Five Critical Things You Need to Know After Explant Surgery So You Can Get Your Life Back
(Plus the Detox Diet and Step-By-Step Menu to Help the Process!)
Detoxification, which is more popularly referred to as “detox” or “detoxing,” is the physiological removal of toxic substances from the body. This amazing process is a part of the body’s natural healing cycle and is primarily carried out by the lymphatic system, liver, kidneys, lungs, bloodstream, colon, and skin as the body rids itself of metabolic by-products each day. The body is equipped with such incredible abilities to heal and rejuvenate itself—it just simply needs our assistance to make that all possible!
Women with Breast Implants Are Burdened with More Inflammation
In general, women who have breast implants have higher markers of inflammation. It is presumed that this is because implants, which are essentially viewed as foreign entities by the body, cause an autoimmune response, meaning that the immune system goes into overdrive to protect us against all the pathogens (also known as microfilms) that come with these implants. Furthermore, the continual dumping of heavy metal and silicone particles into the bloodstream creates a cumulative toxic load in the body. While toxins come from a variety of sources, if they are not eliminated properly, they will accumulate in the body and eventually reach a threshold where they begin displaying breast implant illness (BII) symptoms, such as tingling in the hands and legs, eye floaters, headaches, food sensitivities, joint pain, anxiety, brain fog, and more. While explant surgery is not an immediate fix for BII, in most cases, the removal of the breast implants is the FIRST step to lowering the body’s inflammation markers and starting the healing process of BII, followed by a proper diet and detoxification.
What to Expect During Initial Post-explant Recovery
For a few weeks following the breast explant surgery, also known as breast implant removal surgery, many women feel amazing! While it is unclear if these positive feelings are due to the placebo effect or if they are truly related to the removal of the implants, in the majority of cases, most of the BII symptoms will nevertheless return unless a deep, meaningful effort to detox the body is made. Just as it took years for the body to accumulate these toxins, it will take time and proper detoxification to help gradually eliminate them. However, the extraction of the foreign body (the breast implants) will certainly diminish this toxic load as well as significantly reduce the body’s inflammatory response. The first phase of detox may begin as early as a few days post-surgery due to the elimination of the drugs and medications that were given during the surgery. The deeper detox, however, will occur a few weeks or even months later. And whether or not you embrace a mindfulness approach, determination, and patience throughout this process will largely determine your overall success in reducing the debilitating symptoms of BII.
A Proper Diet is Paramount to Healing BII
The optimal diet to use during the detox process is a plant-based diet, which is filled with unprocessed and low-fat foods, as this particular type of diet allows the body to divert most of its metabolic functions to eliminating toxins. The liver is the largest organ that filters out toxins, and after that filtering, they are released and migrate into different channels throughout the body to be eliminated. This is the point where we usually begin feeling the detox-related symptoms. Generally, it is during the detox phase that you may experience a flare-up of old symptoms, which may even get worse for a short period of time. No two people experience detox in the exact same fashion because everyone is different—each person has a different condition or symptoms within that condition and different loads of toxins. That’s why it’s important that you do not compare yourself to others in terms of healing time and severity of symptoms. You should instead maintain a positive, loving attitude and allow your body to take its time and move at its own pace as it heals. What we all do have in common is that our bodies are equipped with a natural and sophisticated way of eliminating toxins, but it is only when the organs are healthy that they can do this properly.
That’s why in order to help your body heal, you will need to provide it with optimal nourishment that is naturally high in fiber, minerals, and antioxidants. An ideal way of ensuring this happens is through an alkaline diet: A plant-based diet that consists of organic and whole foods and is primarily centered around consuming green leafy vegetables, sprouts, and raw fruits while eliminating processed foods, dairy, and animal products. Eating an alkaline diet prompts proper healing in the body and is the most essential thing you can do to reduce inflammation while simultaneously strengthening the immune system.
The reason why raw foods are promoted and embraced by an alkaline diet is because they are easier to digest, as raw versions still contain all the living enzymes, vitamins, and antioxidants that naturally aid digestion and elimination; as a result, they are easier to digest than their cooked counterparts. Through the reduction of fatty foods that clog the liver—the major organ that helps elimination—and juicing at least twice a day, this will help the body heal faster. Celery juice along with the Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie will help pull out pathogens and heavy metals from the body. Remember: breast implants are made of at least forty different toxic heavy metals that leak into the body, and the goal is to eliminate these toxins in a healthy manner.
Signs That Indicate the Beginning of Detox
The first signs that you are detoxing can kick in as early as 72 hours after beginning your detox. During this time, typical detox symptoms you may experience include headache, joint pain, insomnia, fatigue, and even anxiety. Additionally, old symptoms will surface in waves and you may experience flare-ups up to a year later depending on your condition.
The Detox Diet
Personally, I have been using the Medical Medium cleanse protocol together with Dr. Ann Wigmore’s green protocol for years. The six weeks of detoxification are a powerful way to assist your body so you can return to good health and well-being. As it is an individualized process that really depends on your own condition and needs, you can choose to do such a detox for three weeks or three months—set goals that work for you. If you find yourself wanting to experience a longer detox, there is likely no harm in it. I have seen many people reduce a myriad of medical conditions while embracing these types of diets. This includes conditions that are similar to BII, including fibromyalgia, neurological symptoms, gout, skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis, migraines, headaches, aches, and joint pain. It is possible to reverse many conditions by following a 30-day detox.
