Re: Please explain enbloc explantation

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Welcome to our group, and I'm glad you are seeking answers to your very important questions before you go through your explant. First of all, I want to say how sorry I am that you are experiencing these symptoms of illness, and that you have gotten no help from the medical community--the very ones who should KNOW how to help us and who are in constant denial or complete ignorance of what the true risks of implants are. As you have come to the conclusion yourself, I applaud you and and am so glad you have joined us so we can help you get through this trying ordeal.

Removing your implants is the best step you can take to regain your health, and they must be removed properly, (as you have thankfully found out by being a part of our group.) I have known women who have just gone and gotten the implants out with the first convenient surgeon they found, or their original implanting surgeon, and this turned out to be a terrible decision, as the implants were taken out improperly. It's not like going in and just pulling a tooth, as you can guess, and the most common mistake is surgeons leaving in pieces of scar tissue, sometimes on purpose, other times because they are too lazy to make sure they have done a good job of removing all traces of the implant. Invariably these women remain ill, or get worse. That is because the scar tissue itself can ilicit an immune system response, having pieces of silicone left in it. gave a good explanation in her letter to you, so I am just supporting what she told you. I have known numerous women who have had an explant, only to discover that they weren't healing because their plastic surgeon either lied to them about doing a total capsulectomy, or never told them that he did not remove it all. They usually discover this upon reading their post operative report.

You can get better. It is a matter of having a proper explant, detoxing and supporting your body's quest to regain health with proper nutrients, foods and supplements, and then the much needed virtue of patience. Time is the only thing we cannot control.

There are two terms you should be familiar with when searching for a plastic surgeon for proper explant. You should be asking for a "total capsulectomy", and there should be no ifs, and, or buts about this part. Recently I went plastic surgeon hunting with one of our group members, and we ran into a cavalier attitude about this complete capsule removal over and over again. Many surgeons just do not understand that when a woman is ill, this is one aspect of the surgery that cannot be compromised. Let me quote one of Dr. LuFeng's letters for you, from this website:

http://www.homestead.com/sosalines/Fengcaps.html

A biological capsule will form around any implant. Any saline implant removal will require a total capsulectomy. Like anything else in life, there are few exceptions. Here are the few exceptions which would have to be fulfilled before I would entertain the possibility of not removing the saline capsule.

(1) The capsule has to be tissue paper thin and without contracture.

(2) The patient has to be without any local or systemic symptoms.

(3) The saline implant has to be smooth shelled.

(4) There has to be no previous history of gel filled implant insertion.

All these conditions have to be fulfilled before I would consider not taking the saline capsule out. As you can see, few patients would fulfill these criteria. Invariably, I take out the entire capsule around saline implants.

Drfeng@...

So, this is your number one priority. It means all the scar capsule is removed, and there is no leaving of the posterior capsule inside of the patient, or any other bits and pieces.

En bloc is the second term, and it is related to total capsulectomy. However, en bloc actually refers to taking out the implant and the scar capsule in one unit, and is necessary in the case of silicone gel implants with possible leakage or rupture. It is a procedure where the capsule is left intact surrounding the implant, and the surgeon cuts around the scar capsule, and removes them together as a unit. The purpose of this is to avoid any spillage into the chest cavity, as the capsule will contain the contents of the implant. (Sometimes the capsule is a very thick piece of tissue, up to several centimeters thick, or it may be tissue thin). It also ensures a total capsulectomy. If you are clear on this point, you will see that you can have a total capsulectomy without using the enbloc procedure, but you cannot have an en bloc procedure without having a total capsulectomy performed at the same time.

You didn't say how long you have had your saline implants, or where you lived. We do have a list of recommended plastic surgeons, which I am currently revising, and we can help you find a surgeon in your area. However, we find that most of our members have had to travel to a good explanting surgeon. There are only two or three that we trust completely and without question. Dr. Lu Feng is in Cleveland, Ohio, and she is one of the best in the country. The other is Dr. Kolb in Atlanta, Georgia, who has experienced the illness of implants herself and has developed a protocol for healing. You can see her website at www.plastikos.com. Dr. Feng's website is www.drfeng.com

There is one more thing I can share with you about the issue of retained capsules, and it is this study:

http://www.homestead.com/sosalines/complications.html

Give this to your surgeon if they do not understand the importance of removing all the capsules.

There is one more consideration, and that is the use of drains. There is no literature that we know of about the need for the use of drains, but as Dr. Kolb has pointed out, over 50% of her silicone and over 80% of her saline capsular cultures are positive for bacteria. Drains help remove this infectious material so you can heal faster. Without drains this fluid remains in your body doing its damage.

I hope this has been helpful. Please write if you have more questions, and keep us posted on your decisions! Again, thanks so much for writing and letting us help you through this.

