3 Failed Implants

Have you consider going flat? There are a ton of beautiful women rocking it... (Facebook: Flat and Fabulous) no more surgeries ever again and just a lot more freedom. You could ask your surgeon about removing the whole mess and cleaning you up.

I am so sorry this has happened to you again.

Maybe there are alternative types of reconstruction--a flap maybe? Fat grafting before an implant?

Oh, what we put our poor bodies through! I am so sorry you are having such a miserable experience with this. How many surgeries have you had? I had my breast reconstruction (right side mastectomy) done 27 years ago, with silicone implants, at a time when they were not really safe. Three years later, the implant was leaking, so I had saline implants put in on both sides. After all these years, the saline implant on the reconstructed side was leaking and was severely encapsulated. About a month ago, I had surgery to replace it, with a large incision for the replacement and a small incision to remove all the stubborn scar tissue and adhesions. The surgeon had a difficult time removing the old implant. This surgery really hurt! I am not a young cookie and do not heal as fast or as well as I did 27 years ago (but I am happy to be a long-term cancer survivor). Three weeks after the surgery, the doctor removed the stitches. The very next day the incision reopened--and I could see the implant. Apparently, my very thin tissue and loss of muscle could not support the new implant. So, more surgery last week to remove the new implant. Now I am flat again, still have stitches that need to be removed in a few weeks, and need at least 2 months or more to heal before the surgeon will even consider another implant. We are all different in how we see ourselves and what is important in our lives. For me, I hate being flat and concave. The fake breast made me feel whole. I have friends who have no problem with being flat on one or both sides; for them, it is just a flap of skin that covers something that was diseased and needed to be removed. Whatever you decide to do, please seek help and advice from friends and professionals who care about helping you. I will see another plastic surgeon for a 2nd opinion, after these stitches are removed. If I am able to have another implant, I will have the surgery, even in my late 70's. Most important of all is your own happiness. Please put yourself first.

pwalters and jancookz, we notice you are both new to our community and just want to extend a warm welcome to you, and thank you for sharing your experiences! We're all here for you!