I had breast implants put in place over 30 years ago. Mine were for ego. Hopefully, my experience that I can share will help someone who has the same questions about implants, removal, recovery.

Last year when I had the bilateral lumpectomies, I chose to have the implants removed. They had been leaking, they had ruptured, and they were hard as a rock. The plastic surgeon that worked with the general surgeon who did the bilateral lumpectomy’s (one OR experience) has done a really good job of putting my breasts back together, moving my nipples and removing the excess skin from the stretched breast.

Yes I did have drains for a period of time. They were more an inconvenience than a pain or problem. Yes, there was a limit on weights I could lift. However, being a planner, I had figured out how to run my household with the weight lifting limits. That turned out to be a non-problem for me.

I’ve been using silicone gel on the incisions and that has helped reduce the scarring. I went from a D+ cup to perhaps a B/C cup now. I like the way my smaller breasts look - perky. My healing has, thankfully, come along very nicely. Overall, I am really glad that I had to the implants removed and the reconstruction surgery done.

I had bilateral BC and bilateral reconstruction with silicone “gummy” implants in 2017. I had asked if I could look exactly as I was—I was happy with my natural look and aging and wanted to fit into my prettiest bra. I do look exactly the same and very pretty enough to have granted permission for photos to be used on the reconstruction website. But I don’t think they ever dropped and fluffed the way it was explained. One side is softer than the other. It could be from the way I sleep or it could be that the left side was always slightly bigger and that was taken into account possibly during reconstruction. As a result of getting my exact look which is a modest size but somehow my B/C cup with a 32” band translated to a D after the surgery and ,yes, I fit into that bra. I probably should have gone smaller than I was and would still have looked the same. I too feel a tight band and the lower part is very cold and has less feeling. Every physician that has seen them says they are too tight and I look natural until I start moving. I think they are too tight because I have very little upper body fat anywhere (arms, chest, back etc.) I am always aware of that left side implant. I went back when the the implants were taken off the market because of secondary illness and cancer and was told that it would be rare and since I am now on Medicare there is only 1 approved implant which I wouldn’t be happy with and he also couldn’t guarantee how I would look. So! The natural parts of me are aging but the implants look lovely if all I do is look at them. In extremely cold temperatures they start to twitch on their own! Towards evening my bras feels way too tight (not just the pretty one.) I get an MRI every year as my cancer screening and to check the integrity of the implants. So I am also taking it 1 step at a time.

Those of you who have mentioned the drains…I had 2 drains post mastectomy but not post reconstruction so my guess is that removal is complicated and similar to mastectomy. The drains were not bad at all and were removed after a week so don’t let that hold you back if you want the implants out. You just have to empty the bulbs which will contain wound fluid.
I was only limited to not lifting for a short time. My incisions are underneath so not visible or tender. I have not reached the point where I want them out. They are uncomfortable though. Hope this helps.

Hi, All: I am still thinking about getting the silicone implants removed. Upon exam with the 2nd consult last month, surgeon said it seems I don't have any complications such as rupture, leaking or implant moving around. As the surgeon suggested, I started stretching again and it helps alot. The implants just feel plain uncomfortable. I am wondering if the tightness and odd feelings (random sharp pains) I have are related more to the latissimus dorsi part of the reconstruction? Perhaps phantom pains? The recalled silicone implants made me a C/D cup. The surgeon said after removal I may be a B cup. I was a B cup before my breasts became dense and got bigger, so that will be fine with me but the surgeon seems concerned I won't be happy with the cosmetic outcome. I have not had any MRI or other scans to actually see what is going on inside. I have terrible claustrophobia and even open MRI is torture.
Has anyone out there had their implants removed and are ok with the outcome? Will my chest look collapsed? As I said earlier, the reconstructed breasts look beautiful, so I almost feel guilty for complaining. Any further feedback is appreciated. : )