Cover Story

from Eye On Magazine December 2020

In The Field with Randy

Kimberlee Dannette Thomas is a Chandler, Oklahoma native. She relocated to Jackson County in 1986. She has five children, five grandchildren, is co-owner and creator of Eye On Magazine. She is recognized from her years of co-hosting on many Cable Channel 15 & 6 broadcast with Bud & David Black. She earned her Associates from ASUN in Fine Arts.

A Journey of Self Discovery and BII Part II

Breast Implant Illness or BII is a term used to describe a constellation of symptoms believed to be caused by the placement of breast implants. There are numerous symptoms that can develop affecting different organs symptoms which can include fatigue, cognitive impairment, hormonal changes and autoimmune conditions. Currently there are no specific ways to diagnosis this condition and it remains a controversial topic within the medical community.

Last month I introduced you to two young women who suffered from Breast Implant Illness. Shannon Plemons and Myrissa Rodely. They are just two among thousands of women who have suffered from BII. Both of these young women suffered from multiple health issues. They naively believed their symptoms were just signs of “getting older”. Shannon’s symptoms plagued her for nearly a decade, costing her not only financially, but physically and emotionally as well. It was Myrissa’s gut feeling that her symptoms were directly associated to her implants, followed by her willingness to search out answers on her own, that would set both women on the path to explantation and set them on the road to healing.

“As great as my primary care doctor is I didn’t have answers to most of my symptoms and I knew something wasn’t right. So, I asked myself, ‘What have you changed since you got sick?’ The only answer I could come up with was that I had implants. I started a google search to try and get answers but there wasn’t a whole lot. I did come across an article where the FDA did admit that maybe breast implants were making women sick. The article was dated May 2019 just 6 months after getting my implants in.” 1On September 29, 2020 the final guidance for a black box warning for breast implants was issued to warn the public of the negative health effects of breast implants. This follows the May 2019 FDA statement acknowledging breast implant illness and some of the systemic symptoms caused by silicone and letters to health care providers regarding the association of breast implants and BIA-ALCL cancer. In December 2018 French, European and Canadian authorities announced the removal of textured breast implants from their markets because they are linked to BIA-ALCL cancer which then eventually pressured the U.S. to remove some Allergan textured implants which were particularly associated with BIA-ALCL cancer. You can check for breast implant recalls at www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-safety/ medical-device-recalls.

Myrissa credits the private Facebook group established by Nicole Daruda for helping her to find her explant surgeon Dr. Eric Wright. The FB group, Breast

Implant Illness and Healing by Nicole, has over 129,000 members. Myrissa read story after story of women who had their implants removed and were feeling like a complete new person. “I immediately knew what was wrong with me. I am so thankful for that group and the women who vulnerably shared their experiences.” Myrissa contacted Dr. Wright’s office and was able to be seen on May 29, “exactly 18 months after getting my implants I was talking to the surgeon who would be removing them.” Myrissa feels strongly about her choice in surgeons, “Dr. Wright believes in BII. It is extremely important that you explant with a doctor who believes it is real and will do the En Bloc surgery.”

Dr. Eric J. Wright is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Little Rock, Arkansas, specializing in both aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. He has extensive experience in face and body rejuvenation, breast surgery (augmentation, revision, and reconstruction), and the surgical management of complex wounds. Women travel from throughout the U.S. and beyond for breast implant removal at his Little Rock practice.

I spoke briefly with Dr. Wright about BII and when he first encountered it as a surgeon. “In 2017 I saw my first patient who presented with complaints of breast implant illness. Historically we believed breast implant related complications were specific to the chest area which could include implant rupture, implant malposition, breast pain or capsular contracture. Her symptoms were none of these. She knew there was no guarantee regarding improvement in her symptoms with implant removal, but she was ready to try. After her surgery, she had a great outcome which caused me to learn more about what BII was.”

Breast Implant removal is now the most common procedure Dr. Wright performs on a weekly basis. He explained it is becoming more common in his practice to see patients choosing breast lifts without implants or a natural breast enhancement with fat grafting techniques. According to Dr. Wright, “Breast implants still have a role in breast reconstruction following breast cancer treatment. However, this trend has led to a 15% decrease in the number of breast implant procedures nationally in 2019.” 2In September 2018 the largest study ever published of silicone breast implants shows silicone breast implants are associated with an increased risk of autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren’s syndrome, Scleroderma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, stillbirths and melanoma cancers. Additionally, another study published October 2018 found an association between having silicone breast implants and a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with various autoimmune/rheumatic disorders such as sarcoidosis, systemic sclerosis and Sjogren’s syndrome. The evidence of breast implant illness and the negative health consequences of breast implants

continue to come to light.

