Can you do self-insemination at home ?
It was a brisk day in October, and I found myself feeling unwell, just as I had for the last six months. I woke up with stiff, painful, and swollen joints in my fingers and toes. My eyes felt parched despite using top-tier prescription moisturizing drops. Even after a full night’s sleep, I spent the entire day moving from one task to another—working out on autopilot, assisting my children with remote learning, preparing meals and snacks, and writing. I took my daily blood thinner, a necessity after a blood clot was discovered during an emergency room visit just months earlier. My family noticed how I often started to give them directions only to lose my train of thought mid-sentence. I feared I might have breast cancer again, but a check-up thankfully ruled that out.
Something had to change. Despite maintaining a healthy diet, exercising daily, and getting adequate rest, I felt like a walking zombie. I had exhausted every avenue in my quest for better health, spending thousands on physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, consultations with a registered dietitian, my general practitioner, and countless lab tests and scans. What was happening to me? The only option I hadn’t yet explored was removing my breast implants. I had seen many celebrities take this step, but was it the right choice for me?
Three years prior, I was diagnosed with breast cancer after discovering a painful lump. I opted for a bilateral mastectomy, during which I qualified for a direct-to-implant procedure. This meant my breast tissue was removed and replaced with implants in the same surgery. I went under anesthesia with my natural breasts and woke up with perfectly shaped D-cup implants, affectionately referred to as “foobs” by some in the breast cancer community.
While the implants looked fantastic, they were never particularly comfortable. My right shoulder was constantly in pain, yet MRIs showed no issues. I endured two severe bouts of intercostal muscle strain, which is agonizing and slow to heal. Two lengthy and costly rounds of physical therapy provided only temporary relief. I was always carrying a muscle-cooling roll-on in hopes of finding some comfort.
Although I often joked about being the most attractive grandma at the nursing home one day, the pain was significant enough to warrant concern. I considered whether I simply needed to do more yoga, but as peculiar and increasingly debilitating symptoms began to arise, I knew I had to investigate further. After just a few days in a breast implant illness social media group, it became clear to me: for lasting relief, I had to remove the implants and embrace being flat-chested.
I scheduled my surgery for a complete capsulectomy and implant removal—commonly known as explant surgery—and continued my research. I encountered numerous stories from women who felt they were on the brink of death before choosing to explant. Their before-and-after photos were compelling. They had no agenda and no products to sell. I believed their experiences.
I discovered I wasn’t alone. Dr. Mark Thompson, a board-certified plastic surgeon and chief of plastic surgery at Riverside Medical Center, has performed implant removals for many patients, including well-known figures. In his 18 years of private practice, he has gained a reputation for safely and effectively removing breast implants, helping women regain their health and vitality.
Dr. Thompson made a pivotal decision three years ago—he would stop performing breast augmentation surgery due to the rising need for explant procedures. He has seen remarkable “positive progress” in his patients post-op, making it an easy choice to focus his practice on helping women who need to explant.
While Breast Implant Illness (BII) is not an officially recognized medical diagnosis, many women attribute their symptoms to their implants. Once the implants are removed, countless patients report significant relief. Dr. Thompson notes that “85-90% of my patients experience improvements in their health after explanting.” Yes, you read that correctly—85-90%.
Not every woman chooses to explant due to BII. Some, according to Dr. Thompson, opt for removal because their implants are too large. I learned that women with breast implants can suffer from back, shoulder, and rib pain, headaches, ruptured implants, and other chronic discomforts. Fortunately, there are alternatives, including breast lifts, fat transfers, or other procedures to enhance their natural breasts after explanting.
If someone decides to remove their implants, can any surgeon perform the procedure? Absolutely not. Dr. Thompson advises patients to research their surgeon thoroughly, read reviews, and speak with former patients. Personally, I believe it is essential for the surgeon to trust the woman who claims to be suffering from her implants, even if BII isn’t an official diagnosis. That’s why doctors like Dr. Thompson are becoming vital allies for women like me, who are desperate for relief and need to be heard.
It’s been almost six weeks since my explant surgery, and I’ve noticed a significant improvement, particularly in reducing inflammation. I shared a side-by-side photo on social media showing how my face has transformed since the removal of my implants. While my story is just one of many, Dr. Thompson’s social media is filled with testimonials from women who have experienced similar transformative results.
My chronic rib and shoulder pain has vanished. Perhaps the most astonishing change is the surge of energy I now have. I no longer wake up fatigued, struggling to get through the day. I can actively engage with my four kids and manage my job, exercising with enthusiasm and no longer relying on multiple cups of coffee.
I am incredibly grateful for a doctor who listened when I expressed my need to remove my implants. I am also thankful for the courageous women who have shared their stories online, encouraging others to seek their truth. I’m reclaiming my life, rediscovering myself, and doing so without implants.
For more insights, check out this related post on our blog. Additionally, if you’re looking for authoritative information on the topic, visit CDC’s pregnancy resource page.
Search Queries:
- What is breast implant illness?
- Symptoms of breast implant illness
- How to choose a surgeon for explant surgery
- Benefits of breast implant removal
- Recovery after explant surgery
In summary, after experiencing prolonged health issues linked to my breast implants, I made the decision to undergo explant surgery. The results have been life-changing, leading to reduced pain, increased energy, and a newfound sense of wellness.