Change begins with awareness, education, and action.
Our mission:
Our mission:
OPERATION EXPLANT, “I need to get something off my chest”, is an intimate documentary about two women removing their breast implants and their journey toward wellness. We are dedicated to supporting positive body imaging, bring understanding and companionship to the many women suffering in the dark, and to encourage awareness of Breast Implant Illness (BII). Our intention is to open hearts and minds to the reality of this vastly growing illness so that women today, as well as our future generations, can be informed and educated.
Breast Implant Illness, BII, is a controversial topic these days. It doesn’t seem to matter if the implants are small or large, silicone or saline, the symptoms don’t seem to be choosy. Reports on everything from itchy skin, to severe arthritis, to chronic pain, to multiple autoimmune disorders, to even cancer - and everything in between - the list is endless and these ailments are pushing women with implants from all over the world to now EXPLANT their expensive and painful breast augmentation in order to reclaim their lives.
While the physical damage is apparent to many, the emotional trauma from what is seemingly recognized as a failed promise is extenuating and for some, irreparable. No one knows how long the healing will take for those explanters living with the consequences of implants gone wrong.
And so the movement has begun.
It’s a daunting privilege to be allowed to capture the emotional experience of these brave women — especially given the nature of something so personal and female-centric. The undercurrent of a massive movement is swelling. This film is an opportunity to strengthen it and provide and intimate catalyst to positive change and healing.
~ Director, Michael Estrella
How can we continue forward and how can we all participate in creating awareness and educate the generations to come? Follow the journey of Erica and Annette - two women who are complete opposites, but truly sisters! They will take you on the journey of life with implants, the emotional and physical process of explanting, and what truly happens post explant.
Operation Explant, “I need to get something off my chest”, is dedicated to informing and supporting women and men of all ages, partners, family and friends to have the meaningful conversations around body imaging, personal confidence, shaming and bullying women to fit into the societal paradigms that are damaging girls and women today.
Education is key, and it starts here with bringing awareness to the masses. Thank you for supporting our journey.
Beautiful explant, with autoaugmentation (patients own breast tissue) and lift. Patient not only feels better but is so happy with her new look. Explants post operatively can look great but generally depend on several factors:
1. Age/skin elasticity
2. Amount of breast tissue and finally
3. How large and how long the implants have been in. I tell my patients that there health is the most important thing but I will do everything I can to make you look great. There are some patients that will have sub optimal aesthetic outcomes but in general they are so happy they feel better that they are ok with it , but a full open discussion is needed before any explant surgery
Photos and description courtesy of
Dr. Ritu Chopra via Instagram
For more, click here
Before and after of an explant no lift or fat. I generally use drains for 1-4 days and start gentle early massage on patients to avoid any adhesions to the chest wall. This patient not only feels amazing but is very pleased with her natural beautiful results.
Photos and description courtesy of
Dr. Ritu Chopra via Instagram
For more, click here
WARNING: For some, the images below may be considered graphic, proceed with caution:
Breast Implant Removal
This is an image of an Enbloc where implants with scar tissue around them were removed from the chest cavity with zero damage to the scar tissue.
A Total Capsulectomy is the title for when the scar tissue tears, but is still fully removed.
Once ANY foreign object is put into the body, the liver automatically releases protective enzymes which work to “fight” the foreign object to protect the body. Scar tissue is formed around the implant: some have thick shells, some thin - some have very clear signs of rupture or toxicity, some don’t. Each case is unique.
There are many different scenarios - some women live for decades with this scar tissue which begins to attach to the rib cage, and/or harden - resulting in significant pain for the patient, as well as creating a longer and more arduous explant process. Finding an “explant expert plastic surgeon” is key.
This image is of the same implants above after the scar tissue has been removed. There is a lot of misinformation and confusion surrounding whether the entire capsule should be removed, or just the implant itself, leaving the scar tissue inside the chest wall — Annette and Erica both believe that removing the entire capsule is key to getting their lives back on course.
Photos courtesy of
Dr. Ritu Chopra via Instagram
For more, click here
