Re: implants over 20 yrs old

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome,That is a long time to have implants!I don't believe anyone who gets implants has been given proper information about removal. Most of us who got sick were clueless about explant, the need for it, or how to make sure it is done correctly. Those who haven't gotten sick probably haven't been as concerned. It takes research...we can help you if you are considering explant.We've had some women who have had implants in place for as long as you have, but not many. Most women who have implants that long in place have either experienced rupture with illness, and sometimes rupture with no overt signs of illness. In fact, there was a study a number of years ago that showed most implants were ruptured by 20 years, and that many women were unaware of that fact. They had experienced "silent ruptures." Here is more info on this subject:http://www.breastimplantinfo.org/augment/implantfacts.htmlExcerpt: "Implant makers were required to study breakage and provide their studies to the FDA. Short-term studies of today's saline implants suggest that between 3-9% break within the first three years, and one implant manufacturer's study of their silicone gel implants found that between 3-20% break within three years. 5,10 A Danish study of ruptured silicone gel implants suggests that most last for ten years, but by the time they are 11-20 years old, most will break, and after 20 years the few that are still intact will break.11"Here is more information on silent ruptures and implants.FDA Study Shows That Most Silicone Gel Breast Implants Rupture Lieberman, Ph.D. and Zuckerman, Ph.D.While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers that "breast implants do not last a lifetime," new FDA studies by Dr. Lori Brown and her colleagues indicate that most women with silicone gel-filled breast implants will have at least one broken implant within 10 years. In the first study, the FDA interviewed 907 women in the Birmingham, Alabama area who had breast implants for at least six years. In the second study, 344 women with silicone gel breast implants who had been interviewed in the first study and had not had additional surgery after getting their implants received a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam, to determine whether their implants were broken.Interview StudyIn the Interview Study, women with breast implants were asked if they had any additional breast surgery after getting their implants. If their implants were removed, they were asked why. Women who had surgery because they suspected their implants were ruptured were asked about what symptoms they had and whether they knew of a possible reason that their implants could have ruptured.One-third of the women interviewed (303 of 907) reported that they had at least one operation to remove or replace a breast implant. Of the women who had additional surgeries, more than half reported that at least one of their implants was ruptured or leaking. The average time between getting implants and having additional surgery was 11.5 years.The most common reason for additional surgery was due to complications such as pain, capsular contracture, displaced implant, infection, or a suspected rupture. Those complications occurred in 103 of the 303 women who had additional surgery. An additional 92 women had their breast implants removed because they were concerned about the safety of silicone.Some women had additional surgery because of diseases or because they had symptoms that they or their doctors thought were due to the implant. Other women had additional surgery that was planned or staged, such as replacing tissue expanders, or to get a different size implant.Of the 73 women who suspected their implant had ruptured, 51 suspected the rupture because they had pain in their breast, chest, or upper body. Thirty-five suspected rupture because of changes in their breast shape.Since self-reported medical history is not always accurate, the FDA attempted to check to determine if the women's reports were accurate. The FDA was able to obtain medical records from about half of the women who had additional surgeries, and found that the women's reports were quite accurate. There were minor discrepancies between what the women reported and what was recorded in their medical records. Those differences could have been because researchers may have reviewed a medical record from a different surgery than the one the woman reported, the doctor might not have recorded whether an implant had ruptured, or the woman could have been mistaken that her implant was ruptured. In order to eliminate those biases, the FDA performed a second study, using MRIs. The MRI Study, described below, showed even higher rates of implant rupture than the Interview Study.MRI StudyThe FDA recruited women from the Interview Study to have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam to determine if their implants were ruptured. The study looked at 344 women who had 687 silicone gel-filled breast implants and who did not suspect that their implants were broken. The average time a woman had implants was about 17 years. Three radiologists looked at each of the MRIs and determined if the implants were intact, suspicious for rupture, or ruptured.Since the study excluded the one-third of the women in the Interview Study who already had their implants removed due to breakage or other complications, the actual rupture rate is even higher than this study reports. More than two-thirds (69 percent) of the women who had not previously had surgery were found to have at least one ruptured implant in the MRI Study.Almost half (48 percent) of the women who had implants for only six to 10 years had at least one ruptured implant. Even more, 79 percent, of the women who had implants for 11-15 years had at least one ruptured implant, and similarly, 72 percent of women who had implants for 16 to 20 years had at least one ruptured implant. The rupture rate was lower, approximately one in three, among the few women who had implants for 21 years or more. This is probably because implants made prior to 1975 were made with thicker envelopes and thicker silicone gel.Of particular concern was whether the silicone migrated outside of the scar tissue that surrounds the implant. Migrating silicone is almost impossible to surgically remove, and efforts to remove it can result in surgery resembling a mastectomy. The findings were bad news for patients with gel implants: the radiologists agreed that more than one in five women (21 percent) had silicone gel that had migrated, and could therefore potentially migrate to essential organs.There were several factors that affected the likelihood that an implant had ruptured, such as the age of the implant, which manufacturer made the implant, and whether the implant was put above or beneath the chest muscle. Unfortunately, most of these findings have not yet been reported, and the study is not yet published.Implications for Patients and Women Considering Gel Implants • The results of this study show that most women with silicone gel implants will have a broken implant within 10 years but they are unlikely to detect it unless they get an MRI. • The study also indicates that estimates of rupture that are based on the women who have surgery to remove broken implants will grossly underestimate the problem. As a result of the many "silent ruptures," implant patients and their surgeons have been unaware that most women will require repeated surgeries even if they do not have physical complaints about their implants. • Even more worrisome, gel was migrating outside the scar capsule for more than one in every five women who were unaware that their implants were broken. This puts these women at risk for losing at least some of their own breast tissue when the implants are removed. In the most extreme cases, some of these women will need a mastectomy to remove the silicone, and the silicone could also migrate to the lungs or other vital organs.What is your health like? Are you ill?We hope we can help bring you some answers you seek.Take care,Patty>> When I received implants, so info given about removal. Just wanted to > know if anyone else has implants 25 1/2 years in place?>

