Re: Tricia Trish <glory2glory1401 re: capsule and explant

[Guest guest]

(I sent this privately, but I guess it's on the group too....here is

my reply)

Hi Robin,

I can totally relate to your feelings of illness. It is

awful...feels like slow death. I am so sorry you have suffered so

much! It truly is devastating, and it angers me that so few doctors

acknowledge this terrible outcome. I will be prayerful that you can

get the implants and scar capsules removed properly soon! That is

going to be your best chance for full recovery.

The situation you are in is the most common, frustrating situation

for so many of the women that end up needing explant. They are sick,

can't work, and can't pay for the removal that they so desperately

need. But somehow there is always a way. I have met very few women

who couldn't find a way to get them out.

My insurance was also a PPO and I am not sure how my doctor got it

paid for, except that I do know when he wrote the letter for

recommendation of removal, he did not state they were saline

implants, he did not state when I got them in, and he explained that

I had Baker IV contractures. I do think it is the Baker IV

contractures that tipped the scale in favor of explant being paid

for. This scale is used to determine how hard the capsules are, and

helps determine whether or not the scar tissue would interfere with

future screening for breast cancer. In these cases, I think the

insurance company feels it is better to err on the side of caution

rather than take the chance of missing cancerous tumors growing in

the breast. So they pay for removal. I belive almost all

insurance companies work this way when it comes to the Baker scale...

(otherwise, why would they have it?)

You might try your PS friend after all, and see if he will help you

out in this regard. If he would be willing to write the letter for

the insurance company, focusing on the Baker contractures (I dont'

know if you have any, but your PS can help here), and agree on

either the en bloc removal or the total capsulectomy, you could move

forward with him. If he is good, he will take care of this for

you. If he can't accomodate you, then it would be best to seek the

services of a well qualified PS who will do it right. I will pray

that this will work out for you!

Keep me updated Robin. God bless,

Patty

> Hi Robin,

> A scar capsule will form around any foreign object in your body,

no

> matter where it is placed, so yes, there are scar capsules around

> implants that are placed under the muscle. Mine were under the

> muscle and in my body for only 9 months, and I had scar capsules

> that needed to be removed. My surgeon did an en bloc removal, so

he

> got it all.

>

> It really shouldn't cost any more to do an explant with a total

> capsulectomy. It is the right way to do it, and most doctors

won't

> take the time to do it right. Most doctors will just go in and

yank

> out the implant--making it a simple surgery, taking less than an

> hour. However, when a woman is sick, the proper way to remove an

> implant is either en bloc, or doing a total capsulectomy, where

they

> not only remove the implant, but the scar capsule that formed

around

> it. This is in the best interest of the sick woman, so that all

of

> the " memory " of the implant is removed from her body. I

> say " memory " , because a scar capsule can contain silicone oils,

> degradation products, bacterial colonies, and other pathogens or

> substances that can elicit an immune response...which can prevent

> full healing. It is just best to get rid of it all. That's also

why

> drains are recommended.

>

> My insurance paid for my implant removal, so it is possible. You

> just need to have a surgeon who is willing to work with your

> insurance....meaning they are not greedy, and they care about the

> ultimate health of the patient. I think there are way too many

> plastic surgeons out there who are shallow, care only about making

> alot of money, and changing women's bodies without the proper

> concern about what is going on with the immune system. But good

> doctors are out there. That is why we have our list of

recommended

> surgeons who have shown at least some concern about what has

> happened to the sick women.

>

> I hope this helps you...take care,

> Patty

[Guest guest]

I would just add that I think it also helps if the doc says that you are experiencing pain. Anita Re: "Tricia Trish" (I sent this privately, but I guess it's on the group too....here is my reply)Hi Robin,I can totally relate to your feelings of illness. It is awful...feels like slow death. I am so sorry you have suffered so much! It truly is devastating, and it angers me that so few doctors acknowledge this terrible outcome. I will be prayerful that you can get the implants and scar capsules removed properly soon! That is going to be your best chance for full recovery.The situation you are in is the most common, frustrating situation for so many of the women that end up needing explant. They are sick, can't work, and can't pay for the removal that they so desperately need. But somehow there is always a way. I have met very few women who couldn't find a way to get them out.My insurance was also a PPO and I am not sure how my doctor got it paid for, except that I do know when he wrote the letter for recommendation of removal, he did not state they were saline implants, he did not state when I got them in, and he explained that I had Baker IV contractures. I do think it is the Baker IV contractures that tipped the scale in favor of explant being paid for. This scale is used to determine how hard the capsules are, and helps determine whether or not the scar tissue would interfere with future screening for breast cancer. In these cases, I think the insurance company feels it is better to err on the side of caution rather than take the chance of missing cancerous tumors growing in the breast. So they pay for removal. I belive almost all insurance companies work this way when it comes to the Baker scale...(otherwise, why would they have it?)You might try your PS friend after all, and see if he will help you out in this regard. If he would be willing to write the letter for the insurance company, focusing on the Baker contractures (I dont' know if you have any, but your PS can help here), and agree on either the en bloc removal or the total capsulectomy, you could move forward with him. If he is good, he will take care of this for you. If he can't accomodate you, then it would be best to seek the services of a well qualified PS who will do it right. I will pray that this will work out for you!Keep me updated Robin. God bless,Patty> Hi Robin,> A scar capsule will form around any foreign object in your body, no > matter where it is placed, so yes, there are scar capsules around > implants that are placed under the muscle. Mine were under the > muscle and in my body for only 9 months, and I had scar capsules > that needed to be removed. My surgeon did an en bloc removal, so he > got it all.> > It really shouldn't cost any more to do an explant with a total > capsulectomy. It is the right way to do it, and most doctors won't > take the time to do it right. Most doctors will just go in and yank > out the implant--making it a simple surgery, taking less than an > hour. However, when a woman is sick, the proper way to remove an > implant is either en bloc, or doing a total capsulectomy, where they > not only remove the implant, but the scar capsule that formed around > it. This is in the best interest of the sick woman, so that all of > the "memory" of the implant is removed from her body. I > say "memory", because a scar capsule can contain silicone oils, > degradation products, bacterial colonies, and other pathogens or > substances that can elicit an immune response...which can prevent > full healing. It is just best to get rid of it all. That's also why > drains are recommended.> > My insurance paid for my implant removal, so it is possible. You > just need to have a surgeon who is willing to work with your > insurance....meaning they are not greedy, and they care about the > ultimate health of the patient. I think there are way too many > plastic surgeons out there who are shallow, care only about making > alot of money, and changing women's bodies without the proper > concern about what is going on with the immune system. But good > doctors are out there. That is why we have our list of recommended > surgeons who have shown at least some concern about what has > happened to the sick women.> > I hope this helps you...take care, > Patty

[Guest guest]

Robin,

If you'll ask your plastic surgeron if he will do the

job correctly, and you feel you can trust him, I'd go

with him. . . It's not that it's the surgery is that

difficult, it just the way most the surgeons look at

it.

If your surgeon is willing to do the job right, we'd

be happy to add him to our list of plastic surgeons.

We need more!

Hugs,

Rogene

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