In 2011, I made the decision to undergo breast augmentation for a variety of reasons. I was competing in the professional fitness competition circuits and felt this surgery may increase my chances at success. I was incorrect. I made this decision for the wrong reasons and certainly did not research as much as I should have. I immediately regretted the decision and started having unexplained medical issues very shortly after the surgery. 

My symptoms included, unexplained back pain, joint pain, GI issues, inflammation, weight loss, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, insomnia, brain fog, skin rash, and three auto-immune diseases. 

I knew I must advocate for my health, but after countless visits to specialists prescribing pharmaceuticals that did not provide relief, I felt hopeless. 

It wasn’t until years later when my dear friend suggested I may have Breast Implant Illness, that I felt hopeful there was possibly a solution. Although I never really considered BII to be the root cause of my health concerns, I began diligently researching the illness, discovering I had the majority of the symptoms. 

As I dug deeper, a friend shared a podcast featuring Dr. Robert Whitfield, a respected Plastic Surgeon and Breast Implant Illness expert. After listening to the podcast, I felt so incredibly hopeful. I was determined I would travel across the globe to find this surgeon as I knew he could help me. To my surprise, he was based in Austin, Texas which is only three hours from me and I knew the area well. I was in his office within a month and preparing for surgery. This decision saved my life. 

In November of 2023, I underwent a full explant surgery including capsule removal. Although I’m still healing and working through an extensive detox protocol, nearly all of my symptoms have disappeared and I’m feeling better each day. 

The evening before my surgery, I shared my Breast Implant Illness journey on social media. So many amazing women reached out to me offering support, and hope. I realized that this is a growing community of women, yet there are not a lot of resources. I will do my best to encourage women to advocate for their health and share the resources that have helped me along the way. 

My Top 5 Wellness Tips 

I love sharing what has been beneficial in my healing journey. However, It’s important to know your own body. Please consult with your physician before implementing any wellness protocols. This is simply what has worked for me. 

1. Eat Clean: I try to eat as clean as possible. I’ve cut out gluten, avoid dairy, and processed foods which has helped decrease inflammation tremendously. I prioritize nutrition dense ingredients when I’m dining-out or dining-in. I keep healthy meals and snacks accessible by meal prepping in advance. They say that food is medicine, and I believe it. 
2. Prioritize Gut Health: Good gut health is at the center of everything. I’ve implemented prescribed supplements from the Sunflower Shoppe and many other gut healing ingredients that were part of my gut repair and healing protocol. I highly advise you to find a functional medicine practitioner that specializes in gut repair to help you on this journey.  
3. Detox your Life: Unbeknownst to me, I had many toxins in my body, including mold, heavy metals, amongst others. I’ve been working on detoxing my body and my home daily. I’ve also found some great therapies to help create detox pathways, including the Ballancer Pro for lymphatic drainage at Tan 2 Glow and the red light therapy at Canyon Ranch. 
4. Move your body: I’m so thankful for daily movement as it has had such a positive impact on my health. Since I was a very young child, I have always incorporated fitness in my life. Strength training and Pilates has been key for me, but I think the most important thing is finding what works for you and keeping it consistent. 
5. Sleep well: Sleep is so critical to our overall health. I was sleeping very poorly for years pre-explant, relied on prescription medication and still didn’t sleep or  feel rested. Today, I take Magnesium Glycinate before bed and wake up feeling refreshed. 

I’m so thankful for my family, my medical team and my friends (both old and new) that have walked with me along this journey. I’m still healing, but truly feel better than I have in years. I’m so glad that I fought and advocated for my health. I hope I can help inspire you to do the same. 

I’ll be posting a larger update as I celebrate one year post explant, but I just wanted this important conversation to have a permanent place on my website. Below is a list of BII resources. If you have any questions, my Instagram DM’s are always open to chat! 

Keep being fabulous, 

Tiffy

PS We only have one body… We MUST take care of it! 

Follow me on Instagram

Watch My BII Journey on my Instagram Highlights

Learn More about Dr. Robert Whitfield and my Breast Explant Medical Team here.

Listen to my recent podcast episode featuring Dr. Whitfield on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. 

Helpful Products

My Breast Explant Surgery Essentials 

Non-Toxic Living Products