My Breast Implant Illness Story: Why I Finally Chose Explant Surgery

I never thought I'd be writing this post.

For most of my life, I was naturally slim with a fuller bust — something I honestly resented as a teenager. But years later, deep in the world of fitness competitions and modeling, my perspective shifted. I was surrounded by women with implants, and in that world, the look was everywhere. Fuller, rounder, that distinct upper pole fullness that you simply can't get naturally. And somewhere along the way, I started to believe I needed that look to belong there.

So I did my research — though looking back, not nearly enough — and I got implants. I went to a well-regarded surgeon and the procedure went smoothly by every technical measure. But I'll never forget waking up from that surgery with an immediate, sinking feeling that I had made a mistake.

I pushed the feeling aside. They looked good, objectively. People noticed. But that attention never felt right on me. I was athletic and lean, and suddenly I felt heavier, more conspicuous — like I was wearing something that didn't belong to my body. For years I had a love-hate relationship with them that I couldn't quite articulate.

I didn't yet know that my body was trying to tell me something important.

When the Symptoms Started

Looking back, I can't pinpoint exactly when things started to shift. But not long after getting my implants, strange symptoms began creeping in. Unusual bloating. Skin issues. Funny reactions after meals that I couldn't quite explain — sometimes coughing, sometimes retching. At the time I didn't have a name for it. Years later I'd come to understand it was likely mast cell activity, but in the moment it was just... off.

Over time things progressed. Fatigue. Inflammation. Autoimmune issues that kept getting worse no matter what I did. And I want to be clear about something — I don't believe there's ever just one cause when your health starts to unravel. I think it's always a collection of things. But I was already doing everything I could think of to get better, and something still wasn't adding up.

The turning point came unexpectedly, during a conversation with a friend who happened to be a doctor. She looked at me and said something I wasn't ready to hear: "I think you need to consider removing the foreign objects in your body."

She meant my implants.

My honest reaction? Anger. I shut down immediately. I didn't want to hear it, didn't want to research it, didn't want to consider it. She explained it simply — your body doesn't naturally accept foreign objects, and your immune system may be quietly fighting them. But I told her I didn't want to discuss it further, and to her credit, she respected that and dropped it.

For a while, anyway.

The Pain That Changed Everything

About a year later, everything changed.

I started experiencing stabbing pains in my right breast. Sharp, sudden, stopping-me-in-my-tracks pain. I'd be in the middle of working and have to pause, hand pressed to my chest, just breathing through it. And alongside the pain came a growing awareness of my implants in a way I'd never felt before — an uncomfortable, wrong feeling that was impossible to ignore. Something had shifted, and my body was making sure I knew it.

When the pain became impossible to ignore, I finally did what my friend had suggested a year earlier. I started researching breast implant illness.

And what I found changed everything.

I read story after story from women who had experienced exactly what I was going through — and more. Women who had been sick for years, dismissed by doctors, trying everything. Women who got their implants out and felt like themselves again. I learned about the wide range of symptoms BII can cause, how the immune system can quietly wage war against foreign objects for years before things escalate.

Within a week of researching, my resistance was completely gone. I didn't just accept it — I was anxious to get them out. Done. Decided.

I contacted one of the top explant surgeons in the country and scheduled my surgery. Between the stabbing pain, unexplained breathing difficulties, and everything else I was experiencing, I knew I couldn't wait.

My body had been telling me for years. I was finally ready to listen.

ready for my surgery

The Day of Surgery

My husband and I traveled to California for the surgery. I won't pretend I was brave about it. Medical situations — anything involving needles, IVs, blood — have always been incredibly difficult for me. I'm prone to vasovagal responses and I knew going in that I'd have to fight my own nervous system just to get through the door.

The morning of surgery, they placed my IV — already a hurdle — and when the surgeon came in to mark me and asked me to stand, I felt it immediately. The room tilting, the color draining from my face. He looked at me and said plainly, "You're white as a sheet. I can't perform this surgery if you can't get it together."

I looked at him and said something I meant with every cell in my body: "These implants are making me sick. I have to get them out. Please just work with me. One minute. I just need one minute."

He asked how I'd manage the follow-up appointments. I told him the same thing I'd been telling myself — one day at a time. I wasn't leaving without this surgery.

He worked with me. And I'm so grateful he did.

When I woke up, my husband was there. And I have to say — that recovery period showed me a side of him I'll never forget. He braided my hair. He washed it for me. He helped me with things that required real vulnerability on my part. If we weren't fully married before that trip, we were after it. That kind of care changes you.

