Seeing Your New Breasts For The First Time After Explanting

No matter how confident and secure you are in your relationship or with your body, the thought of getting an explant and going back to a smaller breast size is scary.

“Will I be completely flat?”

“What if I end up deformed or misshaped?”

“What if I have big scars that never go away?”

I’d like to think that I’m a pretty secure woman who is confident and happy with her body, but we all have our moments.

Yes, even Beyonce and J Lo.

In this blog I want to share with you my perspective and give you some things to think about when it comes to your new breasts.

When I decided to explant I knew I’d be small because I have very little breast tissue and my skin is thin, both due to breast feeding my son for four months.

Honestly, I expected to be flat… and I was perfectly ok with that if it meant getting my health and life back.

My health, family, happiness and quality of life are what’s most important to me… not the size of my breasts.

Sometimes we have to make sacrifices and decisions that just don’t seem fair. And this was definitely one of those times.

I had to stop fronting, get really honest with myself and ask: Would you rather have these big breasts that are potentially making you ill and continue to live a mediocre life, or are you ok with having smaller breasts and living a freaking epic life? – you can’t have both.

Not in my case at least.

For me it was an easy decision!

I was willing to lose a physical (foreign) part of myself if it meant the emotional, mental and spiritual side of me would flourish and shine bright again.

And boy has it been!

I was glad to trade my breast implants and have some pretty scars for a brand new life full of unlimited happiness, health, success and adventures.

Ultimately I was done with the days of:

  • laying around, doing the bare minimum each day just to get by.
  • never wanting to do anything with my family because I didn’t have the energy or desire to.
  • watching everyone around me grow their businesses and succeed in life.
  • feeling like I was lazy, when I knew in my heart I am a very driven, ambitious woman.

No regrets. Not a single one.

Smaller breasts do not mean you’re any less of a woman, less worthy of love, less deserving or less attractive. I don’t give a flying flip what society or trolls on the internet try to tell you.

You’re beautiful just as you are. Your breasts do NOT define you.

And you wanna know something crazy? I am a more confident woman standing here before you today than I ever was with my breast implants.

I mean, I got breast implants because I wasn’t confident in the first place. You know?

Not only did I explant because I wanted to feel alive again, I explanted (without hesitation) because I now realize wholeheartedly that confidence does not have anything to do with a body part. Plus I’m a health coach and it felt so out of alignment to be teaching someone how to be healthy when I’m sitting here with two toxic foreign objects implanted inside of my body for the sake of vanity.

I was not being a good example of true health and loving your body as it is. That’s how I felt inside and I hated it. Alignment is everything to me

From my own personal transformation and in my own opinion, confidence stems from taking your power back, setting firm boundaries with everyone close to you, knowing and realizing your worth and falling madly in love with every inch of yourself despite what anyone else says or thinks about you.

What to expect after surgery and some of my best self-love advice

    1. When you first get out surgery you’re going to look down and things are going to look smushed and wrinkly. This is totally normal, don’t worry!

 

    1. How you look on day one is not how you’ll look on month one or  year one. Let your husband know…

 

    1. After your explant you’re going to feel so much better that your new breast size won’t matter at all (at least this is what I’m hoping happens).

 

    1. Be patient with your body. She just went through a serious surgery and is doing the best she can to heal and repair things, while still focusing on all your other bodily functions.

 

    1. I did a Live chat with my good friend Sarah Phillipe last month about self-love… here are our notes. This goes over a ton and are all the things I did to get me to where I am today on my self-love journey.

 

    1. From my own personal experience and after talking to a few women, your breasts after explant will jiggle more. Going over bumps and running are going to feel weird for a couple months. Just something I thought I should mention because it’s weird lol

 

    1. This entire process is an adjustment for your spouse too. At the end of the day he should be supportive and proud of you for taking control of your health. If your breasts are more important to him than your health, he’s not the one for you. I unapologetically feel this way. Being with a man who only cares about your looks is not healthy… I hope you understand this.

 

    1. Showing your husband your new breasts, especially if you had implants before you two met, is going to be uncomfortable at first. “What is he honestly thinking?” But just rock it! Own it. Show him the real you that is happy with her decision and not shaken by the looks of your new breasts (even if you are a little bit). I’m telling you, he’s going to find that quality about you so sexy.

 

    1. I’m the type of person who’s like “look at these and get used to them. I’m proud of myself and happy with my itty bittys… and you’re going to be too, darn it.”  😂 I’ve always made things funny or lighthearted in situations like this. What are you going to do anyways? You can’t change anything. Might as well embrace it.

 

    1. You have two choices – let it affect you and your relationship negatively or just have fun and laugh at it all. I choose to make the best of any situation, even if it’s not a good one to be in. I’m always joking about my small boobies. You’ll still find me looking down and saying “damn, that happened so fast! Where’d they go!?”

 

Knock your husbands socks off and show him that you’re a confident, powerful women and your breast size will not take that away from you or the relationship!

You’re a brave, beautiful woman and I’m so very proud of you!

❤︎ Christina Roulund-Dennis

If you’re on Facebook join my Group, Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education With Christina

Not on Facebook? Find me on Instagram!

Exercising After Explant

So you just explanted – congratulations!

I bet you can’t wait to get back to the gym, lift weights and start losing some weight. Am I right?

Or maybe you’ve been ill and fatigued for so long that exercising had to be put on the back burner altogether.

Either way, this article is going to help you ease back into exercising after explanting.

 

Some of the most common symptoms of Breast Implant Illness include:

  • extreme fatigue
  • poor recovery after exercise
  • inflammation
  • weight gain
  • depression
  • achy joints (especially the hip)
  • muscle weakness
  • dehydration

which make it a challenge to get an effective workout in.

You’re probably going to feel good after you explant, but you want to be sure to not do too much, too soon.

I follow a lot of women’s explant journey online, so I see this kind of thing happen all the time.

They end up feeling so good that they just want to get up and go, go, go. Only to be left feeling completely drained and wiped out by the end of the day.

Slow and steady wins… be patient with your body. You just had a major surgery and went under anesthesia.

For the first two weeks all I did was literally slow laps around my couch for 15 minutes, twice a day.

