implant explantation

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devina
devina Member Posts: 35
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

I am seriously considering having my bilateral implant reconstruction removed. It has been two+years. I am so uncomfortable almost all the time.  I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this. I am concerned about what happens to the chest muscles after the implants are removed. I have been told by my Dr that my chest will look all lumpy and Bumpy and have areas of stretched out skin. I know he has never seen one before. I just need some input form some ladies that know. I don't want to give up but I cannot handle the pain and tightness most of the time. I have a million different bras and none feel comfortable. I am wondering if the chest might be painful without the implants bc there will be very little tissue there.

Thanks for your input

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  • baywatcher
    baywatcher Member Posts: 532
    edited July 2009

    Devina-

    Have you thought about getting rid of your implants and getting a tram flap or some other procedure made with your own tissue? I don't have any experience with reconstruction but since no one answered your post I thought I would.

    I can tell you that the chest is not painful without implants. I have a flat chest with a tattoo over my scars. My chest is numb where my breasts were.

    I would think that if you removed the implants you might have some concave areas on your chest. I think this may be a result of the implants pushing on the ribs but I don't know. I also think you probably could have surgery to remove the bumps and streched out skin. I would talk to a plastic surgeon about that.

    I am sorry that you are having such pain with your implants.

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  • HelenaJ
    HelenaJ Member Posts: 1,133
    edited July 2009

    Devina ((((hugs))))) so sorry to hear that you have so much trouble and pain with your implants and 2 years down the track.  Something must have gone wrong with the initial surgery.  I had my exchange surgery last week and everything feels lovely.  Did you have capsular contracture - is that why it is uncomfortable?  Can you try a different type of implant perhaps a smaller one or type - for example I have anatomically correct ones (tear shaped) but you can get round ones and all sorts of different ones from what we can access here in Australia.

    I'm by no means a doctor or all that medically minded but I would imagine that muscles would retract over a period of time - it would be the overlying skin which would be a problem but I'm sure surgery could fix that.  Please talk to your plastic surgeon or if he/she is of no help go see someone else - please don't put up with the pain. 

    Let us know how you are going.  I feel for your.

    soft hugs

    Helena

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  • devina
    devina Member Posts: 35
    edited July 2009

    Thanks for your posts ladies,

    I am going to get a referral to another plastic surgeon . just not sure when it will happen.

    Have had such stress and confusion about what is the right thing to do. Sometimes I think maybe I'm just being ridiculous an then the pain comes back and I start to feel so sorry for myself. Not sure what that is all about. Most of my disomfort is neck and back pain and for over a year it was extreme tightness in the chest area I still have trouble finding a proper bra that is comfortable.

    I It is to hear Helena that you are happy with your reconstruction mine never did look right.

    I cried when I saw them for the first time. I now have a large ripple in the clevage area and loose skin under my arms and in the arm pits.

    I hope some of this can be resolved I really don't want to so something i might regret and still have pain to boot.

    I never really thought about tattoos. I have heard that some women have them I even saw a picture of one quite awhile ago. I must admit at this point I wouldn't mind flat with some great art work to

    look at as apposed to how I feel about these right now.

    ((((Hugs)))))

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  • starzhere
    starzhere Member Posts: 162
    edited August 2009

    I hope this might help.  Amy, who has a blog (http://www.foursistersinacottage.com), had her implants removed not too long, ago.  I think if you emailed her, she would answer any questions you might have.  She seems to be happy with her decision.

    She has photos of her reconstruction and the results of her explant surgery, too.  Cut and paste the Url in your browser window.

     http://www.foursistersinacottage.com/MyBreastCancerPhotos.htm

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  • Sociologist
    Sociologist Member Posts: 237
    edited August 2009

    Hi Devina,

    I just had my foob explanted in June and it is WONDERFUL to have no ore pain! I was in and out of surgery in a hour. The relief was immediate and I am so happy it is GONE! The ps didn't remove the excess skin which is fine with me. I am concave on the mast side now but I'll take that over pain anyday. PM me if you need anything. Best of luck!

    Margaret

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  • AnneN
    AnneN Member Posts: 241
    edited August 2009

    One of the NOLA surgeons, Dr. DellaCroce, has an "ask the doctor" board where you can post questions to him directly and get his answer back within a couple of days.

    It's at:

    http://members.boardhost.com/plastic

    Sorry that I don't know how to make that a clickable link, but you can just copy and paste it into your browser.

    I've seen other threads where women have gone to NOLA after being unhappy with their original reconstruction results and the PSs at NOLA have been able to remedy the problems.

    Good luck!

    Anne 

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