“After years of experiencing some pretty awful symptoms and with no real answers from my doctor-my OB kept encouraging me to have them evaluated by a surgeon. I soon found a group on social media with over 150,000 other women, that too, were experiencing many of the same symptoms. I started to connect the dots.”

In January of 2021, Trish came forward on social media to share her experience with breast implants and journey to explanting. After an overwhelming response to her initial post, Trish allowed us to share her story on our website so that it can reach as many women as possible.

You can read Trish’s story below!

There's something I need to get off my chest. No, like FOR REAL! Believing there is strength in vulnerability. Stepping WAY out of my comfort zone to bring awareness #Bii. It would be much easier to stay quiet, but just maybe I was "assigned this mountain to show others it can be moved."

Nine weeks ago I took my life back in the name of health. I went under the knife to remove my TWENTY year old breast implants.

I've always had a small frame, and with a small frame, came small boobs. At 18 years old,  I opted to have saline breast implants placed. I didn't want to look fake- I just wanted to fill out a bra.

At the time, I was told they were completely SAFE and that they came with a LIFETIME warranty.

Boy, have things changed. Not only are they not lifetime devices, but they now come with the strongest FDA black box warning. Despite this, women are still told they're completely safe and it's still a billion dollar industry.

After years of experiencing some pretty awful symptoms and with no real answers from my doctor-my OB kept encouraging me to have them evaluated by a surgeon. I soon found a group on social media with over 150,000 other women, that too, were experiencing many of the same symptoms. I started to connect the dots. Mind blown.

I made an appointment with a specialist and was told that more than likely my implants were the cause of the debilitating symptoms- mostly related to my body's inflammatory response to the implants- also known as Breast Implant Illness or Autoimmune/Inflammatory Syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) It took me several months to digest all the information and to come to terms with my reality. I really didn't want this to be true, and I really didn't want to have surgery. But, I was desperate to feel better. On November 16, 2020 I explanted with total capsulectomy (scar tissue removal.)

A huge shout out to my wonderful friends and #crew who loved on us, cooked us meals and watched my kids- y'all are our family. So thankful to do life with you. Grateful for Paul who loved me through it and never left my side. And for my kids who insisted on eating dinner on the floor (picnic style) next to my bed so I wouldn't eat alone.

I'm still healing, after all, 20 years of damage won't disappear overnight but thrilled to have many of the symptoms improve and some disappear altogether.

I'm healing emotionally too. Learning to love myself the right way, the way I was meant to from the start. Forgiving myself for doing this to my body and healing the parts of me that thought I wasn't enough the way God made me. I'm grateful to show my children that a woman's worth doesn't come from her bra size.

Going into hiding now, because I can't believe I just shared this. Thanks for reading. PS-no shame or judgement to anyone that has them, I know there are lots of reasons-just sharing my journey.

#thehealisreal #breastimplantillness #explantsurgery #fearfullyandwonderfullymade