IMPLANTS REMOVED: YAY!
Comments
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I don't have any idea about putting the implants on top of the muscle, but I'm not happy with his NO response to removing your implants and the excess skin. That seemed harsh to me. And I'm sure that many women are flat,, and not just the extremely thin ones.
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Amy - Thanks for the update. I don't know much about it except to tell you about my SIL who had preventive mx in her late twenties with the implants placed on top of the muscle, she had those replaced on top again in her late thirties. Most recently they were encapsulated again (she was 49 yrs) and this time the PS placed the implants under the muscle. My SIL loves them that way and says they feel so much better than the encapsulated ones. It seems that she has something going on with her body in the way it keeps encapsulating the implants, she even entered a study about.
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Thank you for your feedback. Glennie I agree his response seemed harsh which makes me wonder if this type of surgery is beyond his skillset. If I ever go that route I am going to find someone who will do as I ask and not just shut me down.
Farmerlucy, I wonder if my implants are, in a way, encapsulated too since they're so firm. I really know nothing about it but your SIL experience makes me wonder.
Thanks again
Amy
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I had BMX in 2007 without reconstruction. My onc pushed implants and I believe that even this website pushes reconstruction. I don't believe that doctors give the info to women on all the problems with implants and especially that they must be replaced after a period of time. Also, I don't think that women realize that with implants there is no feeling. I had no recon and have no regrets. I had real experience with another woman who had implants and it is torture. Now one of the implants has fallen. Good grief. No one tells us about reconstruction. Doctors make a ton of money off of reconstruction.
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hi AmyQ
Great that you went to get another opinion. It sounds like that may be a good option for you. I don't understand why excess skin cannot be removed? PS should be able to do anything! We will have to hear from some women who are not "very thin." I am average size, not skinny, and all is well for me. You may want to ask some of the gals on "all things prosthesis" for more opinions, unless you have already made your decision. I think we are all different sizes and shapes. There you will get a good cross section of people. In the end, you should do what resonates with you and what you want as your final result. Impossible decisions we all have to make! It comes down to do you want implants or not. Do you want to go through more surgeries or not. If you want them then your PS sounds like he has a plan for you. I support you no matter what you decide! Let us know!
Best,
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Excess skin can definitely be removed. I had talked to a PS about removing mine. Then I developed truncal LE, and postponed the surgery. I cannot imagine any reason why it can't be removed. Except that PS doesn't want to do it. The one I went to wanted to do DIEP on me and went to great lengths to explain the whole procedure and how great I'd look, etc, etc, but at the end,, he said if you just want the skin removed, I will do that. There are plenty of other women on these threads who are flat,, either from the very beginning, or having had the excess skin removed. IMO, I think your PS just didn't want to do it, and perhaps you should consider getting a 2nd opinion. There are many surgeons out there who think women want breasts at any cost,,,, well, they need to wake up and smell the coffee cuz many of us don't want multiple surgeries and possible complications.Sorry if I sound rough,,, it just irritates me that he told you it couldn't be done.
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I completely agree with you. I was rather taken back that he said no. I have not yet made a final decision but have decided to seek out a second opinion so will keep you updated on what I learn.
Amy
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Dear AmyQ, we'd suggest you have a look at All things bras & prosthesis under the "Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy " forum where these are discussed in detail re what works, what is new and where to buy. There are women there who have UMx but are certainly not skinny and are quite content being flat
The excess skin can easily be removed by a PS.
We wish you a comfortable flat time, if that is what you decide upon. It is your choice and no surgeon should force his opinions over your decision.
The Mods
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Hi Amy, I would urge you to seek out another opinion. That PS doesn't have your best interests at heart.
I read somewhere that about 54% of women, do not reconstruct after Umx or BMX. So these PS need to get with with the times and realize that there is a shift and women know they don't "need" to reconstruct, if they feel that's not right, for them.
I get so fired up too, like Glennie, when I hear about this railroading by these PS.
I am a Uni and have no regrets at all, with that decision. I knew recon would never be something, I would want. I did, however have a "Dog Ear" left after my surgery. I didn't blame my surgeon for that. He explained that it is simply the flesh that used to be pulled forward by the weight of the breast and once the breast is gone, especially if you are carrying any extra weight, it can be a bit pouchy. My problem was that there was what felt like a bundle of cut nerves inside that pouch and it irritated me a lot, not to mention how the pouch would sneak up and over the side of my bra. When I was seated and relaxed, it would sit like a shelf.
I asked my surgeon about removing that "Dog Ear" very early on and he had no problem with doing it, but I left it till about 15 months after my Umx, before I approached him again. He was happy to remove it and I even managed to talk him into doing it without a general anesthetic. He had never done it that way before, but I wasn't interested in having another anesthetic. The surgery took about 45 minutes and was done in his office. The scar is a continuation of my Mx scar, it added another 7 cm or about 3 inches, to the scar, but it was a great success. It is barely visible now and it is completely flat and smooth.
If you are interested in seeing the results of that surgery, there are pictures on breastfree.org which may give anyone with excess skin or Dog Ear, an idea of how it can be fixed and the results can be really good..