Be sure you get clearance from your surgeon before you exercise, and go over with him/her about what to expect with post-op recovery to be sure that you stay safe and heal properly.

The thing about exercising after explant is you don’t want to trip and hurt yourself, pop a stitch, pull your muscle or raise your blood pressure too high – which can be serious.

I wouldn’t recommend doing any kind of weight lifting or pulling until you get cleared to. And even then, you want to be sure you’re using very light weights and doing the movements slow and controlled.

I got cleared to start lifting weights at six weeks out.

Here’s what I did.

Because my surgeon made it very clear to not lift anything over head or pull anything down from overhead for a solid five weeks, I started with isolation exercises such as:

  • overhead press with a 5lb plate x20 reps (shoulders)
  • bicep curls with 5lb dumbbells
  • rope pulldowns (triceps)
  • side raises with 5lb dumbbells (shoulders)
  • upright rows with a 20lb curl bar (shoulders & upper back)
  • overhead tricep extension with a 5lb dumbbell

I made sure I went very light and slow, feeling to make sure nothing was pulling or feeling weird.

It took me about 10 – 11 weeks to feel 100% normal, to where it didn’t feel like my right breast muscle was moving and not attached (it’s hard to explain the feeling).

I’m three months out and am finally at a point where my motivation to exercise and get in shape is high because I have energy, strength and I feel fully healed.

Some basic tips to get you started are:

  1. Wait to get permission and clearance from your surgeon. That’s number one.
  2. When you do start walking and exercising again make sure you start off slow, even if you’re an intermediate and expert lifter like me. Lightheadedness and weakness can happen fast, so I’d personally be somewhere where there’s a lot of people around, just in case.
  3. Your body just went through a serious surgery and trauma. Be patient with it. Healing and repairing takes weeks so don’t push it just because you’re feeling good. Ease into it.
  4. When you start lifting weights, keep your reps in the 20-25 range. Nothing heavy or too strenuous for your body. Use it more to get the blood flowing and strengthen your muscles and joints again.
  5. If anything feels “wrong” or painful, stop immediately. You don’t want to take any chances with rips or tears, whether internal or external with your incision.
  6. Thirty minutes, three days a week is a good starting point. Feel how your body recovers and then each couple of weeks add in more frequency (days) and duration (time spent exercising).
  7. Rebounding is fun and also has amazing health benefits!

If you just explanted, are looking to get back into the swing of things and would like some professional guidance – I’m a personal trainer & health and fitness coach. I currently work with women who struggle with binge & emotional eating, but fitness and exercise are still a big part of what I do – professionally and personally.

… Mind… Body… Soul, baby.

I’d be more than happy to create you a custom-tailored four or eight week exercise program. Just let me know.

Do you have any questions?

Comment below or ask them in my Facebook Group, Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education With Christina

Not on Facebook? Find me on Instagram!

here’s to health, rejuvenation and massive self-love,

❤︎ Christina Roulund-Dennis

My Experience With Dr. Dev From Aqua Plastic Surgery

Everything you’re about to read is from my own experience, perspective and in my own opinion. 

 

Before I get into my testimonial, I want to share with you a little back story.

 

I was watching the local news early one evening in mid 2017. They were doing a segment about a few ladies who explanted because they claimed their breast implants made them sick and how much better they started feeling afterwards.

They mentioned Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter, Florida and the word Breast Implant Illness.

 

I was both completely shocked by what I was hearing and also over the moon excited to have finally found my answer.

I knew without a doubt that this was the root of all my issues.

And lucky for me, I had one of the best plastic surgery centers in the United States, Aqua Plastic Surgery, right down the road from me.

That very day my research begun.

The day after the news aired that segment on Breast Implant illness I called Aqua’s explant assistant. I asked them a dozen questions about the symptoms associated with Breast Implant Illness and the explant surgery process.

 

After a week of thinking about it and feeling it all out, I decided “yep, I’m getting these things out!“

Life kinda got in the way and a year passed me by, but in mid June of 2018 it all resurfaced.

I remember it so clearly. I was upstairs doing laundry and a voice said “all of these symptoms you’re experiencing, it’s not normal. You’re too young to be going through what you’re going through. Get the ball rolling and set up your consultation.“

I was experiencing shortness of breath at the time – I’ll never forget it.

So I picked up the phone, called Aqua Plastic Surgery and set up my consultation.

A week later I put down my deposit and locked in my actual date.

“Oh my gosh, I’m really doing this.”

 

My original surgery was going to be on Monday November 26, 2018 (after Thanksgiving) with Dr Rankin, but I did not want to wait four months.

I could feel my anxiety getting worse as I was sitting there waiting. 

Each day I woke up I had a strong pull to just get it done sooner and switch to Dr. Dev, Dr. Rankin’s partner at Aqua Plastic Surgery.

So in good ol’ Christina fashion, I asked the Universe for a sign.

 

On July 26, 2018 I took my dog out for a walk after breakfast and looked up in the sky.

I whispered “If I’m supposed to go with Dr. Dev, show me a deer. I don’t care if it’s in person or on tv, just show me a deer. If I’m supposed to go with Dr. Rankin and just hold off, show me a raccoon. I don’t care if it’s in person or on tv, just show me a raccoon.“

Four days later my son was watching Americas Funniest Home Videos in our bed and there it was… the deer.

The date was Monday July 30, 2018. Four days later.

“Okay, I guess I’m supposed to go with Dr. Dev“, I said. 

I already had my consultation scheduled with him for that Friday August 3, 2018, so I felt relieved.

20 minutes after I saw the deer on tv, I see this in Aqua Plastic Surgery’s Instagram Story – “we have an opening on our surgical schedule this week for Dr. Dev. Patient did not get clearance. If you are ready to go, please call Beatrice.”

I keep the screen shot of it in my phone because nothing like this has ever happened before in my life. I mean, come on Universe!

I got the sign and opportunity for me to take action all within 20 minutes. 

It all happened so fast.

At this point, I still haven’t met Dr. Dev but I knew I was supposed to go with him.

 

I woke John up and said “honey, Dr. Dev has a surgical opening this Thursday. I can get my explant done this week!”

