Patty

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty,

I want to thank you for your response and explanation to . I must be a true idiot because I never understood the purpose of capsules until I read your email. Even though I've heard it explained over and over again, it just didn't seem to register with me until now.

So, if I understand what you're saying, a secondary capsule to form in my right abdomen, tells me the silicone gel migrated and "pooled" in that area which caused another capsule to form? There was no doubt in my mind the silicone migrated, because the right capsule had ruptured, but without sounding too ignorant, I never understood why there was a secondary capsule. I also recently had a mammogram (which was very painful) and ultrasound, being told all the lumps and bumps in my chest were only scar tissue. No big deal! Yet I have burning in my chest 24/7 not including all the other health problems. Am I being lied to again? Is it the scar tissue that's causing all my burning?

I feel so stupid asking these questions after all this time. Here I've been sharing my medical and health problems with others (based on my medical records), without really understanding what this all meant.

You may find this hard to believe, but I use to be a fairly intelligent person at one time. Now I just try to appear to be.

Anyway, thanks again for your explanation, as I'm sure does also.

Love and Hugs............

Patty <fdp@...> wrote:

,

The scar capsule is tissue that your body forms around the implant to "wall" it off from the rest of your body. It is correct that everyone makes (gets) them. It is also true that some doctors leave the scar capsule inside your body upon explant, because they do not understand the importance of removing this scar tissue that your body makes. Sometimes they think are doing a favor by leaving it in, because it will help fill out the breast more if there is a loss of tissue, and help the woman cope with the loss of her implants. It is a dangerous gamble to do that, and may in fact prevent a woman from regaining her health. That is why we talk about the importance of having a total capsulectomy, and/or having implants removed with the "en bloc" technique.

In some instances of silicone gel implants that have ruptured, the actual shell of the implant has degraded to the point that it is hard to identify within the mass of goo. This has been noted in cases where women have been asked to identify their implant manufacturer for the lawsuit against Dow, and it has been impossible to do so because the shell of the implant was no longer viable.

However, with saline implants, that is not the case. But we all need to be concerned about having the scar tissue completely removed to have the best chance at regaining full health.

Patty

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

From: DanzButterflies@...

Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 2:14 PM

Subject: Capsules and Shell of implants question

To all,

One person explained to me recently that the 'capsule' is the scar tissue that surrounds the implant and everybody gets them. Upon reading all the information pertaining to the importance of having them removed, sometimes it sounds as though the doctors are literally leaving the shell of an 'emptied' implant inside. My thoughts tell me that this is not so and that what I'm reading is only referring to the actual scar tissue left behind when the implants are not removed 'en bloc'.

Can anyone confirm or clarify that the capsule is the body's own scar tissue and not including 'the shell' of the implant?

Thanks,