26yo, 330cc Breast Implants, Having Them Removed Due to Health Reasons - Sydney, AU

I got my breast implants in 2012 when I was 21 years old. I was told they were the safest and that they wouldn't need to be replaced unless they ruptured - they were the Silimed polyurethane textured implants. At the time I was struggling with self love and acceptance and I wasn't comfortable in my body. I thought breast implants would give me the confidence that I didn't have with my body.

I began getting strange symptoms such as chronic fatigue, intolerance to foods, back aches, joint pain and arthritis, blurry vision, cognitive dysfunction (brain fog and memory loss), sinus infections, recurring infections and low immunity, eczema, depression and anxiety, heart palpitations, poor sleep and insomnia, swollen lymph nodes, cold and discolored hands and feet, and issues with my adrenals and thyroid. I have had many days where I couldn't get out of bed as I have been in crippling pain and debilitating fatigue.
I have been to see many Doctors, had a heap of tests and spent thousands of money on supplements. Tests came back that I had high readings of heavy metals such as mercury, lead and copper - but yet no one could tell me why as I never had amalgam fillings. I had also been diagnosed with Lyme disease and toxic mould.
The last few months I have started to develop more symptoms and issues so I have done more research. I never fully connected the dots to what the real reason to my ill health until I found a website called 'Breast Implant Illness'. Over 30,000 women have the same symptoms and stories, which all match mine. Upon my research, I have also discovered that my implants were banned from use world wide, taken off the market and are associated to deaths and cases of BIA-ALCL.

Next Monday I am having my breast implants removed and I am hoping that I will slowly get my health back, and my body will be able to heal and detox and my immune system can focus on what it needs too.

The last few months have been such an emotional roller-coaster, preparing for this surgery and having my implants removed. I have gone from moments about being excited for the future to bursts of crying and breaking down in tears. I knew all I wanted was my health back and this surgery is so important thing to me. However, I have been very scared and nervous of what they will look like after and the initial emotional shock once my bandages are removed. Will I be able to look in the mirror and be happy with my natural look? So many thoughts running through my mind.
I think at first it will be strange to see something different in the mirror. I have gotten so used to seeing myself the way I am at the moment for the past 5 years. I have decided that I am going to mentally prepare myself and give time for my mind to adjust to the change before I look at them - this may lessen the shock.
I haven't told many friends that I am having my breast implants removed today, but they know that I have been unwell and I have mentioned that I made the possible connection between being so unwell and my breast implants. My family have been so supportive and are with me here today to support me before and after my surgery.
Of course, this whole journey has been the hardest journey I have had to go through, but as an individual I have come a long way and looking back to when I first got my implants in to even one year ago, I have completely changed as a person - in a good way.
I have slowly shifted my mindset and have learned to accept me and love me, just as I am. This is something that I am sure I will still need to work on post surgery. I have decided ahead of time I will love my breasts, no matter how they look after. I will not let my implants steal another moment from me and that includes after they are removed. I will not let them steal my happiness on top of my health. I would not let an industry define my self worth or beauty.
I am almost ready to drive to the hospital and go into surgery, and I feel strangely at ease and at peace. I feel happy and calm that I have reached this point. I am ready to walk into the hospital and begin my next journey of healing and self love.
I found this quote the other day and I think it's just beautiful:
"And I said to my body softly 'I want to be your friend'. It took a long breath and replied 'I have been waiting my whole life for this.'"

Tomorrow will mark 2 weeks since my explant surgery and having my implants removed. I had 330cc polyurethane coated silicone implants for 5 years. My surgeon (Dr Wessels, Sydney AU) was able to remove 100% of the capsule en-bloc. Since surgery, alot of symptoms have already gone. My face is glowing. I no longer have bags under my eyes. I have no joint pain, brain fog, heart palpitations, cold or discoloured hands and feet. As soon as I woke up from surgery I noticed that the swollen lymph node on the left side of my neck which had been there for a year had completely gone down! And it has stayed this way. I had to have drains in for 2 days after surgery, there was a lot of fluid in my breast pocket, and my capsules were also quick thick.
I also had my implants returned to me. They feel so heavy and I still can't believe that they were inside me for a whole 5 years. They didn't rupture, and were still intact. However, I can evidently see that some of the coating on the implants has flaked off.
I am over the moon with my results and not a day has gone by where I have missed my implants, and this is me being completely honest. This was 100% worth it! I feel free, I feel alive, and for the first time in a long time I feel so much like myself. One breast I think sits slightly higher than the other, but this also may change over time. I get my scar tape off in a couple of days too.
I could not have chosen a more caring and professional surgeon, Dr Wessels and his team have been absolutely great and I knew the whole time going into surgery that I would be in good hands.