But when I first saw myself after surgery, I won't lie — it was hard. I'm an aesthetic person. I spent years in the modeling and fitness world. And what I saw in that mirror was a version of myself I wasn't prepared for. That part of the journey deserves its own honest conversation, and I'll be sharing more about that in an upcoming post.

A few items that were so helpful for my breast explant surgery

Having a wedge pillow is essential - https://shop.megangrahambeauty.com/wedge-pillow

Amazing healing balm I used for healing my incisions - https://shop.megangrahambeauty.com/healing-balm

What Changed After Explant Surgery — And What Didn't

What happened immediately after surgery surprised me. I could breathe.

Not metaphorically — literally. My frame is small, and when I saw the size of what had been removed from my body, it all made sense. There simply hadn't been enough room. My breathing improved almost immediately, and that alone told me I had made the right decision.

But I want to be honest with you, because if you're researching breast implant illness recovery right now, you deserve the truth:

Explant surgery is not a magic cure.

The stabbing pain? Gone. The breathing issues? Resolved. The bags of silicone that had been slowly shedding microscopic particles into my body for years? Removed. I was genuinely relieved and grateful.

But my health journey wasn't over. I had other things going on — other root causes that needed to be addressed separately. Breast implant illness had been one piece of a much larger puzzle, and removing my implants was an important step, not a finish line.

I also want to share something practical for anyone considering explant surgery — ask your surgeon directly whether they will be performing the entire procedure themselves, and discuss scar closure in detail beforehand. It's a conversation I wish I had prioritized.

What I Wish I'd Had During Recovery

There's one more thing I want to mention. At the time of my surgery, I didn't yet know about LifeWave X39 patches. X39 uses photobiomodulation technology to support your body's natural regenerative processes — including skin recovery and overall healing support.* Had I known about them, they would have been part of my recovery protocol from day one. I now use them as part of my ongoing wellness routine and genuinely wish I'd had them in my corner during that season.

If you want to know more about what I would do differently — including every tool and protocol I'd use for recovery — I'm covering all of that in the next post in this series.

Want to Learn More About X39 Patches?

If you're on a healing journey and want to know more about the tools and protocols I personally use and recommend — including X39 patches — I want to hear from you. I work with people who are serious about supporting their body's natural ability to heal, and I'd love to help you figure out if this is a fit for you.

📩 Reach out directly at Megangrahambeauty@gmail.com Or if you're ready to explore X39 patches now, click here to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Implant Illness

What is breast implant illness (BII)? Breast implant illness is a term used to describe a wide range of symptoms that some women experience after getting breast implants. Symptoms can include fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, skin issues, autoimmune problems, and more. While BII is not yet an officially recognized medical diagnosis, growing numbers of women and practitioners are taking it seriously.

How do I know if my implants are making me sick? There's no single test for BII. Many women report that their symptoms developed gradually after getting implants and improved after removal. Common symptoms include unexplained fatigue, inflammation, autoimmune issues, digestive problems, skin changes, and chronic pain. If you suspect your implants may be affecting your health, seeking out a practitioner familiar with BII is a good first step.

How long does explant recovery take? Recovery timelines vary depending on the individual and the complexity of the surgery. Most women feel significantly better within a few weeks, though full recovery can take several months. Supporting your body with proper nutrition, rest, and recovery tools can make a meaningful difference.

Will I feel better immediately after explant surgery? Some women notice improvements right away — in my case, my breathing improved almost immediately. Others find that recovery is more gradual. It's important to have realistic expectations. Explant can be a powerful step, but it may not resolve every symptom, especially if other underlying health factors are present.

What should I look for in an explant surgeon? Look for a board-certified plastic surgeon with specific experience in explant procedures, ideally one familiar with en bloc or total capsulectomy techniques. Ask whether they will personally perform the entire surgery, and have a detailed conversation about scar closure before you commit.

Are there natural ways to support healing after explant surgery? Yes — and this is something I'm passionate about. From non-toxic wound care to nutritional support to photobiomodulation tools like LifeWave X39 patches, there are many ways to support your body's natural recovery process.* I'll be sharing my full protocol in an upcoming post in this series.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. LifeWave patches are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. I am a Lifewave Brand Partner.

Continue Reading — The Explant Series:

• Part 2: Things I Wish I Knew Before Explant Surgery

• Part 3: My Explant Recovery Must-Haves (the products I'd use from day one)

• Part 4: Finding the Right Recovery Bra After Explant Surgery

• Part 5: What I Used on My Incisions — Non-Toxic Wound Care That Actually Works