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In 1971 at age 29 I had a radical mastectomy (breast and muscle removed) of my left breast, because of cancer. Eight years later I had a subcutaneous mastectomy (breast tissue removed) of the right breast, because of severe Fibroid Cystic Disease.

The General Surgeon that did both mastectomies told me after the second one, that I should have reconstruction using breast implants. He said I was too young at age 37, to spend the rest of my life, looking the way I did. This was the first time I had ever heard of breast implants or reconstruction surgery. He said they were doing wonderful things in this area.

I saw a Plastic Surgeon and in 1978 I got my first set of implants. A silicone implant on the left, and a saline implant on the right. I had problems right away with the saline implant, I developed necrosis on the right breast and the saline implant ruptured right away and had to be replaced.

WHY did he put only one silicone implant in...could it be that he questioned the safety of the silicone even back then?

I developed severe capsular contracture with the silicone implant on the left. By 1988 the right saline implant had ruptured and the capsular contracture was causing severe pain. It was decided that the plastic surgeon would replace the saline implant and try to do something about the contracture. He discovered that the silicone implant on the left was ruptured so both implants were replaced with polyurethane coated implants. The first two photos you see were taken three weeks after being implanted.

About one week after surgery a small round hole appeared in the center of the suture line, and then another, and another, to form the awful looking red gash you see in the first two photos. This gash had a yellowish and a clear substance oozing from it, I WAS TERRIFIED! I went back to the Plastic Surgeon who gave me some salve (which was worthless). He was terrified too, he didn't have any answers!

I then went to a Infectious Disease Doctor who did a biopsy. They were never able to diagnose the problem, nor did they treat it.

Thank God, over time, it healed. I took care of it by cleaning it with alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide.
It took a very painful and scary two months to heal.

In 1992 I had the polyurethane coated implants removed. I didn't have any breast reconstruction. My health was much more important than breasts! Photo #3 is how I looked after the 1992 removal of implants and pretty much how I look today.

The General Surgeon said I shouldn't have to go the rest of my life looking like I did. Well Guess What? I don't look as bad as I did when he said that! I LOOK MUCH WORSE AND MY HEALTH HAS BEEN DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR!

I WISH I HAD NEVER HEARD OF IMPLANTS!

The General Surgeons wife died of breast cancer.
I wonder if she had implants and if so could they have concealed the cancer until it was too late?

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