Re: After

January 22, 2006

Please, please, don't stress about your appearance after explant!

With a good, skilled explanting surgeon, you will look as good as

before, and we have even had many women who have looked better!

There is absolutely no reason that you can't be completely delighted

with your post explant figure. The only difference will be a few

scars. But, hey, that was what we signed up for with implants. We

knew that much going into it. Scars are just part of the package.

But those scars can be minimal and with a little breast tissue, can

be hidden under the fold of your breast.

We've got photos on our shutterfly page (password is implants at

http://.shutterfly.com/action/ ) and there are also

photos at explantation.com. We used to have more photos, but we had

to take all of them down due to their adult nature to keep our group

public. We've fixed that with our own shutterfly photo album page,

and we are slowly building that up.

You really should have nothing to worry about. I say that with

experience, having been in your shoes almost 8 years ago. I was very

saggy due to breast feeding, and I was in despair at the thought of

having to return to my former shape. It was depressing! But I had

a lift, and I look way better now that I did then. My husband loves

my boobs now. I also wear enhancers in my bra at times to feel good

in my clothes, and I am completely at peace with my body now. This

will be a learning experience for you, and with a good attitude, it

will make you a better, stronger person in the end! Please continue

to share your fears and concerns....we've been there too, and have

survived, and thrived! You can too! Who is going to do your

explant?

Patty

--- In , " mkkinzy1 " <mkkinzy@m...>

wrote:

>

> Hi everyone!

> I hope this doesn't sound vain, but how I am going to look after

my

> surgery is weighing heavily on my mind. I know there is much more

> important things like my health, but the reason I got implants was

> because I wanted to improve my looks. I am told that I am going

to be

> a small very droopy A. I have tried to find pictures, but only

find a

> few. I look in the mirror and get tears or have to turn away from

my

> reflection. It is hard to come to terms with the whole ordeal. I

am

> really trying to find strength to get past this, but honestly I

have

> to admit I am concerned I will be very depressed after my

explant. I

> already am depressed due to my health problems and don't know how

much

> more I can handle.

> Thanks for all the support!

> MK

>

January 22, 2006

How do I access the website for shutterfly? I tried to use my

password for , but it didn't work.

MK

> >

> > Hi everyone!

> > I hope this doesn't sound vain, but how I am going to look after

> my

> > surgery is weighing heavily on my mind. I know there is much

more

> > important things like my health, but the reason I got implants

was

> > because I wanted to improve my looks. I am told that I am going

> to be

> > a small very droopy A. I have tried to find pictures, but only

> find a

> > few. I look in the mirror and get tears or have to turn away

from

> my

> > reflection. It is hard to come to terms with the whole ordeal.

I

> am

> > really trying to find strength to get past this, but honestly I

> have

> > to admit I am concerned I will be very depressed after my

> explant. I

> > already am depressed due to my health problems and don't know

how

> much

> > more I can handle.

> > Thanks for all the support!

> > MK

> >

>

January 22, 2006

use the password implants

> > >

> > > Hi everyone!

> > > I hope this doesn't sound vain, but how I am going to look

after

> > my

> > > surgery is weighing heavily on my mind. I know there is much

> more

> > > important things like my health, but the reason I got implants

> was

> > > because I wanted to improve my looks. I am told that I am

going

> > to be

> > > a small very droopy A. I have tried to find pictures, but

only

> > find a

> > > few. I look in the mirror and get tears or have to turn away

> from

> > my

> > > reflection. It is hard to come to terms with the whole

ordeal.

> I

> > am

> > > really trying to find strength to get past this, but honestly

I

> > have

> > > to admit I am concerned I will be very depressed after my

> > explant. I

> > > already am depressed due to my health problems and don't know

> how

> > much

> > > more I can handle.

> > > Thanks for all the support!

> > > MK

> > >

> >

>

January 22, 2006

MK

I think we can all say we have been where you are now. It is scary

not knowing how things will turn out. I would say that you will

probably look very much like you looked prior to implants. Most

women find they are pretty similar. Some women actually are bigger

than they were before getting implants. Most women are fairly

satisfied with their look after explant and some women actually love

being small and natural again. Does your doctor think you need a

lift? If you are concerned about being saggy, I would ask about

this. I am very small--flat again--but I wouldn't get implants

again for anything. Sure I wish things were different, but I also

wish I didn't have a huge c-section scar running from my navel to my

pubic bone. I also wish I didn't have an appendectomy scar and my

legs weren't so darn thin that I could run a train between my thighs-

-despite doing everything possible to gain weight or develop

muscle. I guess what I am getting at is that there are so many

things that we just have to accept and unfortunately as we age,

there are more and more of them. You could have great looking

breasts today and find out tomorrow that you need a masectomy.

There are just no guarantees in life--about anything! Not only

can't we control what happens to us, we can't control what happens

to our husbands or boyfriends. It is frustrating if they gain

weight, start to go bald, or become less attractive in other ways.