After going back and forth with both John and Beatrice for an hour, I made the decision to go ahead and schedule my explant surgery sooner with Dr. Dev.

I went from being four months out with Dr. Rankin to now four days out with Dr. Dev.

Talk about “holy shit, what do I need to do to prepare?“

That Monday afternoon I drove to Jupiter and had my pre-op done, signed all the necessary paper work, met Dr. Dev for the first time and was now preparing for a major surgery within a few days.

 

Which leads me to my experience with Dr Dev (and the entire team).

 

The day I met Dev I knew he was the right surgeon for me. 

He is warm, personable, takes his time answering questions and has a light-hearted, compassionate spirit about him.

I felt at total ease with my decision and confident in his ability.

Besides his personality and awesome energy, he does exactly the same thing Rankin does – en Bloc, total capsulectomy, Nerve Bloc, the wrap around tissue lift/technique, muscle repair (if needed) and axillary scar release and axillary lymph node internal/external manual palpating and biopsies (if needed).  

When I was going back and forth in my head trying to figure out who I should go with, I kept thinking, “Dr. Dev can do the same thing Dr. Rankin can, so why wait? Get it over with. Get four months of your life back. Rankin wouldn’t have Dev as a partner if he didn’t like his aesthetic work.“

I can’t say enough nice things about the entire process.

Everyone from Dr. Dev, the girls at the front desk, my nurses and anesthesiologist – everyone was amazing!

It’s all about the team, just as much as the surgeon.

I love my results, too!

I anticipated to be flat because I have thin skin and little breast tissue, but I’m not.

Are they small? Yes!

Do I care? NO!

After my surgery I had a couple of minor hiccups and Dr. Dev was always very responsive to my texts.

I definitely give 5 stars!

  • The process (on such a short notice) was executed flawlessly.
  • Dr. Dev has good bedside manners, is warm, qualified and has everything he needs to do a proper, safe explant.
  • The entire staff is friendly.
  • Post-op care and communication is top notch.

If you’re considering Dr. Dev for your explant surgery, I highly recommend him and the Miami location.

He is the best money can buy, in my opinion. 

 

For more information about Dr Dev meet him here.

 

I myself have a Facebook Group, Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education with Christina.

This is a place where I:

  • educate women about Breast Implant Illness and the explanting process
  • bring on guest experts in the natural health and self-love niche and surgeons (Dr Dev did a 75 minute Live with me – it’s incredible!)
  • host monthly giveaways
  • answer your pressing questions and offer guidance both pre and post op

 

If you have any questions for me about my journey or Dr Dev please comment below or ask me in the Facebook Group.

Not on Facebook? Find me on Instagram!

 

here’s to renewed health, rejuvenation and massive self-love,

 ❤︎ Christina Roulund-Dennis

Your Implants Don’t Have To Be Leaking For You To Get Sick

Patient: “I want to remove my breast implants, I think they’re making me ill.“

Surgeon: “You’re implants aren’t ruptured or leaking, you’ve only had them for _ years, you shouldn’t be sick. Just replace them.”

I hear about this every. single. day. day. after. day.

 

 

How did my implants look when I explanted?

I’m so glad you asked.

They looked pristine, perfectly intact, just as pretty and new as the day I put them in 12 years ago.

No leaks. No ruptures. Nothing abnormal.

They made me sick, though.

 

  • *brain fog
  • *hard time concentrating
  • *forgetfulness
  • *moodiness
  • *extreme fatigue
  • anxiety and depression bouts
  • *low libido (my poor husband)
  • swollen lymph node in my armpit
  • *blurry vision
  • *eye floaters
  • *ringing in my ears
  • shortness of breath
  • gasping for air
  • *always freezing, especially my extremities
  • *achy, stiff hip every morning
  • *excessive hair loss
  • *dry skin, hair and eyes
  • viral reoccurrences (EBV)
  • *slightly hyperthyroid
  • *whacked adrenals
  • *whacked hormones (especially cortisol)
  • *whacked endocrine system

*I had these daily for years.

 

Since my explant on August 2, 2018, do you want to know how many symptoms are completely gone?

All of them except for shortness of breath and gasping for air. This one still comes and goes but is less frequent.

As far as the bottom five bullet points, I’m going to need to get followup blood work taken to check on them, but I’m going to bet they’re much better just by the way I’ve been feeling and sleeping.

 

If you’re not familiar with me and my experience with breast implants, here’s a super brief rundown. I promise.

I started feeling rundown in 2011, five years after I had my breast augmentation. I was only 28 at this time and felt like my body was falling apart.

For the last seven years I’ve been getting worse, with more symptoms showing up each year and the symptoms from the previous years getting worse.

Here’s the thing…

Since I was 15 years old I’ve been studying nutrition, fitness and all things health.

When I was 23 I took nutrition and dietetics classes in college.

At the age of 25 I become a certified personal trainer.

In 2011 I began doing online health and fitness coaching for women.

I’m a healthy person. I know what to do to take very good care of my body. Yet, I was starting to fall apart.

It seriously scared the ba’jezus out of me!

In October 2014, when a lymph node in my armpit started to get swollen and tender each month, THIS is when I KNEW something was seriously wrong with my body.

In 2015 I saw doctors, had ultrasounds, blood work taken and a mammogram. Nothing abnormal ever popped up.

It was around this time that I began eating more alkaline foods, doing detoxes of all sorts, reading everything published by Chris Wark (Chris Beat Cancer) and Ty Bollinger (The Truth About Cancer) and started removing everything toxic from my household. I completely switched out all of my hygiene products and cleaning products, threw away anything plastic, bought a new shower curtain, threw out all my fragrance- filled hormone disrupting candles and bought soy ones – I went above and beyond to try and figure it out.

 

Little did I know that it had NOTHING to do with my external environment and EVERYTHING to do with my internal environment.

My breast implants.

It took me six years to discover Breast Implant Illness.

Six years of researching like a mad woman, “living” with uncertainty about the health of my future, feeling like zombie from the moment I woke up and never wanting to do anything, to wondering what the hell was wrong with me and my body.

Not. Any. More.

I’mmmmmmm back to my young, vibrant self!

 

And nothing has changed in my diet over the last eight weeks either. I’m doing the exact same things I was two months ago.