[Guest guest]

--- In , " glory2glory1401 "

Thanks to all who gave me info. I do not know if i am sick. I have

mucus almost every moring. Cough it up after drinking my coffee. I am

not going to be at my home until May 09. We winter south. My implant

doctor has retired. Have no idea what to do. It is frighting to read

these replies. My breast have drooped, but I am 67 years old. My

breast implants were size C and I now buy size D bras, because of the

location of breast on my chest. I am open for suggestions.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I guess if you don't know if you are sick, then it's most likely that

you are not....if you were sick like we were sick, you'd most

definitely know it! You would not be able to function.

It's a high probability that your implants are ruptured, however,

since you've had them as long as you have, and your breasts are

drooping. We know that most older women's breasts droop, but if you

have silicone gel implants, they would not change shape themselves

unless they had ruptured.

Dr. Lu Feng in Ohio is an expert on ruptured silicone gel

implants. Can you get to Ohio to see her? She would be one of the

best in the country. There is also Dr. Kolb in Atlanta, Georgia

if that would be closer.

It is a hard decision to remove implants when you are not sure what

they are doing to you. When you are sick like we have been, it's a

pretty easy decision. At your age, you have to decide if it is worth

it to keep them in, not knowing what they will do in the long run if

they are ruptured, or if you want to do everything you possibly can to

stay healthy as long as you are able. Getting back to a natural body

would be my first choice if I was in that boat. The plastic surgeon

will also be able to do a breast lift and you will no longer have

droopy breasts, which is certainly a plus.

Let us know what other questions you may have. I know it's a

difficult position to be in, but if you have a really good doctor to

work with, it's so much easier. We've got our list of trusted doctors

that know how to take care of us with ruptures and illness, and they

have proven themselves to be a cut above the other plastic surgeons

time and time again because of their compassion towards us, and their

expert work.

