Throughout the entirety of her teenage years, Fay Camerling was teased at school for having small breasts and a dancer’s body.
So, in the midst of feeling ‘young, insecure and impulsive,’ she decided at the age of 21 that the answer was to have breast implants put in.
However, Fay has always had a ‘very small frame’ and her implants ended up being much bigger than she had anticipated.
‘As a lover of fashion, the irony of not being able to wear certain clothes because they didn’t look right was not lost on me,’ Fay, who lives in Oxfordshire and is now 47, tells Metro.co.uk.
But her problems began in 2011 when, after experiencing capsular contracture (when scar tissue forms and hardens, restricting movement), she was referred for revision surgery.
By this point, she’d also undergone three pregnancies – which can sometimes impact the appearance of breasts with implants, as facilitated by changes in body shape and skin structure.
The implants that replaced her original ones, though, were later withdrawn from the market due to safety concerns, as Fay notes this ‘textured gummy bear style’ was ‘found to carry an increased risk of BIA-ALCL, a type of lymphoma that develops around the implant.’ At the time, they were the ‘new kids on the block.’
Can you breastfeed when you have implants?
Breastfeeding with breast implants is entirely possible – but, as per NHS guidance, the size, placement and type of surgery all need to be considered.
‘If the incisions are under the fold of the breast or through your armpit, you should not have any problems breastfeeding,’ the NHS’ advice reads.
‘But if the incision is around the areola, you may have problems as there’s a chance the milk ducts have been cut.
‘There’s no real way of knowing until you try. You might be able to produce some of the milk your baby needs and then supplement with first infant formula milk.’
As such, it’s recommended to let your GP or health visitor know if you’ve been fitted with breast implants so that they can monitor your baby’s weight and ensure they’re getting enough milk.
Subsequently, around four years ago, Fay found a large lump in her armpit and was sent for a mammogram.
At the time, she was told that it was a large, long lymph node. But in the last year, Fay reported feeling unwell as a result of the pain.
‘The aching in my armpit from the lymph nodes was becoming more frequent and the left side then had more capsular contracture, causing pain. The right one suddenly seemed to feel different as well,’ Fay details.
Upon visiting her doctor, it was confirmed to be a rupture, and so she decided to book herself in for ‘explant’ surgery – more commonly referred to as a breast implant removal.
‘The reasons my 21-year-old self needed implants were no longer valid. In fact, I was never really comfortable with them either. At almost 48, my health is my priority and I now see my body as an amazing vessel that gave me three children and it deserves to be respected,’ Fay explains.
‘The decision to explant was a good call, as during surgery it was discovered that it was not normal in there. My body was having an inflammatory response, which explained my pain, sore lymph nodes, and generally feeling unwell.’
‘For me I knew for a long time I wanted them out, but life always gets in the way and as women, we tend to de-prioritise ourselves,’ she reflects.
‘Implants aren’t forever, so if you’re young in your twenties, know that these come with upkeep and will likely need changing more than once in a lifetime. Go with your gut, do your research and find a reputable surgeon.’
For 32-year-old Star Freudenberg, it was ‘societal conditioning’ around women ‘needing to have boobs to be accepted as beautiful’ that first led her to get breast implants 14 years ago.
‘It was hardcore post-op and took some time to adjust and deal with the scars and stretch marks after, but I felt better for having them,’ Star, who lives in London and works as a gut health and wellness expert, tells Metro.co.uk of the initial operation.
‘I was quite shocked when the stretch marks arose post-op. I had C cups implanted where I was a B and an AA before.’
But in April 2024, Star made the decision to have the implants removed as part of a ‘journey towards self-acceptance.’ She’d also started to dwell on the potential consequences, and, as a frequent sauna user, was worried about how the extreme heat might interact with them.
Is it safe to use saunas with breast implants?
As consultant plastic surgeon and BAPRAS spokesperson Aenone Harper-Machin tells Metro.co.uk, it’s mostly safe to use saunas with breast implants fitted – but they should be avoided post-surgery.
‘All implant shells are made of silicone polymer (whether they are filled with silicone gel or saline) the melting point of this is over 200 degrees centigrade. Therefore, patients with silicone implants in situ are safe to use a sauna,’ Aenone explains.
‘That being said you should refrain from using the sauna or hot tub for approximately six weeks directly after surgery to ensure the wound is able to heal properly.’
And, as plastic surgeon Dr Paul Banwell clarifies, silicone won’t begin to melt until it reaches ‘at least 121 degrees Celsius to around 204 degrees Celsius.’