The only thing that changed is my surgeon removed two massive foreign objects, that were perfectly intact, from my body.

They weren’t leaking or ruptured, ladies… but they were slowly poisoning me.

Is it a coincidence that after I removed them I got better? I think not.

 

If you’re experiencing symptoms of Breast Implant Illness, and you want your breast implants removed, but a surgeon is telling you to keep them in or to just replace them… run.

I always tell women, “don’t walk in and ask a surgeon what they think you should do or what they think is best for you… tell them that you want your implants out because you think they’re making you sick and you want to explant as soon as possible. And plus, besides the fact, they were never meant to be inside my body in the first place.“

My surgeons office does more explants each week (by far) than they do breast augmentations. This speaks volumes to me.

 

Nobody can look me in the eyes and tell me “if your breast implants aren’t leaking or ruptured, you are fine, healthy and perfectly safe.”

From my own personal experience with Breast Implant Illness, it’s NOT true.

And for the other 100,000+ women who explanted and got better, it’s not true for them either.

🤔it’s not all in your head

😤you’re not just stressed out

👵🏼you’re not just getting older

😩you’re not just a tired new mom

👎🏼these things don’t just run in your family

Breast Implant Illness, as it’s called, is a real thing. And you can get it… even if your implants aren’t ruptured or leaking. 👋🏼 🎤

 

Join my Facebook Group, Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation And Education With Christina

Not on Facebook? You can find me on Instagram!

 

here’s to newfound health, rejuvenation and massive self-love,

♥️ Christina Dennis

Explant Surgery Post Op Care

I don’t know about you, but something I need (especially when I’m doing something like having surgery) is peace of mind.

I need to know how things work, what the process is, what I can expect afterwards, and so on. You too?!

This is why I put this together for you, because I know I’m not alone.

Before you read on I need to mention some really important things. 

  • Be sure to always take the advice of your surgeon over anything you hear or see online.
  • Your surgeon should provide you with Post-Op Care Instructions – be sure to follow his/her instructions.
  • This article is not intended to go against what your surgeon tells you to do.
  • Your surgeon should address all these with you. Each surgeon has his/her own protocol and ways they like to handle things. Definitely run all of these question by your surgeon and take their advice.
  • This article is intended to give you a general idea of what to expect post-op. 

 

Below you’ll find the most common questions women ask about post explant surgery care.

 

When can I lift light things, like my baby? Typically one to four weeks

You’ll want to wait a week, at the very least. I was told to not lift anything heavy for four weeks. I could hold plates and cups, but I couldn’t grab anything from overhead or push anything up above my head. For example, grabbing something down from a cupboard or lifting something up to put in the cupboard was a big no-no for me.

 

How long do I need a care giver? Typically two – 14 days

This is going to depend on how much pain you’re in, what kind of prescription drugs you’re on and how they’re affecting you, and how your house is laid out (lots of stairs, large sq. ft., etc.) . You’ll need someone there to help you wash your hair for the first time, for sure. I had to have someone help me up off the couch every time – or it took me a couple minutes because I didn’t want to use my arms. It was nice to be able to lay around, have someone cook for me and have them get up every time I needed a drink, snack or my pills – which seemed like every hour or two.

 

How long do you think I’ll need to take off work? Typically one to two weeks

This all depends on your pain level. If you work somewhere where you have to lift things, I’d say take off a solid two weeks if you can. I’ve seen some women go back in a week and some in two to three weeks – depending on if they got a lift or not. If you get paid time off, take two weeks off. If you’re not getting paid, just play it by ear. Every BODY is different. I think you’ll be able to tell by day five post-op what to do. When you do go back to work, take it slow and ease back into it. NO heavy lifting.

 

When can I start driving again? Typically in three days to one week

I started driving by myself I think after two weeks. You’ll want to take turns very slow – trust me. Be extra careful and cautious… especially of speed bumps, dips and sewer caps in the road. This is just me, but I wouldn’t go too far for a few weeks either or while you have your drains in.


When is it safe to put my arms above my head? Typically in one to two weeks

I had to wait a full week. Even so, I lifted them up slow and was very careful. The only times you’ll really be lifting your arms up overhead is to change your top and shampoo/comb your hair.


When can I wash my own hair? Typically in three days to a week

I’ve heard surgeons say “in three days” and others say “in a week”.


When can I sleep on my side? Typically in four to six weeks

I’m a side sleeper, but for the first month I literally laid on my couch on my back. At my four week check up my surgeon Dr Dev said it was safe to lay on my side.


When can I wear a normal bra or sports bra? Typically in two weeks to six months

After two weeks I was able to put on a sports bra. The surgical bra I had was so uncomfortable for me because it kept digging into my cleavage area (which is nothing but skin and bone) and riding up, bothering my incisions. My surgeon said I could switch to a comfortable sports bra as long as the elastic band didn’t compress my incisions and nothing pushed down on my breasts themselves. I’ve heard some surgeons say “two weeks” and others “six months”. You definitely do not want to wear an underwire bra – ever.


How long do the drains stay in? Typically in one to three weeks

This all depends on how much fluid is coming out. I had to wait until my drains were at or below 20cc for 24 hours before I could get them removed. I was able to get them out on day seven. I’ve seen some women get them out in three days and some in three weeks. Again, it all depends on your body. Things like scar tissue, tissue trauma or forceful dissection can prolong drain use. Some surgeons don’t even do drains, so there’s that too.


When can I exercise and lift weights? Typically in four to six weeks

I got cleared to exercise with light weights at four weeks out. This will depend on how well you’re recovering and if you got a lift.


When is it safe to take a bath and swim? Typically in six to eight weeks

I got cleared to swim and take a bath at five weeks out.


When can I expose my scars to the sun? Typically in six to eight weeks

I’m almost eight weeks out and I don’t want to expose them to the sun just yet because I want my scars (which are still pink) to heal more.


How long do the sutures take to dissolve completely? Typically in eight to 12 weeks


What is the best thing to put on my incisions to help minimize my scars?

I use coconut oil – that’s it. After four weeks I started adding in some frankincense essential oil and lavender essential oil to it to help with healing and skin health. I’ve also heard of women using CBD oil and vitamin E.


