Planning Your Explant: Choosing the Right Team and Approach (Part 4 of 5)

Hi friend, this is the practical conversation about surgery and who should do it. In my experience, there are a remarkably small number of surgeons worldwide who consistently approach explant in the way I believe women with BII truly need, removing both the implant and the entire capsule with great care and pairing that with a whole-person plan for healing.

What matters most isn’t a name, it’s the method and the mindset. The surgeon you choose should prepare the whole person long before a scalpel is ever picked up. That means taking time to understand how your body functions and heals: your genetic tendencies, how your detox pathways are working, what nutrients you’re missing or needing more of, and whether your hormones are supporting repair or quietly getting in the way.

That careful groundwork isn’t an add-on; it’s the foundation. By addressing root contributors before surgery, you create the conditions for your body to do what it is designed to do: heal fully and steadily, with fewer setbacks and more ease.

A whole-person surgical approach weaves together several essential threads. It looks at genetics to identify variations that can affect inflammation, collagen formation, and detoxification, then tailors support so your healing pathways are open and responsive. It prioritizes gentle, evidence-informed toxin reduction, helping your system clear what it doesn’t need so it can focus on recovery rather than fighting through extra noise.

This approach refines nutrition to ensure you have the building blocks for tissue repair: adequate protein, micronutrients that support immune balance and wound healing, and nourishment that’s kind to your gut and nervous system. And it optimizes hormones so they work with you, not against you, because stable, well-supported hormones can mean calmer inflammation, steadier energy, and better sleep: all of which matter when your body is knitting itself back together.

This whole-body preparation changes the experience after surgery in tangible ways. When tissues are well nourished, when detox pathways are supported, and when hormones are balanced, swelling tends to be more manageable, discomfort often resolves more predictably, and energy returns sooner.

Just as important, the mind and heart are not left behind. When your physiology is supported, anxiety softens, sleep improves, and the nervous system can downshift out of constant vigilance. That creates space for a gentler, more complete recovery: physically, mentally, and emotionally: where you feel cared for, involved, and steadily moving toward wholeness.

I share this because I’ve seen how profoundly it helps when a surgeon honors the whole person. The best outcomes come from teams who treat preparation as care, not just a checklist, meeting each patient with respect, clarity, and a plan that fits real life. If you’ve felt unheard or overwhelmed, know that there is a path where your body is prepared, your questions are welcomed, and your recovery is supported from the inside out.

My role is to interlace gentle Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) throughout your healing journey: before surgery to calm tissues and your nervous system, after surgery (when your surgeon approves) to support comfort and lymph flow, and in the following months as your body remodels and you come back to yourself.

Why I recommend pairing explant with a whole-person recovery pathway

A proper holistic pathway looks at the entire terrain of your health: genetic detox capacity, hormones, gut balance, inflammation, and toxic burden. The aim is to lower the load before surgery so your body is ready, then continue that support after surgery so healing is steadier and more complete. This kind of pathway honors what your body has carried and gives it real help.

How this usually looks

• Checking factors that influence how you clear stressors (for example, vitamin D status, methylation and antioxidant support, and glutathione pathways).
  

• Tending the gut and microbiome, which affects energy, mood, skin, and immune balance.
  

• Reducing toxic burden where possible (mold, environmental chemicals, metals) and tracking signs of inflammation.
  

• Strengthening daily foundations: sleep timing, calm movement, mineral-aware hydration, and gentle nervous-system resets, with personalized nutrients when appropriate.
  

• Ongoing check-ins and adjustments as your body changes.
  

Where I fit in: feather-light MLD

I weave feather-light MLD through this plan to encourage lymph flow, reduce tenderness, and invite a calmer nervous system. We go slowly, and we listen to your body.

Before surgery: build a gentle runway

• Begin your supportive plan first so inflammation is lower and your body feels steady going into surgery.
  

• Treat any active infections (dental, sinus, urinary, skin) ahead of time so your system is not fighting two battles at once.
  

• If you’re considering fat transfer, talk with your team about realistic goals and how to prepare.
  

• My MLD at this stage: very gentle sessions focused on comfort, down-shifting your nervous system, and supporting overall lymph flow, never deep or aggressive work.
  
  

The day of surgery: what thoughtful care can include

Your team may use pre-medications tailored to you, targeted nerve blocks, careful local anesthesia, and a technique that reduces or eliminates the need for drains. Every detail is designed to lower pain, support steady breathing, and help you wake up as comfortably as possible.

If fat transfer is part of your plan

Your team will want your overall health steady and your in inflammatory load low before grafting. Building and maintaining healthy tissue takes time. Expect a thoughtful movement plan (walking and gentle resistance), careful nutrition, and a pause on heavy endurance work while grafts settle.

After surgery: layered support for a calmer recovery

Thoughtful practices can be combined to help you feel held, gentle lymphatic work, restful breathing, red-light or oxygen-supportive therapies where appropriate, compression your surgeon recommends, and continued attention to sleep, nourishment, hydration, and emotional care. Your recovery plan should feel quiet, paced, and individualized.

My MLD after surgery:

• We start only when your surgeon clears it.
  

• We work away from incisions first to support global flow and comfort.
  

• We progress slowly, honoring tenderness and energy.
  

• Our aims are simple: less puffiness, easier breathing, a calmer nervous system, and deeper rest.
  

Why this whole-person plan matters

Implants can harbor biofilms and other irritants that keep the immune system on alert. Reducing your overall burden, and removing implant and capsule with care when indicated, are powerful levers. When the terrain is calmer, healing often feels clearer and more sustainable.

If you are not ready to explant

You can still make meaningful progress. Many women feel better by addressing infections quickly, lowering environmental exposures, tending sleep and nourishment, and beginning a calming MLD rhythm while they decide on timing. You are allowed to proceed at the pace that feels right for you.

Support Group "Breast Implant Illness and Healing By Nicole".

One of the most genuinely helpful spaces I’ve found is the Facebook group “Breast Implant Illness and Healing By Nicole.” It’s a warm, woman-centered community where you can be seen, heard, and supported by people who truly understand what you’re going through, from the first confusing symptoms to recovery and beyond.

Beyond the heartfelt encouragement, the group’s "Files" section is a treasure trove: dozens of scientific studies, practical checklists, and thoughtfully curated resources to help you make informed decisions, prepare for explant, and feel confident in your healing plan. If you’re looking for both compassion and credible information in one place, this group delivers in the best possible way.

My promise to you

I will continue to interlace gentle MLD through your preparation and recovery, always listening to your body and coordinating with your surgeon. You deserve a level of health and peace that lets you feel like you again.

With care,

Ida
Vodder-trained Manual Lymph Drainage therapist

Kind note: This post is educational and supportive. Here is a link to a resources document with a short, carefully curated list of explant surgeons who practice this whole-person approach, along with a large, supportive online community to help you feel informed and accompanied on your journey.