technique that may be of interest to you. I'd have to look up the website or you could try doing a search on here for more info.

Best of luck with your decision!

beach2beach

I had direct to implants. I was told I would have to go for an MRI in 3 years just to check on how its going. I can't remember if then he said in another 5 the same. I'd have to find my notes that I took prior to surgery. When I recently went for 6mth check he asked me if I was considering a revision. Said my skin stretched a bit so I could go bigger. I haven't been considering it but I what Im getting to is that the said it is a relatively easier surgery to go in a replace. Of course risks and complications are always there. If that's the most I have to deal with in 10years time with my foobs, I'll take it!