Susanne BII Warrior story

“BII Warriors”

Hear from women who have questions about whether to explant and women who are recovering from breast implant illness and how they are managing their physical and mental healing. We will also hear from those who are championing the movement to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

On the right, I was on vacation, I spent time doing my hair and make up for a night out. On the left, one week after surgery. I had spent the day running around, (helping out another patient of Dr. Barr’s, lol), I didn’t touch up my make-up or hair from the morning. Pics are less than 3 months apart.

Yesterday was one month since I removed my breast implants. It has been quite a month. On one hand, I have struggled with recovery and the changes in what I look like. I feel like everyone is staring at me. In reality, breasts are not what makes you beautiful or defines you.

What defines me? Who I am. A wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend. Vanity won for a very long time. I ignored the symptoms of Breast Implant Illness. I allowed my body to be poisoned by foreign objects that were sitting on top of my lungs and heart.

It took strength and it took courage, more than I knew I had in me. But, I did it, and I am on the lighter side. I woke up from surgery (after the sickness from anesthesia which is normal for me) feeling better than I have felt in years. My skin changed, the white in my eyes became lighter, and all my joint pain was gone! Each day, more and more symptoms have disappeared. I feel more alive than I have I so many years!

Days after surgery, I found out that my right implant capsule was stuck to my rib cage. My surgeon spent hours carefully removing it from my ribcage, right above my lungs. My left implant capsule had a bacterial infection in it. Within days, the lab showed “heavy growth.” I received my implants back after surgery. They are sticky and they REEK of chemicals. I invite any of my friends to inspect them. You will be stunned that they were inside my body.

I am not telling my story to scare anyone, but to inform anyone who has implants. Almost 16 years go when I got implants, I didn’t know about all these possible issues. If you have implants and don’t have any issues, I am happy for you!! I wish the best for you and I support your decision to keep them. I will never judge anyone for their decisions, as long as they are informed.

In this journey, I have lost friends who think that I am “crazy” or “have a mental illness” or “it is all in my head.” But on the flip side, I have gained not only new friends but reconnected with old friends who are suffering the effects of BII and are looking to me for guidance and support. And, I have gotten to meet some amazing women who have or are explanting.

If you are my friend, you know me, and you know that I would never make a decision without knowing all the facts. In case anyone is interested, I have photos of the poison which was removed from my body.

I have never felt better in my life.

#thehealisreal #bii Breast Implant Illness and Healing by Nicole

I want to add, Dr. Barr was my surgeon. He was absolutely amazing. He was kind and honest throughout this entire process. He also decided to stop putting breast implants in women in his practice, Palm Beach Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery.

Also, one more thing. Thank you to all my friends who supported me. A special thank you to Robin E. Yates-Davis, Jaime Langan and Kristen Lichtman who each spent the night with me and took care of me right after surgery. I am so blessed to call you my friends!