Though I will try to keep myself as attractive as possible, I have

to realize that their are limitations and being unhappy with myself

when I can't change those limitations is very destructive. This

quote from St. Francis of Assisi says it all, " God give me the

serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, the courage to

change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. " I

used to hate this saying because I never wanted to admit that there

were things I could't change. Unfortunately, those things pile up

and make you accept the truth. You may not safely be able to have

breasts that would make you happy with their size, but fortunately,

you do have the option to have the implants removed and recover your

health. As important as attractive breasts are...health is more

important. I think I can safely say not one thing matters if you

don't have the health to enjoy it.

I think I would make sure that you are comfortable with the details

of your explant--who is performing it, and what they think your

outcome will be. Has your ps told you that he doesn't think you

will have an acceptable look? If so, perhaps you should consider

getting a second opinion from another ps. It is important to feel

positive about your explant. Though you are giving up something,

you are gaining something more precious.

Hugs, Kathy

--- In , " mkkinzy1 " <mkkinzy@m...>

wrote:

>

> Hi everyone!

> I hope this doesn't sound vain, but how I am going to look after

my

> surgery is weighing heavily on my mind. I know there is much more

> important things like my health, but the reason I got implants was

> because I wanted to improve my looks. I am told that I am going

to be

> a small very droopy A. I have tried to find pictures, but only

find a

> few. I look in the mirror and get tears or have to turn away from

my

> reflection. It is hard to come to terms with the whole ordeal. I

am

> really trying to find strength to get past this, but honestly I

have

> to admit I am concerned I will be very depressed after my

explant. I

> already am depressed due to my health problems and don't know how

much

> more I can handle.

> Thanks for all the support!

> MK

>

January 22, 2006

I was worried about how I'd look as well, but honestly after I had

the implants removed all I cared about was that they were gone. I

had my explant about 2 and 1/2 months ago, and each day I'm looking

more and more like I did before. I was worried about being saggy,

but I'm not.

Sis

--- In , " mkkinzy1 " <mkkinzy@m...>

wrote:

>

> Hi everyone!

> I hope this doesn't sound vain, but how I am going to look after

my

> surgery is weighing heavily on my mind. I know there is much more

> important things like my health, but the reason I got implants was

> because I wanted to improve my looks. I am told that I am going

to be

> a small very droopy A. I have tried to find pictures, but only

find a

> few. I look in the mirror and get tears or have to turn away from

my

> reflection. It is hard to come to terms with the whole ordeal. I

am

> really trying to find strength to get past this, but honestly I

have

> to admit I am concerned I will be very depressed after my

explant. I

> already am depressed due to my health problems and don't know how

much

> more I can handle.

> Thanks for all the support!

> MK

>

January 22, 2006

MK,

Some doctors try to discourage a woman from being

explanted by telling her she will be deformed,

depressed, insecure, etc. without her implants . . .

That's BS!

If your skin is still elastic, chances of returning to

your former shape is good. If you were saggy before,

you will benefit from a mastopexy (lift) . . . It does

cost more and insurance generally won't cover the lift

part. But I suspect some doctors are doing some mini

lifts as a part of explant.

In any event, when your implants are first removed,

you will look saggy and misshappened. But that's only

temporary. Think of it as what happens when you sit on

a cushion, then get up. The cushion will gradually

return to it's former shape. You will too. . . You

will start " fluffing " shortly after explant and

continue for 3-6 months. Most of the women report they

are happy with the results once they've healed.

Recovery is pretty fast for most women. I was

attending school eight hours a day within the week of

my explant. . . Some women go shopping in the mall the

day after surgery. The only caution that should cause

you problems is the lifting issue since you have small

children. You will probably need some help there for a

few weeks, unless you can find a way around picking

your kids up.

Wearing a snug, but comfortable sports bra 24/7, until

healing is well underway will help shape you too. . .

Think of the internal scar tissue as the glue that

holds everything in place.

Regardless . . . your health is soooooooo much more

important than having big boobs! . . . I consider the

decision to get implants the worst decision I ever

made . . . and the money spent to have my implants

removed, the best investment I've ever made!

Hugs and prayers,

Rogene

January 23, 2006

Thanks Kathy for your message! I so appreciate the support. With

every message I read I feel more at ease that I am doing the right

thing. I look forward to getting these plastic things out of me and

start living again. I can't begin to explain how much it means

right now to read all the messages. It is very helpful to know that

I am not alone.

MK

> >

> > Hi everyone!

> > I hope this doesn't sound vain, but how I am going to look after

> my

> > surgery is weighing heavily on my mind. I know there is much

more

> > important things like my health, but the reason I got implants

was

> > because I wanted to improve my looks. I am told that I am going

> to be

> > a small very droopy A. I have tried to find pictures, but only

> find a

> > few. I look in the mirror and get tears or have to turn away

from

> my

> > reflection. It is hard to come to terms with the whole ordeal.

I

> am

> > really trying to find strength to get past this, but honestly I

> have

> > to admit I am concerned I will be very depressed after my

> explant. I

> > already am depressed due to my health problems and don't know

how

> much

> > more I can handle.

