Since Breast Implants were introduced in the early 1960’s, and prior to / after that when silicone and other materials were injected directly into women’s breasts, women have lost their lives to Breast Implant Illness and complications. They paid the ultimate price for being unwitting human guinea pigs. 

Some we know the names of, but many women died without ever having known what was wrong with them. Or, as in the case of BETTYE CAROLINE YALLER, being diagnosed too late.

In honour of the women globally who lost their lives because of breast implants and injectable materials we’ve created this annual memorial event on September 25th. This year, 2017, will mark its first observation. The date chosen is the actual death date of BETTYE CAROLINE YALLER, but it’s representative of ALL of our fallen sisters.

Do you know someone that lost their life because of breast implants? To include them in this Memorial Event ‘Remembering Fallen Angels of Breast Implant Illness’ please send the following information via E-mail:

1) Their name
2) Details of their story (even a sentence, or two, will do)
3) Photo (if you have one)

Send to: breastimplantfailure@gmail.com

This blog post is just to get word out. Closer to September 25 we’ll publicize the memorial officially and include more women’s stories, including Bettye Caroline Yaller’s.

The truth of breast implants is buried with women

Event sponsored by: Breast Implant Failure & Illness Society – Canada 

Thank you to all others contributing.

It’s common that women are pressured to get breast implants by a husband or boyfriend. Even when their implants are making them ill some men still pressure their partners to keep their implants. Or, reject them once the implants are removed.

To these men I say, “DON’T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE ASS ON YOUR WAY OUT!”

My husband pressured me to get breast implants and through my own insecurities I caved, though feeling I was being rejected. Me, my breasts and the very essence of who I am was being rejected. He didn’t just want me to get implants, he specifically wanted me to get Kim Basinger’s breasts. I wish I’d told him he should instead get Tommy Lee’s ‘package’.

When I told the plastic surgeon, with my husband present, that my husband wanted him to sculpt my breasts to look like Kim’s he was unphased. Any plastic surgeon with a shred of integrity should have taken that as a ‘red flag’ and asked if *I* really wanted breast implants. I would have said ‘NO’.

Even more troubling is that though I didn’t want them, I caved to the pressure, convinced my breasts that had nursed four babies were deficient in my husband’s eyes. Even though through my own sensibilities I believed there was nothing more beautiful. My breasts had nourished the loves of my life. I saw the pure gold of that, but deferred to the man that lusted for the breasts in Penthouse and Playboy.

I quietly harboured resentment.

When rupture was diagnosed I’d been ill for a very long time – 16 years. I was so angry with my husband when I found out my implants were not only leaking, but silicone had migrated into my chest wall, that I couldn’t even be in the same room with him. I didn’t want to see him, talk to him, or to even know he existed. After a couple weeks of processing the emotion I realized what I’d known all along .. I couldn’t be mad at him without being mad at myself. Yes, he was a shallow buffoon when he suggested I get breast implants, but I was the one that had agreed to get them despite desperately not wanting them. I learned compassion and forgiveness for both of us. We’re still together and have agreed that it’s important to talk about men pressuring their partners to get implants as it is so common. If our experience can help someone else it’s worth it. My husband would never have suggested I get breast implants if he’d known the true dangers of them. Like the rest of us, he believed they were safe.

If someone is trying to convince you to have toxic fake sacs implanted, instead of caving to their pressure I encourage you to look with curiosity at what it is in you .. in your beliefs about yourself .. that could ‘hook’ you into believing you’re not ENOUGH without breast implants. It’s YOU that has to pay the price when things go wrong, and they WILL go wrong at some point. It’s YOUR health that’s on the line.

In the end we all (those negatively impacted by breast implants) wish we’d just LOVED OURSELVES as we were without implants.

