I Broke Up With My Breast Implants: Caroline’s Explant Experience

Monique Ramsey (00:02):
Welcome everyone to The La Jolla Cosmetic Podcast. I'm your hostess, Monique Ramsey. Today I have a fun guest in the studio. Her name is Caroline. She's a real patient who had surgery with Dr. Luke Swistun, and she's going to talk about her journey to actually have her implants removed. So welcome to you, Caroline.

Caroline (00:25):
Hi. I am really happy to be here.

Monique Ramsey (00:27):
Thank you for being willing to share your story.

Caroline (00:31):
Yeah, it means a lot to me.

Monique Ramsey (00:33):
Good. So just getting us started off, tell us a little bit about yourself and then maybe go into when you decided to originally get breast implants and why.

Caroline (00:43):
Okay, so my name's Caroline. I live here in San Diego. I'm a yoga teacher, energy healer, mentor, mystic, all the things. And I got implants about 10 years ago, 11 now, 2013. And I remember there was a woman who, a friend of a friend who had just gotten implants and I was like, you can do that. 10 years ago it was a little less common. I also had some insecurity with my chest size at the time and really wanted to, I feel more like a woman. So at the time I thought what would be best and most exciting for me was getting breast implants. So that's what I did.

Monique Ramsey (01:31):
And did you have saline or silicone?

Caroline (01:34):
I had Silicone 400 ccs. Silicone high profile. I know, right? It was like a big size. Yeah.

Monique Ramsey (01:43):
Well, and everybody's a little different. 400 ccs on one person might look not even that big depending on your frame and how your body is shaped inside. And how tall are you?

Caroline (01:57):
I was just going to tell you that I'm five one.

Monique Ramsey (01:59):
Okay.

Caroline (02:00):
So yeah, 400 cc was a little bit bigger on me, but I could dress them down or dress them up. And I also went into being a stripper right after I got them. So it was like

Monique Ramsey (02:11):
They were your money makers.

Caroline (02:12):
Yeah, they were my moneymakers. I will say that. That's actually a big part of this story too, on the explan. But yeah, I was really happy with the size I had and yeah, was happy with them for most of the time.

Monique Ramsey (02:24):
Well that's good. So then when was having implants, sort of what you expected, how it would be and how it would feel?

Caroline (02:35):
Yeah, I was so young. I was 19. When I get that, I was just like, let's go. And yeah, it was what I expected and even more, I had so much fun. It gave me a lot of confidence pretty instantly. I was already a confident kind of gal, but it really heightened my confidence at the time and how feminine I felt in my body, let's say. So I had them for 11 years, but since I got my explant September 23, it was like 10 years. And the first few years it was like, oh my gosh, so high on my implants. I was like, I love these. And I was also a dancer, an exotic dancer. And so everything was just flowing with them and I loved them. And then I guess on year seven, eight is when I started to feel like, huh, something feels off. They started to get really heavy. I think I was kind of going through a little bit of a consciousness shift.

(03:30):
I was just changing. I was a different woman 10 years ago from the woman I am today and even the woman I was a few years ago, women evolve, new versions of you. And I never ever thought that I would stop resonating with the breast implants that I had ever. It was just so much a part of my identity from being a stripper. I also had felt like a little bit of a poster child for implants because so many women I knew had gotten them after seeing mine. And it was just the extra push they needed to be like, yes, I want to get mine now. And then what happened was universe, source, spirit, God, whatever your higher power is, whoever's watching this started to bring women into my field who had just gotten explants and they were sharing about it. And I was like, okay, this is getting a little peculiar.

(04:15):
I would see them, and it reminded me of when I first was about to get my implants when I was younger, where I would see a woman with implants and be like, oh my gosh, she looks so great. I want that. And now I was seeing women who had just gotten their explant with their smaller chest and I would be like, oh my gosh, she looks so good. And I was just like, I could see a different glow. And I was just feeling pulled to that. And I was also like, okay, I'm seeing a lot of women with explants now. This is so interesting and I've been thinking about this, but I kept pushing it down and I remember saying, okay, I'm just going to wait until I get sick to get them out. It literally was

Monique Ramsey (04:55):
Caroline. Caroline really?

Caroline (04:55):
Right?

Monique Ramsey (04:58):
Well, I mean guess that makes sense in some ways. If it ain't broke, don't fix it?

