Explant Breast Surgery & Recovery

Episode 45: ENCORE: What to Expect from A Breast Implant Illness (BII) Consultation

December 21st, 2023  |  14 mins 1 sec

autoimmune reactions, breast implant illness, breast implants, chronic fatigue, chronic inflammation, cognitive issues, consultation with doctor, inflammation, joint pain

A breast implant illness consultation (or discovery session, as we like to call it) with Dr. Rob is an in-depth exploration of symptoms and potential causes of BII. The purpose of the discovery session is for women affected by this chronic illness to get much-needed answers.

Having consulted with over 800 patients, Dr. Robert Whitfield is well-versed in the patterns and symptoms affecting women experiencing chronic illness. Thorough and cohesive, the discovery session addresses a range of conditions including brain fog, GI issues, diet, and autoimmune disease, eliminating the need for multiple specialists.

Episode 44: ENCORE: Are Your Breast Implants Making You Sick?

December 14th, 2023  |  18 mins 12 secs

breast implant illness, breast implants, chronic aches and pains, extreme fatigue, general malaise, joint pain, pcr testing

Women who believe their implants are making them sick report a wide range of symptoms including extreme fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headache, brain fog, hair loss, rashes, dry mouth and eyes, depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

These conditions appear within a few months to several years following surgery, and seem to more often follow a secondary surgery like revision or exchange. But the exact cause is difficult to pin down because other conditions like Lyme disease and toxic mold exposure can cause similar symptoms.

Using PCR testing (instead of traditional CLIA-based lab testing), Dr. Rob discovered that over 60% of the breast implants he removed all had one thing in common.

Dr. Rob describes his methodology for identifying this complicated, misunderstood condition and shares his treatment strategies utilizing nutrition and genetic testing to put his patients on the path to healing.

Episode 43: 43: Gut Problems and Breast Implant Illness

December 7th, 2023  |  10 mins 53 secs

breast health, breast implant illness, breast implants, food sensitivity test, gi map, gut biome, gut health, menstrual health, women's health

Frequently in my practice, in addition to dealing with cases related to breast implant illness, I encounter patients experiencing gastrointestinal issues. That is why it’s vital to shed light on the complex interplay between breast health and gut health, prompting a comprehensive approach to address the multifaceted nature of these health concerns.

Addressing issues in the gut is crucial as it significantly impacts gut health and overall well-being. This episode focuses on actionable steps for individuals seeking to optimize their gut health.

Episode 42: ENCORE: What the Lab Actually Found On My BII Patient’s Breast Implants

November 30th, 2023  |  15 mins 20 secs

breast implant illness, breast implants, chronic aches and pains, extreme fatigue, general malaise, pcr testing

Episode 40: What Are the Treatment Options for Breast Implant Illness?

November 16th, 2023  |  7 mins 14 secs

autoimmune reactions, breast implant illness, breast implants, chronic fatigue, chronic inflammation, cognitive issues, inflammation, joint pain

Breast implant illness continues to be a condition struggling for recognition within the medical community. While this condition entails various symptoms that can be as diverse as chronic fatigue, joint pain, cognitive issues, and even autoimmune reactions, making it a complex and often perplexing condition to diagnose and treat, the approach to treating breast implant illness has evolved significantly over the years.

In this episode, we delve into the treatment options for breast implant illness, exploring the journey from surgical removal to a more personalized and holistic approach aimed at addressing the root causes of this condition and restoring patients' health and well-being.

Episode 39: Are Certain Types of Implants More Likely to Cause Breast Implant Illness?

November 9th, 2023  |  7 mins 7 secs

breast augmentation, breast implant illness, breast implant illness symptoms, breast implant migration, breast implants, breast reconstruction

One of the frequent significant concerns that I get concerning Breast Implant Illness (BII) is its potential association with the type of breast implants used. This is in line with health issues regarding some implants like textured implants, which have garnered more attention due to their close connection to conditions like anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

As we aim to uncover more about the complexities surrounding breast implant illness, this is another episode that will surely provide insights into the potential influence of various implant characteristics on the development of breast implant illness.

Episode 31: Does Breast Implant Illness Decrease Libido?

September 14th, 2023  |  9 mins 27 secs

breast implant illness, gut health, libido, vitamin d in women, women's decreased libido, women's energy level, women's genetic makeup, women's libido, women's metabolism, women's sexual function

Breast Implant Illness (BII) symptoms affect every system of the body, even gut health. In fact, many patients encounter chronic inflammation, a common symptom of BII, and can have a cascading effect on the gut. Inflammation in the body can disrupt the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal system and can disrupt the balance of hormones like estrogen and testosterone, potentially leading to reduced libido.
While the impact of breast implants on aesthetics and confidence is well-known, the effects on overall health, including sexual health, are equally important and deserve our attention. That is why in today’s episode, we’ll be talking about breast implant illness in relation to libido.

ENCORE: What to Expect from A Breast Implant Illness (BII) Consultation

August 31st, 2023  |  14 mins 1 sec

autoimmune responses, breast implant illness, breast implants, neural inflammation, neurological symptoms, research, symptoms

A breast implant illness consultation (or discovery session, as we like to call it) with Dr. Rob is an in-depth exploration of symptoms and potential causes of BII. The purpose of the discovery session is for women affected by this chronic illness to get much-needed answers.

Having consulted with over 800 patients, Dr. Robert Whitfield is well-versed in the patterns and symptoms affecting women experiencing chronic illness. Thorough and cohesive, the discovery session addresses a range of conditions including brain fog, GI issues, diet, and autoimmune disease, eliminating the need for multiple specialists.

Dr. Rob devotes as much time as needed to understand each individual’s unique situation, ensuring the path forward is effective and delivers much-needed healing and a speedy recovery for patients.

ENCORE: Are Your Breast Implants Making You Sick?

August 24th, 2023  |  18 mins 12 secs

autoimmune responses, breast implant illness, breast implants, neural inflammation, neurological symptoms, research

Women who believe their implants are making them sick report a wide range of symptoms including extreme fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headache, brain fog, hair loss, rashes, dry mouth and eyes, depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

These conditions appear within a few months to several years following surgery, and seem to more often follow a secondary surgery like revision or exchange. But the exact cause is difficult to pin down because other conditions like Lyme disease and toxic mold exposure can cause similar symptoms.

Using PCR testing (instead of traditional CLIA-based lab testing), Dr. Rob discovered that over 60% of the breast implants he removed all had one thing in common.

Dr. Rob describes his methodology for identifying this complicated, misunderstood condition and shares his treatment strategies utilizing nutrition and genetic testing to put his patients on the path to healing.

ENCORE: What the Lab Actually Found On My BII Patient’s Breast Implants

August 17th, 2023  |  15 mins 20 secs

breast explant surgery, breast implant illness, breast implants, breast surgery

Dr. Rob tells the story of a patient whose labs were normal but her health wasn’t, and how this case led him to analyze implants in a new way (and the shocking findings).

So many women with breast implants experience the same symptoms of extreme fatigue, general malaise, and chronic aches and pains, yet their tests routinely come back with nothing.
In this second episode of our series about Breast Implant Illness, Dr. Rob describes how PCR testing (the same that detects COVID-19) delivers the long-needed answers that finally put BII sufferers on the road to recovery.