TAke care,

Patty

>

> --- In , " glory2glory1401 "

> Thanks to all who gave me info. I do not know if i am sick. I have

> mucus almost every moring. Cough it up after drinking my coffee. I am

> not going to be at my home until May 09. We winter south. My implant

> doctor has retired. Have no idea what to do. It is frighting to read

> these replies. My breast have drooped, but I am 67 years old. My

> breast implants were size C and I now buy size D bras, because of the

> location of breast on my chest. I am open for suggestions.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Lea

You said you had ruptured silicone implants for 19 years. How did you

discover they had ruptured? You say it destroyed you life. Would you

tell me more. I don't know how I could have been in the dark so long

about these implant problems. Every doctor I have ever gone to knows

I have breat implants. I tell every doctor in er clinic or er

hospital I have ever gone to and no one ever said you know those

generally don't last longer than 10 yrs. What got me to looking was

my last mamogram, 10/08, the person who did my mamo, told me she had

implants and told me they usually only last l0years. Now mind you, I

had these implants 25 years. have had my mamo's every year and no one

ever brought up the subject. I wondered about the mamo's and if they

would hurt my implants, but I thought if they would, someone would

mention it. I cannot understand myself. Why didn't I ask more

questions before now?

>

> Dear Friend:

>

> I know of many women who have had silicone breast implants for 25

years. They usually end up in the ER, with gross ruptures; however,

many do still have them in their bodies. This is a dangerous game,

because we never know when severe health problems will begin. There

are four sisters here, who all have silicone implants, and one was in

ICU for one month. She had the symptoms, but she ignored them, and

she was on a respirator, and her back was covered with a silicone

spill. She survived, and her sisters claimed that this would never

happen to them, and they have no symptoms! I had ruptured silicone

breast implants for 19 years, and my life is destroyed.

>

> Honey, please do some research, and you should see your original

plastic surgeon. We will all be here to help you, and give you plenty

of support.

>

> Stay close...always....Lea

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~```

> implants over 20 yrs old

>

>

> When I received implants, so info given about removal. Just

wanted to

> know if anyone else has implants 25 1/2 years in place?

>

[Guest guest]

--

- In , " glory2glory1401 "

<glory2glory1401@...> wrote:

>Hello Patty,

Thank you again for all your wonderful information. After reading all

the information, I want to get my implants removed. I also replied to

Lee on this site. She said she had delt with reptured breast and I

ask her for more info. I am currently in Destin, Fl. with my husband

in an RV park for the winter. My home is Dayton, Ohio. I have a lot

of metal in my mouth from dental bridges. I wonder if I could even

\have an MRI. From what I am reading, I guess I am in quite a mess.

I had been married to my 1st husband over 20 yrs and he found another

woman. In trying to save that marriage while in counsling with him,

he told me my little breats were never adaquate. It was the reason I

got the implants. We were getting a divorce and I got implants. I

thought, no other man will want me with small breast. I have been

remarried 23 years and I guessed I'll never know. Now I guess I will

find out. Do you know if there are studies going on that might help

pay for my implants to be removed?

> Hi,

> I guess if you don't know if you are sick, then it's most likely

that

> you are not....if you were sick like we were sick, you'd most

> definitely know it! You would not be able to function.

>

> It's a high probability that your implants are ruptured, however,

> since you've had them as long as you have, and your breasts are

> drooping. We know that most older women's breasts droop, but if you

> have silicone gel implants, they would not change shape themselves

> unless they had ruptured.

>

> Dr. Lu Feng in Ohio is an expert on ruptured silicone gel

> implants. Can you get to Ohio to see her? She would be one of the

> best in the country. There is also Dr. Kolb in Atlanta,

Georgia

> if that would be closer.