> > Thanks for all the support!

> > MK

> >

>

December 27, 2006

I didn't think it was anything special, may have made a few more people aware of autism, but didn't really depict the 24/7 aspect of it at all.

Seemed too simplistic with no mention of crap schools, LEA's and even worse medical help, like get a dog and all will be solved.

Gave up on shoe shops yrs ago, now I just get the next size up and hope for the best, they don't all just conform with enough perseverance.

Vicky

December 27, 2006

I didn't think it was anything special, may have made a few more people aware of autism, but didn't really depict the 24/7 aspect of it at all.

Seemed too simplistic with no mention of crap schools, LEA's and even worse medical help, like get a dog and all will be solved.

Gave up on shoe shops yrs ago, now I just get the next size up and hope for the best, they don't all just conform with enough perseverance.

Vicky

December 27, 2006

>

> I quite enjoyed it, I think it got a lot more points in than the

usual ones

> do but I did say whilst people that have dealt with autism on

a personal

> basis would get it, that the general public would still think he

could help

> those behaviours himself.

>

> I find there is a very thin line between ASD behaviours and an ASD

kid being

> a little shit, especially since I have the bite mark on my arm

from

> yesterday - a result of saying no to a Kit kat in the shops

Hi Mandi!

Ouch! Sam here quite angry at times, especially seeing sweets around

etc! and finding it hard to cope with a day without much structure,

feel like we are the only people storming round the countryside on

christmas day but I know we are not!

Yes you are right, the film did depict the stress of it all very

well, especially the shoe shop incident, been there! Also Sam

through a half eaten biscuit in M & S the other day and this women

started shouting at Dave, he turned round with that " look " on his

face and she started walking backwards (tee hee) then he gave her

quite a long lecture on autism, wonder if she watched the film and

cringed, hope so!

You'll have to excuse me, I just seem to find christmas hard as much

as I try not to!!

How do other people here find it and cope?

Di x

>

> Good to have this sort of thing on boxing day prime time al the same

>

> Mandi x

> PS Hear the Silence gave us the diet and then we moaned that it

didn't do

> more on biomed. I guess there is no pleasing us, real life is just

to vivid for

> us ABE'ers, we live it, we breathe it

>

December 27, 2006

Funny, but I was not bothered by the no mention of biomed, mainly

because I never once expected it to. I was a bit weary at the

knowledge that we will now get lots of people asking us why we have

not got a dog for K. The bit that really touched me quite

unexpectedly, was watching the Dad see his wife's reaction and

pleasure when the puppy was fussing over her. Seeing his wife's

reaction to the affection/love from the puppy was a light bulb moment

for him I think. What a hard role that must have been for the little

boy. Although I did not expect biomed to be mentioned in the

programme, I did have a whistful moment at the end when they did

the " if you have been touched by issues in this programme then

contact NAS tel... " Imagine if they had said, 'or go to www.treating

autism'- wow, looking forward to that in the future.

Sue

>

> I quite enjoyed it, I think it got a lot more points in than the

usual ones

> do but I did say whilst people that have dealt with autism on

a personal

> basis would get it, that the general public would still think he

could help

> those behaviours himself.

>

> I find there is a very thin line between ASD behaviours and an ASD

kid being

> a little shit, especially since I have the bite mark on my arm

from

> yesterday - a result of saying no to a Kit kat in the shops

>

> Good to have this sort of thing on boxing day prime time al the same

>

> Mandi x

> PS Hear the Silence gave us the diet and then we moaned that it

didn't do

> more on biomed. I guess there is no pleasing us, real life is just

to vivid for

> us ABE'ers, we live it, we breathe it

>

December 27, 2006

Bear in mind the kid in question is now 17 so biomed would be even

less well known over 10 years ago.

The puppy was definitely a baby substitute for Mum I think, didn't

think the drama was too bad, the first bits about the difficult

behaviours, frustrations and pressure in the marriage are pretty

accurate, but it was all a bit too easy when the dog arrived. Also

the house was pristine and they had an open fire which seemed

unrealistic to me (or maybwe I am just a s*** house keeper?)

Couple with the fact that is terrified of dogs and we are all

highly allergic I can predict me getting annoyed when people start

asking when are we going to get one!

Happy holidays

> >

> > I quite enjoyed it, I think it got a lot more points in than the

> usual ones

> > do but I did say whilst people that have dealt with autism

on

> a personal

> > basis would get it, that the general public would still think he

> could help

> > those behaviours himself.

> >

> > I find there is a very thin line between ASD behaviours and an

ASD

> kid being

> > a little shit, especially since I have the bite mark on my arm

> from

> > yesterday - a result of saying no to a Kit kat in the shops

> >

> > Good to have this sort of thing on boxing day prime time al the

same

> >

> > Mandi x

> > PS Hear the Silence gave us the diet and then we moaned that it

> didn't do

> > more on biomed. I guess there is no pleasing us, real life is

just

> to vivid for

> > us ABE'ers, we live it, we breathe it

> >

>

December 27, 2006