When do I start detoxing? After a month

Detoxing is such a hot topic amongst women who just explanted. I personally would wait four weeks and then start introducing things like vitamins and herbs. 

The months leading up to your explant I would focus more on:

  • eating good (reducing inflammatory foods)
  • reducing stress
  • exercising (if you’re not too tired)
  • getting rest
  • boosting up your immune system

 

Every BODY is different, heals differently and recovers differently. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not cleared as fast as you would’ve liked to have been.

Be patient with your body – it’s been through a lot 😌

 

Do you still have a question? Let me know either by commenting below or asking me on social media!

Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education By Christina Facebook Group

Not on Facebook? JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM! 

 

here’s to newfound health, rejuvenations and massive self-love,

Christina Dennis

Pre-Explant Preparation and Post-Explant Detox

I receive a lot of questions each week in regards to the best ways to detox pre and post explant.

 

Detoxing is a must, but in my opinion should be held off until post-explant. Explanting alone will be a huge detox in and of itself – am I right? I’ve found that being patient and detoxing in phases is the best way to ensure that you don’t bombard your body with too much at once.

 

PRE-EXPLANT should be mainly focused on building up your immune system and preparing your body (mentally, emotionally and physically) for surgery.

 

You can do this simply by:

 

  • eating healthy, reducing inflammatory foods like dairy, wheat and sugar
  • increasing collagen production with bone broth and collagen supplements
  • reduce caffeine intake to under 200mg daily. This will help your adrenals after surgery.
  • taking 5,000-10,000mg of Vitamin C
  • taking a probiotic (heals the gut, immune health – especially if you’ve been on antibiotics)
  • reducing emotional and mental stress as much as possible through meditation, sound therapy, EFT and visualization
  • exercising lightly
  • sweating
  • grounding/earthing
  • sit in a red infrared sauna for 10 minutes
  • dry brush as soon as you wake up and again before you shower
  • rebound on a trampoline for 5 minutes twice daily
  • incorporate essential oils like lemon (healing/detox), frankincense (pretty much everything), lavender (relaxation) and peppermint (energy)

 

4-6 WEEKS POST-EXPLANT is a time to start introducing detoxification, cleansing and healing foods and supplements such as:

 

– Spirulina & Chlorella have been shown to help detox heavy metals
– Milk Thistle is great for the liver
– Amala is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and prevents the toxic effects of heavy metals and pharmaceutical drugs
– Glutathione is the mother of all antioxidants
– Triphala helps aid in detoxification and improves gut health
– Burdock Root cleanses the blood and lymphatic system
– Activated Charcoal is very important because it attracts the toxins, binds to them and pulls them out of the body

 

– Robert Morse is someone a vast majority of women in the BII community swear by, trust and follow post-explant. I highly recommend going to YouTube and listening to his lectures and consider his protocol.
– Turmeric is great for inflammation
– Parsley & Cilantro (fresh or in essential oil form) helps to pull heavy metals out of the body
– Organic green apple & carrot juice mixed together (cancer patients following Gerson Therapy drink this blend. It’s supposedly amazing for pulling heavy metals out)
– Celery juice, by itself, not mixed with any other fruits and vegetables
– Lemons are high in vitamin C, good for the immune system and alkalizes the body
– Pineapple contains bromine which helps with healing (raw and juice)
– Bone broth (soup or powder form)
– Dandelion Tea  helps cleans the kidneys
– Lots & lots of water

 

*continue with the following Post-Explant for at least a year:

 

– eat healthy by reducing inflammatory foods like dairy, wheat and sugar
– reduce your caffeine intake to under 200mg daily. This will help your adrenals after surgery.
– take 5,000-10,000mg of Vitamin C, probiotics, greens powder daily
– reduce emotional and mental stress as much as possible through meditation, sound therapy, EFT and visualization
– exercise lightly
– ground/earthing
– dry brush as soon as you wake up and again before you shower
– incorporate essential oils like lemon (healing/detox), frankincense (pretty much helps with everything), lavender (relaxation) and peppermint (energy)

 

*IMPORTANT: discontinue sweating, the infrared sauna and rebounding for 8 weeks or until you get cleared from your doctor or surgeon

 

It’s encouraged that you to do your own research on every supplement or technique mentioned above in this article to see if they interfere with any medications you’re on or current health issues you are experiencing. Take your time to learn about their health benefits, possible side effects, drug interferences and recommended dosages before starting anything new. The supplement brands that are highlighted above are the exact brands that I use. I make a very small percentage when you make a purchase through the link. I would never recommend anything that I myself have never done extensive research on and never used. Everything recommended above is exactly what I take, recommend, love, trust and have seen and felt results with.

 

Join my Breast Implant Illness Education and Rejuvenation Facebook Group dedicated to helping you pre and post explant and on your journey from breast implant illness to healing & self-love ♥️
– Christina

Six Weird Symptoms I Experienced Immediately After I Explanted

If you’re anything like me (and you haven’t explanted yet) you probably read everyones story after they explanted, fascinated by how good they feel and look immediately after surgery.

Hearing these stories is what kept me hopeful during the long, anxious wait.

I used to live vicariously through everyones posts, thinking “What!? I hope that happens to me after I explant!”

 

And while a lot of the common symptoms, like my achy joints, shortness of breath and swollen lymphnodes all disappeared, some weird ones showed up immediately following my surgery that I did not expect.

 

  • Within the first two hours after I explanted it was like my skin, face and hair was drowning in its own oil. My skin, face and hair used to be so dry and dehydrated no matter how much water I drank or how much moisturizer I slathered onto it. I remember going to a spa in mid-2017 to get a facial and the aesthetician said “you have beautiful skin, it’s just a little dehydrated, that’s why you have so many fine lines. If you up your water intake that should help some“. I thought “that’s odd, I drink soooo much water“. Since explanting my skin/face is SO oily, shiny and vibrant.

 

  • The first two days after I explanted my eyes were burning and watering like crazy. I thought this was so weird. I have only heard about this happening to one other person after she explanted. Every since my surgery on 8/2/18 my eyes are a lot less dry and blurry, so maybe that’s just what it did to help restore my eyes and vision.