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Love this discussion!
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hi Amy and Ladies,
Some thoughts for everyone:
Yes, encapsulated implants...the body perceives these implants as a foreign object, an invader. Your immune system "encapsulates" them to protect your body from them. That's what I have learned. As you research more into this, studies are finding that implants are toxic even if they are not ruptured. Think about it, they are made of plastic/silicone material filled with silicone gel or saline. Even the plastic casing leaches into the warm body over time. We don't even want to eat out of plastic dishes anymore! Think of what having plastic /silicone in you all the time does to the body. These considerations along with the fact that the darn things are not "life time devices," according the FDA.gov website. The FDA estimates that, on average, women need to replace implants every 10 years for Heath safety reasons. My first PS told me 20 years! FDA is on the side of business so toxicity issues are probably worse than we think. You should see all the toxicity studies on the FDA website. All that data can be manipulated into what the company wants so I don't believe that these materials are harmless. They even admit to "low levels " of toxicity and heavy metals! Yikes! After having cancer, my health is my main concern, not how I look without clothes. I hope this helps stimulate more discussion!
Best,
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Thanks for this thread; you all have given me something to think about. I returned to the PS a couple of weeks ago to check a knot in my left breast. He will remove the knot next week. My left breast always feels tight and it's annoying. I've wondered about getting the implants removed and then I found this thread. Thanks again
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Love this website. Great discussions! -
hi Sodie,
Good that you have found this topic and it has helped you a bit! I started this just for that reason because I felt I couldn't be the only one who decided to remove implants and there is really no place to talk about this! It's tough getting implant removal info from the PS. It's kind of like you have to know what you want before you go in the office and just tell them that you want them out. Most of them don't take kindly to making women flat- it's just against their whole philosophy when it comes to breast cancer and reconstruction. Good luck with whatever you decide. Let us know what happens with the PS.
Best,
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Well, it appears my PS isn't at all interested in removing or redoing my implants. He promised, over a week ago, to call me with surgical dates in January however I have yet to hear from him. I'll give him to the end of the year, then I'm off to find a new PS who will do what I want. I think he must view me as a failure which he doesn't want anything to do with...at least that's how I'm reading his silence.
I will keep you all posted on what I find out from a new PS and what I decide.
Amy
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I just read through this thread since I'm also thinking of removing my implants. I have been flat during a year before I had my TE's and the "permanent" implants that I have now, and during the "flat" year wasn't bothered at all about my "breast area". I've gone through a lot of procedures, and had my "permanent" implants 4 months ago but don't feel comfortable with them at all. It's weird but I actually liked the TE's much more. They were hard but besides that they had a very good shape and I liked how they felt just being there. I am thinking of going back to my PS to ask him to either remove these permanent ones and be flat, OR to put back something that is as close to the TE's as possible. But another option that I'm thinking about more and more would be to have the implants in front of the muscle. But I've never heard of reconstruction patients having that, but it must be possible right?? If you would add some grafted fat to it, wouldn't it be an option as good as any?
Well, I just wanted to share my thoughts with you ladies. I miss my real breasts, and I miss the times when the breast area wasn't felt all the time, as it is now.
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AmyQ-I feel for you and yes another opinion might be the best way to go. Some PS are more concerned about law suits than their patients comfort. I wish I had never had an implant. Feb 2006 saline 250mls only as I was super skinny at age 58. The chest tightness and sensitivity was a problem from the start. Now I have these dog ears referred to in another post . I am totally lopsided as my normal side has expanded and drooped so I have to wear a " full "sized bra w/the implant side much smaller and under arm flaps look awful. As I am older and a presumed no surgeon would touch it. After reading some discussion here I may try to get a referral to just get the implant removed. Being older I expect resistance. My late MIL had mastectomy many years ago w/out any reconstruction and her ROM was not affected at all and she had been a full busted lady.She passed in her 80s after a broken hip. We need more female PS who might understand the discomfort more.Its not just about looks is it.
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GrammyR, thanks for the discussion.
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hi Amy,
Yes, go for another opinion. That may be just the thing tI get you out of being "stuck" with the present situation. I was so glad that I went for another opinion- it really helped me be decided and positive about what I really wanted which was getting the implants out. I went into the procedure happily after that.
Keep us posted!
Best,
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Grammy,
Don't give up about what you want. You know, women have to get implants replaced at an age older than you. People have surgery, much more serious at ages older than you. The good thing is the breast area is not a vital organ. It would be nice for you to be able to live your life in more comfort in the breast area. I would go see an experienced PS, maybe someone a little older who would have some empathy for where you are and what you have been through. The PS that I really liked and did my explanation was younger than me but he was at least around 45. I felt he had a better view of life and things and may be why he was totally open to removing my implants because that's what I wanted. He did present other alternatives which I said thanks but no thanks to. In the end, he was happy to do what I wanted and he did seem to understand.
Best,
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Duvan - It is so interesting that you have experienced all sides of it. I know if I did not I initially have the implants I would have always wondered what it was like. This is a great and much needed thread. Thanks all!
