Your explant surgery

[Guest guest]

, Good for you that you have made this most important decision. So many women suffer needlessly because of their implants, and almost all of these women have some form of autoimmune disease. It is the first step in healing and getting back to a healthy life. If you haven't already decided on an explanting ps, be sure to find one that believes in the connection/relation that implants have to illness. Make sure you find a surgeon that does the procedure en bloc, and does a total capsulectomy. If a surgeon removes the implants, but doesn't remove the capsule, you will not be doing yourself any good. Everything must come out. There are a few excellent ps' that come highly recommended and that many women go to. The 2 most highly recommended are Dr. Lu-Feng in Cleveland, and Dr. Huang in Denver. They are top notch doctors who listen to us, respect us, and want to help us get better. Regardless of who you choose, be sure they also use JP drains to ensure that the fluid in the breast has a way to drain out. Otherwise, a hematoma or seroma can form causing unnecessary pain and infection, and possibly necessitating more surgery to drain the fluid. So drains are a must--one in each breast. They are usually kept in place for 4-8 days, depending on how much fluid is draining. The explant surgery is much easier than implant. The pain is nowhere near as intense as implant, and the recovery time is much quicker. I had moderate to severe pain after explant for approx 24 hrs. Then it significantly decreased and I was driving and going about my life. I could not work for about 1 wk, and I was on a weight restriction of 15 pds for 2 wks, and this included no overhead lifting. I was back to work in 7 days, and probably could have gone back sooner. You didn't state what symptoms you have and how sick you are, but most women will notice an immediate improvement in their health. However, you need to be aware that with some women, this is short lived, and they will actually get worse before they get better. But once you get over that hump, life gets better and better. I did real well for about 3-4 months post explant, then started having a return of my previous symptoms. They intensified and reached their peak this past Dec/Jan. Then I slowly started getting better. I feel my best now, although I still have a long way to go. But getting the implants out was the smartest and wisest thing I have ever done for myself. That said, it is extremely important to choose your doctor wisely. Do your research and ask questions. Ask to see before and after pictures. And go with your gut feeling. While the 2 doctors mentioned above are 2 of the best, there are many others out there who are excellent and provide women with excellent aesthetic results. There are always risks with any surgery, no matter how minor. But the benefits of being explanted far outweigh the risks. After explant, you will be on your way to improved health, and that in itself, is priceless. Because you have an autoimmune disease, there is a good chance that your insurance company may pay for your explant. The ps will have to get precert/preauth, which is standard with most any insurance company these days, and he/she will have to document the medical necessity of explant. Your insurance company may also ask for further documention from your other docs (rheumy, PCP) indicating medical necessity. More and more insurance companies are paying for explant now, especially when you use a cost analysis presentation. If your insurance company denies the surgery; don't accept it. Insurance companies count on pts to just accept what they say and what their decisions are. So fight it and appeal it, and more than likely, it will get approved. Always remember that the insurance company's decision is NOT final. Please feel free to email me at e_Rene@... if you have any further questions/concerns. e