Morning
Squeeze one lemon into water and drink , 30 minutes later 20-34 oz. of celery juice, or cucumber juice, or fresh coconut water.
Breakfast
Can consist of fresh, local fruits or a smoothie. For a specific smoothie, I recommend making the Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie for your breakfast. The goal of this smoothie breakfast is to give your digestive tract a break so that you can heal. To make it easier, you can even double the recipe so that you can drink the smoothie again for a snack or for another meal if you’d like. Regardless of which you choose, make sure to avoid fats until at least 1 p.m., as this will help the liver with eliminating toxins.
Midmorning
Make another fruit-based smoothie or drink the second serving of the one you made for breakfast. Additionally, you can eat another fruit to help avoid feeling hungry.
Lunch
Make a salad with a base of spinach, lettuce, kale, cucumber, and sprouts. Then add foods like papaya, grapes, oranges, grapefruit, and mango along with some orange juice or even a small amount of avocado (alternatively, you can use the dressing I shared in Recipes). You can top the salad with raw red cabbage, celery, arugula, baby kale, sprouts, scallions, and cauliflower as well as parsley, cilantro, or any other herbs that you want. Also, because sunflower sprouts are especially rich in protein and antioxidants, make sure to incorporate plenty of them into your salads.
Note: a lifesaver is the gluten-free, brown rice tortillas made by the brand Food For Life. They come in packages and can be conveniently bought at health food stores. I was first introduced to them at Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, where they are served to supplement the detox program.
Mid afternoon snack
Choose some fruit, such as apples, pears, dates, celery sticks, or even a spoonful of raw honey as an afternoon pick-me-up.
Dinner
Make any salad you want with a green base of parsley, cilantro, onions, kale, and/or lettuce, then add in additional slices of root vegetables because they are rich in minerals and very grounding. Daikon is a highly recommended root vegetable because it helps reduce fat in the liver and bloodstream as well as excess water. Leeks are also a good option when steamed or slightly cooked, and chopped green onions can be served as additional herbs to the salad. I recommend topping the salad with the Creamy Red Vegan Dressing.
On a cold evening, or when you’re simply in need of some comfort food, try making a warm miso soup that is made of fermented soybeans and rich with living enzymes and protein. In this soup, we add kombu (a seaweed), which is rich in minerals, and a root vegetable broth that is made of daikon, carrots, celery, and green onions. You can have this soup as a meal or snack and can even enjoy it in the morning.
Alternatively, you can make a blended salad or the Raw Avocado Spinach Soup. This particular raw soup is blended with spinach so your body can easily absorb all of the amazing nutrients without sacrificing additional energy for digestion. When eaten daily, this soup especially helps in improving skin conditions in addition to eye conditions.
Evening
Snack on a piece of fruit, such as an apple or a date.
Creative Modifications to Keep You from Getting Bored
There’s plenty of room for modifications on this cleanse; you don’t need to follow my exact plan. In fact, be flexible and get creative with your menu! The most important thing is to follow the principles of this detox.
For instance, if you don’t like eating an entirely raw diet, you can add lightly steamed vegetables; steamed or cooked potatoes; and steamed winter squash, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, leek, or asparagus onto your dinner salad. You can also mix in raw vegetables with steamed vegetables. You can swap out lunch and dinner by eating two salads. I personally prefer having two portions of a rich green leafy salad with root vegetables along with an apple or pear cut into pieces and mixed thoroughly into the salad. You can cycle through different salad greens, just make sure you’re eating a lot of raw kale, sprouts, and spinach every day. Perhaps experiment with the blended salad or the spinach soup. Also, don’t be afraid to throw into your salad an apple or mango for an enhanced taste. Get inspired and become inventive in the kitchen so that you can create your own delicious recipes using raw veggies, herbs, and fruits. Try to consume at least 80 percent of your vegetables raw and the rest cooked because, again, it is the raw foods that heal your body and help you regain your health. Your body can heal when you provide it with what it needs, and this includes proper raw food nutrition.
Additional Guidelines for Efficient Detoxing
1. Drink plenty of water—hydration is crucial for proper elimination
2. Focus on regularly getting a deep, good night’s sleep
3. Eat a mostly alkaline (plant-based) diet that is abundant in antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins; this will fuel your body with alkaline foods, which work to support the detox process while nourishing your cells
- Eliminate alcohol, chocolate, and acidic drinks such as caffeine and apple cider vinegar
5. Decrease your sodium intake
6. Avoid eating processed and fatty foods, as these foods will slow you down and clog the channels of elimination, especially the liver
7. Drink green juices, including celery juice in the morning and 24–34 ounces of an additional green juice
8. Incorporate the Medical Medium Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie; this is a great smoothie that aids in removing heavy metal toxins from the body
9. Move your body—stretch, sweat, and get stronger
10. Breathe in fresh air