Topic : How Plastic Surgery Has Changed My Life

I was thinking about getting mine done, but I've heard stories like this one, where your breast feels hard and firm. Is it true? I've seen pictures of some breast implants and they look very real and don't look at all hard or firm.

I recently had breast implants for breast reconstruction after mastectomy for breast cancer.  If not for the mastectomy, I would not have had the implants.  I was pretty flat-chested before, but I did fine with padded bras.

I really do like the results of the reconstruction.  The plastic surgeon is great.  Because of the mastectomy, it was a three-step process.  First, a tissue expander was placed on the side where the mastectomy was done...this was to stretch the scar tissue.  Next, the implants were placed on both sides (to make them match), and a breast lift was done on the breast that wasn't removed.  Last, I had a nipple graft, with skin from the groin.

I went from AAA to a B cup.  I wouldn't recommend getting "melons"...B cup is perfect.  On a recent visit to with my family, my sister said "nice rack".  I do look much better in clothes, and I look slimmer.

Be prepared, though, for a long recovery period.  I wasn't allowed to raise my arms for 6 weeks, and it is very painful for awhile.  Now that I have recovered, I have no more pain.

In the consultation, the plastic surgeon explains the process.  Ask to see his procedure book, where there are before and after pictures of women who have actually had the procedure done.  The pictures don't show anybody's face...just the torso.  Also, ask how many women he has done breast implants for.  Ask how many of the procedures he does per month.  It is important to have a surgeon who is experienced.  You might also ask the local general surgeon's office who they would recommend for plastic surgery.  Also, ask your general doctor.  Don't go to a doctor that your own doctor wouldn't recommend.  Be sure to ask lots of questions, and if you think of more questions later, don't hesitate to ask for another consultation to get your questions answered.  In the consultation, the doctor will want to see your breasts, and he/she will give you an idea of what can be done with them.

I got the new silicone implants...much more durable than the ones they used to use.  There are also saline implants available.  My silicone implants look and feel very natural...you would never know that I had implants.

I have scars at the bottom of my breasts, but they are hidden in the crease below the breasts.  The scars are painful still, when I wear a bra...which I have to wear 24/7 for awhile, to let the breasts form the "scar pockets" that hold the implants in place within the breasts.  I never could wear underwire bras..very painful.  Now, the underwire bras are forbidden for several months.  There are plenty of nice bras out there that don't have underwires.

My insurance paid for the breast implants because it was for breast reconstruction.  The surgeon's fee is separate from the surgery facility fee.  The total between the doctor and the facility charges was around $8000 each time I went in for the three surgeries.  Conventional breast implants (not for reconstruction) is a one-step process, so it would be only one charge of around $8000.

There are risks involved with any surgery.  You have to be put under general anesthetic, which carries its own risks.  Also, you have the risk of infection of the surgery area.  I was put on antibiotic after the procedures to help prevent infection.  Also, the implants are only expected to last 20 to 30 years, and then, they might have to be redone.  My sister-in-law had implants placed in the 1970's, when they were relatively new for wide-spread use.  Recently, she had to have them re-done because one of them broke.  The newer implants that they use now are much more durable, but there is still a risk of having to have them redone in the distant future.

Do your research ahead of time, so you will know what questions to ask at the consultation.  Usually, the consultation is free.  Look online for information on breast implants.  Learn about the procedure, and then make sure that you are getting a reputable and respected plastic surgeon.

I hope this info is helpful for you...Becky

I recently had breast implants for breast reconstruction after mastectomy for breast cancer.  If not for the mastectomy, I would not have had the implants.  I was pretty flat-chested before, but I did fine with padded bras.

I really do like the results of the reconstruction.  The plastic surgeon is great.  Because of the mastectomy, it was a three-step process.  First, a tissue expander was placed on the side where the mastectomy was done...this was to stretch the scar tissue.  Next, the implants were placed on both sides (to make them match), and a breast lift was done on the breast that wasn't removed.  Last, I had a nipple graft, with skin from the groin.

I went from AAA to a B cup.  I wouldn't recommend getting "melons"...B cup is perfect.  On a recent visit to with my family, my sister said "nice rack".  I do look much better in clothes, and I look slimmer.

Be prepared, though, for a long recovery period.  I wasn't allowed to raise my arms for 6 weeks, and it is very painful for awhile.  Now that I have recovered, I have no more pain.