>

> It is a hard decision to remove implants when you are not sure what

> they are doing to you. When you are sick like we have been, it's a

> pretty easy decision. At your age, you have to decide if it is

worth

> it to keep them in, not knowing what they will do in the long run if

> they are ruptured, or if you want to do everything you possibly can

to

> stay healthy as long as you are able. Getting back to a natural

body

> would be my first choice if I was in that boat. The plastic surgeon

> will also be able to do a breast lift and you will no longer have

> droopy breasts, which is certainly a plus.

>

> Let us know what other questions you may have. I know it's a

> difficult position to be in, but if you have a really good doctor to

> work with, it's so much easier. We've got our list of trusted

doctors

> that know how to take care of us with ruptures and illness, and they

> have proven themselves to be a cut above the other plastic surgeons

> time and time again because of their compassion towards us, and

their

> expert work.

> TAke care,

> Patty

>

> --- In , " mnester43 " <MarkEntime@>

wrote:

> >

> > --- In , " glory2glory1401 "

> > Thanks to all who gave me info. I do not know if i am sick. I have

> > mucus almost every moring. Cough it up after drinking my coffee.

I am

> > not going to be at my home until May 09. We winter south. My

implant

> > doctor has retired. Have no idea what to do. It is frighting to

read

> > these replies. My breast have drooped, but I am 67 years old. My

> > breast implants were size C and I now buy size D bras, because of

the

> > location of breast on my chest. I am open for suggestions.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Honey, I have the reports that the implants were ruptured. We did not know that they were ruptured until they were removed. I had mammograms and ultrasounds and nothing would show the rupture! I was so very sick, and not one doctor knew why! Now they all know.

Please have these devices removed as soon as possible. We will all help you and give you plenty of support. All breast implants leak from the day that they are implanted into your body. Silicone migrates to every organ in the body.

Honey, please trust me, because I did the research on these devices for over 15 years....they are deadly. My doctors know that most all of my problems are from the implants. I am working with some doctors here, to help to educate them on the dangers of all silicone medical devices.

Sending love and hope to you...Lea

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

implants over 20 yrs old> > > When I received implants, so info given about removal. Just wanted to > know if anyone else has implants 25 1/2 years in place?>

[Guest guest]

Oh, Dear One,

It pains me to hear how your first husband denigrated your body by

saying what he did. It was never true, because our worth is not in

our breasts; it is in our soul and our hearts and character. Here is

the truth: He was the one with the problem. He wasn't worthy of you.

I'm sorry you got breast implants under those circumstances, but

apparently it worked out alright for you for a time...at least you did

not get so deathly sick like we did that you could not live life.

I'm glad you have made a decision to remove the implants though. I

think it is a wise decision, and hopefully you will be saved from any

further decline.

It's wonderful that you live in Ohio...you are close to one of the

very best! Dr. Lu Feng is in Cleveland, OH, and you can see her

website at www.drfeng.com

You might want to call her office and talk to some of the girls there

who are very helpful. They can give you more information about the

importance of having your aged implants removed. Dr. Feng has worked

with many women who had ruptured implants, and she is excellent at

removing them correctly.

It is doubtful that there is any assistance available for removal

costs. Most women have had to pay for it up front. With some

illnesses, it has been possible for insurance to pay for it, but it is

usually not covered. Capsular contracture is sometimes covered if it

is advanced, but it does not sound like you have capsular contracture

at all.

I wouldn't worry too much about the dental issues right now...unless

you want to pursue that first if it is your intent to clean up any

dental work also. It does get very expensive and I think your

implants may have priority.

How is your health? Do you have any health issues at all right now,

that are listed on our home page?

Patty

> > >

> > > --- In , " glory2glory1401 "

> > > Thanks to all who gave me info. I do not know if i am sick. I have

> > > mucus almost every moring. Cough it up after drinking my coffee.

> I am

> > > not going to be at my home until May 09. We winter south. My

> implant

> > > doctor has retired. Have no idea what to do. It is frighting to

> read

> > > these replies. My breast have drooped, but I am 67 years old. My

> > > breast implants were size C and I now buy size D bras, because of

> the

> > > location of breast on my chest. I am open for suggestions.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi:

Since I am in Destin Florida, do you have any reliable doctors in my

area that I could see for a consult.

