MY STORY from Implant to Explant

My Journey From The Club To Becoming A Breast Implant Illness Advocate

My Breast Implant Illness Story

Back in the early 1990s, I was working at a very elite, Las Vegas-style club in Minneapolis called Solid Gold. I was an Entertainer, and in those days that word was explicitly used for topless dancer. Solid Gold was one of the top clubs in the country. Women came from all over the world to dance there, and the dancers from our club traveled internationally to perform at other prestigious venues.

It was an extraordinary time in my life, not just for me, but for my family as well. I was surrounded by women who were, quite literally, tens. And when I say tens, I mean stunning, exotic, confident women who seemed larger than life. Like many women in that environment, I wanted to look like them. I wanted to be like them.

How My Implant Journey Began

My dad knew someone in Oklahoma whose wife was connected to a doctor who specialized in breast implants. This doctor did implants for women featured in Penthouse, Playboy, and for some of the most well-known dancers in the industry. That connection led me to Oklahoma, where I had my first set of breast implants placed.

At the time, my surgeon told me something I believed wholeheartedly: these implants will last forever.

Little did I know how untrue those words would turn out to be.

The Lies We Were Told

As we now know, the narrative around breast implants, especially silicone implants, has changed dramatically. The truth about Breast Implant Illness is still unfolding, but what we’ve already learned has been life-altering for countless women.

My first set of implants was silicone, and they were a part of the national lawsuit against Dow Corning and other manufacturers. My name was on that list. At the time, though, I didn’t feel the urgency to explant. Looking back, I wish I had understood then what I know now.

Those implants were also a significant factor in my now-failed marriage, a story for another day.

By the time I was ready to take action, I had missed the statute of limitations by just three months. That meant if I wanted to move forward, I would have to find another way.

Loss, Decisions, and a Second Set of Implants

Around that time, my son passed away and left me some money. With that money, I made the decision to have my implants removed and replaced in 2012. Yes, once again, silicone.

It didn’t take long to realize something was terribly wrong.

I began experiencing rashes and blotches all over my body. My libido disappeared. I developed a long list of unexplained health problems. But the most frightening symptom of all was brain fog.

The moment I knew, without a doubt, that something was seriously wrong happened in a grocery store parking lot. I couldn’t remember where I had parked my car.

Soon after, I noticed other alarming changes. I couldn’t remember if I had closed cupboard doors. I didn’t know whether I had shut off the stove. I couldn’t recall if I had put food away or closed the refrigerator.

When I told my doctor, she suggested the possibility of early-onset Alzheimer’s, especially since my mother and grandmother both had it.

I said no.

I refused to accept that answer.

Discovering Explant Surgery

Fast-forward four years ago, and as I write this, it is January 2026. I found a surgeon here in Minneapolis, Dr. Kayan, who was just beginning to focus on explant surgery. She was compassionate, kind, and willing to listen, qualities that matter deeply when you’re navigating something this personal.

A close friend of mine and I decided to explant around the same time. We even shared our stories on YouTube, where you can still find them today.

Having my implants removed made a remarkable difference in my health and my life.

When the Pattern Became Clear

After my explant, and after my friend Laura shared her story, six more women in my circle chose to explant as well.

That’s when I knew.

This wasn’t coincidence.

This was a pattern.

Becoming a Breast Implant Illness Advocate

That realization is what led me to become a Breast Implant Illness advocate.

This blog marks the beginning of a larger collection of stories, mine and other women’s. Here, you’ll find personal experiences from women who have implanted and explanted, research studies related to Breast Implant Illness, honest conversations about symptoms, healing, and recovery, and information to help you make informed decisions about implanting or explanting.

My hope is simple.

I hope you never implant these toxic bags into your body.

And if you do have implants, I hope you explant with a doctor who is truly educated and experienced in Breast Implant Illness and explant surgery.

Let’s Talk About It

I welcome your comments, your questions, and your stories. If I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for listening. And thank you for being part of this conversation.

I’ll see you across all the socials.

Warm regards,
Shelly Jean