IMPLANTS REMOVED: YAY!

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited December 2016

    Hi Nancy,

    I haven't had to deal with a situation like yours, but I just wanted to say I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I'm glad your surgeon has a PS ready to do whatever is needed to make sure you have adequate skin to replace what is removed. Since much of the already-irradiated skin will be removed, hopefully upcoming radiation won't be too bad. Wishing you all the best.

  • hsant
    hsant Member Posts: 790
    edited December 2016

    Nancy, prayers and positive thoughts out to you for an easy surgery and recovery. It's understandable that you want to go flat Given your history.

    I choose not to have recon. because I didn't want any extra complications. I've been flat for almost 1 1/2 years, and I'm very happy with my decision.

  • mebmarj
    mebmarj Member Posts: 380
    edited January 2017

    Need some advice and insight. About 13 years ago dx with IDC, TN. Had lumpectomy, chemo and rads.

    New primary came up so I had mastectomy with prophy mast 6 years ago. Delayed bilateral recon 1 year later to TEs, then implants. I ended up with symmastia and capsular contraction.

    Went to get that fixed almost 2 years ago. Had the symmastia corrected, new TEs placed. It was a slow process to expand. Had exchange in June. Things seemed good. By the end of September my previously radiated side started to harden. Since then I have been on singulairand Vitamin E. Seems to have migrated toward my armpit. Tender under that one side. Had numb fingers on the hand and pain going down the arm. Trouble sleeping comfortably too. Tried neurontin, but can't tolerate how it makes me feel. told my dr that I think he's great, but my body just can't do this anymore.

    I'm done. Going to have these implants removed within the next week. Going to have drains. Taking off work about a month. I know this is what I have to do for my comfort and my body's dislike of the implants.

    Any thoughts appreciated.

  • Lezza13
    Lezza13 Member Posts: 957
    edited January 2017

    Mebmag Sorry you had to go through all those problems with your implants. I had to keep implants that I despised for over a year. I was miserable too, i think you are making a great decision for yourself. Taking off work with those drains is a great idea a nice time for yourself. I too decided to go flat for my own comfort. Please be happy with going forward with how much better you will feel without them. Best of luck with your surgery. It's been 3 years now BTW. Hope you have a speedy and easy recovery.



  • mebmarj
    mebmarj Member Posts: 380
    edited January 2017

    Thanks for the reply. From our perspective I have a question. I was wondering about the muscle though- does it just slowly relax down after having the implant removed?

  • momaton
    momaton Member Posts: 780
    edited January 2017

    I am 4 1/2 months out from implant removal. Couldn't be happier. The muscle thing is kinda strange though. When I get up in the morning its like the muscle and skin has to move back when I am in upright position? Only takes a minute but is noticeable. As time goes by it is better. I really like being flat. Soooo much more comfortable. I would say yes the muscle does go back. I think my surgeon put a few stiches in where I had some encapsulation and had to remove a bit of muscle. That area is still a little painful at times, but no big deal.

    best wishes

    Eve

  • mebmarj
    mebmarj Member Posts: 380
    edited January 2017

    thank you. Will check back after surgery this week. Fingers crossed.

  • momaton
    momaton Member Posts: 780
    edited February 2017

    good luck mebmarj

    Give the healing some time. I didn't really want to be flat but now I love it.

    Had to force myself to see my new self. Not so bad. I just keep thinking I did all I could to avoid another recurrence.

    Keep in touch

    Eve


  • mebmarj
    mebmarj Member Posts: 380
    edited February 2017

    surgery went well. Dr thinks I may have a clot in one side due to swelling. Still draining but he seemed very puzzled by it. Irrigated that sideand felt a little "pop" so keeping fingers crossed. My upper back feels so much better already.

  • momaton
    momaton Member Posts: 780
    edited February 2017

    glad to hear surgery went well and that you are more comfortable. Take it easy.

