Just wanted to get a few opinions from others who've had their breats enlarged.

Overall, was it a good or bad decision?
Do you regret anything?
Can you give me ANY advice, pointers, etc?

Thank you.

Hi,

Four of my closest friends have had breast implant surgery... one out of those four wishes she had never had it done. She has had more problems with it, and has gone through surgery to correct the problems and the pain at least 5 times. She still isn't happy... and she says all the time that she wished she had never had it done. I hope this helps!!
C.

Hi
I had an augmentation about 6 years ago, and I had no problems, and knock on wood--still haven't. I chose to go to a chief of plastic surgery and went to U-Mass Medical. I VERY good Dr. in Rhode Island id Dr. Patrick Sullivan----don't be hasty and not travel for a good Dr. Don't stay local...just because a good Dr. is too far-----you'll regret it. ASK questions of your Dr. Ask if he/she has been recognized on the news or in articles for their work----ALWAYS make sure that they are members of American Society of Plastic Surgeons AND American Society for aesthetic plastic surgery....these are very important credentials that your surgeon should have---if NOT---go elsewhere!!! Good Luck

i had my breast enlarged last year and I love them, my husband loves them, and I feel so sexy, totall;y would do it again!

i had breast implants done 5 years ago, and a lift done over a year ago. everone's experience will be different. just make sure you go for consultations to more than one doctor, before deciding on the right one. it's how your body will react to a forein object inside you. it is a small percentage of women that have serious problems, and saline is safe... i am definately happy with mine, better than how they looked before. just a warning though--- if you smoke, quit! at least before you get this surgery done. most doctors wont do this surgery if you are a smoker. i had problems with my lift, due to being a smoker. good luck on making the right decision.

If you want the implants....go for it!!!!! You will feel better. I have them, had problems, but still love them! Make sure you find a reputable surgeon. Make sure he's certified. You can go online and do that. Good luck ! I don't think you will be disapointed.

Serinity111, you said you have had a lift after five years. Would love to ask you a few questions. Did you have your over or under the muscle? [ermoved]I do have a couple more questions. I want a lift too, but would love to ask you a few questions first.

Thanks, and good luck

[This message has been edited by Guardian (edited 10-05-2003).]

I win.... I had mine done 18 years ago ! saline implants. I was extremely flat chested. went from a 32aa to a 36c. My surgeon was a boob man (joke) When I was consulting with the surgeon... he said for my height.. I would look better with them this size rather than the smaller size I was asking for. I havn't had any problems ever.

I had silicone done 14 yrs ago, it was the best thing I ever did...I went from an AA to a full C.

I would highly suggest having them done under the muscle, I just had my first mammogram today and she said it was great that I had it done this way, so they are able to see all the breast tissue. I also feel they look more natural, you don't see 2 round circles.

copperred---- i had implants 5 years ago, a lift done a year in a half ago. i had so much skin and no breast tissue, that just an implant was fine for awhile, but i hated all the skin that was still there. the problem i had with the lift is, there is so much cutting involved, and scars---because i had my areola made smaller as well, but im a smoker, and the dr. STILL did my surgery. most doctors wont even attemp this type of surgery til you quit. so the healing process SUCKED! it took a year, to stop bleeding and to fully heal!!!! it's been almost 2 years and i will have to have some scar revision done, but i HAVE TO quit smoking. i havent attempted that one yet. i do like my breasts, especially when i think about how they used to look---they were absolutely horrible!!! so im happy i had this done. but the risks involved are scarry, as with any surgery, but you just never know how your body is going to respond to this type of surgery. so soon enough i will go in for scar revision surgery. if you dont smoke i recommend you get a lift, if you need one. the implants look much better, at least with me thy did. hope this helped ya. let me know if you have any more ?'s.

As I mentioned in another posting, I had saline implants in 1984. Okay, it's almost 20 years. How long do these things last??? I don't even remember what the surgeon told me way back then, and even if he did, I was too hysterically happy with my new look that I wouldn't have cared. Back then I couldn't even imagine being 50. Okay, now I am, and I am wondering if these implants are going to rupture in the very near future. Then what do I do? At 50, do I go into the expense of new ones? What good would that do when everything else about me is "going south"?
I had always been flat chested and insecure while my sister enjoyed the men's attention...her with her 36C's. When I finally had the money to see a doctor I told myself that I wouldn't be greedy. Being a good Christian, I thought that God would surely frown upon my vanity if I went any bigger than a B Cup. Anyway I was happy with the results, although I had some problems with the left side, but I think that is because I wasn't symmetrical in the first place.
Mammograms are an embarrassing ordeal, though. When 99 percent of your breast is implant, it's mostly nipple on the plate. But everything considered, I DO NOT regret getting them. Not one bit.

I had silicone implants for 13 years and became so terribly ill that I am disabled. I wish I had never gotten them. I can never have my health back. I had to take my savings to have them removed. If you are one of the unlucky ones and react to silicone, you could ruin your life. When I got them removed,one had ruptured and the silicone had migrated to my lower chest and into my lymph nodes. They are saying now, that they "do not" last a life time and you will need to replace them every few years.

jcox-I'm with you on what happens now. Got my silicone jobbies in Dec 1978, didn't have any health problems other than encapsulation, mine are on top of the muscle but I would still do it over again. I was 34aa, almost not enough to fill a training bra and went into a c cup. Started menopause last fall and some of the fullness I had that wasn't implant went away and I was not happy. Have been on an herbal estrogenic formula and have gone into a d cup since. I have a rupture now one side in the encapsulation and that breast is funny looking so I'm wondering now how much longer before these things disentegrate inside. Since I have the encapsulation problem, replacement will be much harder for me I assume. And the cost now versus 20 years ago, geez.

cowgal (from jcox-I changed my username)
I didn't know that about menopause! How long were you on the herbal estrogenic formula before you noticed a change and can you get it at a health/nutrition store?
Would you at age 50 get replacements if you could afford it???