** The ‘before’ explant photo is difficult for me to look at because it reminds me how hard, painful and misshapen my breasts were because of Grade IV capsular contracture. They were really flipping cold also. They were actually so cold from the start that I asked the ps on my 6-week follow-up after getting them if the implants were going to freeze. As years went by thick calcification added to the hardness, pain and coldness. Inside my rock hard ‘breasts’ were also multiple silicone-filled granulomas, necrotized tissue, infection, and acute inflammation specific to silicone in breast implants .. and silicone filled lymph nodes and masses. It’s unbelievable that right up until explant doctors here tried to tell me there was nothing wrong with my breasts, and no correlation to health issues. Even after rupture was diagnosed I was told removing the implants was elective because it was inconsequential to my health. It’s simply stunning that doctors doing breast exams didn’t advise me to have the implants removed ASAP! **

** I was painted for my ‘Celebrate Your Breasts Project’ after I was explanted. Everyone that participated was painted with their own personal message. For me, having my implants removed was about returning to myself (I’m a total hippie), thus the paisley 60’s theme. Also I wanted to reflect the lesson of self-love that I’d gotten the hard way, thus ‘my worth is not my breasts’ and ‘beauty is within’. My artist painted pac-man hearts over the silicone-filled lesions in my left breast symbolizing my body destroying the lesions (though that hasn’t happened yet). **

(Nipples covered for the internet)

In my last blog post I used the word ‘abuse’. It’s not something I’ve ever said in regard to the medical care (or lack thereof) that I received prior to rupture being diagnosed. I don’t play the blame-game and I’m surely not a whiner, so I normally avoid such messaging. However, as I wrote the post it felt both appropriate and important to go there.

It actually is abusive when regulating bodies license toxic, high risk devices and plastic surgeons implant women with them yet, when one becomes ill or experiences device failure we’re told the devices can’t possibly be what’s causing our symptoms. Despite breast implants having KNOWN ISSUES – the SAME known issues since they were introduced in the 60’s. Denying undeniable REAL WORLD EVIDENCE is an abuse – truly, a crime against women.

When doctors dismiss red flag, textbook symptoms of device failure and tell women their symptoms are unrelated to their implants when they haven’t even explored the integrity of the implants diagnostically, it’s abusive.

When I reported my adverse events to Health Canada the woman I spoke with in following up my report told me that she, and all of her coworkers that had read my report, were struck by the poor medical ‘care’ I’d received in regard to my implants. There was a glaring failure to diagnose.

For an entire medical team, GP’s and specialists, to miss 16 years of rupture it’s a terrible failure, but to blame my symptoms on psychosomatic illness without offering appropriate diagnostic tests it’s abusive.

When a specialist said he flat-out refuses to send women with breast implants, presenting with symptoms consistent with rupture, for diagnostic tests because he doesn’t want to get involved, that’s abusive. He’s protecting his own interests over his patients.

When doctors tell women THIS is in their head (photo below), it’s abusive.

To qualify and put this in context  – I definitely don’t waste energy on feelings of abusive care, though I surely am still working through being traumatized through my nightmare experience. I choose to focus on helping others and getting the truth of breast implants out, but, it feels important to call a spade a spade, even in one short blog post.

As my health failed to a serious degree, unknowingly with silicone having migrated deeply within my chest wall and lymph system, it coincided with a hot stretch of summer weather. The temperature neared 40 degrees Celsius. I used to love the heat, but it felt nearly unbearable. I felt that if the temperature increased even one or two degrees that it would have taken me beyond the point my body could cope.  

I didn’t know it then, but I had badly ruptured breast implants, with long standing rupture. I had silicone granulomas, infection (bacterial and fungal), acute inflammation, necrotized tissue (I felt the death of the tissue translating to a feeling of impending death in my being), my lungs and digestive tract with silicone and heavy calcification closing in on them, and in fact up to them. I struggled to breathe and my heart rate became rapid, heavy and irregular with the slightest exertion. I felt relentless and unbearable dryness, like I was being mummified from the inside out. I carried a water bottle with me at all times to prevent my airways sticking together. My saliva was so thick I could barely swallow it. 

