"My Experience With Breast Augmentation" Lisa's Story My experience with breast augmentation began as a long-standing joke. For years I would say, "I'd get implants it if I could afford them" - but never really gave it much serious thought. In January of 2001, I realized I'd joked about it multiple times one week and something clicked. I began thinking, "Why not? You still can't afford it, but you could get a loan if you want it badly enough. Besides, you're going to be 30 this year - consider it a gift to yourself". So, that evening I went home and stuffed my bra to various sizes and modeled for myself in front of the mirror. I liked what I saw. I was currently a small 36B; not flat by any means, but, being a woman of 5 foot 9 inches and 145 pounds, a larger cup size seemed to balance my figure. Surely I would feel more confident if my breasts were larger. I began researching augmentation, frequenting online discussion forums, and talking to friends that have had the procedure performed. Almost everything I encountered was positive, and the few negative responses I got made me all the more determined (yes, I'm quite stubborn). I made it my "crusade" to educate people about breast augmentation and to disprove all the negative stereotypes. I attended a few consultations, scheduled a surgery date for the next month, and got a loan within one week of the idea's conception. I was determined and I was going to do it - no need to ponder the options and waste time. I arranged to have a friend (who'd had her augmentation the previous spring) drive me to and from surgery, and to have my younger brother stay with me for the week to help me during my recovery (being a single woman, I didn't have a spouse around for support). Surgery and recovery were pretty much as expected. I'd done my homework so there were no surprises. I had Mentor, smooth, round saline implants - 425cc's, under the muscle, crease incision. I remember my first doctor visit the morning after my surgery, the nurse removed my bandages and I saw my new breasts for the first time. They looked so stiff and weird - I felt so sorry for them I almost cried. I had brief moments of second-guessing, but what's done was done - plus I'd read all about the adjustment period and knew I shouldn't take anything too seriously. I followed all the rules for a smooth recovery and was consistent in my follow-up doctor visits. The implants settled nicely into a "beautiful augmentation" and at my six month check-up I was told I didn't have to come back until my one year anniversary. I should've been on top of the world; I had breasts that demanded attention. I felt extremely feminine and looked fabulous in my t-shirts and turtleneck sweaters. For the first time in my life I was aware of people looking at my chest, which I soon discovered I had mixed feelings about. I loved the attention, but was also offended that people would have the nerve to look at me as if I were an object. But I'm a strong willed woman, and had to live with the consequences of my decision to alter my body. The summer following my augmentation, I made the decision to adopt a 9-year-old boy from Russia. Since meeting this wonderful little person, I realized my priorities had drastically changed. The size of my breasts was no longer such an important issue and I became more aware of the future risks involved with my surgery. Little by little the nagging "annoyances" of the augmentation began to surface. Miscellaneous shooting pains, numbness in my left breast, feeling (and seeing) my breasts "move" every time I opened a heavy door or flexed my pectoral muscles, the inability to find a decent bra (it was nearly impossible to find a seamless bra with a thin layer of foam - don't the manufacturers think larger breasted women have nipples?!), feeling like I had two rubber balls on my chest when I would lay on my stomach, etc. And on a more spiritual level, the knowledge that there was something foreign in my body. Something that my Creator did not intend to be there - something I added for the sake of my own vanity. I began almost "envying" women with small breasts - breasts that were soft and moved the way they were meant to. Breasts that were natural. All of a sudden it seemed so ironic that I would've gotten implants in the first place. I've always been somewhat of a naturalist; I don't wear much makeup, eat a predominantly vegetarian diet and lead a fairly quiet non-eventful lifestyle. And now there's a child involved. Who would care for him if I had to have another surgery? How would I explain it to him? How could I set an example for him to accept himself for who he is without seeming hypocritical? I do not remember the exact moment I arrived at the decision that the implants were coming out. I do remember that it was a rapid succession from the decision to the action. I began seriously thinking about explantation on a Saturday evening (after viewing a movie in which a partially nude character had small, normal looking breasts), began researching it on Sunday (websites, online forums, etc.), had an appointment with my PS on Monday (the "before" photos, that had at one time seemed so hideous to me, now looked absolutely beautiful), and had the implants removed on Wednesday. The removal procedure was surprisingly simple and relatively painless. It was performed in the office with a local anesthetic and took less than 20 minutes. The surgeon made an incision beneath the breast (he used the same incision from the augmentation so there is no additional scarring), he ruptured and drained the implant, removed it with a quick tug and stitched up the incision. As I was getting dressed I told the nurse that I felt lighter - she said, "You are, by about 2 pounds!". Then she gave me a hug and bought me a Coke to ease my shaking from the anesthetic. I cannot say enough good things about my surgeon, Dr. Michael Fasching (Edina, MN), and his nurse, Lynne. They were caring and professional through every step of my augmentation journey and I am truly grateful. I was not charged for the removal, Dr. Fasching said that the purpose of augmentation is for the patient to be satisfied with the results and that he would not charge me to remove the implants. I'm writing this on the third day following my explantation. My breasts are small and tired, but they are soft and they are all mine. They are continuing to "fluff" as they recover and the incisions are healing nicely. The implants were only in my body for 8 and a half months so the doctor said that he anticipates my breasts will return to/or very close to their original state. I went out and bought a size 36B padded bra and had to giggle when I compared it to my previous 36D. I've never been so content with my body. My purpose in writing this is to show that explantation doesn't always occur because of medical complications; sometimes you realize that augmentation was not the right decision for you personally. It's not something to enter into without completely weighing every priority you currently have - and anticipate having in your lifetime. I don't regret my augmentation. I believe that life is a series of learning experiences (mine just happen to be more expensive than most peoples' J), and you come out of these experiences with a new appreciation of what is important to you.