In the consultation, the plastic surgeon explains the process.  Ask to see his procedure book, where there are before and after pictures of women who have actually had the procedure done.  The pictures don't show anybody's face...just the torso.  Also, ask how many women he has done breast implants for.  Ask how many of the procedures he does per month.  It is important to have a surgeon who is experienced.  You might also ask the local general surgeon's office who they would recommend for plastic surgery.  Also, ask your general doctor.  Don't go to a doctor that your own doctor wouldn't recommend.  Be sure to ask lots of questions, and if you think of more questions later, don't hesitate to ask for another consultation to get your questions answered.  In the consultation, the doctor will want to see your breasts, and he/she will give you an idea of what can be done with them.

I got the new silicone implants...much more durable than the ones they used to use.  There are also saline implants available.  My silicone implants look and feel very natural...you would never know that I had implants.

I have scars at the bottom of my breasts, but they are hidden in the crease below the breasts.  The scars are painful still, when I wear a bra...which I have to wear 24/7 for awhile, to let the breasts form the "scar pockets" that hold the implants in place within the breasts.  I never could wear underwire bras..very painful.  Now, the underwire bras are forbidden for several months.  There are plenty of nice bras out there that don't have underwires.

My insurance paid for the breast implants because it was for breast reconstruction.  The surgeon's fee is separate from the surgery facility fee.  The total between the doctor and the facility charges was around $8000 each time I went in for the three surgeries.  Conventional breast implants (not for reconstruction) is a one-step process, so it would be only one charge of around $8000.

There are risks involved with any surgery.  You have to be put under general anesthetic, which carries its own risks.  Also, you have the risk of infection of the surgery area.  I was put on antibiotic after the procedures to help prevent infection.  Also, the implants are only expected to last 20 to 30 years, and then, they might have to be redone.  My sister-in-law had implants placed in the 1970's, when they were relatively new for wide-spread use.  Recently, she had to have them re-done because one of them broke.  The newer implants that they use now are much more durable, but there is still a risk of having to have them redone in the distant future.

Do your research ahead of time, so you will know what questions to ask at the consultation.  Usually, the consultation is free.  Look online for information on breast implants.  Learn about the procedure, and then make sure that you are getting a reputable and respected plastic surgeon.

I hope this info is helpful for you...Becky

I am one of the moderators of the support web site called http://explantation.com . My complete story can be read in "Our Stories", as well as over 50 stories.  Our site features personally written accounts by women who had breast implants and later removed them for various reasons.  We are not an anti-plastic surgery site, but rather tell the other side of the breast implant story. 

Whether we like to admit it or not, breast implants are NOT lifetime devices.  All women will one day have to face the decision to explant their implants-either to replace them, or to remove them completely.

While we readily admit that many women are ecstatic with their implants, we also know that many of the pro implant sites and forums quickly remove negative reporting from women who have problems with their implants.  Many of the posters are newly implanted women.  By the admission of the implant manufacturers, there are women who should never be implanted and there are lists of contraindications and possible complications from augmentation surgery.  The studies report  (which is very insufficient, by the way) that there ARE some women who have a myriad of problems.  We refer to these women as those on the "down-side" of the stats.  What happens to these women?  Are they stuck with unwanted implants forever?  Are they all deformed if they must remove their implants due to unresolved difficulties?

Our site and forum features those women who have decided to have explantation surgery. Many have had to have corrective surgeries from the damage to their augmented breasts.  The happy news is that MOST have very successful explantation surgeries and look very beautiful after they remove their implants.  Most realize that the only thing they probably needed in the first place, was mastopexy (a good lift!)  We help women find very experienced, patient recommended explantation surgeons who are sympathetic with their desires to remove implants forever, and who will even admit that implants sometimes cause great problems.

Our purpose is NOT to bash women who love their implants, nor to discredit those women who need corrective surgeries due to very real breast deformities, injuries or problems.  There will always be those women who have legitimate problems with their breasts and who deserve the right to correct these issues.  We DO advocate that other corrective considerations be made before implanting foreign objects into one's body.  So many women do not get augmentation to become larger, but to restore the youthfulness to their breasts.  Implants are NOT the answer for all women. 

As to the comment about the young girl seeking disability, yet claiming to have improved health after explanting her implants:  Many women DO improve their situations after removing implants.  Not all totally regain their former health, but nearly all regain at least a measure of health.  For women in pain or who are suffering, even an improvement is a Godsend.  I am one such woman.  I may never be the same after having implants, but my improvement has made my quality of life much better.  I will never be the same, since I ended up having a partial mastectomy due to the problems with implants.  Yet, thanks to a wonderful, skillfil plastic surgeon, I still have breasts without implants.

One must ask themselves what happens to those women who have the complications which are listed on your BA waiver forms?  SOME of us, are willing to tell our stories, show our photos and want to support others who wake up one day on the down-side of the stats.  Our site is not for women who are still ecstatic about their augmentations, but for those women who must replace or remove their aging implants and want to have the best asthetic outcome possible.