(click on the link to my pics in my signature)

Hi everyone. I haven't been around in a while since my surgeries and am wondering if I could ask your opinion on something?

I had a very successful result from my BA and have been quite happy, however recently I have begun to wonder about explantation. My reasons are due to the slight capsular contraction I have on the left side which is making my breasts appear increasingly uneven (you can see this in my pics, I was always a bit uneven, but am more so now). I realise I could get this fixed, but it would mean another surgery which I want to avoid. Secondly, a close friend has just got breast cancer and it has brought to the surface my concerns about self examination and how I am unable to do this sufficiently with my silicone overs. Thirdly, I'm quite a small person and I feel as if smaller breasts would suit me more as I grow older. I'm a bit sick of the busty look on myself, however I still want to appear feminine.

So, looking at my before pics, what do you think I'd end up looking like? I will have a breast lift too, but am concerned I will be really really small afterwards. I'd be happy with a B-C, but not an A. Has anyone had a similar experience they would be willing to share with me?

Thank you so much!

Ouch... If it was me, I would definitely NOT get them taken out. You look so good now. I think you would be very disappointed with the look afterwards. You do not look too busty. My vote is a big NO...

I think your transformation is amazing. I think you will be very sorry if you remove your implants. My implants have been out for 3 months because of infection around the implant, and it has been one of the hardest times in my life. They will be put back in tomorrow. After they removed the implants the skin was streached out. It sort of hangs in places. I considered having a lift with no implants but decided that after the lift I would end up very small and possibly would not have enough skin for a implant if I changed my mind. You will lose tissue in both breasts when they remove the implants because of scar tissue. Trust me you will not look like your pictures before.

I see FANTASTIC results!!!

Decision is all yours luv...

My best...

Thank you so much for your responses (and nice comments! )

packedready, I was not planning on explanting without a lift as I know that I would have excess skin (I did to start with!). I did not know I would lose tissue in my breasts due to scarring, so thank you for letting me know that. I will ask my surgeon about it. I wish you well with your reimplant.

I think perhaps I posted this in the wrong forum? I am interested in hearing about people's BLs after explant (or not) so I guess the Mastopexy forum would have been best?

My guess is many women here don't explant. So you won't get much input on it. Someone had mentioned thermograms and digital mammograms being much better at detecting breast cancer than normal mommagrams and migt be something to look into regardless of which route you go.

I think you look beautiful, and would still look amazing with an explant plus a lift. But a lift migth prove more invasive then just an exchange.

Rini,

Oh my gosh! When I first saw your Avatar I didn't think that was 'you' and thought maybe you found it somewhere and were just using it as your pic. But then I saw your pics in your link....and they are 'you'!!

Wow! Those pics alone would sell me 100% that if I had the same situation beforehand to get the surgery. You look gorgeous!!! Man, anyone that poo-poos plastic surgery and says it's a vain and selfish thing to do just doesn't understand what it feels like to want to look DAMN SEXY...just as you do!!!

You look like two completely different people. I was actually going back and fourth making sure all the moles matched up to the after pics just to make sure those were both you LOL

Well....I see no uneveness with your boobs. We all have some uneveness and I know I do. My right is a wee bit higher and bigger than my left boob, but I'm good with it. If I ever have to have a revision, I will address it then and make sure I go a bit bigger with the left.

So as for you taking them out....is the hardness really bad that you HAVE to take them out?? I think some women have the contracture but it's not extensive and they opt to keep them in.

I guess I would look at it as, you're already going into another surgery to get them out....so why not just get the scar tissue removed and have them replaced...and possibly get unders instead of overs? That way you won't have to worry as much with breast exams?

I don't think you look 'too busty' at all! I think you look just right IMO.

Good luck with whatever you decide. And I don't think it would really matter if you stayed with the implants or left them out cuz you just look FAB overall!!

