Lindsey M.'s Story

Lindsey M.'s Story

By Akemi Fisher

Lindsey M.'s Story

“Immediately after scheduling, my symptoms worsened. The fatigue became debilitating. There were days where getting out of bed to get to the couch required too much effort. I let my worsening symptoms fuel my courage to get my implants out!!!”


Lindsey lived with breast implant illness symptoms ranging from fatigue and migraines to joint pain and chronic dehydration for years before scheduling her explant. Since removing her implants, she has only noticed slight changes in her symptoms, but she remains hopeful and aims “to help others who may be suffering with BII or those considering removing their implants.”


Tell us about your explant journey.

I got implants in June of 2008 just because I always wished I was a little bit bigger. If I had only known then, what I know now, I never would’ve done it! 5 years ago, a friend asked me why I was sick all the time. My response, “I’m not sure? Because I have 2 kids and am exhausted”? She asked if I thought my breast implants could be making me sick, and from that point on, I was on a mission! My first Breast implant illness symptom was food sensitivities, which led to gut issues. These symptoms started within 2 years of implanting. Over the next 8 years, my symptoms would flare up and calm down, so I learned to live with them. In 2019 my health dramatically declined. I was suffering with extreme fatigue. The kind of tired where you wake up more tired than you were when you went to bed. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome because although I felt like crap, all of my labs were “normal”. I also suffered from anxiety, headaches, joint pain, chronic dehydration, swallowing issues, and when got really bad, I had episodes of vertigo that left me stranded in my care in parking lots, afraid to move. The last episode was in January 2019. I looked at my husband and said, “my boobs are trying to kill me” and he agreed. I knew the surgeon I wanted to use. I had heard another woman’s story and she had such amazing things to say, I knew I had to figure out how to get to Florida and get this done!! I called 2 weeks later to schedule my explant with Dr. Dev. 


Immediately after scheduling, my symptoms worsened. The fatigue became debilitating. There were days where getting out of bed to get to the couch required too much effort. I let my worsening symptoms fuel my courage to get my implants out!!! 


My explant experience was absolutely incredible. From the second I stepped into that surgery center, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be. My surgeon is the most incredible human and took such great care of me. I found out my implants adhered to my rib cage and chest wall. Ouch! Surgery went well and recovery has gone well thus far. I am 9 days out and am doing my best to take it easy. I’ve had no major improvements in my BII symptoms, but I am hopeful. My eyes are brighter and my skin looks different, but it’s too early in my recovery to judge anything else. That being said though.. even if nothing improves, I am SO SO happy those things are out of my body!! Overjoyed is a word I’ve used a lot this week. This has been the best decision of my life!! I will never regret it!! I look in the mirror and smile because I finally feel like ME.. after all of these years!!! My hope now is to help others who may be suffering with BII or those considering removing their implants. I’ve met so many amazing people through this journey. I’m

just so grateful!! 


What type of implants did you have?

300 cc Mentor smooth saline 


What surgeon did you explant with?

Dr. Dev Vibhakar


When did you begin to experience symptoms?

1-2 years 


What symptoms did you have?

Fatigue

Headaches

Migraines

Anxiety

Swallowing issues

Joint pain

Chronic dehydration

Ringing in the ears

Insomnia

Cold intolerance

Noise/light sensitivity and more 



How did breast implants impact your life?

I never liked my implants. Ever. I didn’t like the way I looked with them, and the health issues they caused stole so much of my life from me. 


What was surgery like for you?

Surgery was as easy as surgery could be. I felt completely confident in and comfortable with Dr Dev. He’s an expert who’s so kind, compassionate and down to earth, he made me feel calm and safe. I didn’t take one pain pill while recovering. I did take Tylenol for a couple of days, but that’s it. My pain was minimal because my care was exceptional! 


How are you doing now, after explant?

I’m doing well!! I’ve been taking it easy and doing my best to be patient. I’ve had no major improvements with my BII symptoms, except for the chronic wrist pain I’ve had for the past 2 years was GONE the day after surgery!!! No matter what, I’m SO SO happy with my results!! Dr Dev did such an amazing job. I’m so grateful!


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

I would love to encourage every single woman to love the beautiful body God gave them. To appreciate their body for what it can do (or what it has done), than on how it looks. I know what it’s like to want more, I got the implants!! But over the 12 years, they have taken so much from my quality of life, it’s just not worth the risk. You are beautiful, just the way you are!!!!