    Best wishes,

    Eve

  • mariajose7
    mariajose7 Member Posts: 12
    edited July 2017

    Hi, I'm having a hard time finding someone who has had an implant removed and not replaced. I had the reconstruction (saline under muscle) with the mastectomy. It has been painful and I hate it, and I just found out that it is contracted, and has been for the last 12 years!! I thought the pain and discomfort was normal.

    Yesterday I went to a ps to see about having it removed. she said i should have it replaced (with a smaller one, to make it the same size as my other natural breast) but no garentee that it wont contract again. I asked about having it only removed and not replaced, and she said no, no explinations. I got nervous and said yes. I thought she was saying it isnt possible to not replace it as the muscle will be stretched out.

    its very small as I am only an A cup, although the ps who first did it made it a bit bigger than the other, so I could have the other enlarged, this she told me AFTER the serguery! I didn't have the other enlarged (if it aint broke..)

    I have never had a problem with the aesthetic side of all this, since I was so small anyways, just more the practical, clothes fitting, finding a mastectimy bra my size, etc.

    I'm 55 and DON'T want to do any more surgery than necessary. If I have a replacement, there is a chance for problems.

    They havent called me with the surgery date yet so I called and said I only want the removal. The receptionist was rather grouchy about it, and the doctor will be on vacation until before the surgery date. So I don't know where I'm at.

    How is your recovery now? was your implant very big? Do you know where to find more information? When I look everything I found was about explanting after enlargement, not reconstruction after mastectomy with no breast tissue.

    I feel very alone in this, I don't have anyone to talk to, my husband was angry that I agreed to have it replaced as he knows how much I hate it.

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

  • ravzari
    ravzari Member Posts: 277
    edited July 2017

    mariajose7 if you don't want it replaced and just want to explant, and your current surgeon refuses to do that, it's time to find a new surgeon.

    Unfortunately, you'll have to be your own advocate on this and, whether you're nervous or not, not agree to procedures you don't want and if the surgeon won't bend and/or won't explain why they're declining to do just an explant, find another surgeon who is capable of doing the procedure you want.

    A big red flag for any surgeon (or doctor) is someone who gets angry or evasive if you start to question what they want to do; a decent surgeon or doctor shouldn't ever be offended, evasive, angry, pushy, etc...if you have questions, concerns, or doubts about your treatment or a procedure.

    Explantation is not uncommon and there is no good reason, aside from the surgeon having never done an explantation without replacement before and not knowing how to do such a procedure, that the surgeon should decline doing an explant.

    The main thing they'd want to do after the explantation is also remove any excess skin so you're not left with empty skin flaps on your chest if you don't plan to do any further reconstruction. Not all surgeons are skilled with doing that and leaving things as clean and smooth as possible, but a good surgeon would admit that to you and recommend you look for a different surgeon in that case, not just get pushy or tell you you "can't" just explant.

    In some cases, for under the muscle implants, they may also suture the muscle back onto the chest wall. Again, that's not something all surgeons have experience with but, as before, a good surgeon would tell you that and not try to tell you that you "can't" just explant.

    The main difference you'd have with a mastectomy reconstruction as opposed to a breast augmentation explant is that, as you have no breast tissue, you'd need to have the extra skin removed as part of the procedure so you're not left with empty skin flaps.


    Some surgeons leave the capsule when doing an explant, others don't; you'd want to discuss the pros and cons of leaving the capsule vs. removing it with the surgeon or, if you just want it all out, tell them you want the implant and capsule removed.

  • mariajose7
    mariajose7 Member Posts: 12
    edited July 2017

    Thank you so much ravzari. . Here in Spain we have private and public health. I went to the private, and can shop around for another PS. With the public health I'm not even going to try!

    Doctors here don't like the patients to know anything, but if you go armed with information they will usually explain (after insisting). Knowing what you explained here helps me a lot.

  • mariajose7
    mariajose7 Member Posts: 12
    edited August 2017

    Can anyone help please? I'm having the explant (and NO replacement) on sept 5th. I am a teacher and my students start the 7th, doctor said I wouldn't be ready by then but yes by the 11 sept to work. Is this realistic?