Caroline (05:02):
It was giving, when you're in a relationship that isn't really, you're not resonating and you're like, let me just wait until something gets really bad. It was giving that kind of energy, which I'm just going to be honest. It's human, we do this. And so am miss that time I'm seeing all these women, the explant era was on the rise and 10 years ago it was the implant era. And obviously there's still women getting implants now, and that's beautiful and that's their choice. But because all the women I knew that got implants, they had I breast implant illness and they were sick and there were some symptoms I was having, but I was like, maybe these aren't from the implants. I don't know. It wasn't like anything strong enough to be like, I need to get these implants out because I'm sick.

Monique Ramsey (05:42):
And what kind of were some of those symptoms where you were able to sort of maybe go, oh, that's maybe nothing.

Caroline (05:47):
Yeah, there's inflammation and I think I feel from what I see, that's the body starting to say, okay, it's time to get these out. There was some skin things just spots around the implants and some skin stuff popping up. And I didn't notice this until after the explant, but my eyes got so white after I got them out, people were coming at me, your eyes are so white. And I'm like, what? Because I'm so used to seeing myself every day. So apparently that is something that shifted a lot after the surgery that I'm like, so it's interesting because I say I didn't have breast implant illness, and I just like to share that for anyone who was where I was at, where they were feeling a pull to get them out, but they were also where I was at we're like, well, I'm not sick like everyone else who got them out. And so I was kind of like a hybrid. I was like, well, it's not super sick. But once I got them out, I was like, okay, some inflammation went down. Alright, well I lost a few pounds. My body started to release some weight. I think a little bit of inflammation there. The eyes started to change.

Monique Ramsey (06:53):
Isn't that interesting? What things will be different? So what was the thing that maybe pushed you over the edge to actually say, I'm going to make a consultation with a surgeon about this?

Caroline (07:08):
So I had a couple friends who had got theirs removed. So I asked a few of these women, I'm like, where did you get your explant? And started to gather the doctors in San Diego. And one of them, she had seen Swistun, and I was just like, well, let me just book a consultation. Still my human mind was kind of grappling with this new truth of, okay, it's time. So I kind of followed that pull and really trusted myself and told myself there's no pressure. I heard great things about Swistun and I was like, it doesn't hurt to go in for a consultation that way I know all the details for when I am ready.

Monique Ramsey (07:45):
Right. And how did you feel about that consultation experience?

Caroline (07:51):
Oh my gosh, incredible. Let's just say I went into the consultation thinking I was going to wait a year or so. I walked out of the consultation, I believe booking my surgery date.

Monique Ramsey (08:04):
Oh really?

Caroline (08:05):
It might've been right after the consultation or a week later, but I was like, oh, this is happening sooner. And it wasn't due to Swistun wasn't pressuring at all. He was so incredible. I'll get into that consultation in a moment, but it allowed me to really just drop in and to learn about, okay, what would this look like and learn about it and without overanalyzing.

Monique Ramsey (08:26):
Yeah, I think we tend to do that so much, instead of listening to our bodies that we will talk ourselves out of whatever it is or give a rational explanation like, oh, it's nothing. It's this or that, or I just didn't sleep well. It's like really you're talking about dropping into that consultation. You have to drop into yourself and sort of say, what is my body saying? Because your brain does want to take over and it's not always right.

Caroline (08:56):
Yeah, I love that you said that. Yeah. Listening to your body. I had seen also a couple other consultations with surgeons and the way I felt in Swistun's consultation was just different. He was so welcoming, so present, so present, just so here, not there. And that was a big difference that I had noticed with him versus other consultations I'd gone to. Everyone's work was great, Swistun, just like I really chose to go forth with him because of the way he showed up. And I felt very held even after what, I don't know, a mini consultation. I was here, it wasn't super long. And I'm the kind of client who asks so many questions. I have so many questions and I love that about me. But also it requires a very patient, present surgeon. And he was so patient, so present, and I was honestly blown away by how safe and held I felt. And he was like, no pressure either. He was just sharing with me all the things, answering questions, that's all. Didn't feel an ounce of pressure at all. And it's almost, it almost felt like he was just there to educate me and to share with me how it works and whether or not I was going to get it done with him or someone else. He was just supporting me. I really love that about.