I sought medical help, but I was told there was nothing physically wrong with me. I felt like I was instantly sent spiralling into the Twilight Zone. To say it was a traumatizing experience is a gross understatement. Where I’d felt hope I would finally find out what was wrong and be helped I was instead left to journey closer toward death. The abuse, misdiagnosis and being mislabelled as suffering from psychosomatic illness continued over the next nearly 4 years. I became aware of the vulnerability of so many within the medical system. Aware that for the most vulnerable, failures would result in needless deaths. 

I became acutely aware of the fine line between life and death based on circumstantial situations. Between survival and catastrophic disaster. Of the fragility and vulnerability of the young, old, and chronically ill populations; and aware that I was now among them. Aware of the risks of being displaced or homeless as at one point when I was sickest I was myself displaced due to environmental mold. Aware of the risks to those falling through the cracks of a failing medical system. 

Where I’d felt strong before, I felt my own perilous vulnerability. I felt overwhelming heartbreak for the vulnerability of all humanity. Globally there are millions of people on the brink of, or succumbing to circumstantial events. For even the strongest an unexpected circumstance can be a tipping point.

I am still traumatized to this day by the experience and if not for women who’d walked this road before me, I would absolutely not be alive now. 

Thank you to all working to spread awareness about the dangers of breast implants. While most of the medical community chooses to protect their financial interests, remaining willfully blind; and regulating bodies protect manufactures while making millions of dollars annually through licensing high risk medical devices, YOU are making a difference. You are saving lives. I know many of you have found yourself among a population at risk through the greed, ignorance and even corruption of those profiting from breast implants. Many of you have lost your health, relationships, jobs, homes, and life-savings and have experienced first-hand the message of this blog post. 

** In honour of the women who have lost their lives because of breast implants we have created a memorial day on September 25th. This year, 2017, will mark its first observation. **

I recently watched a tv documentary on the suffragettes of Newfoundland (circa 1890’s – 1925), chronicling their fight for the right to vote. My thoughts went to key points in history, past and present, where women have fought for their rights and equality. 

In the 60’s women burned their bras as a symbolic gesture. While not many actually burned their bras it became a symbol of women’s equality and independence. 

I’ve posted the photo above previously, but reposting it because I’m struck that we ‘burned our bras’ only to believe that our breasts aren’t good enough. Kind of feels like one step forward and one step back, IMHO. 

I’m saddened that that we feel the need to surgically enhance our breasts, but it angers me to know that women are making the decision to augment with breast implants based on the willful blindness of doctors and regulating bodies regarding breast implant safety – and without FULL DISCLOSURE. 

 We’ve bought into a lie where we are told we can put toxic devices within 2-3 cm of vital organs and not have our health impacted. 

Ironically, while we have toxic chemicals implanted we still read ingredient labels to avoid harmful chemicals; we exercise, and choose ‘healthy’ lifestyles. If we weren’t so invested in the belief we’re not enough the contradiction of the sales pitch that breast implants are safe would be obvious. 

The industry spends millions in a calculated campaign to seduce us into believing that toxic implants are ‘safe’ … and the illusion that we need them. 

True power and value don’t come through fake plastic chemical-filled sacs, or subscribing to an imposed ‘ideal’ of what we supposedly should look like. True power comes through self-love and self-acceptance.

Though it sounds cliché, KNOW you’re amazing just as you are, and don’t let ANYONE tell you differently – especially people profiting at your expense!

I hope we’ll all work toward standing in our true power. I HOPE WE FIND A SAFER, HEALTHIER WAY.

QUALIFYING COMMENT: I don’t judge anyone with breast implants, I once had them myself. I support each woman in their own choice and have great empathy for us all. These are just my personal musings. I didn’t realize my own disconnect with having toxic devices in me whilst pursuing a ‘healthy’ lifestyle until after rupture was diagnosed.