    Also what do I wear right after surgery? can I wear a normal bra with a knitted knocker when I go to work on the 11th (6 days after op)?? If anyone has experience with this I would appreciate it. I am starting to panic and realize I'm not prepared, don't want the kids to know, and want to wear normal clothes (uniform actually) .

    It is a private hospital and they wont give me anything to wear after sergury, I would have to go and buy whatever I need.

    I can't find info for post op after explant of an implant which was reconstruction after mastectomy. The ones i can find are women who had explant after enlargement, and still have breasts.

    Any help would be appreciated, thanks,

  • mariajose7
    mariajose7 Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2017

    had the implants out today. Im feeling great! was in and out of the hospital in 3 hours. so far very little pain, drainage bottle. but otherwise i feel fine. Just wanted to let anyone else undergoing same thing , I know each case and each person is different, but for me day 1 and all ok. Since I didn't have a sports bra, they forgot to tell me to have one, they just wrapped me up. have appt tomorrow with PS so hopefully take out drainage.


  • kae_md99
    kae_md99 Member Posts: 621
    edited November 2017

    has anyone removed a pre

    pectoral implant

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited November 2017

    Mariajose, welcome to the flat side! ;) Glad to hear that you are doing well.

  • kae_md99
    kae_md99 Member Posts: 621
    edited December 2017

    hi all,


    will the surgeon remove the alloderm if you explants? thanks

  • Buildermom
    Buildermom Member Posts: 7
    edited December 2017

    I had TE's after double mastectomy in March 2017. I am 13 months out from initial diagnosis. After much thought and soul searching I have decided to halt all further recon and have expanders removed. I just feel like its right for me. I don't like the feel and just feel like my decision was made when I was in fight or flight mode. May not be the right choice for everyone, but it's the right decision for me.

  • mariajose7
    mariajose7 Member Posts: 12
    edited December 2017

    Hi, it is a personal choice. but I was rather flat chested to begin with, so not really loosing much (psychologicly) . but I was pressured into having reconstruction at same time as mastectomy, I didn't know what it was like without to compare. I HATED it, the expansor was really unconfortable. FINALLY after 10 years of uncomfortable (didnt know it was contracted) I got it out. I am sooo happy I did.

    "just feel like my decision was made when I was in fight or flight mode."

    Thats sooo true!! Although its necessary, when someone is going through all that stress and worry, its really not a good time for decisions. I was also convinced to spend $500 for a wig that I never used.

    This site is so helpful with so many wonderful women who can share their experiences!

    I wish you well with all.

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited December 2017

    Mariajose, ditto on the wig. Such a total rip-off. They told me it was so expensive, because it was a "medical" wig. It was just a wig, and like you I never used it.

  • notthrilled
    notthrilled Member Posts: 28
    edited January 2018

    I am wrestling with whether to remove my silicon implants but I really hate the idea of going through this all over again. I am 5 months from exchange and today the implants are very uncomfortable and I am hugging a pillow every night. I've had a couple of months of physical therapy. I am so angry at the PS for sugarcoating the process, and at the hospital for not providing an alternative point of view. Pretty much all the websites do the same, even this one. You will note that the recovery time after final implants is said to be 2 weeks (my PS quoted this to me too) ! Really? I wonder what their definition of recovery is. Yes, we were all in fight or flight mode, but its not our fault. Even if you asked the right questions you got misrepresentations. No one tells you how uncomfortable implants can be (I feel like I am wearing internal tupperware if I do anything physical with my arms), or that you may have to wear a bra 24/7 for the rest of your life. One of the reasons I chose not to go flat was to not have to wear an uncomfortable bra. Ha ha. I understand that there are different reactions and different directions on bra v. no bra, but they do not even mention this issue (my PS is a "full support bra every day person".and I need to wear one at night for some comfort too). I am going to hold on for a while yet, but I would never put these things back in if they had to come out at this point. Sorry for the rant. I am curious to know how strong your pecs are after explant, I want to be able to push a wheelbarrow (which is what I told them my goal was from the beginning).


