It was the birth of Kate Waters’ son Leo that inspired her to remove the $5,000 DD/E cup breast implants she’d had since she was 24.
Feeling like a ’90-year-old woman’, Brisbane-based Miss Waters was suffering from ‘neck, shoulder and back pain, migraines, chest pain, stabbing sensations, heart palpitations, numbness in my arm and hand and sore joints’.
But the 31-year-old was worried removing the implants she feared were causing her body so much discomfort would interfere with her breastfeeding Leo, who is now 14 months old.
BEFORE AND AFTER: It was the birth of Kate Waters’ son Leo that inspired her to remove the DD/E cup breast implants she’d had since she was 24
Feeling like a ’90-year-old woman’ Brisbane-based Miss Waters (pictured) was suffering for years from ‘neck, shoulder and back pain, migraines, chest pain, stabbing sensations, heart palpitations, numbness in my arm and hand and sore joints’
‘I put off getting them out for 10 months as I was so nervous to explant while breastfeeding, as I didn’t want to jeopardise that relationship with my son,’ she said.
‘There wasn’t a day that went by in those 10 months that I didn’t think about having them removed.’
She joined a Facebook group of 51,000 women who were experiencing similar symptoms and likening them to ‘breast implant illness’, realising that the issue might be more widespread than she’d originally thought.
And that was the motivation she needed to have them taken out, scheduling the operation for mid October and using $12,000 she was able to access from her superannuation to do it.
To her relief Miss Waters expressed two bottles of milk from her new B cup breasts 12 hours after the surgery.
‘This was the biggest, bravest and BEST decision I have ever made, not just for me – but for my family,’ she explained.
BEFORE: She joined a Facebook group of 51,000 women who were experiencing similar symptoms and likening them to ‘breast implant illness’, realising that the issue might be more widespread than she’d originally thought
To her relief Miss Waters expressed two bottles of milk from her new B cup breasts 12 hours after the surgery
‘I feel like a brand new person. I can take a DEEP breath for the first time in five years. I was able to breastfeed Leo 24 hours post-surgery and my milk supply has increased.
‘When I woke up from surgery I noticed immediate relief on so many levels and my skin and eyes where noticeably brighter. Even my voice sounded different.
‘That constant feeling of anxiety that would linger in the back of my mind and in my body was completely gone, and still is.
‘When I woke up from surgery I noticed immediate relief on so many levels and my skin and eyes where noticeably brighter. Even my voice sounded different,’ she said
She is looking forward to doing activities like surfing again and most of all being able to give her partner Luke a ‘close, tight heart-to-heart hug’
‘My all day, every day neck, shoulder and back pain had completely diminished. My eyes felt big and open and awake. My rapid heartbeat was gone and replaced with a feeling of calm. None of my joints hurt. My feet don’t hurt to walk on anymore. I always feel so awake and so energised.’
Previously Miss Waters couldn’t sleep or get a massage on her stomach, do exercises that involved her chest like push ups and couldn’t jump, run, climb or do yoga.
‘I completely restricted myself in so many ways because I wanted to have big boobs and I was naively seeking self acceptance in all of the wrong ways,’ she said of her decision to go under the knife.
These were Miss Waters’ implants once they were removed (pictured)
‘I completely restricted myself in so many ways because I wanted to have big boobs,’ she said of her decision to go under the knife
Previously Miss Waters couldn’t sleep or get a massage on her stomach, do exercises that involved her chest like push ups and couldn’t jump, run, climb or do yoga
She is looking forward to doing activities like surfing again and most of all being able to give her partner Luke a ‘close, tight heart-to-heart hug’.
‘I wish I had the self love for myself [back] then, as I do now, but.. life is for learning,’ she said.
‘I don’t regret getting my implants because they served whatever purpose was necessary for my journey through life but I know without a doubt… that if I knew then what I know now, I would never have even entertained the thought.’
Miss Waters said she feels a responsibility to warn others about the risks associated with breast implants, something her doctor at the Lotus Institute, Dr Peter Widdowson, is also passionate about.
Miss Waters said she feels a responsibility to warn others about the risks associated with breast implants
While not everyone will experience some of the 50 related symptoms of breast implant illness Dr Widdowson did say he is treating ‘several women a week’ who want their implants removed – and with that process the negative bodily side effects they were experiencing subside.
‘It is all to do with the capsule or scar tissue around the implant because the body mounts an immune defence against it,’ he told FEMAIL.
He did say women should be allowed to get the implants if they want them, but to visit a reputable surgeon with lots of experience using different types of implants.