Patty

----- Original Message -----

From: lisalynh <lisalynh@...>

Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2003 10:19 AM

Subject: Please explain "enbloc" explantation

I am new to the group, and need some clarification. I have been very ill with a miriad of problems from chronic fatigue to allergies to immune complications and have tried everything to get better--- everything except having my saline implants removed. As I am learning is often the case, no one suggested my saline implants may be making me ill-- or making me worse, at least-- but I am at the end of my rope because my health has gotten so bad that I can't work, can't do the things I enjoy, and my quality of life is terrible. So, in a last ditch effort, I have decided to get the implants removed. Having made this decision, I would appreciate some help in understanding the explantation process. I have come across the term "enbloc explantation" on this site and don't understand what this means. Please clarify. What is this, why is it important? If I just went in to have my implants removed without specifying enbloc what would the difference be?Thanks,

[Guest guest]

, I recenty had my saline breast implants removed about 5 months ago. The surgery took over 6 hours as the capsules were embedded in an infectous mess. I am 28 years old, have two auto immune disorders, systemic fungal overgrowth (candida) and mycoplasmal infections to say the least.....as well as many other scary health issues that have happened to me. I will tell you as said, you must have the surgery en bloc to save your life, in my opinion, the surgery is not worth it otherwise. Good luck to you, and if you have any questions, feel free to email me personally. I love my breasts now, couldnt be happier, and am showing improvement already. I had mine 8 years, so full recovery will take time. But I am feeling better, and that is what is important.I have a 2 year old to enjoy and keep up with, and a new home to move into! Good luck to you on this new journey of hope and healing. Love,

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for your reply. It is so reassuring to have

communication with others who understand this issue. First, I want to

mention that I read the post about the MTV show last night and wanted

to tell you that I saw that program last night and her story about

getting so sick from her saline implants forced me to stop ignoring

my implants as the source of my illnesses. After seeing the show I

did an online search and that is how I found your group. So thank you

to the show and thank you to the group. I went to the MTV site to see

when/if it would air again because I only caught the last part, but

couldn't find any info on air dates or transcript. If anyone finds

out, I'd love to know.

As for me-- my " story " is quite complicated. I first got saline

implants in 1995, at the age of 18. Prior to getting the implants I

had been sick with Lyme disease. When my " lyme " resurfaced after

getting my implants I never made the connection. Certainly no one

suggested a correllation. So I got treated for Lyme, with a ton of

antibiotics, but never got much better (or at least when I did it

never lasted). Three or four years later (still sick, still being

treated for Lyme) I developed an infection in my right breast, which

caused a lot of swelling, fluid and pain. Ultimately this got so bad

that I got the implants removed... but NOT the capsules! I didn't

even know that was an option. That was three years ago. After removal

I did not see much of a change in my symptoms. Still felt poorly a

lot but not much worse or better. Again, I never made the

correllation. THEN, six months ago, still with very precarious

health, I once again got saline implants, never thinking they would

affect my health. Well, two months after getting the implants the

second time I had to quit my job because I was so sick. Ever since,

I've been incapacitated (the implants are also very uncomfortable,

even painful this time, which I know from experience is not normal).

I'm still unemployed because there's no way I could work in such poor

health, VERY depressed about my health, unable to do things I want to

do or even function normally. I know that most people who have

problems after implantation have them years down the road, but as you

see, my case is unusal. I am not putting all my eggs in one basket--

the implants may not be the cause or even a factor in my health, but

if there's a chance they are I have to do something about it because

I am at the end of my rope.

So, that's my weird story. I had my surgery in NYC where my family

lives, and I live in DC. I was just going to go back to the doc who

did the implants to have them removed, because I didn't realize there

was so much to it. I would appreciate any recommendations of surgeons-

- and also, could you give me some idea of how much this procedure

costs?

Thank you so much,

> Hi ,

> Welcome to our group, and I'm glad you are seeking answers to your

very important questions before you go through your explant. First

of all, I want to say how sorry I am that you are experiencing these

symptoms of illness, and that you have gotten no help from the

medical community--the very ones who should KNOW how to help us and

who are in constant denial or complete ignorance of what the true

risks of implants are. As you have come to the conclusion yourself, I

applaud you and and am so glad you have joined us so we can help you

get through this trying ordeal.

>

> Removing your implants is the best step you can take to regain your

health, and they must be removed properly, (as you have thankfully

found out by being a part of our group.) I have known women who have

just gone and gotten the implants out with the first convenient

surgeon they found, or their original implanting surgeon, and this

turned out to be a terrible decision, as the implants were taken out

improperly. It's not like going in and just pulling a tooth, as you

can guess, and the most common mistake is surgeons leaving in pieces

of scar tissue, sometimes on purpose, other times because they are

too lazy to make sure they have done a good job of removing all

traces of the implant. Invariably these women remain ill, or get

worse. That is because the scar tissue itself can ilicit an immune

system response, having pieces of silicone left in it. gave a

good explanation in her letter to you, so I am just supporting what

she told you. I have known numerous women who have had an explant,

only to discover that they weren't healing because their plastic

surgeon either lied to them about doing a total capsulectomy, or

never told them that he did not remove it all. They usually discover

this upon reading their post operative report.