YOU ARE ENOUGH! The Celebrate Your Breasts Project promotes self-love and self-acceptance. It’s the only path to true health and happiness.

** Nipples are covered for the web, but are NOT covered in the actual exhibit **

The Celebrate Your Breasts Project promotes self-love and self-acceptance in ALL stages of life. Women between 19 – 70+ years participated. Breast implants were not allowed given the message of the project.

The project encourages honest dialogue about body image and the pressures women are facing to conform to an unrealistic and unsustainable standard of ‘beauty’. #letstalkbodyimage
 

It’s shocking that there are so many plastic surgeons still telling women that breast implants might last their lifetime. YouTube is filled with them. Even saying implants can last 15 – 20+ years is incredibly irresponsible.

If an implant were to seemingly last that long there needs to be discussion about destructive changes to the chest wall; gel bleed; lymph node involvement; calcification; difficulty safely removing implants; and the multitude of other ways breast implants impact health outside of a shell managing to remain intact.

Often shells that old can appear intact, but actually the shell is degraded and the integrity of the implants compromised.

NOBODY is without consequence when breast implants are in place for that long. NOBODY is without consequence from the instant breast implants are placed within a woman.

Even manufacturers and regulating bodies (FDA / Health Canada) give mixed messaging about how long breast implants last. On their websites listing risks of breast implants they say women ‘might’ need another surgery. There is no ‘might’ about it! Women WILL require another surgery to remove or replace their implants unless they die first.

Frequently women with breast implants that are 30 – 40+ years old are told by their plastic surgeons that there’s no need to remove their implants when they present asking to have them removed. They’re not offered diagnostic testing, or even a breast exam. Their plastic surgeons ask, ‘why would you want to remove them?’

These plastic surgeons need to be called out! If you come across videos with ps’s saying things like this, or if as a patient you’ve experienced being told there’s not need to remove your older implants please contact me with links and stories.

** Qualifying comment: Breast Implants should be banned, IMHO. I believe they are not safe period, nevermind last a lifetime. Women should be FULLY and TRUTHFULLY INFORMED. **

Below: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  He also says rupture is of no consequence. Untrue.

Above: “.. most patients keep their original implants .. for their entire lives.” The incidence of device failure is significantly higher than he claims!

Below: 29 year old silicone breast implants

Below: 20 year old textured saline breast implants

Below: 25 year old silicone breast implants

Above: 34 year old saline breast implants

Below: 27 year old silicone breast implants

Below: 27 year old breast implant – no visible sign of rupture

Below: 25 year old textured breast implants

Below: 31 year old silicone breast implant with tissue growing inside

Below: Scar capsule from 31 year old silicone breast implant

Video featuring Dr Barnett, Sarasotta, Florida speaking to a woman about her breast implants that had been removed.

In an attempt to protect women from their breast implants the body forms scar capsules around them.

Though the capsules are a valiant effort by our immune system, they are NOT an impermeable barrier that unfailingly keeps leaked silicone safely contained.

Dr Barnett: “Blood is constantly being bathed in the little micro-droplets of silicone.”

Every woman I know that’s held their ‘explanted’  breast implants expressed that their eyes, nose, and face burned  from the chemicals in the implants. They describe a terrible smell.

In the video, Dr Barnett comments the silicone was burning her eyes, and says if any silicone fell on the floor, the floor would have to be stripped because silicone can’t be washed off.

Though encased in a silicone shell (which bleeds chemicals), women often end up with this toxic cocktail of chemicals in their lymph nodes, surrounding tissue, and distant places – including vital organs. Even without the presence of rupture. Despite our immune system’s best efforts to protect us.

Breast implants sit within close proximity to lungs.

Dr Barnett says she could see the woman’s lungs moving. The ruptured implants caused respiratory issues so severe doctors wanted to remove part of her lung!

