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and Iended up with adouble D . Within ayear , Ihad two surgeries , and then there was COVID . Istarted getting a rash on my neck , my eyes were itchy and my skin was red because Ihad eczema . Iwondered if it was my diet , or my body was changing with age . Ialso started using organic makeup . Mydermatologist gave me creams and pills , but none of it was working . Then Istarted getting migraines , and Ithought my head would explode . Igot heart palpitations and tried to ignore them .
Iwas frustrated ; nothing worked . Insecurity started topop in , and Iwent from wanting tobesexy to wearing oversized jackets and keeping to myself . Icouldn ’ t go to achiropractor or wear abra because it hurt . They looked hard , too . Iwas embarrassed for anyone to see them , including my boyfriend .
HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO GET EXPLANT ( REMOVAL ) SURGERY ?
Ihad seen avideo of afriend who ’ d gone through the process of removal , and Istarted researching . Mycousin was doing the same thing — she ’ d had them for nine years , and was worse off than Iwas . Weexchanged research and stories , and said “ Let ’ sdothis together .” She had seen Dr . David Rankin ( chief of plastic surgery at St . Mary ’ sMedical Center inWest Palm Beach , Florida ) on aFacebook group page about explanting , and she decided this is the guy . Hestopped putting implants in women about four or five years ago , when he started noticing the damage it was doing towomen . Now he specializes in explanting . His assistant , Dee Hicks — Mama Bear — has done so much for the explant community . She played ahand in getting the FDA to require putting ablack box warning on the implants .
Dr . Rankin consults on Zoom , but Iwanted to see him in person . Hesaid my implants were encapsulated ( when scar tissue forms tight capsules around them ), and they wouldn ’ t get better . He told me that Ineeded corrective surgery .
WAS THE DECISION TO HAVE ANOTHER SURGERY A TOUGH ONE TO MAKE ?
It ’ snot an easy decision . Iwas scared . Inever had kids , and Iwanted to know that when Idid , I ’ dbeable to
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THE RIGHT SUPPORT ( Top ) Lulu and Lala before the latter ’ s corrective surgery ; ( above ) Lala with “ Mama Bear ” Dee Hicks and Dr . David Rankin
QUICK FACTSABOUT BREASTIMPLANT REMOVAL According to a 2022 report published by the National Institute of Health :
■ Breast augmentation remains one of most popular procedures in the field of plastic surgery .
■ A growing number of women , though , have been searching social media to find information about and share their experiences with a group of symptoms referred to as “ breast implant illness .”
■ In recent years , the number of breast implant removals has increased , as the safetyof silicone-based implants has been questioned by academics and the public . Analysis of yearly cases between 2006 and 2019 shows that the incidence of breast implant removal increased by more than 30 percent during that period .
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breastfeed them . And what would it look like ? Would Ihave loose skin ? Dee was nice enough totalk sense into me , and tell me that it was not getting better , and it could get worse . It ’ shuman nature tocare what you ’ ll look like , but then you think about your health , which money can ’ t buy . It ’ s crappy to feel sick . Iwould rather be healthy with ascar than to not have one and feel sick all the time .
WHAT WAS POST-SURGERY LIKE ?
Youleave the hospital that same day with no complications . Mysurgery was at 6a . m ., and by 2p . m ., Ifelt like I could ’ ve taken awalk on the beach , like I ’ dgotten asecond wind . Icould finally takeadeepbreathand knoweverything would be fine . Ihad my body back .
They do put drains on you and a huge sticker band-aid ; that was more uncomfortable , annoying and itchy . The drains are inafor aweek and ahalf . Youhave tosleep sitting up the first three weeks , and it takes atoll on your back , which is hard inrecovery .
They say ittakes 6-9 months to recover , depending onyour insides . They had to scrub out one of my breasts because it was so encapsulated . It ’ shard for adoctor to take the whole capsule out , but you need to , because the capsule contains silicone from the implant .
Today , I ’ m feeling great . I ’ m putting Vitamin Eoil on the scars , and my boobs are healing perfectly . I ’ ve just been cleared to do arm exercises , Ican go back to the gym , and Ican buy bikinis and dresses .
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE WOMEN WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT GETTING BREAST IMPLANTS ?
I ’ ve been reading that explanting is atrend , and it ’ snot . It will not go away . People are taking implants out because they have health issues . Itbothers me when Isee that . Also , young women out there considering getting implants , please do your research about longterm consequences and how it ’ ll affect your health and those who love you , too . Mymom saw what Iwent through . When Isuffer , the family suffers .
And remember : healthy is sexy . Youmay think that implants are sexy , but there ’ snothing sexier than being healthy . ■
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COURTESY OF LALA GONZALEZ |
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40 2023 EDITION ( 201 ) HEALTH |