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Original poster

My breast implants are failing after 25 years

62 replies

Knackeredboobs1972 · 13/08/2024 09:01

I'm 51 and had implants privately after my late grandma left me some money. I'd had a terrible time in high school up to early 20's when I finally got the chance to afford it. I was ridiculed at school for having no boobs and this absolutely destroyed me. It affected my mental health so much I was unable to go on holiday for fear of my partner seeing someone's boobs on the beach, watching TV with him was stressful, life was very difficult and as a result I attempted suicide twice. Shortly after that I inherited the money and had surgery. I also had counselling. It changed my life. I'm happy with my body and have been for years.
But obviously they don't last for ever. They have been dimpled and lumpy for years. I've ignored it as I do not have any money to get them taken out or replaced. They are getting worse and worse and I'm terrified they are causing damage. What do I do? I'm up to my eyes in credit card debt and bills already. I work 2 jobs, as does my partner. There is no way I can get thousands to sort this out.
Would the nhs ever sort this out or do I just have to live with this.

OP posts:
Fiftyfiveandcounting · 14/08/2024 07:28

I’m in the same boat @Knackeredboobs1972 but mine are nearly 30 years old. Like you I’m sure they told me about replacement but I was young and i wanted bigger boobs so i would have agreed to anything and the clinic I used is long gone.

TheSquareMile · 13/08/2024 21:33

@Knackeredboobs1972

I thought that I would ask about the kind of implants because there seems to be specific guidance on a particular kind called PIP and I wondered whether this might give you broader options if you did have PIP implants.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pip-implants/

MichaelAndEagle · 13/08/2024 21:21

motleymop · 13/08/2024 20:12

Thank you for replying 🙂 This gives me hope!

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Honestly I am so much happier now, you should do it.

Original poster
Knackeredboobs1972 · 13/08/2024 21:20

I've no idea what they are! Cannot remember. I'm now in perimenopause and can't remember what I did an hour ago let alone 25 yrs ago!
I'm glad others have been through procedure and it wasn't as bad. That gives me hope!
I'm sure the surgeon will have told me but being early 20's and so delighted I didn't give it another thought until I hit 40ish. Then since that they've deteriorated
And as I cannot afford to get them redone (nor do I want to) I've ignored it.
I've read it's way more complicated to take them out though

OP posts:
LindorDoubleChoc · 13/08/2024 20:35

I guess you start a GoFundMe among all the people you know?

happypickle · 13/08/2024 20:29

Just get them taken out and accept your natural boobs, I am sure they are just fine!

Beautiful3 · 13/08/2024 20:20

My grandma's nursing home had a lady who was rushed into hospital, turned out she had her implants in for 40ish years! She ended up with an infection. The NHS removed them for her.

motleymop · 13/08/2024 20:12

MichaelAndEagle · 13/08/2024 19:15

Yes I did breast feed 2 babies, with the implants in.
My boobs got enormous with each pregnancy so I do think my boobs would probably have ended up much the same as they are now anyway.

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Thank you for replying 🙂 This gives me hope!

TheSquareMile · 13/08/2024 19:32

@Knackeredboobs1972

Do you know what kind of implants you have, OP?

notanotheronenow · 13/08/2024 19:21

mytuppennyworth · 13/08/2024 19:06

She wasn't told that though.

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Surely it's common knowledge, I've never had implants and even I know they're the same lifespan as smoke alarms.

Superworm24 · 13/08/2024 19:19

I would see how much it would cost to get them taken out privately OP. You could potentially get some kind of payment plan. I can only see this becoming more of an issue, seeing as so many people go to Turkey every year for cheap cosmetic surgery. I doubt many are saving for replacements and are quite happy to try and use the NHS as a safety net.

MichaelAndEagle · 13/08/2024 19:15

motleymop · 13/08/2024 18:30

Thanks so much for this information. I had mine replaced last time but I'd like them out, really. Wish I'd done it last time.
Do you mind me asking if you've ever breastfed? Mine are already sagging after two children.

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Yes I did breast feed 2 babies, with the implants in.
My boobs got enormous with each pregnancy so I do think my boobs would probably have ended up much the same as they are now anyway.

Woww2 · 13/08/2024 19:14

EmilyGilmoreCardiganEnergy · 13/08/2024 18:14

Please can you update the thread when you have seen your GP OP, I'm interested to know what happens when they are removed and not replaced.
*because I have implants too not for weirdo reasons.

Both my friend and I had ours out and we were both pleasantly surprised not as bad as we assumed would be. I didn't even need to buy smaller bras - my boobs were just a different shape. My friend got hers out on nhs and was planning a lift privately but realised she did not need one.

MichaelAndEagle · 13/08/2024 19:13

MiddleagedBeachbum · 13/08/2024 18:27

Do you mind me asking approx how much?
I too want mine out

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It was about 1.5k I think

mytuppennyworth · 13/08/2024 19:06

Rosecoffeecup · 13/08/2024 18:43

What would OP be complaining about? They've exceeded their shelf life

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She wasn't told that though.

Underlig · 13/08/2024 18:58

I was offered implants in the NHS after a double mastectomy, but I turned it down. I was told that they would have to be replaced every 10-15 years. That would still be NHS treatment in that case.

StellaCruella · 13/08/2024 18:51

Sorry, just read your update!

StellaCruella · 13/08/2024 18:50

25 years is a good innings, they advise to change them more frequently than that.
Did the surgeon not explain to you that you would need them done repeatedly? If not that's really bad service. My mum puts money aside every year towards getting them changed - it's a life long commitment.

I think the NHS will intervene when they start leaking as it will pose a risk to your health but that would just be removing the implants, not replacing them. As they have already started to break down I would go to a doctor as they will probably remove them for you now. It can be quite dangerous.

If you want them replaced then can you get a payment plan with a surgeon? If you do that though, bear in mind you'll need them doing again in another 10-15 years.

Underlig · 13/08/2024 18:49

mytuppennyworth · 13/08/2024 18:29

How about going back to the clinic where they were originally put in, and making a complaint? They might agree to take them out for free or reduced rate?

There’s nothing to complain about. They’ve exceeded their lifespan as it is.

Rosecoffeecup · 13/08/2024 18:43

mytuppennyworth · 13/08/2024 18:29

How about going back to the clinic where they were originally put in, and making a complaint? They might agree to take them out for free or reduced rate?

What would OP be complaining about? They've exceeded their shelf life

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 13/08/2024 18:42

@Knackeredboobs1972 my hosp had a policy where they would only remove a private implant if one burst. not both of them so it was still on the patient to pay for the removal of the other one. the nhs has a lot more to worry about than breast implants which have not ruptured! surely your private surgeon informed you of all this before you had your private surgery?

Notimeforaname · 13/08/2024 18:40

Get them removed if you can, they will only cause more problems.

motleymop · 13/08/2024 18:30

MichaelAndEagle · 13/08/2024 18:22

I've had breast implants removed and not replaced. I'm 43 and honestly they look fine, they are a bit saggy but not too bad and probably not that much worse than anyone else my age.
They are not half as bad as you might imagine.
There's a website called real self I think, that has before and after pictures of real people.
I had mine out under a local, in a Nuffield hospital, so no overnight stay, no GA and therefore much cheaper.

Thanks so much for this information. I had mine replaced last time but I'd like them out, really. Wish I'd done it last time.
Do you mind me asking if you've ever breastfed? Mine are already sagging after two children.

mytuppennyworth · 13/08/2024 18:29

How about going back to the clinic where they were originally put in, and making a complaint? They might agree to take them out for free or reduced rate?

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