After my husband left me 2 weeks into our marriage (we were engaged for 2 years and together for a total of 4 mind you), depression hit hard. I think I slept for 2 days straight and didn’t get out of bed. But it was actually a blessing in disguise because that relationship was NOT healthy. Not only was he not a Christian so we were unequally yolked, but it was a very controlling relationship. I wasn’t “allowed” to do certain things I wanted to do while we were together…one of which was getting breast implants. I just always wanted them. Not to impress anyone else, but just for my own self-esteem. Well, now that I was single with no one telling me what I could or could not do and needing a little boost of joy in my life, I happily decided to get the procedure. I sought out a dr close by that I felt comfortable with, attended all the pre-surgery appointments, and finally got the twins in 2010. I couldn’t be happier! I did it for ME and nobody else. Not to impress anyone. Not to get revenge. I did it for ME. So my intentions were pure and I believe that’s how it should be when getting a cosmetic surgery, doing it for themselves and not for anyone else.
Now I had digestive issues long before I got the implants, so saying this surgery was the cause of all my digestives issues would of course be a lie, but I certainly don’t think they helped the situation and do believe they made things worse and why my personal experience was so extreme. Back then, I had no idea, nor do I think anyone did, about how fake breasts could harm your health. Health and fitness were a huge part of my life then, however I was not nearly as educated as I am now. Back then I was still eating so called “healthy” proteins bars, not looking at ingredients, etc. and just thinking I was doing my body good. So of course the idea that breast implants could be harmful didn’t even cross my mind. Bridging the gap from then until today, I went through drastic weight loss, digestive issues, and experienced one of the worst times of my entire life from nearly dying due to multiple digestive and health complications.
If you already know my story in what happened, you will know that thankfully I am now better and even thriving! However, I still have the twins and the fact that they are a foreign object in my body does not settle well in my mind. I’ve changed since 2010 and have become more aware of not only my body and my health….BUT MY WORTH AS A WOMEN. I don’t need implants to make myself feel good. Yes, it was a devastating time in my life and of course any women would feel down about herself after a such a life altering event. It did help me, not gonna lie. But I also don’t recommend it to someone, and if I had the chance, I wish I wouldn’t have gotten them. I just want them out because I know they can’t do me any good.
Research has shown breast implants can not only cause serious digestive issues, but also a ton of other health complications. And for me, it’s just not worth having them. The only thing I hate to think about is that I WILL have to take antibiotics to accomplish this procedure and that I am NOT excited about. No doctor will do surgery without them, the risk of getting an infection is just too high and infections can just cause more serious issues (even death) so there’s no way around it.
Click HERE if you’re curious about how antibiotics can harm the body.
How Do Breast Implants Affect Your Health?
Breast implants are obviously a foreign object in the body and usually your body reacts in defense resulting in some type of inflammatory response. Saline implants have the added element that their valves are permeable and allow body fluid/tissue in and may result in colonization of microorganisms inside the implant. These microorganisms produce toxic metabolites, known as biotoxins. Thankfully, I personally opted for silicone back in 2010.
Regardless if they are saline or silicon, breast implants are an unfamiliar object to our body that usually weaken the immune system, triggering immune dysfunction and even auto-immune symptoms. The human body is left vulnerable to viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and other invaders that it would normally be able to combat and fight off. The exposure to any toxic chemicals can not only impair the immune system, but also accelerate aging, and usually after 5 years of the implants being inside the body they begin to leak!
Breast implants commonly affect:
• Immune (viral, fungal, bacterial infections, and formation autoantibodies)
• Digestive & Gastrointestinal (dysbiosis, leaky gut, malabsorption, food intolerances)
• Brain (brain fog)
….and many many other areas of your health (and life!)
My Explant and Recovery
Explant is the most important step, it removes the underlying triggers that have been interfering with your body. Proper explant is done through an En Bloc or Total Capsulectomyprocedure, where there is full capsule removal.
It’s been said that 75% of patients who get an explant recover from their ongoing health symptoms. So for me, that’s not a great percentage, however I figure I can’t be any less off if I at least try it.
Following an explant surgery, my next steps are to repair any depleted nutrients and systems while at the same time removing toxins built up from the implants. I’ve had many discussions with my holistic dr and is 100% behind my decision. He will be working with me pre-operation to boost my immunity as well as after the surgery to cleanse my body from the antibiotics. This will be a process but I am soooooooooooooo excited and ready to do it and yes, even take those dreadful antibiotics to get this done. I hope that by reading this you can make an educated and more informed decision before undergoing a breast augmentation (or inform someone who is thinking about it). OR perhaps you already do have breast implants, perhaps this post may have opened your eyes to what may have been contributing to your health all these years. Perhaps you don’t relate to this post at all! Regardless, Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your support. I look forward to sharing my journey with you and hope you follow along! Stay tuned!
