POSTED UNDER Breast Implant Removal Reviews
Explanted Two Year Old Silicone Implants for Health Reasons - Pepper Pike, OH
UPDATED FROM avidrunnergirl
23 days post
Explanted two year old silicone implants for health reasons
avidrunnergirlOctober 3, 2016
$7,500
Hi all! Well, I am at the three week mark post surgery and I feel better each day. The symptoms that have gone already are brain fog, neck and back pain, joint pain and muscle tremors happen less often. Muscles still feel weak (mainly in quads and arms) but I also have not been as active since I'm on lifting precautions and in the healing process. Overall, I am happy with how my breasts look. I actually thought they would look much worse but it turns out I had a little bit of breast tissue to work with. Hoping the nipples don't stay permanently caved but time will tell.
One thing Dr Feng did say is that my pec. muscles atrophied quite a bit causing loss of tone in the upper pole. She said once I begin working out with weights, I can improve the tone/strength and hopefully appearance of the breasts. I also may consider a small fat transfer down the road but will give it a year to see how they ultimately wind up looking. Thanks
for the support everyone! I really am glad I did it. I feel so much lighter and healthier.
One thing Dr Feng did say is that my pec. muscles atrophied quite a bit causing loss of tone in the upper pole. She said once I begin working out with weights, I can improve the tone/strength and hopefully appearance of the breasts. I also may consider a small fat transfer down the road but will give it a year to see how they ultimately wind up looking. Thanks
for the support everyone! I really am glad I did it. I feel so much lighter and healthier.
ORIGINAL POST
Since so many countless women on this site have...
avidrunnergirlSeptember 15, 2016
Since so many countless women on this site have helped me arrive at my decision to explant, I really felt inspired to share my story to hopefully help others. So, here is my story. Prior to implants, I was a working mother with three kids leading a super active life. Other than a mild case of Hashimoto's disease (underactive thyroid) I was the picture of health. I ran and worked out at the gym, and even though I worked in the healthcare profession I rarely got colds and never got the flu. My kids even joked about how the whole house would get some virus and I never would. That is my health history. As far as getting implants, I was always very comfortable being a 34a (almost B) They were perky and proportionate for my frame. I am 5'6" 125 1bs. After nursing three kids and gravity hit, my perky breasts weren't so perky. I thought a BA would help me feel better and more confident in myself. My friend
is a nurse working for a ps and she highly recommended the ps I used for implants. I went in to my consult letting him know I only wanted to be what I was faking with a padded bra and that was a full B, small C. Well, I trusted this doc and wound up being a 34D! I hated them from day one! Instead of looking for clothes and bra's to make me look not so flat, I was looking for clothes to hide the size of them. Two weeks post op I also got a very strange illness unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was like a flu on steroids. I could hardly function. Eventually recovered from this flu but was left with very strange neurological symptoms. I had muscle spams all over my body, tingling in my legs, feet, muscle weakness, joint aching, fatigue and ringing in my ears. This was not normal for me and I began seeing a variety of doctors. My bloodwork looked normal and I was referred to a neurologist. After extensive testing he diagnosed "ASIA" syndrome. It is a disease following exposure to silicone. He pointed out also that women with autoimmune disorders should not have silicone implants and that is why I may have had such a reaction. At this point I was only 6 mos post implant and decided I would give the implants a full year to see if I needed to just adjust to them. I ate clean, continued to work,
exercise lightly but the symptons persisted. Sometimes they would get a little better but then would come back. I started researching this site as well as some FB explant support groups. There I found thousands of women with the same symptoms as me. That's when I got more serious about explanting. I interviewed a total of five plastic surgeons and decided on Dr Feng from Cleveland. She took her time explaining to my husband and I that the silicone does not have to be ruptured to cause problems--it can bleed from the moment it is placed in the nody. She also spends a great amount of time in surgery to remove the implant and entire capsule. She repairs muscles that have been cut during the implant process. So, surgery was done with Dr Feng on 9/9 and all went well. Can't say enough good about the care I received at Dr Feng's clinic. I am feeling better each day and know I made the right decision. My biggest wake up call to myself was when I was standing in Dr Feng's office the day before the surgery looking at the photo's in my file. She had pics of my breasts pre-implant as well as post implant. I almost cried realizing my small boobs prior to implants really were okay the way they were. I am now almost one week post implant and am very happy I did it. I feel better each day and know I made the right decision for me. Thank you to all the women on this site who supported and encouraged me along the way. It helped more than you know!
is a nurse working for a ps and she highly recommended the ps I used for implants. I went in to my consult letting him know I only wanted to be what I was faking with a padded bra and that was a full B, small C. Well, I trusted this doc and wound up being a 34D! I hated them from day one! Instead of looking for clothes and bra's to make me look not so flat, I was looking for clothes to hide the size of them. Two weeks post op I also got a very strange illness unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was like a flu on steroids. I could hardly function. Eventually recovered from this flu but was left with very strange neurological symptoms. I had muscle spams all over my body, tingling in my legs, feet, muscle weakness, joint aching, fatigue and ringing in my ears. This was not normal for me and I began seeing a variety of doctors. My bloodwork looked normal and I was referred to a neurologist. After extensive testing he diagnosed "ASIA" syndrome. It is a disease following exposure to silicone. He pointed out also that women with autoimmune disorders should not have silicone implants and that is why I may have had such a reaction. At this point I was only 6 mos post implant and decided I would give the implants a full year to see if I needed to just adjust to them. I ate clean, continued to work,
exercise lightly but the symptons persisted. Sometimes they would get a little better but then would come back. I started researching this site as well as some FB explant support groups. There I found thousands of women with the same symptoms as me. That's when I got more serious about explanting. I interviewed a total of five plastic surgeons and decided on Dr Feng from Cleveland. She took her time explaining to my husband and I that the silicone does not have to be ruptured to cause problems--it can bleed from the moment it is placed in the nody. She also spends a great amount of time in surgery to remove the implant and entire capsule. She repairs muscles that have been cut during the implant process. So, surgery was done with Dr Feng on 9/9 and all went well. Can't say enough good about the care I received at Dr Feng's clinic. I am feeling better each day and know I made the right decision. My biggest wake up call to myself was when I was standing in Dr Feng's office the day before the surgery looking at the photo's in my file. She had pics of my breasts pre-implant as well as post implant. I almost cried realizing my small boobs prior to implants really were okay the way they were. I am now almost one week post implant and am very happy I did it. I feel better each day and know I made the right decision for me. Thank you to all the women on this site who supported and encouraged me along the way. It helped more than you know!
Replies (5)

