Nicole decided to get breast implants when she was 18 and living in South Florida noting that implants “felt like the norm down here.” Although her breast implant illness symptoms manifested pretty soon after getting her implants, Nicole dealt with them for years before finally deciding they had to go.

“Got them at 18, in South Florida - it felt like the norm down here. Had crazy symptoms but pushed through. Got older, became a mom and after learning about BII said they gotta go. And now, I’ve never felt more comfortable in my own skin.”

Tell us about your explant journey.

Feb 2020 was my surgery. Prior to that crazy symptoms that no one could explain. Anxiety, skin crawling, trouble swallowing and literally feeling like I was suffocating from the inside out! Went to Dr Rankin who performed the explant, and within ONE day I started to feel better. I also shared my journey on my insta highlights under explant

What type of implants did you have?

Mentor silicone 325ccs

What surgeon did you explant with?

Dr. Rankin

When did you begin to experience symptoms?

Got them when I was 18 - probably looking back pretty soon. Hormonal acne, candida overgrowth, mood swings... saw a naturopath doc & tried to heal on my own but couldn’t figure out the root

What symptoms did you have?

Anxiety

Candida overgrowth

Trouble swallowing

Skin crawling

Hot flashes while sleeping

Severe fatigue

Memory fog

Basically felt like I was going crazy! 

How did breast implants impact your life?

Got them at 18, in South Florida - it felt like the norm down here. Had crazy symptoms but pushed through. Got older, became a mom and after learning about BII said they gotta go. And now, I’ve never felt more comfortable in my own skin. 

What was surgery like for you?

Great! Explant was easier than implant if that says anything. 

How are you doing now, after explant?

Great! The whites in my eyes are brighter, feeling calm, grounded and overall more comfortable in my own skin! 

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

Heck yea! I created a reel on Insta about explant and it got 1.7 million views! We have to spread awareness, so many people got explants after I shared my surgery and to me, that’s so important. It’s saving lives by sharing. 

Check out the reel here!

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Happy to support in any way!