I’ll be reading through comments and your thoughts on THIS POST and I appreciate all the support you have ALREADY shown!
Oh! And one final note: If breast implants were in fact 100% safe, would I still want them removed? Heck Yes!
You’re so awesome and I’m seeing that God is using you in such an amazing way. I learn from you everyday and look forward to seeing your journey
I just got my saline implants out in January of this year. I had mild digestive issues prior to getting them and they exploded after I got them. My liver is now taxed and my gut is still a mess. My adrenals are nearly shot, too. I’m working on this but it’s a process. I’m so glad you’re getting yours out. You will feel better once you do. I am still dealing with GI problems but it’s only been 12 weeks. Still, I feel somewhat better than I did with them in. I can’t wait to see how you feel after surgery!
Good luck and hope the surgery goes well! Thank you for your honest and impowerment!
Best of luck! So happy for you and you will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless. 🙏💜xo
I wish you the best with your surgery. I had silicone implants six months ago after double mastectomy. Not an easy decision or in reading comments, because one wants bigger breasts. I had the same antibiotic issues. Because I have well water, I needed Cipro- the one I absolutely try to avoid.
So happy for you!! Woohoo! Congratulations! I am thrilled that you are sharing about your needs, thoughts, process… Women reading have more info and may more likely make choices that support them whole being wise. I am forwarding this to some lovely ladies I know.
I am so thankful for your honesty in everything you share with us. God is doing a great work through you, Bethany. I am so happy He led me to your instagram account almost a year ago. <3 I will be praying for you and your upcoming surgery as well as healing and a fast/smooth recovery.
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you." Psalm 139:13-18
One of my biggest fears is having to take antibiotics for whatever reason after having had gut issues.
I’m really glad you’re addressing it during this journey. I’m sure it will all go well! Fight on.
I have thought about getting work done on my chest after losing a lot of weight but then other health issues got in the way of pursuing that and then I had too many surgeries to have an appetite to voluntarily go under the knife again but it’s always been something I would have liked. This is a really important article pointing out some potential risks that are rarely talked about and I hope a lot of people considering surgery find this so they can make an even more informed decision either way. Praying your surgery and recovery go well in spite of the antibiotics!
SO incredibly proud of you! This post was seriously so insightful! My marriage lasted 4 months and was so controlling and toxic. Over the years since I have learned to love my body and myself. I just got engaged a week ago. It’s such a different relationship and I’m so insanely happy. Thanks for constantly helping me be the best version of myself.
Wow!!!! Thank you for that informative post! I was thinking of getting a “mommy make-over” in a couple of years. But my health has been depleated because of my UC and at this point I don’t think it’s worth taking the risk of surgery and adding something unnatural!!!! Now I am going to be thinking twice! Thank you! And thank you for being brave and being so transparent.
Once again thank you for sharing your journey girl ❤️ So inspiring!
Oh my goodness, this is just awesome! Thank you for sharing. I admire you so much for talking so openly about your experiences, your faith, and for displaying vulnerability so gracefully. I have often thought about getting implants, but have never been 100% on board, and now- I am sure I will not get them- so thank you! I absolutely love ready your posts, and so appreciate all the ways you have helped me in my journey to be the best, and healthiest version of myself. I will be praying for a safe and stress free surgery for you!!
Excuse my typo… I love ‘reading’ your posts… 😉
Thanks for posting this Bethany. It is a great reminder to us all of what is truly important. I pray that all goes well for you during your surgery and that the antibiotics will only help you and not cause any negative affect in your body. You are an inspiration to us all.
Wow, i did not know any of this. I had no idea that breast implants would cause so much havoc to your body. I always say i wish i had them but now there are so many reasons not to get them. Thanks for the info girl and keeping it so real. You have all my love and support for our upcoming surgery.
I’m so glad you were able to make this decision! Praying for smooth & speedy procedure & recovery!
This was so eye opening! Thank you for sharing. I always wanted, but never got implants because of a strong familial history of BC. It just didn’t seem smart. I always wished that I could/regretted that I hadn’t (I’m 45). I have enough health issues . Now I’m just thankful that I followed my intuition and never went through with it. Your posts and blog have been so helpful. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing this journey! I almost got them years ago (as I commented on your IG post) and am glad I didn’t HOWEVER I do think they look great on people. But as you said, it is a foreign object and I think as much as I have changed, it would freak me out now. It is so great for you to take your holistic doctor along to help you recover. I truly hope you see an improvement in your health afterwards. You are a rockstar for overcoming so much already.
I love this Bethany and I’m so proud of you. I’m excited to see your results and I look forward to hearing more about your journey. I’m praying for you love!
You are amazing and so very brave, thanks for sharing your journey🙏🏻❤️Praying for you as you continue this journey and you go through the explant.
