Working for a plastic surgeon and surrounded by coworkers who had breast implants, it seemed like no big deal when Sam decided to get implants herself. Within months, she began experiencing breast implant illness symptoms, and by year 3 she was diagnosed with Lyme disease. A little over four years after implanting and after enduring symptoms for years, Sam decided to explant.

“Please, please do your research! Read other women's stories FIRST. Understand the statistics on Breast Implant Illness and the warnings coming out from the FDA are REAL. Your natural breasts are beautiful!”

Tell us about your explant journey.

I had my implants put in at 24 while working for a plastic surgeon. Because I worked for him and everyone one in my office had them it felt like the norm to get them in and no big deal! I never did my own research and wish I would have! 

It was within a few months I started experiencing symptoms. Digestive distress, yeast infections, candida overgrowth, fatigue, brain fog. I never correlated it to my implants and began a massive health journey of trying to heal myself with diets + supplements. I saw small improvements but nothing was actually helping. Year 2 is when things really started going down hill. I developed interstial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome) and it felt as though I had a UTI 24/7. It was debilitating. I then started gaining wait even though I was eating extremely healthy & working out. 

Year, 3 I was diagnosed with Lyme and I thought it was the root of all my ailments, but a year later when I healed it naturally, I was told by my doctor that it could be my implants. My body was slowly dying, my thyroid was getting worse, I felt 90 years old so I made the decision to have them removed. My surgeon said they wouldn't look good and that I would want them right back in but I didn't care anymore. I just wanted to be healthy again. I was only 29. 

4.5 years after having them in, I finally had them removed. Its been almost 3 months and I've already felt so many of my symptoms disappear. I'm so happy with the decision and LOVE my natural breast. So thankful for all the women that came before me and groups like this spreading awareness otherwise I would have never put the two together. My implants were the 410 Gummie Bears and associated with a rare cancer, whose to say the next ones I got wouldn't be recalled later down the line as well?! We are not meant to have silicone slowly breaking down in our bodies and I had to learn this the hard way.

What type of implants did you have?

410 Allergan Gummy Bear Implants

What surgeon did you explant with?

Dr. Bengston

When did you begin to experience symptoms?

A few Months 

What symptoms did you have?

Anxiety

Fatigue

Joint pain

Insomnia

Brain fog

Memory loss

Vertigo

Muscle weakness

Sensitivity to light 

Hair loss

Slow healing

Sinus infections

Thyroid dysfunction

Candida/yeast

Headaches

Depression

Mood swings

Weight gain

Food intolerance

Heart palpitations

Bladder pain

Night sweats

Shortness of breath

How did breast implants impact your life?

Slowed me down..I had to go down to part time in seeing clients and it impacted my joy as I was always in pain

What was surgery like for you?

First surgery was hell and a slow recovery. Explant surgery was easy and I bounced back so quickly!

How are you doing now, after explant?

Detox comes in waves, but every week I am gaining strength. 

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

Please, please do your research! Read other women's stories FIRST. Understand the statistics on Breast Implant Illness and the warnings coming out from the FDA are REAL. Your natural breasts are beautiful!