Do implants get cold while outside in northern climates?

Hello Aluap,

I have had bilateral silicone implants for I think three and a half years now. To answer your question bluntly...yes, yes, yes ! they get super chilly outside in the winter. I live in Maine and I too enjoy outside activities in the winter. I am a runner, yes year round, 10 degrees I dont care...lol and I enjoy snowshoeing and skiing. It can be bothersome but I have learned how to compensate.....Here is what I do....dress in layers and then I slip a handwarmer pack between the implants not next to the skin but between layers..It seems to work pretty well. I have an electric blanket on my bed and have no problem sleeping on my front. I would guess this would be affected by how large the implants are. I opted for my natural C cup. I dont regret getting the implants overall, the temp is annoying, at times but for me the benefit outweighs this. I also enjoy summer water activities and running of course! I am not super vain but I do enjoy wearing my bikini, running tops and tees with confidence....I can even get away with not wearing anything under summer dresses etc where you would not want a bra strap to show. They do make you a bit more bouyant at well lol.....I lift weights as well, and I have to admit this is a bit weird. The pec muscle is over the implants so when I lift the muscle "grabs" the implant it does not hurt just feels weird. After all this time I have gotten used to it. It is a big decision and a personal one. I dont regret it and have had a good cosmetic result. The process in hard but I would do it again. I hope some of this helps.. Good luck in your decision. Hugs...

Gully

Here's some gotchas that I didn't know about until after they put the TEs in.

1) you have to massage them all the time. calcifications can and do happen where the scar tissue becomes hard around them if you don't constantly break up that scar tissue. Capsular contraction is a thing. I would have HATED having to rub these numb mounds in my muscles, ick. They never told me about the massage portion.

2) You have to replace them every decade. That's a lot of surgeries

3) you have a chance of getting ALCL from them, particularly gummies. And while rare, they are now finding out that ALCL is occurring more than previously thought.

4) They reduce your pec muscle strength. Think about it. YOu are basically shredding your muscle in half like a sandwich and putting these balloons inside. Some women I've spoken to don't have the power they did.

5) Infection and rejection is a thing.

6) They can pop and or poison your system... toxic implants are a thing.

7) Some women report they feel like hard bowls stuck to their chest.

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I got my TEs out due to pain and am thrilled being flat now. I even look better.

Thanks MinusTwo- I'm about to go through the process so appreciate everyones perspective! Good to know about the cold (yes- I get cold in Calif lol).

Just jumping in with the massaging thing; when I was looking into deciding whether or not I wanted recon I found out the following:

When to do regular massage to help prevent scar tissue build up:

- If you have smooth, round, under the muscle implants.

- It doesn't have to be done all the time, but if you're prone to building thick scar tissue or if you've had a capsular contracture in the past, it's usually recommended to do a daily massage around the implant pocket/muscle itself. There are tons of instructional videos on Youtube that demonstrate it.

- If they're over the muscle, it's usually not necessary but, if you're prone to forming thick scar tissue or have had a capsular contracture in the past, some PSes will still recommend it to help lessen the chance.

When NOT to massage:

- If you have anatomical implants; it can cause them to flip sideways or upside down, which is VERY noticeable and usually requires surgery to permanently fix again (though you can 'flip' them back the right way, they'll likely rotate again). Unlike round, the anatomical ones have a distinct top and bottom to them.

- If you have textured implants; they're designed to allow for tissue to form around them without usually causing issues.

I will jump in as well. I'm with Minus Two and most of you.

Yes, implants get cold in the winter. I am a runner. I run and/or walk every day no matter what the weather. I have never been uncomfortable, and I am a person who is ALWAYS cold.

You only massage them if PS tells you to. Follow what your doctor says.

They do not need to be replaced every decade. My PS said that with current implants, the life expectancy of them is easily twice that. I told him I hope I'm around long enough to test that!

ALCL: .1-.3 per 100,000 cases; not exactly common. My PS did mention it though, so I appreciate full disclosure.

Pec muscle strength: TEs and implants are very, very different. TEs feel like bricks. Implants are soft and feel like pillows. Full disclosure here that I had horrible burning with rads and do have excessive scar tissue that has caused my one implant to become hard. Nevertheless, I do have good pec muscle strength. I enjoy mud runs, and can crawl under things, climb ropes, etc. I am a firefighter and can start and operate chainsaws, operate heavy hydraulic tools, carry heavy hoses, and carry people. I have to be able to crawl under and over things while wearing gear that weighs almost as much as me. Did I have to work at it? Yes. Do I work out every day to maintain it? yes. Can you regain your strength? Yes. Am I 100% as strong as I was in 2013? No. I am also 4 years older and now menopausal.

Infection can happen, and the more surgeries you have, the increased likelihood. This goes with any and all reconstruction (and any surgery for that matter). Since my harder one is a little higher after rads, my PS said we could do surgery, if I really wanted, on the non affected side to lift it to match the other. I thanked him, but said a sports bra does the same thing without the risk of infection. He agreed that was the wiser choice. If you are looking for perfection, you may be disappointed. I don't look perfect, but I didn't before BC. I do look better now than I did before BC now, so even my fir, slightly uneven breasts are an improvement.

Toxic implants popping: Recent research on the implants they use now doing this and causing problems????????? I'd like to see some. If my implants don't pop with me crawling through the places I do wearing an air pack, most others are pretty safe. I did bring this up when exploring reconstruction options.

Hard bowls stuck to their chest: TEs? Yes. Implants? No. They are comfortable and I do not notice them.

Reconstruction options are very individual. Many people like flap surgeries, implants are a good choice for some (including me), others use a prosthetic and are happy with that, and many others choose no reconstruction and are happy. Ultimately you have to make the decision that best fits you and your lifestyle.

Both my breast are reconstructed one implant the other flap surgery. My implant side usually feel the same temperature to touch.

Like many before have said everyone is different and yes some have complication, but for every 1 complication there Are thousands of women who have had none or very minor complications. People always share bad experiences and very few share their great experiences. Reconstruction is a very personal decision and everyone has to do what is right for them.

I personally have had no complications to speak of and am very pleased.

I love the snow also. Just got back from a ski trip to Colorado and it was fabulous. I wore a thick sports bra and an extra camisole to keep my gummie implants warm. Tamoxifen is keeping me so hot, I really don't mind the cold boobs. ⛷

3bears I just noticed we have a similar diagnosis. You are going to be fine...all this is very doable! I had a bilateral mastectomy (onco DX 38) with reconstruction with very little complications. I can't sleep on my stomach anymore, but that's better for our complexion anyway, right?