{This is incredibly embarrassing to share, but if I can help even ONE person who is suffering silently, who has no idea that the foreign objects inside their body are making them sick, then the fear I feel in sharing will be worth it in the end. } I don’t think I would have ev

Many women have similar symptoms when it comes to Breast Implant Illness. Unfortunately, a lot of doctors don't recognize these symptoms.

Breast Implant Illness Breast Explant Surgery Auto-Immune Disease Inflammation FDA Symptoms Breast Implant Sickness Health Healing Mental

EXPLANT. That's what the Breast Implant Illness Ladies call the process of removing implants. I discovered BII in Dec 2016. I explanted on Oct 5th, 2017.

I’m a big fan of believing women when they feel sick and I'm not seeing this information about breast implants getting shared enough. But first a little history. Breast implants started off as experimental devices in the 1960's. The FDA did not regulate medical devices until 1976, so breast implants were considered 'grandfathered devices.' Essentially...Read More

Breast Implant Illness Breast Explant Surgery Auto-Immune Disease Inflammation FDA Symptoms Breast Implant Sickness Health Healing Mental

It's been six months since I had my breast implants removed because I believed they might be making me sick. Have any of my breast implant illness symptoms improved? Any major miracles? Pop over to the blog to find out.

Cute Tall, Classic, and Travel Mugs with the Official I'm This Girl Logo. Perfect for gifts or yourself, to support Breast Implant Awareness.

…they’re plastered all over the media as an object and a body part that makes you more “feminine”, “beautiful”, or “sexy”. It wasn’t so long ag…

For three years I’ve been sharing bits of my life on the internet. While raising my children I yearned for a connection with other Mothers. I started an online business and built an amazing, supportive community on social media. Although I shared tid-bits of my health struggles, I never fully explained how sick I was...

Breast Implant Illness. It's not real. Up until eight months ago, that's what I thought. I've had my breast implants for 17 years and it wasn't eight months ago while doing research to figure how what I was having a bad hair year and was picking my nose all the time opened my eyes to the possibility that years unresolved health issues led right back to the silicone bags in my chest. Breast Implant Illness isn't just a thing for hypochondriacs and attention-seekers, like I thought. It might be MY thing.

Breast implant illness is starting to gain attention in the medical community. Breast implant illness (BII) is the term used to describe symptoms associated with breast implants and can range from joint pain, skin rashes, hair loss, and headaches to chronic fatigue, anxiety, neurological issues, and brain fog. Many women who identify as having BII experience symptoms after having breast ... Read More

Below are a list of tests that may demonstrate abnormal results with breast implant illness. Discuss being treated for silicone toxicity, chemical toxicity and biotoxicity.

What’s Trending… “When You Learn, Teach” -Dr Maya Angelou Do you ever have those ‘Oh Wow!’ moments to where you HAVE TO share it with someone or you’re going to explode?! I have an Autoimmune Disease which is attributed from having Breast Implants. Which I didn’t even know was possible till a year ago. I know… crazy,…

Though breast implant illness is not a formal diagnosis, its symptoms are very real. Christine Stiles, M.D., and Abby Culver, M.D., discuss BII and common myths about the condition.

“I started breaking out in hives 3 months after implanted. The rest of the symptoms were gradual. So sneaky that I just accepted that this was how I always felt and this was my life. It never dawned on me that it was all related to my implants.” Ashley dealt with breast implant illness symptoms for 12 years, but when she began experiencing shooting pain in her chest she realized that something was up. Tell us about your explant journey. After 12 years of chronic hives and other symptoms I realized that my implants were making me super sick. Honestly, for years I just thought that the anxiety, mood swings, brain fog was all just me aging and that I was a sickly person. It wasn't until the shooting chest pain started that I really dug deep to figure out what was wrong with me. I found Dr. Rankin online once I knew I was suffering from BII. I had to wait nearly a year for my explant surgery. I am normally a super impatient person but something in my heart told me to wait for him. I can't rave about him enough. He worked wonders on me and has been a constant support even now that I am 14 weeks post-op. I live outside the USA, on a tiny island in the Caribbean. Due to covid, our borders are still shut. In order to fly for my surgery I had to do so much work. We are talking doctors notes, government approval and very strict rules all followed by the government here in order for this surgery to happen. Thankfully it all worked out, however, I had to fly alone. My family couldn't come with me. I had to fly a friend from California to Florida to take care of me the day of surgery, but after day 2 post-op I was completely alone in a hotel room for the first two weeks of my recovery. It was hard doing this all alone but it really made me focus on myself and my personal journey. After two weeks I had government approval to fly back to our island where I was then put in a 16 day quarantine (complete with a GPS tracking device attached to my arm so the government would be certain I never left my home). To be honest, quarantine was a blessing, as was the two weeks it took for the government to approve me to fly back to island. It allowed me to properly heal, slow down and literally do nothing but focus on myself. I am usually so busy and I also have a 2 year old, slowing down, taking naps and doing nothing is not how I live. However, it was so necessary in my journey and I am so thankful it all worked out the way it did. What type of implants did you have? Mentor smooth silicone, under the muscle What surgeon did you explant with? Dr. Rankin at Aqua Surgery When did you begin to experience symptoms? I started breaking out in hives 3 months after implanted. The rest of the symptoms were gradual. So sneaky that I just accepted that this was how I always felt and this was my life. It never dawned on me that it was all related to my implants. What symptoms did you have? Chronic hives My eyes turned yellow Brain fog Fatigue Anxiety Sharp chest pain Depression Hair loss Inflammation Hormone imbalance Night sweats Gastrointestinal issues Low libido Capsular contraction Mood swings How did breast implants impact your life? They made me think for years that I was sick or allergic to everything. However, when the doctors would run tests, I was allergic to nothing. At one point a doctor told me I might have cancer. I was tired, moody, in pain and sick. I suffered from serious depressive episodes and constant anxiety. I never wanted to be intimate with my husband and struggled to keep up with my busy toddler. I won't lie that I did enjoy how they looked for the first few years but once I got a capsular contraction I was so self conscious. My breasts looked deformed. My implants were close to my neck and my natural breasts were super saggy. I looked worse than I did before I got implants. I was just a big mess and assumed that it was just me and that was the way my life was going to be. What was surgery like for you? It was much more painful than when I implanted. However, I was totally fine taking care of myself from day 2 onwards. Most of my pain was from having to have my bones scraped where the capsules attached to my ribs and sternum. If I didn't need to have that done I think recovery would have been a lot easier. I also needed a full anchor lift which required more cutting, however, so worth it as I LOVE how my breasts look now. How are you doing now, after explant? It was much more painful than when I implanted. However, I was totally fine taking care of myself from day 2 onwards. Most of my pain was from having to have my bones scraped where the capsules attached to my ribs and sternum. If I didn't need to have that done I think recovery would have been a lot easier. I also needed a full anchor lift which required more cutting, however, so worth it as I LOVE how my breasts look now. What would you like women who are considering explant to know? It is 100% worth it. Find a great doctor that will make you feel confident with your new look and that supports and believes in BII. My life has completely changed. I am glowing, I am healthy, confident and I am so happy. I haven't felt this good in 12 years. Is there anything else you would like us to know? Thank you for sharing our stories. xx

I'm done with the unresolved health issues no one can explain. I'm done feeling like shit. I'm done believing breast implants define me.

Breast implant illness is starting to gain attention in the medical community. Breast implant illness (BII) is the term used to describe symptoms associated with breast implants and can range from joint pain, skin rashes, hair loss, and headaches to chronic fatigue, anxiety, neurological issues, and brain fog. Many women who identify as having BII experience symptoms after having breast ... Read More

Postpartum health series "Taking Care of Myself" dealing with Breast Implant Illness and more. I didn't know postpartum would be this unhealthy for me...

It’s officially NYE! As I’m reflecting on this last year 1 change I made stuck out to me the most…my breast explant surgery! I’ve had so many women still messaging me about …

Many women are not aware of the impact that can come with getting breast implants. These are all signs of Breast Implant Illness.

A Mississippi woman who claims she developed “breast implant illness” just weeks after undergoing surgery said that at the height of her symptoms she even contemplated committing suicide.

Do you have implants? Have you considered them before? Do you know someone who has implants? A mom, a sister, a daughter, a friend? You need to read this.

My 1 week post-op story after enbloc explant surgery - filled with surprising gratitude and support that make coming to terms with a flat chest LIVABLE.

Have you heard of breast implant illness? A few years ago, neither had I. But as the years went on, I had more and more symptoms related to breast implant

I’m a big fan of believing women when they feel sick and I'm not seeing this information about breast implants getting shared enough. But first a little history. Breast implants started off as experimental devices in the 1960's. The FDA did not regulate medical devices until 1976, so breast implants were considered 'grandfathered devices.' Essentially...Read More

Toxic Boobs – Are Silicone Breast Implants to Blame? An Examination of Silicone, Saline and Gummy Bear Implants Which is better: saline or silicone breast implants? It’s the historic ‘big question’ for would-be breast augmentation patients. Women worldwide have asked it millions of times throughout the years, ever since ‘boob jobs’ became mainstream. Now that breast implant illness is affecting so many women who have breast implants, we now have a new list of questions. Are silicone breast implants better than saline? Do both pose health risks? Is there decisive evidence to select one over the other – or is it better to avoid them altogether? Let’s delve into the epidemic of toxic boobs. According to the FDA, women should be given a heads-up regarding the symptoms they may develop due to augmentation. Notably, that’s regardless of whether the implant is silicone or saline. Read onward as we examine the popularity and properties of silicone and saline implants. We’ll even share some information about ‘gummy bear implants.’ What is silicone? It’s manmade. You won’t find silicone mountains or silicone valleys (that’s silicon, not silicone), and though it’s considered to be a stable element, the human body is not born with an innate supply. Every silicone breast implant begins its life in a lab, and its makeup includes (but is not limited to): silicon (which is an element found in nature), oxygen, carbon and hydrogen. Why is it harmful? According to the FDA, it’s not – unless it moves throughout the body. Silicone breast implants are supposed to suspend the silicone by encasing it inside a protective shell. What happens when the shell leaks is shocking: a substance that the FDA purports should never be injected into the body is released. It’s important to note that not everyone agrees with the FDA that even unruptured silicone breast implants are safe. According to this Healthline article, some experts are concerned about the mere insertion of silicone devices into the body. They say that more studies need to be done before safety can be assured. Ask women who suffer from BII whose silicone implants have not ruptured, and they’ll tell you unequivocally what they believe to be true: that the mere existence of silicone in the human body is not advantageous. What led to silicone being inserted into breast implants in the first place? Breast implant illness can occur regardless of whether implants are filled with saline or silicone. However, silicone poses a unique threat to the human body. The toxicity of silicone needs to be recognized and accepted by the medical community before a full understanding of breast implant illness can occur. It’s imperative to address the toxicity of silicone chemicals and their role in health. Many implants achieve their shape thanks to liquid silicone. Since research on toxicity is not extensive, some experts do purport to be concerned about placing silicone in any form inside the body. Cue breast implant concern – including an alarming warning about endocrine system disruption. What’s the deal with endocrine disruption? Endocrine glands control the health processes in our bodies. You can read all about this in a book about the Dow trial on breast implants entitled Breast Implants and the Dirt Committee by Gail Hamilton. This same information was also documented by Rachael Carson, whose work brought to light the damage these same chemicals do to wildlife in her well-known book Silent Spring. The Power of One Voice: a 50-Year Documentary on the Life of Rachel Carson is streaming currently on Netflix. But what’s the problem? I thought silicone was made with mostly natural elements? Silicone breast implants are also made with toxic chemicals and heavy metals that do not belong in a living body. Look up each of the chemicals used to make silicone, and you will read that they include endocrine disrupters, carcinogens, cytotoxins and inflammatory elements. It’s no wonder silicone is being blamed for so many health problems! Silicone gel bleed is well documented in silicone implants, including cohesive gel implants. This has occurred merely a few years after placement in some cases. Leaks, ruptures and shell failures are well documented prior to ten years after implant, regularly occurring 6-8 years after placement but occasionally occurring much earlier. These silicone chemicals are poisoning women. They are a large part of the problem and why women with implants are experiencing endocrine problems, immune problems (thymus), gut health problems and cancers, as well as autoimmune challenges and various infections. Is there a particular type of silicone breast implant that is more harmful than others? When an implant has close ties to a rare cancer, the FDA acts. The FDA has recalled the Allergan BIOCELL textured implant and related expanders. Those with these implants, which were chosen in the past due to their ability to adhere in the body and seem ‘natural,’ turned out to slowly poison some women who received them. These women developed anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), and it’s simple to make the correlation: as soon as the implants are removed, healing is reported. FDA information about BIA-ALCL can be found here. What is a gummy bear implant, anyway? Long embraced by fitness competitors, the gummy bear implant is much more than just a cute name. The FDA recommends that women who opt for these implants actually undergo regular MRIs to detect any rupture. That’s because even when they are pierced, these implants often retain their shape. Silicone could slowly be leaking through a woman’s body – and she wouldn’t even know it. Call to action: A true examination of risk Chemical toxicity research needs to be part of breast implant illness research. Every single chemical and heavy metal used in silicone and in a silicone breast implant should be listed for a woman to review and acknowledge. The risks are just too high not to go into a breast augmentation operation without all the information currently available. So you’re saying I should choose saline? Not necessarily. Once an implant is inserted into the chest cavity, a capsule forms. If the implant ruptures and deflates, bacteria can result in a toxic situation inside the body. Sure, saline is more natural than silicone. But that doesn’t mean women with saline implants do not experience symptoms of breast implant illness (BII). That’s why the FDA recommendation does not stop at silicone. It addressed implants as a categorical whole. But saline doesn’t have silicone in it, right? This is a common misconception. According to the Mayo Clinic, both types of implants feature a silicone shell. One is filled with silicone; one with saline. But that silicone? It’s still there, either way. Look at the issue in this manner: Silicone-filled or saline, if a foreign invader made its way into the body, the body would try to fight it. The immune response would heighten. A capsule, the body’s way of protecting itself, would form. To willingly place these implants is to ignore that truism. It’s the body’s job to take care of itself. For many women who have breast implants, that means symptoms of breast implant illness occur as an inflammatory response. Aside from toxicity, there’s the question about breastfeeding. It’s well-documented that ‘breast is best’ for babies; the FDA reports so here. Scientists have yet to be able to isolate all the compounds in breast milk that deem it ‘liquid gold’ in terms of its health benefits. Silicone or saline, those who have implants after reconstructive surgery may not be able to nurse their children due to a loss of tissue and milk-producing glands. Imagine for a moment that a woman with implants is able to breastfeed, but then realizes after weaning her child that her implant has ruptured. Does silicone pass through to the milk supply? We do not know. What happens if a saline implant ruptures? The solution is sterile, so it’s safe, right? Not necessarily. If that saline implant ruptures, the encasement for the implant still exists. It will have to be removed. Also, any sort of faulty valve or rupture can mean the introduction of bacteria. No one wants to imagine moldy breast implants, but that’s exactly what can occur. Let’s use the metaphor of the body as a home. When mold spreads throughout the home, it can cause disastrous medical outcomes. When mold is present in your actual body, the results can be devastating. In this case, it’s not a question of whether saline is harmful. It’s whether a ruptured implant, left untended, can harbor the type of bacteria that can lead to adverse health outcomes. Will taking the implant out fix all my problems? For the best chance at a clean bill of health, consider having the capsule removed as well during explant. If you’ve opted for silicone implants, silicone may have leaked, and therefore the removal of the implant will not completely eradicate the presence of the toxic substance. Additionally, mammograms can be difficult to read when the capsule is left intact. Capsular contracture, as the hardening is called, is actually so common that there is a scale to determine how severe it is. At its worst, the breast can be made hard and deformed. Though some people are able to avoid surgery and their capsules can be ‘relaxed,’ that does not change the fact that every day, these women carry these scar tissue reminders of their body’s fight toward normalcy. The question is no longer silicone or saline for many women. It’s How do I explant? and Can removing my implants and the surrounding capsules make me feel better? Find answers to these questions and join a community that aims to globally educate about BII here.

In October 2011, I made the decision to get breast implants. I had lost around 45 lbs from changing my lifestyle and the breasts that I once had were non-existent. I wanted to feel feminine again and to make matters worse, my ex-husband encouraged me to get them to “spice things up.” Oh, if only […]

Breast Implant Illness symptoms mimic other conditions and are difficult to diagnose. This list of common BII symptoms can help track your health over time.

Learn about breast implant symptoms like fatigue, cognitive dysfuction, immune dysfunction and pain. Dowload our symptoms checklist!

Many women are not aware of the impact that can come with getting breast implants. These are all signs of Breast Implant Illness.

7 years ago, I sat alone in a plastic surgeon’s office for my consult to get silicone gel breast implants. I was just coming off of a 45lb weightloss and I was left with hardly any breast tissue. I wanted to feel feminine again so I made the choice to get a breast augmentation. Once […]

Breast Implant Illness. It's not real. Up until eight months ago, that's what I thought. I've had my breast implants for 17 years and it wasn't eight months ago while doing research to figure how what I was having a bad hair year and was picking my nose all the time opened my eyes to the possibility that years unresolved health issues led right back to the silicone bags in my chest. Breast Implant Illness isn't just a thing for hypochondriacs and attention-seekers, like I thought. It might be MY thing.

Removing Saline Breast Implants was a big decision but after suffering from breast implant illness. This details why I removed my breast implants.

Millions of women around the world have breast implants. More and more are coming forward and talking about their experiences and how their implants are making them very sick. Overtime symptoms start appearing that you didn’t experience

It was June 2016 and I was still not feeling very well. It had been eight months of odd things happening to my body with lack of answers. I was still fatigued, lacked focus, and was experiencing br…

{This is incredibly embarrassing to share, but if I can help even ONE person who is suffering silently, who has no idea that the foreign objects inside their body are making them sick, then the fear I feel in sharing will be worth it in the end. } I don’t think I would have ev

Know your EXPLANT TERMS! Your recovery depends upon choosing the correct type of explant surgery and a skilled, licensed surgeon with experience. If you have any symptoms of Breast Implant Illness (BII), your health could actually get worse if you choose the wrong surgeon and wrong type of surgery. For Breast Implant Illness sufferers, the […]

Breast implants wear down over time, but technically “expire” when there’s a rupture. At least, that’s when you’ll be forced to do something about them.

One cosmetic surgeon is using the story of her own mysterious illnesses to educate other women on the risks of breast implants.