Yes at age 50 I would opt to have replacement surgery if money was not a problem. I'm afraid the recovery period will be lots longer for me because of having to remove excessive scar tissue but I've got a lot of years left before I lose my vanity over my chest. I'm over the milk cows at our dairy and I do lots of physical stuff most of the day and am lucky enough that I pass for 38 when I fix up instead of 48. Worked in the oilfield for 22 years and had really good health insurance which would have paid for removal of implants but not replacement of implants and never felt we had the extra cash to do it over again. I had mine put in after I got out of college and before I married but was already dating my hubby. He ended up helping me pay and back then I think it cost $1800. The last quote I got which was probably 7 or 8 years ago replacement surgery was gonna be at least $5000. I figure that if I've gotten 25 years out of the first set I'd probably make it to the old folks home and beyond with the 2nd set. Never have regretted having the first surgery.

About the herbal blend, I ordered somewhere off the web and I'll have to go back and see where. It really helped with the hot flashes too. Very reasonable. I take 2 in am and 2 in pm, 45 in a bottle and think they are only $14-$15/bottle. Much cheaper than prescription hormones. Tried taking 2 a day and hot flashes were better but when I went to 4 they virtually stopped. They are actually labeled for breast enhancement but have all the estrogenic herbs that are advertised to help us through menopause. Never thought that they would work for that since I've got the implants but I got rid of hot flashes and my bras are nice and full again. I'll post back tomorrow with precise info since that info is at home and I'm at the dairy.

Thanks, cowgal.

Micheybell,
I did want to say that my daughter also had the surgery about five years ago. (breast size is hereditary, I suppose) When it came to my own daughter I worried. I thought of all the things that could go wrong. But then, what could I say, right? And she didn't waste time worrying about conscience and vanity. She went for the C size. She also has saline, but hers are under the muscle. Her surgeon told her that this is the trend now. She did not follow the advise of her gynecologist who strongly recomended that she not have surgery until AFTER pregnancy, as pregnancy will affect the breasts, of course. She was happy with the results and did not have any problems. However,she has since had a child and she says the shape has changed. Her husband says they are just fine, but she intends to have them redone in the next few years. (she can afford it, unlike me).
Another thing, Micheybell. I had mine inserted in the areola to better hide the scar and immediately lost some sensation in the nipples, more so on the left. Over the years, this has been a source of aggravation for me, but I have learned to compensate.
There are many things to consider, but like most of the posters have said so far, I have no regrets.

I just wish I could stop worrying about them going flat after 20 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cowgal
I figure you weren't able to post that information because of board rules. That's okay. I found some info on the internet. Thanks anyway.

Please keep in mind when posting:

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- Guardian
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Guardian - As typical for me, I wrote that I would send info before I remembered the rules. Sorry but I did actually remember before I went further and replied with specifics. Don't mean to disobey and intend to respect and follow board instructions. Thank you.

Originally posted by cowgal:
Guardian - As typical for me, I wrote that I would send info before I remembered the rules. Sorry but I did actually remember before I went further and replied with specifics. Don't mean to disobey and intend to respect and follow board instructions. Thank you.

That's okay. The message I wrote is standard anyway for people who are not familiar with the rules.

- Guardian

I had implants about 8 years ago and have NEVER regretted them one day. I went from a 34C to a 34DDD (not what I asked for, but you won't hear me complaining). I am now a 34DD because I've lost weight. They are very nice, perky and I never have to wear a bra at home (which I don't because I hate bras). Of course, I wear a bra to work (and a good one) but it comes off the minute I get home. This was the best surgery I've ever had and would do it all over again. The pain was minimal, but I had the implants over the muscle and from what I understand, it is much less painful than getting them under the muscle. Also, mine don't look fake or hard, but that's probably because I had extra skin before the surgery and they fit nicely. I am 44 years old and they do not sag one bit.

I don't think one can say if this is a good or bad choice - just a very personal one and one that should be made only after doing your homework. Be informed.

I hope you are listening to both ends of the spectrum b/c while there are a lot of people digging their new breasts-an equal # of women regret having them done.
I have never had implants-I know you asked those who did-for their opinion.
I am posting this b/c I think it is a serious thing to do to your body. I feel that if you are prob. that unhappy w/your chest then maybe you want to boost your self-esteem and your appearance. Implanting a potentially dangerous foreign object into the body just seems strange (at least to me)-even though I have entertained the idea for myself, being a 32 A. Although I just cant imagine the risk or possibility of getting an auto-immune disease. I do not believe they are 100% safe. i think there are some people who do become seriously ill from implants. Silicone is heavy duty stuff.
I am biased and feel that unless you are so miserable w/your chest then dont do it b/c if it aint broke dont fix it. Why even bother if you have to have them fixed every 10 years anyway. Just my personal opinion. Hope you make the right decision for you.