Could it BII? - A Breast Implant Illness Podcast

It's been a hot minute! Sorry about the wait between episodes lately, but I am back with Sheri's Story.

Sheri joins me from Tampa, Florida 5 weeks after her explant with Dr David Rankin. It's amazing t hear how great she is feeling already!

You can follow Sheri on Instagram @sheri_in_the_air
If you want to see a picture of the foreign object found in her capsule, go check out @davidrankinmd on Instagram

If you would like to share your story or just get in touch, reach out to me on social media, or via email: [email protected]

Happy new year 2024!

I created this episode in the hope that it will reach women who are considering breast implants before they go through with the surgery, so they can make an informed decision, as we know this information is not covered in detail when we are seeing surgeons.

Here are the links to the topics covered today:
USA Black Box Warning on breast implants: https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2639#:~:text=Risks%20and%20complications&text=The%20boxed%20warning%20now%20tells,which%20may%20require%20more%20surgery.%E2%80%9D

Breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL): ​​https://www.tga.gov.au/products/medical-devices/breast-implant-hub/breast-implant-associated-cancer-consumer-information

Breast implant related squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC):
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/update-reports-squamous-cell-carcinoma-scc-capsule-around-breast-implants-fda-safety-communication

Breast seroma:
https://implanthealth.co.uk/understanding-seroma-fluid-a-common-concern-around-breast-implants/

Breast implant infection:
https://implanthealth.co.uk/breast-implant-infection/

Capsular contracture:
https://implanthealth.co.uk/capsular-contracture/

Breast implant malposition:
https://implanthealth.co.uk/breast-implant-malposition/ 

Breast implant ruptures:
https://implanthealth.co.uk/breast-implant-rupture/

Breast implants are not lifetime devices and ABDR data:
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/implants/Pages/breast-implants.aspx#:~:text=breast%20implants%20are%20not%20intended,common%20complications%20that%20can%20occur 

Heavy metals in breast implants:
https://lauramilesmd.com/breast-implant-illness-heavy-metals/

Silicone implant ban in the US:
https://slate.com/technology/2022/06/breast-implant-illness-what-is-it-cause-treatment-science.html

I would like to thank the amazing women who responded to my call out on the “what we wish we knew” section of this episode. Your thoughts and experience will reach women across the world and no doubt change lives.

This episode is available as a Vodcast episode on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/WEL-WW3yZX4 

Joining me from Canberra in Australia this week is Charlotte.

When I was looking for podcasts about BII in the lead up to my surgery, I came across an episode of What’s Doing Podcast that Charlotte featured on, where she discussed her BII and explant experience. She was one of the women who gave me hope that my surgery would be what my body needed to heal.

Charlotte has recently joined a panel which discussed the Australian National Safety and Quality Cosmetic Surgery Standards which have been updated in Australia, you can check out the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFqtWS2D3P0

You can also find her interview with The Project here:

https://fb.watch/p3BXlbWPxr/

If you would like to reach out to Charlotte or share your story on her Instagram page, feel free to reach out to her on Instagram @letsgetit_offourchest

Welcome to my first solo episode in a little while!

I thought now that I had been through my own explant surgery and have also spoken with many women who have shared what helped them with explanting that I would wrap all of the information up in to one episode. I hope this is helpful for anyone planning to explant soon.

This episode covers:
- Getting the referral to a specialist from your GP
- Selecting a specialist
- Preparing for your surgery including what to buy
- What to pack in your hospital bag
- What to do on the day of the surgery

This episode also lines up with the release of some free resources that I have made. I have saved these resources in an open Google Drive folder. There is also a Visitor's Book in the folder so please say hello! The folder can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sPJ6bB0axpgvuSdyPJmTFOkeNnaICbWO?usp=drive_link

I also mention Professor Deva's study on safer breast implants. If you are explanting in Australia, please sign up: https://saferbreastimplants.org/breast-implant-removal/

And if you are explanting in Australia, make sure your surgeon logs your surgery with the Australian Breast Device Registry: https://abdr.org.au/

Don't forget to leave a review if you have liked this episode.

This episode is available as a Vodcast episode on my YouTube Channel:
https://youtu.be/7JYQQ4njpDs

Joining me on the podcast this week is Jenny, the founder of Goforth Wellness!

