Plastic Surgeon Removes Her Own Implants After Patients Inform Her About Breast Implant Illness

This year, I made the significant choice to have my breast implants taken out after experiencing three and a half years of persistent pain and illness. Approximately a year before my explantation—referring to the removal of both the implants and the surrounding capsules—I began to feel unwell and my condition continued to deteriorate. By the time I underwent the surgery, I had accumulated 29 symptoms associated with breast implant illness, most of which have improved since then.

The discussion surrounding breast implant illness and its potential risks has gained considerable attention, particularly following recent FDA warnings regarding breast implants. I’m not alone in this journey; a plastic surgeon named Dr. Sarah Mitchell has also made headlines after opting to remove her own breast implants.

Dr. Sarah Mitchell’s Journey

In a recent interview, Dr. Mitchell recounted that she received breast implants a decade ago. As an active runner with minimal breast tissue, she jumped at the chance when an implant representative offered her the opportunity for a fuller appearance. Fast forward six years, and she began to see patients in her practice expressing their desire for explantation due to various troubling symptoms. Dr. Mitchell found herself relating to their experiences, as she had been attributing her own symptoms—like fatigue, joint pain, hair loss, and changes in vision—to the demands of motherhood, her work, and simply getting older.

As her implants neared their ten-year lifespan, coupled with persistent breast pain from contractures, she decided it was time to explant. Understanding the process from both a surgeon’s and a patient’s perspective made the emotional journey complex. Despite her extensive surgical experience, including performing over a thousand explants, she still found the decision to remove her own implants daunting. Choosing a trusted explant surgeon, Dr. James Harrison, she felt reassured she was in capable hands.

Post-Surgery Experience

Post-surgery, she had to navigate the recovery challenges, including managing drains and compression garments. The most emotional moment came when she first looked at her chest post-operatively. However, in the months that followed, she entered the “fluffing stage,” witnessing her breasts settle after the procedure.

Since her explantation, Dr. Mitchell has noticed considerable improvements in her overall well-being, both physically and mentally. Symptoms she hadn’t even realized she had, such as lower back pain, have subsided. She now feels more energetic, her mind is clearer, and her vision has improved. Overall, she expresses a sentiment of returning to a sense of normalcy and wishes she had been aware of the potential complications of implants before making her initial decision.

Commitment to Helping Others

Currently, Dr. Mitchell performs over a thousand explants annually and has committed to helping women reclaim their lives. After recognizing the effects of breast implant illness and observing the positive changes in her patients post-explant, she made the decision three years ago to stop offering cosmetic implants. However, her office still receives inquiries from women seeking breast augmentation, to which her team responds by offering a consultation to discuss breast implant illness. Many patients decline, but some take her up on the opportunity.

Explantation requires a specific skill set, and Dr. Mitchell emphasizes the importance of finding a board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience in this area. Unfortunately, patients returning to the surgeon who placed their implants may encounter resistance regarding breast implant illness, including dismissive attitudes about the necessity of capsulectomy, which is vital for proper healing. An experienced explant surgeon will affirm the patient’s concerns and support their choice to explant rather than insist on replacing the implants.

Looking to the Future

Looking forward, Dr. Mitchell believes the future of breast implants is promising, although many medical questions remain unanswered regarding their impact on patients. She actively participates in monthly virtual discussions with medical professionals nationwide to explore breast implants and advance research in this field.

For those like myself, I didn’t wait for research to validate my experiences; the evidence was clear through the explantation process. Eight months post-surgery, 25 of my original 29 symptoms linked to breast implant illness have disappeared. Prior to explanting, I felt like a zombie mired in constant pain, trapped in a nightmare. My explantation restored my quality of life, and I am grateful to have had a surgeon who listened to my concerns.

Dr. Mitchell has noted an increase in referrals from cardiologists, internists, and other medical professionals for patients experiencing symptoms related to their implants, reflecting a growing awareness in the medical community. I am thankful for courageous healthcare providers like Dr. Mitchell who choose to listen rather than dismiss those of us affected by breast implant illness. Her willingness to share her journey and assist others is commendable. Like Dr. Mitchell, I remain optimistic about raising awareness surrounding the risks of breast implants, encouraging informed decisions for those considering them, and wishing healing for those who have endured similar struggles.

Additional Resources

For additional information and insights into the topic of home insemination, you can explore our related post here. Additionally, for authoritative guidance on artificial insemination, check out Cryobaby’s at-home insemination kit. For a reliable resource on pregnancy, visit March of Dimes’ week-by-week pregnancy guide.

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Summary

A plastic surgeon, Dr. Sarah Mitchell, removed her own breast implants after experiencing symptoms linked to breast implant illness. Through her journey, she has gained insight into the condition and now helps women who wish to explant. She emphasizes the importance of finding an experienced surgeon and advocates for awareness about the potential risks of breast implants.