 

  • Since early 2018, out of the blue, my left nostril started to get really crusty while I was sleeping. I would wake up in the morning with my left nostril 80% blocked with crusty, bloody, hard boogers. I began wondering if we had mold in our house or if something was going on with my brain and dripping out of my nose (anxiety-filled and anxious people tend to think nonsense🙃). I experienced this, I’d say, for a solid three months before I explanted, every… single… morning. Since the day of my explant it’s been gone. Like 100% gone, no boogers, nothing. So strange, right?

 

  • My nipples were very sensitive! Just my top rubbing against them was driving me nuts. I did get a lift and there was scar tissue wrapped around the main nerve that provides sensation to my left nipple… Some people lose sensation, and some like me got extra heightened sensation. This began at like the 7 day mark and lasted about three weeks.

 

  • I stunk! I believe this was from all the toxins, but man… be prepared to possibly stink for the first few days. Make sure you have plenty of deoderant 🙂 This was immediately and still from time to time it happens. The detox process takes up to a year- be patient.

 

  • Since October 2014 a lympnode in my armpit would get tender and swollen. At first it was sporadic, happening here and there, lasting for a week or two months. Over the course of these last four years it started showing more of a pattern, always getting tender and swollen two weeks before my period and then going away as soon as I got my period. During the first two weeks after I explanted I had a couple more lympnodes in my armpit get tender. I’ve spoke to quite a few women and they said the same thing – they too had lympnodes react to all the crap that was now floating around in our system post-explant. This is actually a good thing. Lymphnodes are supposed to trap and collect harmful debris that is floating around in our body. I took this as a sign that my body was just doing its job.

 

Something else that I want to mention that happened to me was I broke out in rashes immediately after my explant. This is not common at all and very rare. We still don’t know exactly what caused the red, extremely itchy rashes but if we had to guess it was either a reaction to the anesthesia or my lymphatic system was dumping toxins. All of my rashes were in lymphatic areas (my leg creases behind my knees, upper thigh below my glute, left elbow crease and armpits) from what I understand – but who really knows.

The body is fascinating! 

It’s amazing how quickly your body will begin healing as soon as it’s given the opportunity to stop fighting the two large foreign invaders and start focusing on more important things – like strengthening your immune and endocrine system, balancing your hormones and thyroid and healing your adrenals.

Your body IS on your side, although it may not feel that way pre-explant.

Don’t be worried about what you might look like or “what if none of my symptoms go away?” Regardless of anything, they aren’t supposed to be in our body. They need to come out. Since day one your immune system has been fighting these things.

Show your body some love ♥️

Learn to love and embrace your body at all sizes and shapes it takes on over the decades.

Join my online community! 

Breast Implant Illness Rejuvention And Education By Christina

Size Happy With Christina on Instagram

What Happened During The First Month After I Explanted

Today I’m exactly five weeks post explant. It’s September 6, 2018.

AND I’M FEELING AH-MAY-ZING!

In November 2006 (at the age of 23) I had a breast augmentation, implanting 420 cc silicone implants under my muscle. But we’re not here to talk about that…

Today I want to share with you everything that has changed for me – physically, mentally and emotionally since I explanted 35 short days ago – and what is possibly possible for you too.

Before I get into it , I do want to say:

  • everyones healing journey is going to look and feel different
  • what happened to me post-explant may or may not happen to you
  • if you read something I took or I did, please check with your surgeon and doctor first to get cleared

 

Good. Now that that’s off my chest (haha, get it), I’m so excited to share with you what I’ve experienced so far.

Alright, where should I start 🤔…

Let me start off by saying that the morning of my explant surgery I was so calm. I was so excited and ready to turn the page of this final chapter and begin an entirely new chapter – one filled with an abundance of energy, clarity, confidence and most importantly h.e.a.l.t.h.

I completely trusted my surgeon Dr. Dev and was in the best hands money can buy. I trusted that this procedure absolutely had to be done, so no matter what happened, it’s out of my control and for the best. As much as I don’t want to die, my faith is so strong when it comes to times like this.

Leading up to my explant I was SO anxious. Not nervous or terrified, just anxious to get these things out of me. Every day that passed me by I swear I was getting worse. And like what I preach, “what you focus on you attract more of“.

On July 3rd, 2018 I originally scheduled my explant for November 26th with Dr. Devs’ partner, Dr Rankin, but did not want to wait four months. It’s such a crazy story what happened (I’ll write about it – it’s seriously so cool and nuts), but basically on Monday July 30th Aqua Plastic Surgery posted on their Instagram Story “Dr. Dev has a surgical opening this Thursday, August 2nd, if anyone wants it“.

I jumped on that ish!

 

I’m getting off topic (no, not me)… alright, here’s what I’ve experienced five weeks post-explant.

As soon as I woke up I felt relieved. “Oh my gosh, it’s over, I did it!”

My implants were sitting right in front of me on the counter in a container – something my surgeon does to 1. help you remember where you are and what happened to you as you come back to Earth, and 2. so that you can see they’re out. I like this touch.

I did not feel any pain (I did get Nerve Bloc), I was just super groggy/out of it.

But I could BREATHE. DEEP. This was the very first thing I noticed. I haven’t been able to take a full, deep breath like this in almost 12 years.

 

So at this point I’m groggy, not in pain, and I can breathe deep.

After waking up at home from a nap a few hours after surgery I had rashes in both of my knee creases, my left elbow crease and a huge one on my upper back thigh under my glute. They were warm, red and itchy. Those went away in two days, but what came after that was worse. On day three I developed extremely red, itchy rashes under my armpits (I shared photos on social media if you can find them and in my Breast Implant Illness Group ). I also had weird splotches on my neck and stomach too. To this day we still have no idea what caused this. It could’ve been from the anesthesia, antibiotics or my lymphatic system dumping toxins.

Honestly, the rashes drove me NUTS! I have never experienced such itchiness in my life.

The pain from my explant was nothing… the rashes hell.

 

Oh, and I also got my period the day of my surgery, so it was a triple whammy – grogginess from the anesthesia, rashes and my period. I was a bundle of joy for a few days, let me tell you 😂

 

I only took Extra Strength Tylenol on Thursday (my surgery day), Friday and Saturday night. That’s it. It honestly wasn’t bad.

