Danica Patrick says she got breast implants to 'be more perfect'... but now she feels 'amazing' just a week after getting them removed

Danica Patrick showed off her renewed glow on Friday when she appeared on Good Morning America to gush about her breast implant removal.

The 40-year-old former racing driver admitted that she felt 'amazing' just a week after getting her implants taken out.

The entrepreneur, who previously shared the physical symptoms she attributed to her implants on social media, admitted that she had a breast augmentation because she wanted to 'be more perfect.'

Getting personal: Danica Patrick, 40, appeared on Good Morning America on Friday and explained why her drive to 'be more perfect' led her to get breast implants, though she feels 'amazing' now that they've been removed

Getting personal: Danica Patrick, 40, appeared on Good Morning America on Friday and explained why her drive to 'be more perfect' led her to get breast implants, though she feels 'amazing' now that they've been removed

Danica said she was going public about her post-implants journey in hopes of inspiring other women who might be suffering from similar issues.

'I thought to myself, "I want to share this if it makes a difference,"' she said. 'Because I tried so many different things to feel better, to look better, and nothing worked.'

Like many others, she initially thought implants were the solution because she didn't think her body measured up. 

'I did it because I wanted to be more perfect — like, what's perfect, right?' she continued. 'I wanted the whole package, like I wanted to have it all. I felt like I was very fit, but I thought, "Well, I just don't have boobs."'

Something's missing: Like many others, she initially thought implants were the solution because she didn't think her body measured up. 'I wanted the whole package, like I wanted to have it all. I felt like I was very fit, but I thought, "Well, I just don't have boobs"'

Something's missing: Like many others, she initially thought implants were the solution because she didn't think her body measured up. 'I wanted the whole package, like I wanted to have it all. I felt like I was very fit, but I thought, "Well, I just don't have boobs"'

A pattern? But she suffered weight gain, inflammation and thinning hair after her implants. Dr. Shaun Parson, who removed them, said he had seen a 'chronic inflammatory response' in some women

A pattern? But she suffered weight gain, inflammation and thinning hair after her implants. Dr. Shaun Parson, who removed them, said he had seen a 'chronic inflammatory response' in some women

But after getting the new bust that she had been dreaming off, the racing icon started to suffer unexplained physical symptoms.

She previously shared on social media that she had unexplained weight gain, inflammation, changes in her menstrual cycle, and even her hair began thinning. 

Danica was joined during her interview by Dr. Shaun Parson, who performed the procedure to remove her implants.

He described observing a 'chronic inflammatory response' in some women who receive implants, though it's not an issue for more women who get breast augmentation. 

'I think we have work to do to try to figure out why,' he said.

Positive effects: In another photo posted to her Stories, Danica shared about having less inflammation and losing weight post surgery

Positive effects: Since getting her implants taken out, Danica was feeling 'amazing,' and she said returning to her natural look made her 'more mature' and 'more confident'

Since getting her implants taken out, Danica was feeling 'amazing,' and she said returning to her natural look made her 'more mature' and 'more confident.'

She added that the source of her confidence was 'all an inside job,' rather than based on external factors.

The day before, Danica shared a positive health update with her 827K Instagram fans, just a week after the removal of her 'toxic' breast implants.

She took to her Insta Stories to list all the improvements she had already noticed in the last week, including a 'healthy scalp,' 'natural face oil' and 'no swollen lymph nodes,' triumphantly adding, 'The heal is real.' 

Danica also made a post that discussed her regret at getting the implants in the first place: 'I wish I could have told this 32 year old girl that boobs won't make you more perfect or have it all or be more feminine.' 

Felling better: Last month, Patrick shared an update detailing her health improvements following the removal of her 'toxic' breast implants a week ago

Felling better: The day before, Danica shared a positive health update with her 827K Instagram fans, just a week after the removal of her 'toxic' breast implants

She continued, discussing the cultural and social media pressure that encourages women to undergo plastic surgery. 