Thank You

> >

> > Dear Friend:

> >

> > I know of many women who have had silicone breast implants for

25

> years. They usually end up in the ER, with gross ruptures;

however,

> many do still have them in their bodies. This is a dangerous

game,

> because we never know when severe health problems will begin.

There

> are four sisters here, who all have silicone implants, and one

was in

> ICU for one month. She had the symptoms, but she ignored them,

and

> she was on a respirator, and her back was covered with a silicone

> spill. She survived, and her sisters claimed that this would

never

> happen to them, and they have no symptoms! I had ruptured

silicone

> breast implants for 19 years, and my life is destroyed.

> >

> > Honey, please do some research, and you should see your

original

> plastic surgeon. We will all be here to help you, and give you

plenty

> of support.

> >

> > Stay close...always....Lea

> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~```

> > implants over 20 yrs old

> >

> >

> > When I received implants, so info given about removal. Just

> wanted to

> > know if anyone else has implants 25 1/2 years in place?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

We have quite a few Florida doctors on our list, though I have not heard

from anyone who has seen any of them lately.

Here is the list. Best wishes on your consult!

FLORIDA

Bridge, M.D. [Plastic Surgery]

Bridge Breast & Aesthetic Surgery Center

608 Medical Care Dr

, Florida 33511

Phone: (863) 684-2506

Fax: (863) 684-5785

pbridge@...

Dr. Barroso P/S

524 Arthur Godfrey Rd.,

Miami Beach, FL 33140

(305)674-8586

http://www.barrosomd.com/html/barroso.html

(He is expensive. Obtain in writing from him he will remove your

implants " en bloc " and do a total capsulectomy, if at all possible. Only

a few women I know have used him and this is why I am a bit leery.

Please report any experiences, good or bad, with him.)

J Brueck

3700 Central Avenue, Suite One

Fort Myers , FL 33901

813-939-5233

http://www.plasticsurgery.org/md/BRUECK1.htm

Has an office in Cape Coral also but surgery center is in Fort Myers

DR. HOLLIS CAFFEE, plastic surgeon,

Professor plastic surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine

Box 100286,

Gainesville, FL 32610

(352)395-7972

caffee@...

professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery

(He will not admit anything is

wrong in all probability with breast implants.

However, reports are he will remove the implants

" en bloc " and a total capuslectomy., If possible;

get it in writing from him with his signature he

will do both so there can be no misunderstanding

plus send him a certified letter you feel these

are imperative! )

DR. ARTHUR DEBAISE, plastic surgeon,

1414 Kuhl Ave. 3rd Floor,

Orlando, FL 32806,

http://storefront.dexonline.com/debaise-arthur-j-md-pa

DR. A. H. NEZAMI, Plastic surgeon,

Baptist Medical Center

820 Prudential Dr. , Suite 702,

ville, FL 32207

1-904-399-5061

http://www.ahnezami.com/about_thedoctor.html

E-mail ahnezami@...

DR. PAMELA ROSEN, P/S,

1401 N. University Dr. Ste 300

Coral Springs, FL 33071

954 341 8907

I am thankful each day that I found a plastic surgeon who recognized the

dangers of silicone and saline implants. She has stopped all

implantations, except when she can give each patient the entire story

and list ALL of the potential risk factors and the

patient requests them anyway due to extreme conditions such as

mastectomy.

She prefers mastopexy to implant for healthy women and openly discusses

her

reasoning.......she cares about the health ofher patients: by :

Yannijazz@... (check that Dr. Rosen will remove your implants " en

bloc, " etc.! She is new to our list; let me know what you think of her

if

you decide to see her! Barbara: Suriliimp@.... See below.)

