Danica Patrick in Bathing Suit Opens Up About "Implants"

Danica Patrick got her breast implants removed and opened up about it on social media, revealing she suffered from Breast Implant Illness. She shared a photo of her before the implants. "This was me before," she captioned a swimsuit photo. "Get your microscope out! And this is very similar to now." Breast Implant Illness can be serious. “Systemic symptoms ― sometimes called breast implant illness ― may be associated with breast implants,” says the Mayo Clinic. “The exact relationship of these symptoms to breast implants is not clearly understood. Reported signs and symptoms include fatigue, memory loss, skin rash, trouble concentrating and thinking clearly, and joint pain. Removal of the breast implants may reverse the symptoms.” Read on to hear more about what Danica has gone through—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1. She Shared the News About Her Breast Implant Removal, Despite Feeling Vulnerable

DanicaPatrick/Instagram

“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.

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.

Then fast forward to late 2020.... and 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). So I went down the rabbit hole to figure it out. I did every test that could be done.” Keep reading to see what she found.

2. This Was Her List of Symptoms

Michael Ostuni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

"Here is my list of symptoms and out of range medical tests -

-hypothyroidism

-heavy metal toxicity

-dysbiosis, 10/10

-severe leaky gut

-hypoglycemic

-low estrogen, DHEA, testosterone, magnesium, white blood count, vitamin D, and progesterone

-adrenal fatigue, no AM cortisol spike

-elevated CRP (inflammatory marker)

-temperature sensitivity

-swollen lymph nodes in my 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)

-hair loss"

3. She Had Them Removed Wednesday

"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).”

4. It’s Called “Breast Implant Illness”

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Patrick continued:

“The condition that is not universally recognized is called breast implant illness. Leave it up to the good folks at these drug companies who are selling them to say they are safe. 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. I haven’t felt or looked any different.

There are a host of issues that women have dealt with and I have many, but not all. After watching over 100 stories on YouTube.... 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 (look up that huge list!) that’s why the body produces a capsule around it.

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. ❤️”

5. Here's Why You Might Want Yours Removed

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

“In some cases, breast implant removal or replacement is medically necessary. The most common reason to remove implants is that scar tissue hardens around the implants. This hardening is known as capsular contracture. It can cause pain, discomfort or breasts that look different than they once did,” says the Cleveland Clinic. “You may also want implant removal because of:

• Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare cancer that occurs in scar tissue around an implant. BIA-ALCL is associated with textured implants. You should check with your plastic surgeon to see if you’ve ever had textured implants placed.
• Calcium buildup around the implant.
• Leaking of the implant.
• Movement or shifting of the implant.” Says the Mayo Clinic about Breast Implant Illness: "Research to determine the link and the cause is ongoing. Talk to your plastic surgeon if you have breast implants and experience any of these signs and symptoms."