'These were my reasons and to me these narratives are the problem. Implants just feed into it. Culture feeds into it. Social media feeds into it. Filters feed into it. Unhealed trauma feeds into it.' 

'The work is always an inside job. The real question is – how can I do the emotional work to see myself as perfect, having it all, and feminine? When we do that, we won't seek outside validation or a way to get it,' she continued. 

Regret: Danica also made a post that discussed her regret at getting the implants in the first place: 'I wish I could of told this 32 year old girl that boobs won¿t make you more perfect'

Regret: Danica also made a post that discussed her regret at getting the implants in the first place: 'I wish I could of told this 32 year old girl that boobs won’t make you more perfect'

'The world is just a mirror to show us where we are not healed,' she added.

Danica then expressed her gratitude for her much improved health. 

'Super grateful to be feeling better so quickly. To be clear, the transparency of the dangers of implants are an issue. I also understand that mastectomy's require options. However, all I'm saying is, if we don't have an insecurity issue... any potential risk or danger go away.' 

Explanted: She also took some questions from her followers regarding her experience with breast implant illness and showed a photo of her removed implants

Explanted: She also took some questions from her followers regarding her experience with breast implant illness and showed a photo of her removed implants

In another photo posted to her Stories, Danica shared about having less inflammation and losing weight post surgery.

'I told my sister I feel less inflammation and she asked if I had been peeing a lot and i said YES! I have already lost 5+lb of fluid in a week... eating the same and not working out,' she wrote.

Danica also took some questions from her followers regarding her experience with breast implant illness, showing a photo of her removed implants and discussing the incision location, which for her was 'through the nipple' for both the original surgery and the explant.

'Yes, these baseballs went through a very small hole,' she wrote in a text graphic over the photo, adding a shocked face emoji. 

Advice: She also assuaged a fan's fears about the appearance of their chest post surgery, saying that her breasts looked 'normal immediately' after the explant procedure

Advice: She also assuaged a fan's fears about the appearance of their chest post surgery, saying that her breasts looked 'normal immediately' after the explant procedure

Inflammation: In more Stories she shared a picture of her lab work, which appeared to show that she had an elevated level of inflammation prior to surgery

Inflammation: In more Stories she shared a picture of her lab work, which appeared to show that she had an elevated level of inflammation prior to surgery

When a follower discussed feeling nervous about the appearance of their breasts post surgery, Danica shared her own experience.

'I only did an en-bloc removal, but I was very small to start with and they looked normal immediately for me. It will be interesting to see if that changes of the next 6 months,' she stated.  

In more Stories she shared a picture of her lab work, which appeared to show that she had an elevated level of inflammation prior to surgery. 

'Been getting these labs done a lot over the last year (and will continue regularly until everything is normal), the CRP test is an inflammatory marker. It has been elevated everytime,' she wrote. 

When a follower asked how they could approach speaking to their friends about them potentially having breast implant illness Danica gave a diplomatic answer.

Helping others: Danica also answered a question about helping someone address their friends if they might be suffering from breast implant illness

Helping others: Danica also answered a question about helping someone address their friends if they might be suffering from breast implant illness

Her story: In another post she revealed that she recorded an exclusive interview for Good morning America

Her story: In another post she revealed that she recorded an exclusive interview for Good morning America 

'This is hard and easy. The challenge is you're bringing up soemthing that implies needing surgery which is big and the only REAL positive test is getting them out and symptoms improve. So what if they don't and it's your fault?! The easy is you can't actually make someone have surgery.'

'Let them use their own intuition on the mater. My intuition was sky high!' she added.

In another post she revealed that she recorded an exclusive interview for Good morning America.  

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

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

Last week, Danica made a lengthy Instagram post that 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.

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

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

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 detailed how her implants have deteriorated her health, saying that in 2020, 'the wheels came off'; Pictured in 2020

Struggles: In a lengthy Instagram post, the former racing driver 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'

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

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

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'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

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

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'

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

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