Monique Ramsey (10:21):
Yeah, he's really special and he connects so well with his patients. And I love that you said he's present because that is so true. He locks in and he's there. And I think as women, we go to have doctor's appointments and you can tell when that doctor stops listening, you can tell. And I'm like you, I need to know all the things. I want to tell them all the details, and I want to hear all the details. I want both. And you can tell when they just are kind of phoning it in. And I've always seen with Dr. Swistun, he's just very there with you and he wants to help. He genuinely just wants to help.

Caroline (11:10):
Yeah, exactly. Having that person who's there hearing you out, and Swistun as well as all of the women who checked me in and took my before and after photos of the surgery, anesthesiologist when I was getting ready to go into surgery, everyone is just so present. And I know that it's because they're an extension of him and working in his office. So I feel like Swistun just his energy and the way he presented himself and everyone in the office really was a big factor in me deciding like, oh, I'm actually getting this done sooner than I thought. Why would I even wait?

Monique Ramsey (11:46):
Oh, wow. Yeah. So you really did move right along. Yeah. So in that time period, in the waiting before you had your consultation, you decide to have the surgery, what procedures did you two agree on and was there anything you were nervous about sort of going into surgery?

Caroline (12:07):
I was really nervous. There was a lot of tears of grief. It was like I said, it feels like you're getting ready to leave a relationship. And for me, it was a 10 year one, and it was just like, yeah, there was so many different emotions and I was just really tender and gave myself a lot of grace. I would have days where I was so excited and I was like, get these things out of me right now. Not even I hate these. I was like, I love you guys and you need to get out. We're done.

Monique Ramsey (12:34):
I love you, but

Caroline (12:36):
I love you and

Monique Ramsey (12:36):
It's not you, it's me, oh, but it's you. It's you, actually.

Caroline (12:41):
It's literally, it's not yeah. It's you, but okay. Yes. And so we're parting ways. And so I'd have those days of just really excited and I'd be crying tears of joy. And then other days I'd be in a little mini portal of grief, sadness, and people could help me. And I had friends that could help me and hold space. I had a mentor I was working with, but no one can really understand unless they've been through it. And so there were a couple of women who had walked through it and had their explants and I was able to reach out to them and talk to them. And Swistun it was helpful, he would answer any questions I had because he had seen so many women go through it and help them. But ultimately it was such a beautiful homecoming journey. And in the time before surgery, yeah, I was excited, scared, nervous, anxious, very anxious.

(13:33):
And I was kind of just riding the waves with the human experience, knowing that it was all perfect and that I was going to be able to handle whatever because it was my intuition guiding me the whole time. And a big thing that my mind is grappling with was like, do I get a lift? Do I not get a lift? And so it was on top of the anxiousness, the grief, the sadness, and the excitement was this question, should I get a lift or not? So it was adding a little bit bit to the mix. And for whoever's watching this, I want you to know it might not be like my experience. You could just be stoked the whole time because towards the end I was like, I'm so fucking excited, but I just want to make it realistic. It's okay to be grieving a part of you. This is good. It's normal.

Monique Ramsey (14:21):
Well, this is a really good point because when I've talked to people who've had surgery before and specifically breast implants, they become a part of you. So at the beginning when you first get them, it's like, oh, you have the sensations of something different and something new. And then after a certain amount of time you kind of don't think at least this is what I've been told. I've never had implants, but they just become part of you. It's less about these things in me and more about just me. And it's like, I've been like this all the time. And so that whole kind of grieving process a little bit and having that emotion because it's something that is part of you now and it's not going to be anymore.

Caroline (15:10):
Yeah, it's like letting go of part of you making sure you're making the right choices. But yeah, am I making the right choice? Then it was like uplift or not, do I get a lift or not? And so that was a big question.

Monique Ramsey (15:23):
How and maybe when did you decide you did want to do the lift, and what was the factor that maybe helped you make that decision?

Caroline (15:32):
So I didn't need a lift, Swistun was like, you don't need to get a lift. And he's like, you could, but you don't need to with your case. So technically all of the signs pointed of like, no, I don't need to get a lift. But I knew that I would've regretted for my own case because my implants were so big and my skin was so stretched out and yeah, I trust my body, I can go back to normal and yada yada. But I personally was like, I'd rather get a lift. And I wanted it to look as if I never had implants. And for me it was like I could have gone either way. And I'm so glad I did. I'm so glad I did. It turned out great. I have full sensitivity and my areolas, nothing shifted there. And they look even better than when I didn't have even better than 10 years ago. My cute little perky boobs, they look, I'm like, wait, it's an upgrade. So I was like, and I didn't expect myself to be this happy and stoked on them. So I'm really glad about that.

