Breast implant removal

[Ollyraffiki]

I have 20 year old implants and one is now problematic for which I am under investigation. Inevitably they will need removal. My dilemma is whether of not to have them replaced. My sensible head tells me to not but I am very concerned as to how the resulting lack of breast and saggy skin will affect my mental health. I have lived with an eating disorder since my teens ( am now 64 ) and subsequently have a lot of issues around body image. My sensible head tells me not to have a replacement and potentially problems again in the future. Is there anyone else out there that has had this dilemma. Thanks.

Not the same issue. But I have had breast cancer and had mastectomy and recon (without implants).

To be frank, my boobs are a bit of a mess. I was a little bothered by this when I was younger (BC was about 15 years ago). But I'm heading towards your age now. And honestly, I genuinely don't give a F.

I'm too old to want to flash them around in low cut tops/bikinis. I'm not trying to pull blokes and have to take my top off. I'm not bothered about dressing in a communal changing room at the pool though. I've seen the other boobs in the room and mine are no worse and no better.

I just buy a padded bra and fake it. There are many worse things at my stage of life than having less than perfect boobs. I imagine the average 65 year old chest isn't page 3 stuff anyway!

I don't have any expericence of your situation, but I wanted to answer your thread to perhaps give it more visibility.

What does your doctor/surgeon say? Do you feel comfortable discussing your questions with them?

Perhaps it would be possible for you to see some pictures of women who have had their breast implants removed, to get a picture of what it might look like? (Event though, of course, every body look different).

I hope you will find the right way forward for you, for your physical health and for you mental health.

Have you thought about removal and getting fat grafting instead?

Good idea thanks but due to my disorder I don’t have any fat anywhere 🥴

Thanks for your kind words. I will discuss with my surgeon when the results of the investigations are through. Before and after pics would be useful. Unfortunately, having breastfed 4 children I had very little in before and I fear the after will be even worse due to extra saggy skin. 🫤

Skanetos. Thanks for your kind words. I will discuss with my surgeon when the results of the investigations are through. Unfortunately, due to breast feeding 4 children I had very little in before and fear will look even worse after removal due to saggy skin 😟

Also, to stop the disappointment about this, I did have this as part of my recon. It was lovely to start with. But within a year, the fat had all reabsorbed. Boob that had it looks EXACTLY the way it did before now.

Thanks that’s useful to know and must be disappointing for you.

I had my 25 year old implants replaced last month as they has capsulated. I had like for like replacements, slightly bigger 50ml more to compensate for the scar tissue was removed.
The surgeon did say afterwards that there was breast tissue, but if I did not replace it the reduced bust size would have been very noticeable.
Only 3 people knew that I had the operation originally and now only my Dd knows they have been replaced.
After the op, I did wonder if I had done the right thing but now, yes I have, I just want to be the same as I was before.

I had 18 year old encapsulated below the muscle teardrop implants removed- with an uplift and smaller ( the smallest size they had) squishier implants put in.

I'm very happy with the results, They are so much more natural and my surgeon said they're easier to whip out if necessary. Like you I toyed with no replacement but was told I had little breast tissue there and I would probably be disappointed.

I had my 16 year old implants removed two years ago after suffering breast implant illness for years. Basically started 8 months after I had them put in but was gas-lit that it couldn't possibly be my implants.

Those implants triggered what seemed like endless 'auto-immune' type illnesses which made me virtually bed bound for two years before explant. I had PMDD, thyroid issues, stomach issues and allergies to various things and sensitivities.
It took me so many years to join up the dots.

Since having them both removed (and the capsules around them) I have gone from strength to strength. I was so ill that I don't think I'd have been here now if I hadn't. I was so worried about what they'd look like after explant but tbh I just wanted them out in the end.
They actually turned out almost as big as they were with my implants and I love my body again now. I wish I'd loved it more before I had them put in.

I wouldn't get implants now for all the gold in the world, but I totally understand why some people replace. I get it, we wanted boobs. I loved my implants before they made me so ill.
What I will say is it cost so much more to get the explant and capsulectomy than it did to have them put in, but it was worth it. Eventually whatever you decide they will have to come out.

The cosmetic surgery industry is still gas-lighting women that BII isn't a thing although some surgeons are now only doing explant. It's going to be a hell of a scandal when it's finally acknowledged what they are doing to women's bodies.
There are a few good groups on Facebook that were a real source of knowledge for me and it isn't easy to get info on it.

Thanks

Thanks for your reply.

Thanks for your reply.

Thanks for your reply.

Thanks for your reply.

I'm following along too, I am in a very similar situation including the weight loss and very little natural breast tissue left.

My head tells me to be done with the implants, I don't want to be having them replaced again in my 70s! And I would like to be smaller. But I'm terrified I'll be left with empty flaps of skin.

Hi, I am looking to have my 18 year old implants removed and not replaced in April/may next year. I would like an uplift (if the surgeon agrees that’s ok at my consultation) although I think I’m a bit past caring what they look like. I have become so unbelievably uncomfortable this past year or so. I don’t believe anything is wrong with them and don’t think I have breast implant illness but they just seem to have sagged and they feel awful so I would never want this feeling again and don’t want to be having further surgery down the line.

Following as I'm currently contemplating removal and replacement. Its interesting that there are quite a few of us all in a similar situation, obviously we were all seduced by the marketing and relatively easy financing in the 90s/00s and how easy it was to get the shape you didn't naturally develop. I feel mine are too big now for my slim frame and not exactly aesthetically pleasing either.

Not really the same but I had breast cancer 10 years ago and had a mastectomy with implant reconstruction. Unfortunately the wound never healed properly and implant became infected and had to be removed. I was offered a redo operation but decided against and now just use an external prosthesis in my bra. I am now 70 and as others have said I am not going to be flashing my (non-existent) cleavage any time soon anyway. Obviously a younger person might feel differently. If you didn't want to replace yours OP you could probably get some kind of partial prosthesis to go in your bra if you aren't happy with your own boobs without them.

This is exactly how I’m feeling.
I’m now wondering if I can have them removed and see how I feel about the way my breasts are after a few months and then have new implants done if I can’t cope with what’s left. I wonder if healing and the subsequent closing up of the capsule would make this impossible though. Unfortunately it would mean two ops. I’m currently waiting for an MRI scan and the results of my mammogram. Once it’s confirmed nothing sinister is going on I will ask about this option.

Thank you.

That's such a tough position to be in, and your feelings are 100% valid. That conflict between the "sensible" choice and your mental health is just awful. You are definitely not alone in this. Many women opt for removal with a breast lift (a mastopexy) to help reshape the tissue.That's such a tough position to be in, and your feelings are 100% valid. That conflict between the "sensible" choice and your mental health is just awful. You are definitely not alone in this. Many women opt for removal with a breast lift (a mastopexy) to help reshape the tissue.That's such a tough position to be in, and your feelings are 100% valid. That conflict between the "sensible" choice and your mental health is just awful. You are definitely not alone in this. Many women opt for removal with a breast lift (a mastopexy) to help reshape the tissue.

I will willingly donate to you , you could have really big ones !

I'm about to have mine done in three weeks' time. They went in 25 years ago and both have ruptured.

It's costing a fortune (over £15k). This includes removing the ruptured silicon, doing an uplift and then using fat transplanting to create volume in the breast. If I'd opted for another implant It would have been a couple of thousand less but I am mid 50s now and didn't like the thought of having another implant put in which would need to be removed when I'm 70. I didn't want to go completely without anything since Im currently an F cup and it would be a dramatic change to go down to an A