There is NOTHING ‘safe’ about noxious, burning chemicals in a sticky goo that can only be cut out or scraped from the body – especially when it migrates beyond the scar capsules  into the chest wall, lymph nodes, organs and other places it can’t be removed from.

There are too many ill women to pussyfoot around this issue any longer. There is a growing public health crisis. If you’re a doctor telling patients breast implants are safe, I say with the best of intentions: PLEASE WAKE UP! Doctors must begin to FULLY INFORM their patients about the risks associated with breast implants.

Photo above: Comments from a woman holding her silicone breast implants and noting the horrid smell

Above: Scar Capsule

Below: Ruptured breast implant and scar capsule

Below: Ruptured breast implant and scar capsule with calcification

Below: Scar Capsule with breast implant still inside

Below: Scar Capsule with textured teardrop saline breast implant still inside

Below: Scar Capsule

Below: Even when breast implants don’t look awful they bleed harmful chemicals

I want to call attention to one of the early subtle-at-first but, insidious symptoms I had. It’s a typical early warning symptom.

I was really healthy, fit and active. I hiked nearly every day. I didn’t smoke or drink. I ate well. Going for a 4-hour hike was nothing out of the ordinary. But, suddenly on hikes I began to become winded. I had to stop to catch my breath, when I’d never had to do that before. My heart rate would increase as I struggled to breathe. As far as I knew nothing had changed so it was a puzzling onset of symptoms.

Over the next couple years it got worse to the point that I had to stop hiking. If I walked it had to be at a slow pace and I couldn’t go too far from my vehicle in case I got into trouble. I’d walk a small distance in one direction, then double-back toward my vehicle .. I would repeat that as many times as I could, but it got less and less each month.

Fast forward to explant and I discovered that my lungs were surrounded by silicone and acute inflammation; and basically encased in cement as I had such extreme calcification. There were so many nasty things going on in my chest wall .. infections .. granulomas .. necrotised tissue .. and on and on.

All the while ALL OF MY BLOOD TESTS WERE NORMAL! Doctors didn’t believe there was anything wrong with me until many years later when long standing rupture was finally diagnosed.

It was HELL.

So if you have breast implants .. or you know someone with breast implants .. and you’ve noticed even subtle unexplained changes in your respiratory health PLEASE think breast implants!!

Request an ultrasound or MRI to check the integrity of the implants. Though these tests don’t always detect rupture that’s how my rupture was diagnosed.

Listen to your body speak .. I was told my breast implants couldn’t possibly be impacting my health .. it was complete MISINFORMATION that nearly killed me.

Credit: Mixed media art piece by Cara Purita, Terrace, British Columbia, Canada

I just used this photo in a blog post yesterday and it really made me angry seeing it again because though my explant surgeon in Vancouver, British Columbia ‘GOT’ how ill I was once she opened me up local doctors were still CLUELESS. They believed rupture was of no consequence health-wise. And they believed that once my implants were removed ALL of my health complaints should immediately resolve. I had one doctor say to me a few weeks after explant, “well your implants are out now!” Well, my implants were out, but I still had a LOT of silicone in me, including in my lymph system, that COULD NOT BE REMOVED! And my poor immune system which had fought above and beyond the call of duty was too exhausted to function. After 16 years of undiagnosed rupture my life was hanging on by a thread and post-explant the fight to regain my health was not immediately won. Recovering from a systemic breast implant related fungal infection took two years just in itself, never mind the other implant related issues which includes impaired kidney and respiratory function.

I have silicone filled lesions in my left breast and a lot of free silicone outside of the breast area. Silicone was up to my lungs at the time of explant and it couldn’t be removed. I have silicone filled lymph nodes.

It makes me angry that regulating bodies are licensing high risk devices with NO PROTOCOL for diagnosing and treating device failure and resulting health complications. And that we’re left to the ‘care’ of medical doctors that haven’t got a bloody clue about breast implants!