 

The day of my surgery it’s like my pores were drowning in oil. My skin was so greasy and shiny… it was crazy. I felt like I was in High School again. My complexion also changed. My skin didn’t look so dull and colorless. It’s finally smooth looking, hydrated and pink.

 

Something else I noticed within the first few days was that my hip joint ache and stiffness, something that I’ve been dealing with daily since early 2017 was GONE. Not better… gone. And it’s been gone for five weeks now.

 

I also haven’t gasped for air or had any shortness of breath, something I also was experiencing almost daily since early 2017, since my explant.

 

My nipples were really sensitive for the first three weeks, but are completely back to normal 🙂

 

The amount of hair that I’m NOT losing in the shower anymore is what’s really exciting me. I started losing clumps of hair in late 2014. So much that I often wondered “seriously, how am I not bald?” I’ve been (weirdly) saving the hair I’ve been losing in the shower since my explant. What I’ve gathered is that the amount of hair in total that I’m losing in FOUR showers now is the same amount that I used to lose in ONE shower. I hope that makes sense. Basically, I’m losing substantially a lot LESS hair. The amount of hair I used to lose in one shower I’m now losing in a weeks worth of showers.

 

My energy is through the roof! It’s 9:56pm right now… and I’m writing this. What!? Just two months ago I would’ve already been in bed exhausted from the day. Today I went to the gym (literally got cleared today lol), home schooled my son and did stuff around the house… and I’m up writing. So crazy. This would’ve never been the case over the last seven years when my extreme fatigue began.

 

I feel more with it in the head. I don’t feel like I’m walking in a cloud, slow in the head or spacey. My brain fog has definitely lifted. I mean, again, I’m up writing this at 10pm – because I’m finally thinking clearly and alert.

 

My libido is back. I actually want to have sex again. And I am. 

 

The ringing in my ears is unnoticeable… especially at night time when it was loud, because things were quiet.

 

I have not been wearing my glasses nearly as much because my eyes don’t feel as dry or blurry. My vision started declining a lot over the last year (when my achy hip joint and shortness of breath/gasping started too).

 

And lastly, if you’ve been following me for a few years you’ll know that the lymphnode in my right armpit was a major issue (and scare) for me since October 2014. This was the first symptom, actually, that I knew something very wrong was going on in my body. Each month, two weeks before my period, it gets tender and swollen. So for two weeks it’ll pop up. I’ll get my period and then like two to three days into my period it goes away. It’ll be gone for about two weeks and then return again. Four years I’ve been dealing with this! Well guess what? Last month it never got tender or swollen. I swear to God, I hope this never returns. Come to find out, there was a ton of scar tissue wrapped around my lymphnode that was carefully released and removed. Time will tell, but I’m reeeeally hoping removing the scar tissue fixed this problem.

 

As far as my anxiety/depression bouts, whacked adrenals and whacked hormones, time will tell. But I do feel like things are definitely moving in the right direction. I talked about all my symptoms more in depth in another blog post. 

 

I was lucky (and feel very fortunate) to never have experienced heart palpitations, digestive issues/food intolerances, vertigo, numbness and tingling in my arms and breasts, weight gain, sensitive to light and sound, night sweats, fibromyalgia symptoms, headaches, candida/yeast infections, insomnia and reoccurring illness like so many others.

There is hope for you.

I know you’re probably worried that “what if it’s not from my implants, though?“, to that I’d say “regardless, implants are not supposed to be inside of you, sweetheart. They have to come out. Your immune system needs your help and this is the right thing to do.”

You’re going to be so amazed at how good you feel in just one month. I remember reading so many women’s stories up until my explant wishing and praying I would feel like them. And I do.

 

As of today, September 6th, 2018, I got cleared to exercise, swim, take a bath and go braless.

Life is good my friend.

All in all, I’m happy. I feel amazing. No regrets.

your breastie,

Christina

My Breast Implant Illness Education and Rejuvenation Facebook Group – lets stay connected!

Not on Facebook? JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM!

The Ugly Truth About Breast Implants

Today marks four weeks since I removed my silicone breast implants. I have so much that I want to update you on, but before I do…

 

let me start from the very beginning.

 

I was 23 in 2006. For four years I wanted to get breast implants. I honestly thought they’d make me happier, more confident and more attractive.

 

At this time in my life, from an outsider perspective, I was happy and confident. But inside I was insecure, scared, lost and unfulfilled in pretty much every area of my life.

 

  • I was waitressing, working late nights and going to college.
  • I was basically just making enough money to pay the bills and go on a Ross “shopping spree” once every six months.
  • My parents got divorced five years prior leaving my mom mentally ill and my relationship with my dad… well, there was barely a relationship with my dad.
  • I was dating guys, depending on them to make me happy and make me feel pretty. Two things I now realize are up to me to decide.
  • Around this time is when my binge-eating disorder started.

I was a mess. I hid it well, though.

So in November 2006 I decided to go ahead and have the procedure to get implants.

This is when everything changed.

But not right away… over the course of years.

Even with my implants, I was still:

  • insecure in my body
  • picking my body apart in the mirror
  • constantly comparing myself to other women
  • dieting, binging and over exercising to “fix” my body

They did nothing to make me feel whole or confident. Nothing.

In 2007 I was 25 and a newly certified Personal Trainer through NASM. I was heavily into fitness – obsessed really. I was also an aspiring fitness competitor. And do you know what 99% of fitness competitors have? You guessed it – implants.

Fast forward a few years, in March of 2010 I met John and in July of 2011 we had Connor… this is when things slowly started to go downhill.

I chalked up the extreme fatigue, moodiness/hormonal, low libido and brain fog to just having a baby, being a new stay at home mom and a bored house wife who’s copped up in an 800 sq. ft apartment all day with a newborn.

I can’t even tell you how many arguments John & I got into because I was too tired to go anywhere, I was too tired for sex, I was being a cranky b%*@# and I was forgetting everything. It’s a miracle we’re still together.

In September of 2014 I competed in a fitness competition – my second one in a year.

This is when things started to go downhill, FAST.