‘There are generally two types of saunas. A traditional sauna will generally heat up to anywhere from 82 degrees Celsius to around 93 degrees Celsius in the sauna,’ Dr Paul says.
‘Infrared light sauna only goes up to 64 degrees Celsius. However, infrared light does not mean that it is a lower temperature, as it penetrates into the soft tissue, elevating the internal core temperature within your body.
‘I think it is safe to conclude that saunas do not make a difference to your silicone breast implants. However, we would of course always advise checking with your surgeon periodically if you use saunas regularly.’
So, as she started to consider the prospect of getting the removal surgery, she approached the subject with her partner – who was completely supportive.
The next step was consulting with her doctor about the removal, who needed to check whether she required a surgical lift. After they confirmed she didn’t need one, she was given the go-ahead.
‘The incisions were amazing. I didn’t need stitches, they just put a surgical plaster for wounds to heal naturally,’ Star adds, noting that as part of her recovery, she had an ‘intense week of downtime withdrawing from the medications as anaesthetic’ and wore a specialist post-op bra.
She wasn’t able to go to the gym for eight weeks, but besides that, she felt better instantly. Now, she’s able to ‘sleep easier’ with ‘less pressure’ over her heart, and both her breathing and posture have improved.
‘There are some aesthetic changes that I am working with in treating naturally due to the laxity of the skin after hosting these implants for 14 years,’ she adds of her recovery.
‘I feel much more me and I am happy with my decision.’
Fay and Star aren’t the only ones to have had a breast implant removed. Recently, singer SZA announced that she was having breast implant removal surgery as they ‘didn’t feel good’ and were ‘painful.’
‘I got way too much scar tissue because my breasts are too dense and I’m not supposed to have breast implants. And I ended up getting extra fibrosis,’ SZA told the SHE MD podcast, noting that her mum was previously diagnosed with breast cancer, and that her auntie had undergone a mastectomy.
More widely, according to statistics from The Aesthetic Society, between 2020 and 2021, there was a 47% increase in the number of women requesting the removal of their breast implants.
Likewise, as per the Cleveland Clinic, approximately 219,000 women had their implants removed in 2021, and around one-third of this figure decided not to have them replaced.
So, why are women having their breast implants removed? Is it an ongoing trend we’re seeing?
‘In recent years, there has been a consistent rise in the number of patients opting to have their breast implants removed. Various factors contribute to this trend, including issues like capsular contracture, implant rupture, and changes in breast shape over time,’ plastic surgeon and senior medical director at Creo Clinic Dr Omar Tillo tells Metro.co.uk.
‘Some individuals choose explantation due to genuine health concerns, while others may be driven by misinformation or fear.’
Are there any risks involved with breast implants?
As with any surgical procedure, breast augmentation surgery can carry risks – and this could be driving the motivations behind a number of removals.
‘The specific risks include capsular contracture, implant rupture or leakage, infection, changes in sensation, implant displacement or asymmetry, scarring, breast pain, and in rare cases, BIA-ALCL and implant-related illnesses,’ Dr Omar outlines, noting that people who are considering breast implants should discuss these risks with their surgeon, and take care to choose a ‘skilled and experienced’ professional to help mitigate these risks.
And, as consultant plastic surgeon Mark Solomos, MD, FRCS, EBOPRAS, adds, there are also ‘uncommon risks’ including breast implant illness (BIL) and breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA ALCL).
‘The likelihood of developing BIA ALCL with currently available implants ranges from 0% for smooth implants to 1 in 20,000-30,000 cases for textured implants, and approximately 1 in 1,000,000 for nano-smooth implants,’ Mark explains.
For many women, getting breast implants can be driven by a lack of self-esteem – but negative experiences aside, breast augmentation can be a truly ‘transformative experience.’
And, as society moves forward on its perception of plastic surgery, embracing it as a choice rather than something to shame, so too is the science behind it.
‘Attitudes towards breast implants have shifted over time, with a move towards embracing natural beauty and diverse body types,’ Dr Omar suggests.
‘While implants were once popularised as a fashion trend, there’s a growing emphasis on individual choice and body positivity. In addition, there are new procedures that enlarge the breasts using the patient’s own fat tissue, via fat transfer techniques, which are becoming more popular.’
‘Additionally, there is substantial variation in breast implant practices between countries, with the UK historically favouring larger implants, possibly influenced by cultural factors,’ Mark adds.
‘However, there appears to be a growing trend towards more reasonable and natural-looking results in recent years.’
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