Monique Ramsey (16:43):
So after the surgery, you wake up in recovery, did you feel different right then or did it take a little bit of time?

Caroline (16:50):
Oh my gosh, I have full body chills because, so when I woke up from the explant surgery, I just remember saying, I'm so happy. And it's funny because 10 years ago when I got my implants in the first words as well, when I woke up from my implant surgery were, I'm so happy. And so it was a beautiful homecoming and I could literally cry. It was just like, wow. It took me 10 years to get to this place of self-love in my journey, my personal journey. I want to make that clear. So not everyone's meant to get their explant whatnot, but for me, and that was a big thing, the homecoming of my self-love journey. And so I just woke up, there was a nurse there taking care of me. I was so happy. Surgery was done and my sisters were about to walk in to take care of me and take me home. And I just felt so light and so happy, and I looked down and I was just like, whoa, they're out, like they're out, like it's done. And it was just like, wow. There was a little bit of pain, but I'm a woman, we can handle good amount of pain. We're here birth children. So yeah, I felt very held after surgery and very excited for the new journey of me.

Monique Ramsey (18:14):
So your sisters take you home, and how were the first couple days? Did you have to come back right away or did he just check in with you by phone and what was that first week sort of?

Caroline (18:26):
Yeah, so I was pretty out of it the first 24 hours I had my sisters taking care of me. I had both sisters there, and it was just a lot of resting. I would get random bursts of energy, but I couldn't really do much. So just literally on bed bedrest. I remember two days in I started to get swollen on my right boob, and I'm just going to share this with you, so I get swollen on my right boob, and I was kind of moving around a lot and I messaged him and he's like, oh, come on in tomorrow. And I had to go into a second surgery.

Monique Ramsey (19:03):
Oh did you? So did you have a little bleeder?

Caroline (19:06):
Yes.

Monique Ramsey (19:07):
Yeah.

Caroline (19:07):
It was nothing to be alarmed of.

Monique Ramsey (19:10):
Right. But it can happen and it can happen with a lot of different kinds of surgeries, not just what you had.

Caroline (19:14):
Yeah, exactly.

Monique Ramsey (19:16):
And do you think maybe it was because you were moving around?

Caroline (19:17):
A hundred percent because I was on the medications and I didn't feel any pain or anything, and I was like, wow, I feel so good. I feel so alive. And so I was moving around a little bit more. I was just doing different things that I didn't really need to be doing around the house. And so I think it's important for anyone who's getting, has help to, even though you think you can do a lot, don't do it and just relax and allow yourself to receive.

Monique Ramsey (19:49):
Yeah, and it's hard though, right? It's hard if you feel good not to do things. We are so all ingrained on accomplishing things. I mean, it's silly, but yeah, you've got to rest because even though you feel good, your body's still really going through a lot to heal. And so that little bleeder, so one side ends up getting a hematoma is what they're called. And was that painful at all?

Caroline (20:17):
So yeah, it was a little bit ow, a little bit painful, but we got it taken care of. Swistun was so responsive, I could literally text him at any time and he would get back to me. Yeah, it was so nice. He was just so there for me and I felt so held. And it was pretty just simple. I mean the recovery was pretty lax. I was more emotional that it was physical. I couldn't move that much. I had the pumps on my sides for a few days.

Monique Ramsey (20:44):
They put the drains in, right?

Caroline (20:47):
Yeah, the drains. But yeah, I'd say the first couple of weeks I was resting a lot. I wasn't super hungry. I was drinking lots of water and I was just so eager to see what they were going to look like, but I was not yet ready to see them.

Monique Ramsey (21:01):
So when did you take your first peek? Was it when you were at home or was it when you were in the office for a visit?

Caroline (21:09):
I think I peeked down a little bit a few days after I looked down and I was like, oh my gosh, is this too good to be true? So when I went into the office a few days later, I think he came in and I got to see them and I looked in the mirror and I was like, wow, they look even better than I expected.

Monique Ramsey (21:29):
Oh, nice.