    I have an intermittent light rash ever since dmx, a previous poster said they had an undiagnosed low grade infection, I am wondering about that. Anyone else have that?

  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited January 2018

    I have not had mine removed but I threatened to a million time those first six months. No kidding. Anytime I engaged my pecs it hurt like crazy. It did get better and by six months out it improved faster. I'm six years out and I can feel them but I don't notice unless I think about it. I think they are starting to get scar tissue build up and a tad deformed. I'm not really sure why you are required to wear a bra. I would imagine after you heal from the exchange you won't have to. I did not lose any strength and I do outdoor work several hours a day with no problem

  • kae_md99
    kae_md99 Member Posts: 621
    edited January 2018

    notthrilled

    i am 3 1/2 months out and i threathened to remove them a million times. my issue is the weight. they are heavy to me. i cannot wear a bra as i am so uncomfortable in them. i have tried.. now i am on the lookout for camis with built in bra. .. i am going to wait it out as i have other issues now. sorry for your discomfort. i have mine pre pectoral so no issue with pectoral muscles. i too feel that i was not informed on a lot of things about recon..

  • notthrilled
    notthrilled Member Posts: 28
    edited January 2018

    Thanks so much for giving me hope that it will get better farmerlucy (I want to get back to driving my horse :)) I am supposed to wear a bra to make sure things don't move around much - they dropped anyway, but I think that looks normal (especially if I bend over they push on the upper part of the pecs and then things really hurt) and sleeping is just uncomfortable without some support even though I am only a B-C.


    Kae, I know what you mean, I've tried so many camisoles and bras. There is a thread on bras that might be of help to you. there are some links on different kinds of cami's, including a link for fuller figures.

  • reneeCA
    reneeCA Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2018

    hi Notthrilled, I haven't been on in a while but wanted to say how much this sucks. I'm 15 months post BMX. I can barely slice a baguette due to my pectoral muscles and shoulders being so messed up. I had to buy a smaller car with better turning radius because I couldn't drive my mom carpool SUV without pain. I just had surgery to repair one of my pecs which had been detached up to the 2nd rib in surgery. New PS sewed pecs back to chest wall. Huge improvrm but I fear my range of motion will never be the same.

  • aweate
    aweate Member Posts: 53
    edited March 2018

    Hi! I just had surgery March 1st 2018. Preventative Bilateral mastectomy due to family history. I had the benefit of months of research and opted to heal once and move on with my life with family and friends. I just got my first prostheses and bra (from amazon; lol) and I love them. I will get my fancy pair by prescription in a couple months feom my brest surgeon. As far as going out I went to Applebees today and wore a vest. No one would ever have know. I know scarves and patterns will be my friend but not as important as my real friends who won't care any way. There are so many more options for tops with small prostheses and I am so excited. I could never have worn anything like them with my big ole double D's. I am a new and better me! No more laying in mri machines or being worried about biopsies.

  • reneeCA
    reneeCA Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2018

    aweate, so impressed you are out 7 days post-op. You are healing so quickly! Wise move to stick with 1 surgery

  • kae_md99
    kae_md99 Member Posts: 621
    edited May 2018

    hi all,

    i know this is an old thread but can you tell me the recovery time for removal of implants?thanks

  • reneeCA
    reneeCA Member Posts: 45
    edited May 2018

    HI Kae

    Did you remove your implants and go flat? There are 2 great Facebook pages: My Flat Friends and Flat and Fabulous that have a lot of info about explanting. I think about removing mine all the time even though the pre-pec diminished some of my pain. I'm curious how you are doing now? If I explant they will have to remove the implant (and scar capsule I guess) off the skin, My right prophy skin was butchered in the mastectomy and has no subcurtaneous fat layer. A bit worried about how that would peel off the implant.

    Hope you mending quickly!

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