Dr. D. Rotatori P/S

800 W. Morse Blvd. Suite 5

Winter Park, FL 32789

(407)628-5476

http://www.scottrotatori.com/

DR. LUIS VINAS, plastic Surgeon

1620 S. Congress Ave.Suite 100,

Palm Springs, FL 33461

1-561-968-7111

http://www.plasticsurgerypb.com/pspb-vinas.htm

Dr. Vitale- P/S

1229 S. Strawbridge ave

Melbourne, FL 32901

(321)676-5543

http://www.melbourneplasticsurgery.com/id2.htm

(Make sure she will remove your implants

" en bloc " and perform a total capsulectomy if possible)

Dr. Marguerite Barnett P/S

530 S. Nekomis Ave., Suite 6

Venice, FL 34285

941-927-2447

drbarnett@...

http://www.mandalamedispa.com/drBarnett.html

Contacts: Marielee3@... (5-26-99 explant),

support group leader near Dr. Barnett: Chris: Tanja@...

One woman has reported spill upon explant, 2003. (See post #20374)

> > >

> > > Dear Friend:

> > >

> > > I know of many women who have had silicone breast implants for

> 25

> > years. They usually end up in the ER, with gross ruptures;

> however,

> > many do still have them in their bodies. This is a dangerous

> game,

> > because we never know when severe health problems will begin.

> There

> > are four sisters here, who all have silicone implants, and one

> was in

> > ICU for one month. She had the symptoms, but she ignored them,

> and

> > she was on a respirator, and her back was covered with a silicone

> > spill. She survived, and her sisters claimed that this would

> never

> > happen to them, and they have no symptoms! I had ruptured

> silicone

> > breast implants for 19 years, and my life is destroyed.

> > >

> > > Honey, please do some research, and you should see your

> original

> > plastic surgeon. We will all be here to help you, and give you

> plenty

> > of support.

> > >

> > > Stay close...always....Lea

> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~```

> > > implants over 20 yrs old

> > >

> > >

> > > When I received implants, so info given about removal. Just

> > wanted to

> > > know if anyone else has implants 25 1/2 years in place?

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Good morning, Dear Friend:

Honey, I live in Canada; however, many women in our group will know of a good plastic surgeon in your area who will remove your implants properly. This is very important, because the capsule must be removed, or you will have to go back for more surgery. That is my problem, because I was never cleaned out, and that has caused many health problems for me. I am under constant medical care. Do you have any breathing problems?

Patty will know of someone who might be close to you, but make sure that the surgeon who cleans you out has plenty of experience in removing old silicone breast implants.

Stay close, and we will try to help you to get through this...love....Lea

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~```

implants over 20 yrs old> > > > > > When I received implants, so info given about removal. Just > wanted to > > know if anyone else has implants 25 1/2 years in place?> >>

[Guest guest]

Hello Friend:

Yes, I believe so. I have been treated for several years off and on

for upper respiratory problems. Last Spring I was so sick that it

took two separate trips to the doctor, two bouts of antibotics, a

chest x-ray, my first breating treatment, an inhaler before I could

get well. The doctor at that time said, if this treatment did not do

the trick, she was going to send me to a lung specialist. I was

diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease at that time. I do not

currently require constant medication. Just go to the doctor when I

get sick.

Thanks again for your support. It looks like my journey is just

starting.

-

-- In , " Lea " <devans@...> wrote:

>

> Good morning, Dear Friend:

>

> Honey, I live in Canada; however, many women in our group will know

of a good plastic surgeon in your area who will remove your implants

properly. This is very important, because the capsule must be

removed, or you will have to go back for more surgery. That is my

problem, because I was never cleaned out, and that has caused many

health problems for me. I am under constant medical care. Do you have

any breathing problems?

>

> Patty will know of someone who might be close to you, but make sure

that the surgeon who cleans you out has plenty of experience in

removing old silicone breast implants.

>

> Stay close, and we will try to help you to get through

this...love....Lea

>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~```

> implants over 20 yrs old

> > >

> > >

> > > When I received implants, so info given about removal. Just

> > wanted to

> > > know if anyone else has implants 25 1/2 years in place?

> > >

> >

>