Caroline (21:30):
Wow. I was like, wow. I was making a joke. I was like, I look like I have little fake A cups. Little perky boobies.

Monique Ramsey (21:39):
Yeah. Was there anything that surprised you sort of afterwards or that you weren't expecting about maybe the whole surgical journey?

Caroline (21:47):
I was surprised with how smooth it was, how relaxed everyone here was about it. It was so beautiful. And I was surprised at how happy I was with them as well.

Monique Ramsey (21:57):
That's so nice. And at the point where they made their big debut, your new girls.

Caroline (22:05):
It reminded me so much of how when you get implants put in breast implants for any woman who has gotten that experience, you're really excited. You try on all these new clothes and you go bra shopping and new bikini shopping and you're just a whole new woman. And literally, I had that experience in reverse when I got them out. I was wanting to try on my shirts that never really fit my fake boobs. I want to go shopping new bikinis, and a lot of my clothes still fit, just looked different, but it all looked really good.

Monique Ramsey (22:39):
So were there any pieces of advice you would say to somebody who's maybe in similar shoes as you?

Caroline (22:46):
I would tell for the woman who's watching this, who's feeling into should I get my explant or not? I'd say to really just sit sink into yourself and listen to your intuition. And so for the woman feeling into it, you can really trust your intuition. It's normal if you're a little nervous, it's expected. And that's what happens when there's big changes. And also you can be excited and nervous at the same time. And to prepare, I would just have someone that you love being able to take care of you after your surgery, take some time off work if you can. I would eat lots of healthy foods before your surgery to prep your body, lots of meditation and yoga before your surgery just to take care of yourself. Because it's a big journey and it's a big decision, but it's like in the blink of an eye, it's like surgery is done and you're onto your whole new life and this beautiful homecoming to yourself.

Monique Ramsey (23:42):
Oh I love that.

Caroline (23:44):
And one last piece is allow things to turn out better than you expected.

Monique Ramsey (23:49):
And what would you say as they're maybe looking for a doctor, what are the things that stand out to you now, especially probably going through the whole journey that you maybe three things that they should look for when they're interviewing surgeons?

Caroline (24:08):
Yeah, I'd say look for a surgeon who is really present with you, who you can feel is really dropped in at your consultation, isn't in a rush, isn't running around. But yeah, a surgeon who feels like very present and safe. And that's number one. Number two, I'd look at the reviews of the surgeon and speak to other women or lurk their Instagrams or learn about how their experience was. That's going to be huge. That's going to make you feel really safe and in your decision for the surgeon you're going to see. And also aside from the surgeon, like the office and the personnel and the nurses and the anesthesiologist, all the people that are helping. So listen to your intuition and really good to explore your options. I saw Swistun first. I pretty much knew I was going to see him, but I had a different consultation the next day with another surgeon and it was able to solidify my decision with Swistun. I was like, okay.

Monique Ramsey (25:12):
Yeah, I think you can learn a lot from each experience. And if nothing else, if you don't know who you want, you'll maybe feel it. You'll pick it up in the feeling more than in the logical part.

Caroline (25:34):
Yeah, it's a feeling. It's like when you know, you know.

Monique Ramsey (25:39):
Well, Caroline, thank you so much for sharing today and walking everybody in the audience through this journey you've had. And I love how present you were with yourself and allowing yourself to go through the whole thing and then being brave and sharing it with everybody else in our audience. We really appreciate that. And so everybody in the audience, we will put everything in the show notes, links to the gallery, and information about the explants and capsulectomies and financing and money, all that in there too. And our patient coordinators are really good with helping you kind of come up with the best way to plan your surgery from the financial standpoint as well. So don't be shy because one in three of our patients, over all the years we've been in business and we've had financing. So take advantage of it if it's something that you're thinking about. So anyway, thanks again, Caroline, and for everybody in the audience, we'll see you on the next one. Bye-Bye.

Announcer (26:42):
Take a screenshot of this podcast episode with your phone and show it at your consultation or appointment or mention the promo code PODCAST to receive $25 off any service or product of $50 or more at La Jolla Cosmetic. La Jolla Cosmetic is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus. To learn more, go to ljcsc.com or follow the team on Instagram @ljcsc. The La Jolla Cosmetic Podcast is a production of The Axis, theaxis.io.