Table of Contents
Preface v
Introduction vii
Part I What Is Breast Implant Illness?
1 You are neither alone nor crazy 3
2 Mystory 6
3 My breast implant illness symptoms 11
4 Things you've probably never heard about breast implants 15
5 Let's talk about breast implant illness 20
Part II Thinking about Removing Your Breast Implants?
6 Are my implants really making me sick? 31
7 You've decided to explore explantation… now what? 37
Part III You've Decided to Explant
8 Choosing the right surgeon for you 45
9 Examining and adjusting your mindset so you can heal 50
10 It's okay if you don't have a definitive answer; it gives you the chance to have more faith 58
Part IV You have an Explant Surgery Date… from Preparation to Surgery, Going through the Process
11 The power of prayer 63
12 Things to do, buy, download, and create before surgery 66
13 The explant process 71
Part V Healing in the Months Immediately Following Surgery
14 Healing 83
15 Exercise is an important ingredient to healing 104
Part VI Healing for the Long Haul… Mental and Other Aspects that Make a Difference
16 Mindset matters so watch your language 113
17 Resisting the pressure to be perfect 117
18 Your new normal will be a good normal 121
19 A word about Botox 123
20 A word about your monthly cycle 126
21 Expect that you can 130
22 Gratitude for the people in your life that expect you to be you 133
23 Lessons learned along my breast implant illness journey 135
24 Pay it forward 140
25 What I love about my new "old" breasts 144
26 Quotes for self-acceptance, empowerment, and healing 146
27 Make your comeback better than your setback 150
28 The heal is real 152
Part VII My Unique Challenges, Supports, and Gifts
29 My journey to heal my neurologic symptoms 157
30 Insight into breast implant illness from my husband's perspective 162
31 The gift of breast implant illness 167