>

> You can get better. It is a matter of having a proper explant,

detoxing and supporting your body's quest to regain health with

proper nutrients, foods and supplements, and then the much needed

virtue of patience. Time is the only thing we cannot control.

>

> There are two terms you should be familiar with when searching for

a plastic surgeon for proper explant. You should be asking for

a " total capsulectomy " , and there should be no ifs, and, or buts

about this part. Recently I went plastic surgeon hunting with one of

our group members, and we ran into a cavalier attitude about this

complete capsule removal over and over again. Many surgeons just do

not understand that when a woman is ill, this is one aspect of the

surgery that cannot be compromised. Let me quote one of Dr. LuJean

Feng's letters for you, from this website:

> http://www.homestead.com/sosalines/Fengcaps.html

>

> A biological capsule will form around any implant. Any saline

implant removal will require a total capsulectomy. Like anything else

in life, there are few exceptions. Here are the few exceptions which

would have to be fulfilled before I would entertain the possibility

of not removing the saline capsule.

>

>

> (1) The capsule has to be tissue paper thin and without contracture.

> (2) The patient has to be without any local or systemic symptoms.

> (3) The saline implant has to be smooth shelled.

> (4) There has to be no previous history of gel filled implant

insertion.

>

>

> All these conditions have to be fulfilled before I would consider

not taking the saline capsule out. As you can see, few patients would

fulfill these criteria. Invariably, I take out the entire capsule

around saline implants.

>

>

> Drfeng@a...

>

> So, this is your number one priority. It means all the scar

capsule is removed, and there is no leaving of the posterior capsule

inside of the patient, or any other bits and pieces.

>

> En bloc is the second term, and it is related to total

capsulectomy. However, en bloc actually refers to taking out the

implant and the scar capsule in one unit, and is necessary in the

case of silicone gel implants with possible leakage or rupture. It

is a procedure where the capsule is left intact surrounding the

implant, and the surgeon cuts around the scar capsule, and removes

them together as a unit. The purpose of this is to avoid any

spillage into the chest cavity, as the capsule will contain the

contents of the implant. (Sometimes the capsule is a very thick

piece of tissue, up to several centimeters thick, or it may be tissue

thin). It also ensures a total capsulectomy. If you are clear on

this point, you will see that you can have a total capsulectomy

without using the enbloc procedure, but you cannot have an en bloc

procedure without having a total capsulectomy performed at the same

time.

>

> You didn't say how long you have had your saline implants, or where

you lived. We do have a list of recommended plastic surgeons, which

I am currently revising, and we can help you find a surgeon in your

area. However, we find that most of our members have had to travel

to a good explanting surgeon. There are only two or three that we

trust completely and without question. Dr. Lu Feng is in

Cleveland, Ohio, and she is one of the best in the country. The

other is Dr. Kolb in Atlanta, Georgia, who has experienced the

illness of implants herself and has developed a protocol for

healing. You can see her website at www.plastikos.com. Dr. Feng's

website is www.drfeng.com

>

> There is one more thing I can share with you about the issue of

retained capsules, and it is this study:

> http://www.homestead.com/sosalines/complications.html

> Give this to your surgeon if they do not understand the importance

of removing all the capsules.

>

> There is one more consideration, and that is the use of drains.

There is no literature that we know of about the need for the use of

drains, but as Dr. Kolb has pointed out, over 50% of her silicone and

over 80% of her saline capsular cultures are positive for bacteria.

Drains help remove this infectious material so you can heal faster.

Without drains this fluid remains in your body doing its damage.

>

> I hope this has been helpful. Please write if you have more

questions, and keep us posted on your decisions! Again, thanks so

much for writing and letting us help you through this.

> Patty

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: lisalynh <lisalynh@a...>

>

> Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2003 10:19 AM

> Subject: Please explain " enbloc " explantation

>

> I am new to the group, and need some clarification. I have been

very

> ill with a miriad of problems from chronic fatigue to allergies

to

> immune complications and have tried everything to get better---

> everything except having my saline implants removed. As I am

learning

> is often the case, no one suggested my saline implants may be

making

> me ill-- or making me worse, at least-- but I am at the end of my

> rope because my health has gotten so bad that I can't work, can't

do

> the things I enjoy, and my quality of life is terrible. So, in a

last

> ditch effort, I have decided to get the implants removed. Having

made

> this decision, I would appreciate some help in understanding the

> explantation process. I have come across the term " enbloc

> explantation " on this site and don't understand what this means.

> Please clarify. What is this, why is it important? If I just went

in

> to have my implants removed without specifying enbloc what would

the

> difference be?

>

> Thanks,

>