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hi Duvan,
I know they put the implants inside my muscle because I was not a candidate for them on top of the muscle. From what I understand, they do a test during the procedure to test the skin for blood vessel flow and other considerations about the area. I was told that my skin area would not have supported implants on top of the muscle. They are more secure inside the muscle in a "pocket." The doc also said that I had ptosis which is droopy breasts. If you have that, a consequence of age, there is less blood flow to the breast area under the skin. I think the younger you are the better chance of having implants right on top of the muscle. Correct me if I'm wrong ladies! I know that the PS can do anything. My PS is a specialist in microsurgery but not all PS are so I would ask that first of all. Maybe they can move blood vessels and fat to the area to make your skin area stronger, I don't know. The question is how many procedures do you want to go through for breasts. I know that fat graphing stuff requires a full week in the hospital with the risk of infection or the area dying making the whole thing mute. Maybe the risk is worth it to save a heart but is it worth it for breasts? Maybe it is for some as it is such and individual decision. Maybe someone knows more about implants on top of the muscle and can offer more information for you?
Best,
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Before I had my lumpectomy, we briefly discussed mastectomy, and my breast surgeon was describing to me how they would place a tissue expander in with a view to implants, as if it were a given!
The thought of implants was (and is) totally abhorrent to me. Yes I know some women are very happy with theirs, but my body doesn't seem to do well with "foreign material", and personally I didn't think the look would be appropriate for me, or fancy anything about them really. She told me immediate flap reconstruction was not really an option due to the difficulties in lining up operating room time with all the staff needed and that the PS in the area all had long wait lists, and time was of the essence for my cancer and yada-yada-yada.
In the end we did a partial mastectomy, or wide local excision, which worked very well .... except when we got the path results, I had positive margins both ends, so was booked for a mastectomy (next day, as they had a cancellation!) with no further discussion about recon! ......., but I guess she remembered our conversation, as I was left flat, with a bit of a dog-ear. That was December 2 years ago.
So I thought, let's see how we get on being flat, but I have one big uni-boob, which I loath, and my chest has never been comfortable in "proper bras" with my silicone prosthesis, I think partly due to truncal lymphedema. I've been wearing those Genie Bra things with a weighted foamie prosthetic, which does nothing to support my big heavy "righty". Anyway .... I thought I gave flatness a try, so now I am booked for a flap reconstruction Jan 6 . I am having a prophylactic Mx and bilateral flaps.
I am nervous about how the surgery will go .... I have a history of DVT/PE during chemo! .... and afraid of flap failure ...... but if all else fails I would opt for bilateral flatness I think, rather than implants. My main aim at this point is to be at least somewhat symmetrical, and both psychologically and physically comfortable!
So, ..... deep breath ...... wish me luck!
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good luck morwenna!
Yes, symmetrical is good and I can see your wanting that. I know some do really well with a uniboob and a prosthesis but not all. Let us know how you fare.
Best,
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I think the powers that be are directing me to complete removal of my implants. Met my Onc this week who said putting implants on top of pec muscles is a very bad idea. She said in the unlikely but still real possibility that C returns in the breast area, the implants will impede the discovery by scanning. The C would have to be quite large by the time it was discovered, therefore she suggested I not consider this as an option. My Onc is the one who provided the name of a PS she likes so I'm still planning on seeing him for a second opinion. Anyway, she has pointed out a fact I would never have thought of so thought I'd share and see if anyone else has considered or has experience with this.
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Sounds like wise counsel to me AmyQ. The one thing I appreciate about the sub pec implants is that any tissue that remains is up front. I don't know if I'll ever get off hi-center with my decision. Maybe I just need something to obsess about. When other problems come in and out of my life I don't even notice the implants. Hope you're staying warm. I think you sent us some of your cold weather!
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Farmerlucy, I'm in Mexico this week working on one of my weddings so fortunately avoided windchill of minus 40 below. Sorry you are cold.
You bring up a good point. When I'm busy or preoccupied I don't notice my implants as much. It's the down time that really gets to me. I am looking forward to the second opinion and will report back. Stay warm!
Amy
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Mexico?? Nice,,, good break from the weather! -
AmyQ,
Mexico-one word-jealous. So cold here, like living in your freezer. Can't be healthy. Get me outta here! At least without implants I'm not so cold. I found them very cold in the winter. M
You are on the right track to figuring out what you want to do. Yes, I do believe that implants might cover up detection of future cancers(not going to happen too you!) I also know that implants on the surface of the muscle are subject to sagging and are just not as secure as in the muscle. They are somewhat protected by the muscle against damage. That said, I'm glad I don't have them anymore. For me, they were not a good decision. I thank my lucky stars every day that I had the motivation to have them out- ASAP. If they are not bothering you, then I can see waiting. They bothered me everyday plus I had toxicity concerns. Keep us posted about your PS appointment. It's so interesting to follow your progress through this. So much for us all to learn. Thanks for sharing.
Best,
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Bettyboops, My implants bother me daily, constantly! Which is why I want them removed, forever. I have my second opinion on February 9th so I'm anxious to find out what the new PS says and will make a decision from there. Of course, I'll report back.
Hugs to you all
Amy
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