September 15, 2016
I'm so thrilled for you, welcome to EXplant Island luvy!... With all those of us who learnt the hard way we were fine and better off without them! Xxxxx love and hugs for your continued healing! I'm sure it will go well for you, as you have a positive and grateful spirit! :) xxxx
September 15, 2016
Thanks 40 & about to be free. You were one of the stories I have followed all along. Wishing you continued healing as well!

September 16, 2016
Aww thanks luvy you're so kind, yes Im doing pretty good, just had a wisdom tooth out tho so if it's not one thing it's another lol... It's been winter here so I'm looking forward to becoming an avid runner girl again too, lol... Xxxx

September 17, 2016
Thank you for sharing your story! And congratulations on going back to natural. How has the recovery process been for you? I also got mine placed under the muscle. Was Dr. Feng able to repair your muscle so it feels like it did pre BA? I am confused about what happens when they explant and if the muscle can go back to how it was or if it's damaged forever.
I got my implants only about a month and a half ago. Have regretted it every day since. I'm planning to explant by end of year. It will be close to 6 months then. Ironically, I agonized over whether I should go forward with the BA, but I'm 100% sure about the explant. Can't happen soon enough!
September 22, 2016
Hi Ashley! Sorry I just saw your response. I too was very concerned about muscle repair as many plastic surgeons don't seem to think there is a need. The four ps's I personally consulted were divided. What I have learned through discussions with plastic surgeons and my own research is this: The pectoralis muscle is cut and a pocket/space is then created for the implant. The muscle with time shortens and atrophies. If not repaired, you will never get the strength back in the muscle or the function you had prior. I feel most plastic surgeons lack experience in this repair work. The majority of them are not explanting without re-implanting. Feng does not perform implants. She only explants. She took her time explaining the anatomy of the muscles and where she would be doing the repairs. Take your time to make sure you get all your questions answered and choose someone you feel comfortable with. Good luck! PS. So far so good with recovery. I will be posting an update soon.
September 19, 2016
well good morning to you, I read your story boy sounds just like mine. I explained on 9,9,2016. I also had great doctor she was wonderful. However i had implants for 30 years talk about suffering the last 5. Wasn't sure like a lot of us out there that is was possible to have them removed. Everything came out implant an the capsule was in tacked with the implant she made sure i was cleaned out completely. I was very lucky. I am 10 days since my surgery an I feel wonderful. Drains are out stitches are gone however I am wearing a sports bra. Today Im going to get fitted for a nice comfortable bra. I was a B before implants then a D with implants an yes they were horrible nothing fit me right. Now I feel so free my breast look just like they did years ago nice to have them back after all these years. What the hell were we thinking?
Im so glad you decided to do this for yourself your going to be so happy with the results. LOL
Im so glad you decided to do this for yourself your going to be so happy with the results. LOL
September 19, 2016
Hey Mia! So glad to hear you are feeling great. The drains were the worst part but other than that it has been smooth sailing. I feel free, lighter and confident in my decision. We as women just need to love ourselves the way we are with all our "perfect imperfections". I borrowed that line from the song "All of me". :-). Anyway, continued healing to you. I have to wear the compression wrap until Friday but then the bra hunting begins!!
September 21, 2016
Your story gives me hope! I have a lift/BA 12 years ago and immediately had problems like yours. Fast forward... I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease 2 years ago, contracted Lyme 4 years ago. Terrible joint pain, neurological issues and more! My Lyme doc supports removing my implants and feels it will help my recovery! Do you know if insurance will pay for these procedures when they're medically necessary? I wish you continued recovery!
September 21, 2016
I was never diagnosed with Lyme's although it was suspected. The crazy thing about Lyme's is all the false negatives and positives. I just saw my holistic md today and asked about sending my bloodwork to a specific lab called Igenex. You have to pay $500 out of pocket for test and he said they get a lot of false positives. So hard to know which way to turn. Insurance would not pay for my surgery as it was considered elective. I had no clear cut scientific proof other than my gut feeling and my neurologist who thought it was the implants. I'm sure hoping he is right. Time will tell. Wishing you the best in your decision & continued improvement in health.

Replies (5)
severed when implants went in. Feng repairs the part of the pec that is cut to place the implants. I feel like they function normally now. When I flex the muscles contract but don't seem to jump. They tighten like they should when you use them. Hope that makes sense. I am healing great. Pain/tenderness for at least 4-6 weeks but after that it's all good. I will post some update pics soon. Just been super busy. PS: Check out Feng's videos. She has multiple Q & A type questions. There's also a video that show her doing the explant & muscle repair. You may want to get in for a consult first. She will spend up to two hours talking and answering your questions. She will be super honest too. She pretty much told me if I explanted I would be flat chested & she was pretty accurate