Surgery to Remove Silicone Gel Inplants: What was your experience?

I had a ruptured silicone implant after 13 years in place. It was leaking and I was unaware. I became suddenly septic and was very ill and did not recover until the implant was removed. Recovery was complicated due to radiated skin. But eventually all was well!

Hi @tessspike Thank you so much for jumping into the conversation! It certainly shows me the importance of removing a ruptured silicon implant. How did they discover that your problem was the implant...did they do an MRI or ultrasound to check the implant? What was the removal surgery like? I assume they removed the capsule and scar tissue at the same time they removed the implant? Pain level, healing time, surgical drains? Thank you again for sharing your experience with me. It's very helpful to hear someone else's experience!

It was immediately obvious that it was the implant as the breast became suddenly red. I developed cellulitis due to my very hardened radiation damage. I was traveling, so the doctors tried to get me well enough with antibiotics to get to my surgeon at home. But I was too ill, and the surgeon removed the implant after several days of IV treatment. The surgery was a relief. I did have drains for several days. I was uncomfortable but not in a great deal of pain. Easily managed. I flew home from CA to TX on a Sunday after surgery on Friday! So I did well. Due to the radiation the wound did not heal and I needed months of wound treatment.

@tessspike I am so grateful you responded with your implant removal surgery experience! It helps me to know that you got through it without too much pain and you were able to travel home just a few days after the surgery. I know the radiated tissues really added to the complications. Did you have hyperbaric oxygen wound treatments after your removal surgery?
I am so thankful to know that you made it through such a challenging time and all is well now for you. ❤

Yes, I did 40 HBOT dives and a wound vac. Not fun but by God’s grace they were successful!

@tessspike 😊 I am so happy to hear that you had hyperbaric oxygen treatments and the wound vac... and it was successful! It sounds like you came through this very challenging time like a trooper. Your wonderful and warm spirit comes through your posts when you talk about your experience! Thank you again for being so open and supportive to me. ❤❤❤

I’m thankful if I could be of any encouragement. You will do well!

Has anyone having previous silicone breast implants that were leaking and removed, had mysterious health issues come about that are questionable to the silicone that leaked for years into their bodies ?
I am searching for guidance on diagnosis be it blood work, urine, cellular, etc. to determine if the silicone
or any part of the implants that could have been allergy or irritant etc. to better determine narrowing down or process of elimination finding the root of on going health conditions that I had not had prior to these leaking implants.
Thank you

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. : )