Replace implant - 8 years out - others?

Options
Jorf
Jorf Member Posts: 498
edited September 2014 in Breast Reconstruction

I am planning to replace my implant soon. I have a saline implant and am shortly going to lose my good insurance for a higher deductible and know that this saline implant will burst at some point in the next few years.  That's just the catalyst - I've been unhappy with my current implant from the beginning - odd shape, too small (I lost a lot of weight during chemo and we sort of forgot that it might come back on...), ugly indent right across the center of the breast. I had a consult a couple of years ago and chose against it then. I did learn that the indent could not be fixed - it's where the pec ends and the added tissue begins - and that was part of why I chose not to.

Probably going to go with a silicone this time (they had just been [re]approved in the month prior to my original exchange surgery and I didn't want to take the chance then). I have a consult in a couple of weeks.

Just looking for experiences of others with having replacements. The exchange surgery was a piece of cake originally, but figure it won't be quite so simple after all these years. I do still wonder why I would choose to have elective surgery.... Nothing's decided yet. Anyway, if you've done this, let me know your experience, please.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • MartyJ
    MartyJ Member Posts: 1,859
    edited September 2014

    Jorf - I had silicone for many years.  Initial recon was in 1986 and had to replace about 10 years later (though no one would believe me that they were leaking).  Finally replaced in 1999.  They got wonkier over time and in 2012 I had bilateral DIEP.  I did not want to keep replacing.  Just something for you to think about.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bren58
    Bren58 Member Posts: 1,048
    edited September 2014

    Jorf, I had saline implants after my BMX in 2000. I was never really happy with them, but no one was doing silicone at the time because of the huge lawsuit. Like you, after 9+ years, I decided to replace them with silicone and have a couple things fixed that I was unhappy with. I figured I would rather replace them when I chose to, not when I had to because of a rupture. I went with the silicone "gummies" and also had some revision work done at the time. The surgery went better than I expected. I took a week off from work, but I really didn't need to. I am very happy with the results and glad I did it when I had good insurance to cover it without a high deductible. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jorf
    Jorf Member Posts: 498
    edited September 2014

    Thanks Bren, that's really helpful to know.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jorf
    Jorf Member Posts: 498
    edited September 2014

    Thanks MartyJ - I thought DIEP at the start but am not looking to do major elective surgery. Just want to be a little happier with what I've got and not wait to have to replace it after it bursts. Thanks.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories