“I have found my true, authentic self on my explant journey and I am finally at peace with myself. There's no more second guessing or comparing myself to others, what's the point? You are everything you need, right now.”

Kimberly began experiencing breast implant illness symptoms about 6 months after implanting. They started out with more common symptoms like hair loss and brain fog, but they quickly escalated to the point where she was bedridden and having heart attacks. BII significantly affected Kimberly’s relationships with friends and family, but after eight years of suffering she realized that she needed to remove the toxic implants.  

Tell us about your explant journey.

I had breast implants for 8 years and started getting BII symptoms slowly after about 6 months. This was skin changes, hair loss, memory loss and brain fog. These symptoms accumulated and reached the point of being bedridden and having heart attacks regularly for a week! My husband and I figured it out weeks before explant that I had Breast Implant Illness. We began cold-calling and was able to find a surgeon and book a surgery within 2 weeks! I was so grateful that a surgeon would be willing to remove my breast implants and it was the first time I felt HEARD. First time I've felt understood in ALL of the 8 years I suffered from. Up to this point I lost old friendships, relationships, almost lost my marriage and ended the relationship with my parents (which was harder than expected) but something that needed to happen. After or during BII, you hit rock bottom. You are forced to change your perspective on yourself, others and life itself. Nothings the same anymore, but that's a good thing! That means your learning, your growing and your finally learning to LOVE and RESPECT yourself! I explanted July 29, 2019, and couldn't be happier. I have found my true, authentic self on my explant journey and I am finally at peace with myself. There's no more second guessing or comparing myself to others, what's the point? You are everything you need, right now. 

What type of implants did you have?

Mentor 450cc and Allergen 650cc

What surgeon did you explant with?

Dr. Lee

When did you begin to experience symptoms?

6 months 

What symptoms did you have?

Confusion

Brain fog

Memory loss

Skin changes

Hair loss

How did breast implants impact your life?

It tore me down to my core and forced me to change my ways. I wasn't happy with my life and I needed a hard wake up call. Breast implant illness was that for me.

What was surgery like for you?

Surgery was good. I had great experiences out of getting my 2 breast augmentations and did really well after explant surgery. I could barely walk going into my explant surgery, and after surgery? I walked off the OR table and it was nuts! 

How are you doing now, after explant?

I am doing incredible after explant. It was surely the best decision I've made for my health, first and foremost. All of my symptoms but a few have disappeared and I feel more like myself every day that passes than I ever felt daily with breast implants.

What would you like women who are considering explant to know?

That you are going to love yourself more after you explant. You will feel strong, beautiful, courageous and brave after you get out of surgery. You will feel a little self-conscious a few weeks out of surgery, but when you begin to realize the majority of your symptoms are gone, you won't feel self-conscious for much longer. It is such a game changer and you realize you stop comparing yourself to other people because you NOW know the HARD way that it's not worth it. 

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Be strong, swallow the relationships that will be lost during this time. You will be ok. You will realize after explant, that those relationships were holding you down, holding you back from what you've been wanting to accomplish. Be you 💛 Love you 💗