The next month, October 2014, I had a lymphnode in my right armpit get extremely tender and swollen. At first I thought I pulled something in the gym, but one night I noticed in the bathroom that it was in my armpit. When I stretched the skin, you could actually see what looked like a small olive in my armpit. Kinda between my armpit and right breast. I freaked!

I went to my gyno that week to show her. She felt it (ouch) and said something along the lines of “it feels like a lympnode, if it goes away and then comes back then go see a doctor“. She didn’t seem alarmed or concerned at all about it so I didn’t either.

About a week later it went away. Sigh of relief. But not for long.

The next month, December 2014, it returned. I really started to freak out.

This is when I began researching everything I could about lymphnodes and the lymphatic system. Something had to be reacting to my lymphnode. Lymphnodes don’t just flare up for no reason. 

This is also the time when my extreme anxiety/depression bouts and massive hair loss began, and all my other symptoms (extreme fatigue, hormonal/moodiness and brain fog) started accelerating. 

I was waking up with so much anxiety and a sick stomach every morning that I’d have to go for a walk around the block and sip on ginger tea as soon as I woke up to calm my body down. Something I’ve NEVER experienced before.

I remember my anxiety and depression was so bad that on December 31st 2014, as we were out celebrating the new year, I thought to myself “this is going to be the last time I celebrate a new year.”

I felt like I was literally dying. Like something was killing me.

I even thought I might have cancer – lymphoma &/or breast cancer because I found lumps in my right breast in January 2015 (that’s an entirely different story) and where my passion for detoxing, toxins and holistic health sparked.

I was losing sooooo much hair in the shower and in my brush that it startled the crap out of me. How am I not bald?

In 2015 I was given antibiotics, antiviral medicine and anxiety pills like it was candy. Nobody ever thought to ask me if I had foreign objects in my body. And I was told “they’re safe” back in 2006 so I never even thought to consider them.

The antibiotics and antiviral medication did absolutely nothing for my lympnode. Each month it returned. Some months it’d stay for two weeks, some months it’d stay for the entire month. I have been dealing with this issue since 2014 – for four years!

2015 was by far the worst year of my life.

  • *brain fog/memory/concentration issues
  • *extreme fatigue (even though I slept for 10 hours)
  • anxiety/depression bouts
  • *hair loss/dry thinning hair
  • *low/no libido
  • *tender lympnode in my armpit
  • *vision declining/blurry vision
  • *whacked hormones/moodiness
  • cancer scare
  • lumps found in my breast

*consistently dealing with this each day/every month

Over the course of  the following years I learned how to live with these symptoms. They became apart of me. I forgot what the old me, the real me, felt like or who she was.

In early 2017 a few more symptoms showed up:

  • shortness of breath/gasping for air
  • ringing in my ears
  • achy, stiff hip joint
  • hyperthyroid diagnosis 

12 symptoms now at this point.

Lucky for me, 2017 is the year I discovered BREAST IMPLANT ILLNESS.

What in the world? Tens of thousands of other women who have my EXACT same story and symptoms. Oh-Em-Gee.

This was both scary as crap and exciting!

I found the root cause.

So here we are, August 30th 2018 and I’m four weeks post EXPLANT.

I want to share with you what’s changed and also a message.

Since my explant:

  • my stiff, achy hip joint pain is 100% gone. I used to wake up so stiff – not anymore.
  • my shortness of breath is 100% gone. I have not gasped for air once!
  • my skin and hair are so oily and healthy looking (one of the first noticeable things to return).
  • I’m not losing much hair in the shower at all.
  • my lymphnode has not flared up. By this time of month it would have already. I had scar tissue wrapped around it – something my surgeons never seen before.
  • I have soooo much more energy and I wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go.
  • my brain fog has lifted. I feel like I’m not walking in a cloud anymore.
  • my libido is baaaaaack.
  • I haven’t worn my glasses. My eyes feel less dry and blurry.
  • I don’t hear loud ringing in my ears at night anymore.

Being able to move without pain, inhale a deep satisfied breath, make it through the day without feeling tired, see and think more clearly, and watch my hair and skin produce oils again has been life changing. I’m 35. Everything I’ve gone through should not happen to a young 30-something.

You can not convince me that breast implants are 100% safe.

It’s not a coincidence that as soon as I get my implants removed 90% of my symptoms (symptoms I’ve dealt with for four years) are gone. Not kinda gone – 100% G.O.N.E.

  1. Will everyone experience Breast Implant Illness? No. It’s about 50/50. With this being said, everyone will have an immune response, though. From day one your body will start fighting them. Overtime this will become very taxing for your body – this is a fact.
  2. Is it worth taking the chance to see how your body will respond? No. Not only is it a possible waste of money, it’s not worth the risks.
  3. Will they make you happier and more confident? Who knows, but for me they did not.

Getting my implants removed was the bravest thing I’ve ever done. I’m at a place in my life where 1. I just want to feel healthy, 2. I love my body just as it is, and 3. my health comes first.

Who am I to teach others about health and self-love if I have breast implants? That did not feel aligned or authentic to me.

In March 2017, the FDA finally issued a warning that breast implants cause BIA-ALCL cancer, a cancer of the immune system.

It does not matter if you have silicone or saline implants, they’re both toxic.

  • Saline implants have a silicone shell and can harbor mold, bacteria and fungus due to faulty valves.
  • Silicone implants, specifically the cohesive gel, seem to be the worst because they contain more aggressive chemicals.

Both saline and silicone implants have over 40 known toxins, impair the immune system and release toxins because the shell deteriorates and breaks down over time.

Here’s my message to you,

Breasts do not make you “more womanly” – whatever that means.

You’re beautiful, just as you are.

You are enough, just as you are.

You are more than your breast size.

Having confidence has nothing to do with your looks or breast size.

You are deserving of love, respect and recognition, right now, as you are.

It’s time to put yourself first. Fall in love with your body. Respect your body. Embrace your body. Be patient with your body. Nobody is supposed to make you happy or tell you you’re beautiful – that’s something you give and tell yourself.

Resources to fill your mind and heal your body:

Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education with Christina (Private Facebook Group)

Size: Happy With Christina Instagram Page

here’s to self-love & vibrant health,

Christina Roulund