Thank you for being honest and sharing this. It totally makes sense. It is something that has been a passing thought for me as I age and after having babies but you have given me more knowledge to make it a complete no, not for me. Prayers for your procedure and recovery. Good for you for doing the research and doing what is best for you.
Thank you so much for sharing your story! May God bring you a speedy and healthy recovery!
So proud of you and everything that you do. You are amazing and I love all your posts and stories! Be safe and recover quickly!
Good for you! That would make sense. In high school I went through a piercing phase getting my nose pierced, three in one ear, two in the other, and my belly button pierced. I noticed I got sick more often and haven’t worn them in a while! I’ll put the nose/earrings in ocassionally, but it’s pretty insane how as a culture even those of us that are “educated” in health fields don’t think of things as simple as foreign bodies in our bodies, ha! Me being one of them. Prayers for safety and speedy recovery! <3
Thank you for sharing NCBI papers to support what you said, that was so interesting to read. Immediately I thought, holy bleep, one of my best friends had breast implants (can’t remember the type) and was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis a couple of years ago probably at age 30. I can’t help but wonder if that’s the cause. I’ve always been intrigued with breast implants and have considered them, but mostly I’m too cheap and don’t want to commit to the recovery time lol. But now it will definitely be something I won’t do. So interesting!
I have wanted them for so long! I have been having serious gut health and digestive issues (due to high antibiotic use from 4 c-sections and other mouth surgeries) for 2 years now…and they do go against everything I preach about what we put in our bodies. The more I research the more I’m convinced it would be a realt bad decision, especially for someone like me who is trying to heal my guy! Luckily I’m blessed with a hubby who has always discouraged the idea of getting them and always lets me know he loves me JUST as I am!
Thanks for sharing, I think this pushes my decision to a hard no!
Thank you for sharing your story. I do not relate only because I don’t have implants, however find the information really helpful. I also feel it makes a lot of sense. You are not doubt helping many people by sharing such a personal journey.
Prayers to you on your upcoming journey.
Good for you! I follow another Instagram account who had an explant earlier this year and her recovery has been remarkable. I hope your procedure goes smoothly and you heal quickly!
Although I can’t relate to breast implants (I’ve never wanted big breasts, just thicker hair that’ll grow longer than my shoulders.), I wish you all the best. It sounds like you have thought the decision through and will come out happier. Go you!!
please be safe and recover soon! best wishes
Thank you for sharing! I’ve always had small breasts and longed for larger “girls” for ME (not because anyone has made me feel bad) At 34, I haven’t pulled the trigger for a variety of reasons, but your story has solidified my decision to finally put the issue to rest. I do appreciate your vulnerability and honesty on the matter. No judgement on anyone who has or will pursue cosmetic surgery, but my deep desire for every woman is that she would feels truly beautiful in her own skin. As a fellow believer, I know God already loves each of us sans plastic surgery. I hate how our culture objectifies women and glorifies images that 90% of the population does not look like. Anyhow, kudos to you and thank you for all you do!! I’m praying your explant procedure goes smoothly.
Good luck honey x all your posts are super informative and so interesting. Thank you for all your good work x I wish you all the very best and will follow your journey ahead x
I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis years after getting silicone breast implants. Dr Gary Solomon, a rheumatologist at NYU has found a link between auto immune disease and silicone. I wish I would have known…
Hi Bethany! I love that you are sharing this story. So many people enter into these type of things without an awareness of what it’s going to do to their body. The older you get, the more important your health is. Thank you for being open and sharing your experiences.
Thank you for sharing this with us, Bethany. I have wanted breast implants for awhile now but never really considered the negative side effects. I’m thankful you are willing to share your story with us, because you are always so informative and candid! You rock. Thanks again for this ♥️
I have never had the desire to get implants but just reading all of this is an eye opener!!! My husband and I could not believe how horrible this is for anyone’s body, just reading all the side effects… I mean.. it makes sense, you are putting something foreign in your body! So proud of the decision you are making. Hopefully you are one of the 75% that get rid of all other symptoms. 🙏🏻
Hey girl, thanks for sharing all of this!! It takes bravery. I had to have one implant put in, and a lift on my right. After I was 16/17 the left just stopped growing 🤷🏼♀️
I haven’t seen my doctor in a while to check how it’s doing so you gave me some awareness to do that! Also to find out if it was saline or silicone. Thank you for your post.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this, and for sharing your journey with us. I am so excited for you, and pray that you feel even better than you do now (health wise) once the implants are removed. Wishing you all the best! ❤️
Proud of you. God speed in your recovery. Victory will be yours
YOU ARE SUCH A ROCKSTAR!!
That’s awesome you’re getting them out since you no longer want them in your body and you’re doing the research. I hope the surgery and recovery is smooth as can be for you!! I’ll be following along your journey
I am so proud of you