Jenny celebrates her 1 year explant anniversary today! And she shares her journey through multiple tests, to finding out about BII and explanting with little children.

To celebrate her 1 year explant anniversary, Jenny has released an Explant Revive programme which provides holistic support to women before and after explant. Link: https://goforthwellness.fitbudd.com/packs/caqC7fQTKbSHHJiU5sV6

You can find Jenny on Instagram:
@goforthwellness

Website:
https://www.goforthwellness.com/

This episode is available as a video episode on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/k5EWImuF5Hw

Joining me on the podcast this week is the stunning Maëva. 

Maë is explanting on the Central Coast of NSW 27 October and reached out to join me for a few episodes to share her BII story and her progress after explanting. I can’t wait to hear how she is going in Part 2.

She has only had implants for a short period of time (around 18 months!) and has been dealing with issues with her pectoral muscles as well as a list of BII symptoms. This is another important story to share as BII symptoms can appear at any stage, it doesn’t have to be 10 or so years before they hit.

You can find Maë on Instagram @maevacaroff
And TikTok @maevacaroff

This episode is available as a Vodcast episode on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/FFX6wQJFhiQ

Joining me from Quebec, Canada is the lovely Julie.

Julie tells her story of getting a single polyurethane breast implant at the tender age of 17 and the debilitating list of symptoms that plagued her for 30 years.

Julie is a wealth of knowledge and is happy for women to reach out to her on her facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/christiejulie

Julie has also provided the following list of surgeons with an interest in Breast Implant Illness:
Dr Lu-Jean Feng, Ohio. Expert and pioneer of explant by en-bloc or total capsulectomy - https://www.fengclinic.com/plastic-surgery-health-office-cleveland/medical-specialists/plastic-reconstructive-surgeon/

Dr H Chun, California. Expert of explant by en-bloc or total capsulectomy, even the very thin capsule.

Dr Shaher Khan, Michigan. Expert of explant by en-bloc or total capsulectomy.

Dr Jan Williem Cohen Tervaert, rheumatologist, Alberta. He diagnosed the ASIA illness (autoimmune (auto-inflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvants) - https://apps.ualberta.ca/directory/person/cohenter

Dr Henry Dijkman ,Netherlands. Expert in research on silicone.

Dr Pierre Blais, analyst of breast implant failure. Ottawa, now retired - https://sites.google.com/site/siliconebreastimplantsorg/home/Science/researchers/dr-pierre-blais

She has also provided the following useful links:
https://www.gpacunited.org
https://www.facebook.com/GPACUnited
https://www.breastimplanthealthsummit.com
https://www.facebook.com/BIHS2022

Julie has also kindly provided photos of her capsule. If you are interested in seeing it, i have saved it in the following Google Drive Folder:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sPJ6bB0axpgvuSdyPJmTFOkeNnaICbWO?usp=drive_link

This episode is available as a Vodcast episode on my YouTube Channel:
https://youtu.be/2PnlxVVlc1o

Another week, another episode with a fellow podcaster, Brandi from Be Real Babe Podcast!

I jumped on to Be Real Babe a couple of weeks ago to share a lil life update. I have previously joined Brandi to share my BII story (Episode 25) and Brandi joined me to tell her story about not getting breast implants (Episode 26).

Give Be Real Babe a follow if you haven't yet, they have also shared other BII stories on their podcast.

This episode is available as a Vodcast episode on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/d2yH_vnt-vE

Joining me from the UK this week is the amazing Deb! You may know her from The Heal is Real Podcast, which is another BII podcast, sharing the stories of women who have also experienced BII.

Deb's story is an important one, as it highlights the fact that you don't need implants for many years before they can impact you. Deb only had her implants for 6 MONTHS and had a terrible time with them.

You can find her podcast on Instagram @thehealisrealpodcast
Links to Deb and Abbie's podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-heal-is-real-a-breast-implant-illness-podcast/id1651386794?uo=4

This episode is available as a Vodcast episode on my YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/RtGYuMGmfwY

Joining me this week is the amazing Amanda!

If you are on instagram, you may know Amanda as The Holistic Beauty Coach (@theholisticbeautycoach). Amanda shares her story from working in the plastic surgery industry, getting breast implants to correct tuberous breasts (just like me!) and her 2 lightbulb moments when finding out about BII.