Mandy's Story My reason for getting implants was just to have a little more to fill out the bra and bathing suit tops and to feel a little sexier. A friend of mine had BA (breast augmentation) and looked marvelous, so I wanted to look like her! In 1979 at the age of 30 I spoke with my friend’s surgeon and decided to go for it and use the money from my tax refund to pay for the surgery. Back then, the usual story was the surgeons saying that implants were totally safe and only a massive trauma, such as an auto accident could damage them and that I would look great. My doctor’s recommendation was for Dow-Corning 300cc.’s, smooth shell silicone teardrop shaped placed through the areola. For the 22 years I had them I was never happy with them! From day one they were always hard and not natural looking. I was always self-conscious of how they looked and started wearing clothes to conceal them and the "dreaded hugs" were embarrassing! I wanted them out, but the thought of additional surgery and expense kept me from doing it, so I lived with them for 22 years. During my annual mammogram April 2001, one of the impressions was extremely painful in my left breast and thought I was going to pass out from it. Approximately a week later I started having extreme pain in that breast with a ridge forming along the top of my breast and I was having feelings of when you open and close your hand movement within my breast. It felt so heavy and I would walk around with my hand under my breast to give it support. I was so afraid that it had ruptured and my Doctor sent me for an MRI, but the results could not tell if it was ruptured, mainly due to the fact that I had intensified calcification.   Mandy's capsules, removed "en bloc"  Mandy's opened capsule and ruptured implant I just knew that something terrible was wrong and I wanted them out!! All I could think about was silicone running rampant in my body! I looked on the internet for any information on ruptured implants and what I found frightened me even more! I had no idea of all the horrible problems women were having with breast implants. I wanted them out and I wanted a surgeon who had a lot of experience so I could have the best results possible for my situation. I preferred to have a female plastic surgeon and I found information and successful stories about Dr. Feng in Ohio. Naturally, I would have preferred someone in my area, but the information was not there. At the time, I only had my husband to talk to about this and I wish I had known about this forum to guide me along the way. I truly felt alone and wished I knew other women who were going through similar implant problems and had successful explants. I contacted Dr. Feng’s office and spoke with Linda, who was very kind and helpful to my many questions. After I had everything in place, I scheduled my explant surgery with mastopexy for November, 2001. I would have preferred it sooner, but my husband was going with me to Ohio and had to plan around his schedule. After surgery, I found out that both implants had multiple ruptures and probably had been ruptured for many many years! I also had Class IV contracture of both breasts. I went back two days later and had the drains removed and when I saw myself in the mirror I had tears of joy and gratitude because I thought I looked "normal" and "pretty good" ! Mandy - with implants Mandy - 2 Weeks After Explantation Mandy - 7 Weeks After Explantation Mandy - 4 Months After Explantation It has been four months now and I am very pleased with my results. My incisions are healing very well and it feels absolutely wonderful to have soft, natural breasts once again after all these years! I would like to take this opportunity to say "THANK YOU" to Jeena, Rose and Tracey for creating Explantation.com and the Forum. What a blessing and wealth of information for women with implant problems! I love being a part of it! Mandy EMAIL MANDY