When I asked Dr. Wright about what advice he would give women seeking implants he answered, “Breast implants are medical devices that have the potential for complications similar to any medical device or medical procedure. Patients should be informed of all options by their board certified plastic surgeon to make the best decision. Breast implants have been researched for many years, right now there is still a lot we do not know, but hopefully this will continue to change.”

Myrissa’s explant surgery was on May 29, 2020. It took Dr. Wright 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the surgery. He removed the implants and capsules intact as a single unit; this is known as En Bloc procedure. Myrissa stated, “He had to scrape some capsule off of my chest wall and ribs, which explains the pain I was having in those two areas. I can’t even begin to explain the night and day difference that I feel post-surgery.” She no longer has to take breaks every morning while getting ready, she doesn’t struggle with anxiety. “I am pain free, I can breathe again, and I have my life back. A commonly used term within the BII community is “The Heal is Real” and I am here to tell you that it most certainly is!”

Myrissa debated whether or not to post her story on her personal social media. “I decided that if I could help just one person it would be worth it.” Her inbox was flooded with messages. Over thirty-one women reached out to tell her they believed they were suffering from their implants as well. One of those women was Shannon.

“I prayed hard for answers but none came until June a couple days after my 42nd birthday. My friend Myrissa posted on FB about her breast implant extraction.” Myrissa directed Shannon to the Healing Breast Implant Illness website where she took the available survey. “I had 90 out of 100 symptoms. It all made since. I had found the ‘unknown source’ of all my health issues. I knew I had BII.” Shannon posted a heart wrenching video on her social media pages urging women to not implant. “I was overwhelmed by the response I received by so many who had silently watched my suffering and health decline for so many years.” A silent Go Fund Me account was set up by one of Shannon’s friends. “By the time she told me about it, it had grown and people were donating and encouraging me to explant.”

On June 30, 2020 Shannon explanted with Dr. Shaer Khan. His plastic surgery practice, Executive Plastic and Hand Surgery Center, is located in Novi, Michigan. “One phone consult with him and I knew he was the man God had placed in my life to help heal me.” Dr. Khan confirmed Shannon’s worst fear, “I was indeed dying.” Shannon had a major 550cc rupture in her left breast that had adhered itself to her chest wall and rib cage. Dr. Khan shared with her that in another 6 months the silicone would have eaten thru to her heart or lung gluing her organ shut and taking her life.

Dr. Khan worked over three hours on Shannon’s left breast, preforming a successful En Bloc procedure. “Immediately in recovery it was as if someone turned bright lights on. My vision was clear. I took my first deep breath in years and it was wonderful!” Shannon had no drains and no complications from surgery. She was released to travel home after a ten day stay in Novi.

I had the privilege to visit briefly with Dr. Khan early on a Monday morning as he was heading to his surgical suite to perform another En Bloc procedure. Dr. Khan stressed that, “It is imperative women find a surgeon who understands BII and who understands the importance of removing the capsule and implant as a whole unit, leaving nothing behind.” The capsule is the body’s way of dealing with a foreign object being placed inside it. In essence the body forms a jacket around the implant. I asked Dr. Khan why it was so important to not only remove the capsule but to remove it intact with the implant safely inside, “There are toxins from the implant embedded into the capsule over time, leaving it behind means the body is still going to fight the toxin residue.” He further explained, “Imagine the implant contents are slime, if the implant is nicked during surgery or ruptures the slime oozes into the chest cavity, you cannot simply wash that away. Keeping the capsule intact and the implant safely inside protects against this happening.”

Dr. Khan ALWAYS sends the capsule and implant to pathology and cytology; this allows them to understand

the toxicity at the microbial level. He shared with me that he recently spoke to a pathologist colleague asking his opinion on the safety of implants. His reply, “There is no safe implant, not one.”

I will visit with Shannon and Myrissa during the Holiday season and bring you a brief update on their recoveries and healing process in the January issue. 1, 2 - https://www.healingbreastimplantillness.com. N