Okay, here is my story. Some may have heard it before

When I was 22 years old I was a small B/ full A. I had 275cc saline implants filled to 300cc. I LOVED having boobs for the first time and felt REALLY sexy.

Well, after a while I too started having the CC (mostly on right side) as well as being able to see the implant (very visual rippling) and feeling it. They became a little mishapen due to the CC and eventually the right side deflated.

I had to make a quick decision (because I had to get the empty bag out) whether or not to replace or explant. I chose to explant and get a lift.

It felt WONDERFUL to have them out. I even loved the size ( I was a way more confident person at this time).


Then, in the next year I became pregnant again and that change the result of the BL. I was saggy and floppy!

I knew I wanted a tummy tuck (2 c-section and large 2nd baby at 10 lbs 3.5 oz ) and with that I wanted a change in the boobs.

I wrestled and wrestled with another lift (or at least revised) or another BA. I chose a BA due to the new and improved silicone implants.

My boobs before, although appeared nice, didn't feel that way to me. I had divorced and was self conscious (sp?) of them when dating. I was nervous to get to the point if someone felt them. Luckily, my husband now didn't make me feel bad about them but also, didn't mind when I got them out .

HOWEVER... he certainly didn't mind when I got these! These feel completely natural and look completely natural. I am ecstatic about them.

I do have to say that if I had decided to just get the BL with the tummy tuck I would have been okay too. I probably would have been jealous though

But to just not have any sagging anywhere is great too!

So, that's my story. I am not the best writer so I hope I made all the points and you could follow along

It's ultimately a decision you have to make. You obviously will be smaller but you will also not be saggy like before.

Good luck to you!

One last thing...what size were you previous to this surgery and previous to the need for the first surgery?

examining your breast post implant every month is just as important as pre-implant for CA and you'll do this the same way as before. One just needs to get to know their new breasts and what isa 'normal" feel for them post BA.

CC is such an easy fix and almost no recovery.

neya, I have had an ultrasound on my breasts as a "check" because I am unable to check myself with the implants. Yes, that does work, but I don't want to live the rest of my life having to go in and have expensive ultrasounds every year.

Angela..hahahaha, you are too funny! Checking the moles? LOL You're also very sweet Yes, it is indeed me. My husband is a professional photographer, so the photos probably do look like they come from a magazine as that is what he does. But thanks, yes I am generally happy with the look of my body. Yes, I could have surgery to replace them and fix the CC, but I don't like surgery (who does??) and if I have them removed then I will never have to have another elective surgery. It's what I've been thinking about.

BrennaLou, thank you for sharing your story. My boobs have always been big. Before I had kids they were a 10D (have to figure out the American size...sorry!) and then after I breastfed, they were very saggy and "deflated" but still fit nicely into a 10D bra. Naked, however, they looked "granny" (as you can see in my before pics). Now, they would be more of a 10DD, so pretty much the same size (can still fit into some of my old bras) except much fuller on top and of course not wrinkly. I'm not planning on getting pregnant again (hubby has had a vasectomy), so if I have lift I hope it will stay looking great for many years!

Thanks again girls. I'm seeing the doc today for referrals so I'll let you know how I go

Rini, did you have your explant? I had mine last week and am 100% delighted with the results! No more implants for me....EVER! Also, I did NOT have a lift.

Hi. No, I have not had the explant yet, I have a surgery date for Jan 11th next year. My surgeon is going to explant with capsulectomy and then wait 4 or 5 months before I have the lift. Apparently this is the safest way to do it. I KNOW I will need a lift and my surgeon agrees, so I'm going to be looking pretty bad for those months

I'm so glad to hear yours went well and that you don't need a lift! Were yours unders or overs?

Rini, mine were "overs."

The best of luck to you Jan 11th!

I just had BA for 3 weeks and I have so much regret so I decided to remove them, but then found out I got pregnant before the surgery. i am thinking of explant next year after i have the baby. Any lady who had explantation, how long is the pain last? Is recovery easier than breast implant recovery? Can you lift a baby after one week?