Credit: Rochelle Brodin
There are a million different reasons why someone would want to get breast implants, from improving self-esteem to restoring what was taken from a mastectomy. In TV host and wellness expert Andi Lew’s case, she never expected her decision would lead to a life-altering bout of illness, and a back and forth with doctors that left her literally scarred for life.
Andi was in her early forties when she first decided to get her breast implants – a decision that came after a divorce and past sexual trauma from her childhood. It was an intensely personal choice and one she’d hoped would help her get some confidence back.
A couple of years after the procedure, Andi, 52, noticed that things just weren’t quite right, both mentally and physically.
What were the symptoms of breast implant illness?
“I think there’s actually a laundry list of about 100 symptoms,” the former Sydneysider who is currently based in Los Angeles, told WHO.
While breast implant illness (BII) can manifest in every woman differently, Andi began dealing with rapid hair loss, incredibly dry eyes that hurt when she blinked, an inability to sweat, sudden food intolerances, loss of libido, digestive disorders, heart palpitations and inflammation throughout her body. This was all on top of the pain she felt in her left breast, where her silicone implant had unknowingly ruptured.
“I was dying to be well,” she says. “I had anxiety, depression, I even had thoughts of suicide at the time.”
Do you have a story about breast implant complications? Contact [email protected]
Andi’s implant removal journey
It took multiple doctor visits with specialists and surgeons to work out what was going on.
“All of these tests and all of these surgeons looking at the imaging, and yet they didn’t find the rupture,” Andi shares. “Everyone [was] like, ‘No, no, it’s fine. There’s nothing really there, and you’ll be OK.’”
Trusting her instincts and what her body was telling her, she pushed for answers until she found a surgeon who took her concerns seriously.
During the consultation, the surgeon found the undetected rupture, and feared that they may find rare implant-associated cancers in the scar tissue capsule, such as squamous cell carcinoma or anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
Thankfully for Andi, it wasn’t the case.
Andi stresses that proper explant surgery means more than just removing the implant.
“The proper surgery is to take out surrounding scar tissue, too,” she explains. “If they go to the public hospital system… they just take the bags out.”
However, even after the successful removal of her implants, Andi’s journey was far from over.
“You really are never the same,” she admits of the physical recovery.
The emotional fallout was equally as heavy.
“The deep shame came from, ‘Why did I do this to myself in the first place?’” Andi reflects.
As a wellness expert, admitting she’d chosen a “toxic foreign object” for her body was a difficult truth, but one she eventually had to face with compassion. “I really had to forgive myself,” she admits.
Her mission post-implants
Now, she’s on a “crusade” to educate women on just how toxic implants can be and to make sure all those suffering can make informed decisions, especially those who are struggling to cover the costs of the explant surgery.
“You can actually access your superannuation … to pay for what’s called a ‘life-threatening illness operation’ – the doctor and the surgeon just need to write a letter. So if you haven’t got the funds, you can access [your superannuation] and that’s crucial for ladies to know,” Andi explains.
She’s also helping women reclaim their health, trust their intuition beyond medical gaslighting and embrace self-acceptance.
“I want people to learn to love themselves exactly the way they are,” she adds.
Treasured Chest by Andi Lew is available now in bookstores or at andilew.com
You can also find her on Instagram, or listen to her podcast Well To Do.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
