Re: , Jackie, and Cristy

April 3, 2001

Christy,

Regarding removal through the belly button---I highly recommend that you do not pursue this course!

There are very good reasons for that, and you must understand the importance of this if you want the best chance for regaining your health and/or keeping it.

All implants, once inside your body, begin to be surrounded by scar tissue, as your body tries to defend itself against the foreign object. This scar tissue removal, when you have an explant, is called a total capsulectomy, and YOU MUST HAVE THIS DONE. I don't see how anyone could remove the scar tissue by going through the belly button.

In fact, in some instances, the scar tissue adheres to the ribcage and must be scraped off. I don't want to scare you, and this may not be your case, but the point is that the removal of the scar tissue should not be taken lightly, and you must ensure that you get the best surgery to remove not only the implants, but the scar tissue as well. Usually there is bleeding involved, and I do remember in my case, the doctor cauterized the blood vessels. Again, I don't see how this can be done through the belly button.

Be sure that you discuss all of this with your doctor when you are discussing explant. Make sure he understands you....that you must remove the implants, and ALL of the scar tissue. Not some of it. Some doctors will remove just the anterior capsule, leaving the posterior...this is NOT GOOD! I know of a woman who had to undergo further surgery to remove the posterior capsule when she realized she was not getting better, and she saw her post-operative report which stated that only the anterior capsule was removed. She had been lied to, because the doctor had told her he would remove all of it before surgery. Make sure your doctor understands the importance of what he is going to be doing.

Here are some websites that deal with the explant issues:

http://www2.privatei.com/~coss/coss/aware6.html

http://www2.privatei.com/~coss/coss/aware5.html

http://community-1.webtv.net/lany25/LifeAfterBreast/

Research this carefully before you make you decision on the doctor that you will use. We have a list of recommended doctors--this list is not for building their business up--this list is there because they understand how important it is to do it right.

Patty

----- Original Message ----- From: "Christy " <DollBaby@...>

< >

Sent: Monday, April 02, 2001 7:51 PM

Subject: , Jackie, and Cristy

> Hi, girls! It was nice to meet you. I just wanted to say thank you for responding to my question about what to expect after the explant in terms of appearance. Your helpful information has made me feel SO much more at ease about the operation. It has really given me the support and confidence I needed to go ahead with it. I will be having the explant within the next month. I will let you know how it went...especially for Jackie whom has yet to have the surgery. Just a little side info: I'm not worried about scars because I had them placed through my bellybutton. You can't even see the scars right now. I can have them removed that way as well (but I know they must be deflated through tubes before they are pulled out...should I be concerned about that? I am assuming they probably have to be deflated when removed in other places as well (armpit, etc). > > > >

April 3, 2001

Patty...do you know of tests such as ultrasound that would show any scar tissue that is left in your body? thanks, Kay

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

From: Patty

Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 9:26 AM

Subject: Re: , Jackie, and Cristy

Christy,

Regarding removal through the belly button---I highly recommend that you do not pursue this course!

There are very good reasons for that, and you must understand the importance of this if you want the best chance for regaining your health and/or keeping it.

All implants, once inside your body, begin to be surrounded by scar tissue, as your body tries to defend itself against the foreign object. This scar tissue removal, when you have an explant, is called a total capsulectomy, and YOU MUST HAVE THIS DONE. I don't see how anyone could remove the scar tissue by going through the belly button.

In fact, in some instances, the scar tissue adheres to the ribcage and must be scraped off. I don't want to scare you, and this may not be your case, but the point is that the removal of the scar tissue should not be taken lightly, and you must ensure that you get the best surgery to remove not only the implants, but the scar tissue as well. Usually there is bleeding involved, and I do remember in my case, the doctor cauterized the blood vessels. Again, I don't see how this can be done through the belly button.

