Danica Patrick has her breast implants removed after suffering health issues

Danica Patrick revealed that she has removed her breast implants this week after suffering from what she believed to be breast implant illness.  

In a lengthy Instagram post the former professional racing driver, 40, detailed how her implants have deteriorated her health, saying that in 2020, 'the wheels came off.'

'I had cycle irregularity, gained more weight, my hair wasn’t looking healthy at all and my face was a different shape (weird I know),' she wrote.

Recovering: Danica Patrick revealed that she has removed her breast implants this week after suffering from what she believed to be breast implant illness

Danica explained that after getting her implants in 2014, she decided to take them out on Wednesday.

RELATED ARTICLES

• Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next

• Danica Patrick announces split from boyfriend Carter... Shailene Woodley looks forlorn as she steps out makeup free... Shailene Woodley and Aaron Rodgers are 'done' once again...... Carrie Underwood has legs for days in a short purple dress...
• Shailene Woodley rocks double denim and a grey beanie while... Who's The Boss vet Alyssa Milano, 49, looks incredible in a...

Share this article

Patrick revealed that she enjoyed them for the first couple of years, but that in 2018 she began to see changes in her health.

The star stated that she is sharing her story in the hopes of helping others: 'My belief is, it's not if but when you develop symptoms. Some are right away, others are over 15 years later. Silicone is a foreign object and leaches chemicals.' 

Health issues: She has been struggling in recent years and believes the implants were having an adverse effect on her 

Struggles: In a lengthy Instagram post, the former racing driver, 40, detailed how her implants have deteriorated her health, saying that in 2020, 'the wheels came off'; Pictured in 2020 

'I wasn’t sure I was ready to share this.... but then I remembered that true vulnerability is sharing something you’re not really ready to. So here it is,' she began her post.

'I got breast implants November of 2014. I got them because I want to have it all. I was really fit, but I didn’t have boobs. So I got them. Everything went well, and I was happy with them.'

'Fast forward about 3 years to early 2018, and I noticed that my hair was not as healthy and was breaking off. I also gained a few pounds and had no luck losing it,' she explained.

Patrick then revealed that in 2020 she started trying to figure out what was causing her symptoms.

Before and after: Patrick also posted a before (left) and after (right) surgery shot of her face, where she noted immediate positive changes including 'more color' and 'less dark circles'

Feeling better: She also took to her Stories, sharing photos of herself in the car on her way home after the surgery as she smiled

IS BREAST IMPLANT ILLNESS REAL?

Neither the NHS or the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledge a single condition called breast implant illness. 

They do, however, provide long lists of potential – and publicly known – side effects of having breast implants.

Implants are not designed to last a lifetime, the FDA says, and the longer a woman has the implants in her body the higher the risk of complications occurring. 

Complications occur in around one per cent of all patients and can happen at any time after the surgery.

As well as changes to the appearance and feel of the breast some potential side effects include pain, infection, swelling or irritation, swollen lymph nodes, skin rashes or bruising.

Reported symptoms of BII include fatigue, chest pain, hair loss and headaches chills, light sensitivity, chronic pain, anxiety, brain fog, sleep disturbances and depression.

The NHS urges any women suffering side effects to contact the clinic where they had the implants put in, and to report it through an official Yellow Card Scheme, to add to information on the safety of implants.

Source: FDA and NHS

'I went down the rabbit hole to figure it out. I did every test that could be done.'

Her list of symptoms and medical tests included: 'hypothyroidism, heavy metal toxicity, dysbiosis, 10/10, severe leaky gut, hypoglycemic, low estrogen, DHEA, testosterone, magnesium, white blood count, vitamin D, and progesterone.'

She went on to also list 'adrenal fatigue, no AM cortisol spike, elevated CRP (inflammatory marker), temperature sensitivity, swollen lymph nodes in neck, dry scalp/skin, weird perspiration smell sometimes, easy to get dizzy, achy hands from time to time, face swelling, weight gain, capsular contracture (they were both folded from the amount of scar tissue) and hair loss.'

The Wisconsin native explained that she saw positive improvements just hours after the surgery, showing side by side photos of herself before and after the procedure.

'I had them removed on Wednesday. The picture is a snap shot of a couple hours before and a couple hours after.'

'Within hours after surgery this is what I noticed - my face had more color and less dark circles (no food before the second pic), my face started producing oil again, I could take a 30% deeper breath into my chest already, and I had so much energy when I woke up (and surgery was at 230pm).'

She went on: 'The condition that is not universally recognized is called breast implant illness. Leave it up to the good folks at the drug companies who are selling them to say they are safe,' she went on.

'Look it up if you are struggling or know someone that is. The common denominator is you have conditions that can't be resolved. For me this is true. I have tried 3 drs and 6-8 levels of thyroid meds, a 90 day gut protocol, and chelation to get rid of heavy metals and up to 30 pills a day.... With no resolution.'

Serious: 'My belief is, it's not if but when you develop symptoms. Some are right away, others are over 15 years later. Silicone is a foreign object and leaches chemicals,' she stated; Pictured in 2021

She concluded her post, writing, 'If this post helps just one get to the root of their issues, it did it’s job. I will share my progress as I go along.'

Patrick also took to her Stories, sharing photos of herself in the car on her way home after the surgery. 'Feeling.... Well nothing I was pretty hopped up on meds riding home. But look at my face color!' she wrote on the first slide.

In the next picture she was seen in a cheerful mood after the procedure, writing, 'Then I smiled.' 

In another snap, she shared her post surgery medication, which were mostly homeopathic. Patrick also shared a photo of her undergoing red light therapy for 'mitochondrial health' adding that she will also use a 'dry brush' to get the 'lymphatic system going.' 

Post surgery medication: In another snap, she shared her post surgery medication, which were mostly homeopathic

Friends and followers were quick to praise Danica for her honesty, with entertainment reporter Catt Sadler, 47, commenting: 'Wow Danica - what an important post! So happy you're FREE and thank you for sharing this story. Feel better.' 

Danica is far from the first celebrity who has shared similar struggles after getting breast implants.

Yolanda Hadid famously had her silicone breast implants removed on an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2016, after learning that she had silicone free-floating in her body.

Among other stars who have decided to remove their implants due to health issues are Ashley Tisdale, Crystal Hefner, Karen McDougal, Linda Blair, and Stevie Nicks.

Red light therapy: Patrick also shared a photo of her undergoing red light therapy for 'mitochondrial health' 

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKymqLWww8GisWiZoqm2pLjEZmhpb2ZtgnmBjn2Yp6GTlnqRrdOroJyjXZe%2Fpq3SrWSipaChrq%2FA0mapnqWfq7KledKunZ%2Bdop67qHnHnpilrJhitrS%2F1J6qZ6Ckork%3D