Anyone have revisions ( replaced implants )?

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pkb3937
pkb3937 Member Posts: 54
edited July 2014 in Breast Reconstruction

I am having a revision May 7th.  I am 3 years post BMX with silicone implants ,  I am going to a new plastic surgeon and he is going to replace my implants with another style of silicone implants ( and larger) .  He will also redo my "fold" under my breasts and do fat injections.  I am soooooo nervous, yet excited.  I know I will have those miserable drains again, but more natural looking /feeling breasts. Has anyone had or wanted to do this?  I feel like its a very unnecessary surgery but at the same time I feel like I will always feel unhappy and depressed with the way I look now.  

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited April 2014

    I had a revision and replaced one implant. It was a really easy surgery to recover from and I did not need any drains:-) Hope your surgery goes well! maureen

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  • jwilco
    jwilco Member Posts: 486
    edited April 2014

    I have wondered as time goes by that I might want/need a revision of some sort.  Was this still covered by insurance? 

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  • pkb3937
    pkb3937 Member Posts: 54
    edited April 2014

    jwilco

    Yes, it is covered by insurance.  How long have u had ur implants? 

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  • AmyQ
    AmyQ Member Posts: 2,182
    edited April 2014

    I replaced my saline implants with smaller silicone and liposuction for the under arm "stuff" and had a very quick recovery.  In and out in just a few hours.  In fact I was looking at my scar last night and already it's very faint.  My last surgery was January of this year.  I am much more comfortable and in less pain.  Good luck to you.

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  • pkb3937
    pkb3937 Member Posts: 54
    edited April 2014

    Thanks Amy,  I have to admit I am scared.  I guess it's just the idea of dealing with it.  

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  • jwilco
    jwilco Member Posts: 486
    edited April 2014

    I've had mine since I had my Lat/UMX in  2011.  At least the BC version.  I've actually had implants since a breast lift in 2004. 

    I think that if it makes you feel better then go for it!   

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  • DocBabs
    DocBabs Member Posts: 775
    edited May 2014

    I too am 3 years post BMX and would love to be doing what you are about to do. I hate the way my breasts look and more importantly, feel. They have migrated outwards and there is a constant pulling sensation. I cannot go without a bra as they have multiple ripples and divots. I would love to have them redone but I honestly feel so good otherwise that I cannot imagine putting in for more "down time" at this stage in my life. I'm extremely active, playing competative tennis 2-3 x's a week with out of state tournaments. I've had multiple joint replacements and each time I've given up anywhere from 6months to a year of my life in PT recovering with each surgery.Nothing bothers me at the moment ,except how my breasts look  , and at my age I want to live every day fully. I'll be 70 next week..YIKES !!! Good luck to you. I do envy your decision to go forward and correct the problem,

    Barbara

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  • stacet
    stacet Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2014

    Pkb3937- I am in the same boat with revision surgery scheduled for May 14th. Would love to hear your thoughts since it looks as though your surgery date has passed.

    Hope you are healing happily :)

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  • eugenia
    eugenia Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2014

    hi I am having  revision to exchange silicon implants after 5 years for bigger size. On may 19.  I have mix filling and hesitate if I should do this.

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  • Michellejulia53
    Michellejulia53 Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2014

    I will be seeing my PS soon about replacing my expanders for permanent implants. I am wondering which is better, saline ( I prefer) or silicone? 

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  • dwill
    dwill Member Posts: 312
    edited May 2014

    Hi ladies,  My TE and  silicone implant exchange was extremely unsatisfactory.  I have no symmetry and lot of issues with the implant as well as I had with the TE.  Just changed PS.  Will be having a CT Scan on Friday and then my new PS will determine how to correct my problem implant. .  It is extremely uncomfortable now and sometimes very painful. The entire process of the TE was also painful.  With my old PS, my first indication that things were not going to be great is when he missed the port on my first injection.  That was painful--although he felt that it should not have hurt because the area was suppose to be dead.  He never addressed the fact that he could have sprung a leak or cause issues as almost every fill afterwards was extremely painful--Vicodin painful!!  I had the exchange in November and the area is still sore underneath the implant.  The implant is much higher than the natural breast so I look whop sided and it is much smaller than the natural one The old PS wanted to do a revision and  liposuction on both sides but I have lost all faith in his competency..   Don't know what my new PS is going to do but he has already looked into the size of my last implant so I believe he will be replacing it.  Having a little anxiety with the upcoming CT Scan and waiting to find out what the problem is and how it will be corrected. Hoping future surgeries will be easy. Reading your post gave me confidence that it will be.  Thanks for sharing. 

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  • Saranne
    Saranne Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2014

    I'm on the waiting list for my implants to be exchanged for slightly larger (from 420 ml moderate plus profile Mentors to 520 ml Allergan high profile) to correct rippling, even though with teardrop gummy bear implants I didn't think there would be any rippling.  If I stand up straight and pull back my shoulders the rippling disappears.  But if I stand in my normal posture the rippling is obvious especially in the left one.  I didn't want to proceed with nipple tattoos until I was happy with the implants. I am a bit scared of having another operation but I am hoping that will be the last one ( I had the original mastectomies in August 2010 so it's all been going on for four years).  Sometimes I think I should just be happy with the implants that I have and just do the nipple tattoos and be done with it.  I still have another 6 months to change my mind. 

    dwill, good thing you changed your ps, I am sure things will be looking up for you from now on.

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  • toni67
    toni67 Member Posts: 62
    edited July 2014

    Right now I'm searching for a new PS. I wasn't satisfied with the PS who did my initial reconstruction and now I am having issues with the implant..it's up to my armpit now. If anyone knows of a good PS in northern NJ, please let me know. 

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  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 2,613
    edited July 2014

    toni67 - I just went through a successful revision surgery two weeks ago and am so happy that I did.  I sorted through all of the same fears and doubts that you're experiencing.  Might I suggest that you go over to the 'BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101' thread run by whippetmom?  

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/...

    She keeps a running list of great plastic surgeons in every area of the country - the ones that 'get it'.  Please read the header of her thread, then provide all of the necessary information she needs.  You can PM her and ask for recommendations in your area which will save you a great deal of time and effort.  She's very kind and knows what she's talking about.  When I went 'shopping' she gave me four names and I interviewed them all.  It took four tries, (some didn't take my insurance - or any insurance at all - and one I simply didn't see eye to eye with) but I finally found the PS that resolved my pain and gave me a beautiful result that I can finally live with.  He had to do internal scar revision, remove the old Alloderm that had bunched up and folded over, replace both implants, and did some fat grafting.  The recovery was / is fairly easy the second time around, so I found that it was well worth the effort. Wishing you the very best of luck!

     

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