Be sure that you discuss all of this with your doctor when you are discussing explant. Make sure he understands you....that you must remove the implants, and ALL of the scar tissue. Not some of it. Some doctors will remove just the anterior capsule, leaving the posterior...this is NOT GOOD! I know of a woman who had to undergo further surgery to remove the posterior capsule when she realized she was not getting better, and she saw her post-operative report which stated that only the anterior capsule was removed. She had been lied to, because the doctor had told her he would remove all of it before surgery. Make sure your doctor understands the importance of what he is going to be doing.

Here are some websites that deal with the explant issues:

http://www2.privatei.com/~coss/coss/aware6.html

http://www2.privatei.com/~coss/coss/aware5.html

http://community-1.webtv.net/lany25/LifeAfterBreast/

Research this carefully before you make you decision on the doctor that you will use. We have a list of recommended doctors--this list is not for building their business up--this list is there because they understand how important it is to do it right.

Patty

----- Original Message ----- From: "Christy " <DollBaby@...>

< >

Sent: Monday, April 02, 2001 7:51 PM

Subject: , Jackie, and Cristy

> Hi, girls! It was nice to meet you. I just wanted to say thank you for responding to my question about what to expect after the explant in terms of appearance. Your helpful information has made me feel SO much more at ease about the operation. It has really given me the support and confidence I needed to go ahead with it. I will be having the explant within the next month. I will let you know how it went...especially for Jackie whom has yet to have the surgery. Just a little side info: I'm not worried about scars because I had them placed through my bellybutton. You can't even see the scars right now. I can have them removed that way as well (but I know they must be deflated through tubes before they are pulled out...should I be concerned about that? I am assuming they probably have to be deflated when removed in other places as well (armpit, etc). > > > >

April 3, 2001

If you have no scars now, and you don't need a lift then I would

recomend removal through the nipple incision. My original surgery was

via the nipple and it left really no visible scars, my subsiquent

lift involved moving my nipples up, and after only 4 months those

scars also are nearly invisible. If you need a lift they can do a

donut lift that way as well and that should give you hardly any

scaring. If yu need more lift, the vertical lift is pretty good,

though my scars are still somewhat noticable, they are fading nicely.

The area that seems to scar the worse is in the crease, so I would

avoid having anything done that way. Esp when your breasts are small

you can really see the crease incisions.

You cannot remove an implant via the navel and remove all of the scar

capsule, be careful, don't let him do it this way, be cautious of any

Dr wanting to do this, because if he leaves the capsule inside, you

might as well not even get them removed. It is toxic and you won't

heal if you are reacting to the implants you will react to the scar

tissue as well since it is full of implant material. Are you implants

textured? These are the worse offenders. Be careful, you don't want

to remain ill forever because it was not done right.

I spent allot of money and flew across the country to go to Dr.Feng

because if I was going to do this, I wanted it done right.

Despite the ups and downs I know my symptoms have improved since my

removal, and I do not regret all I went thorough to get them out,

hopefully your surgery will be easier than mine.

Use extreme caution if you are using your implanting Dr. unless he

believes there is some health problems associated withimplants, I

wouldn't use him.

My biggest fear was going to the wrong Dr and having them leave scar

tissue in me, and not telling me, how wold you know if your knocked

out right?

Tell us more about your situation, ie: implant type, texture,

placement, under over etc...

we all care and want to help you and support you through this

blessings,

In @y..., " Christy " <DollBaby@l...> wrote:

> Hi, girls! It was nice to meet you. I just wanted to say thank you

for responding to my question about what to expect after the explant

in terms of appearance. Your helpful information has made me feel SO

much more at ease about the operation. It has really given me the

support and confidence I needed to go ahead with it. I will be having

the explant within the next month. I will let you know how it

went...especially for Jackie whom has yet to have the surgery. Just a

little side info: I'm not worried about scars because I had them

placed through my bellybutton. You can't even see the scars right

now. I can have them removed that way as well (but I know they must

be deflated through tubes before they are pulled out...should I be

concerned about that? I am assuming they probably have to be deflated

when removed in other places as well (armpit, etc).

April 3, 2001

PS it is better if they are not deflated, and removed all intact, you

don't want the saline inside spilling inside your body, who knows

what could be inside there.

love,