Earlier this year, I faced a hard fact: The breast implants I had put into my body at the age of 18 were making me sick, and I needed surgery to remove them.

It took ten years for me to learn that the plastic from the implants were the cause behind so many of my crippling health problems. I had been suffering from a mystery systemic mold overgrowth for over eight of those years (which baffled my doctors) and it was getting worse by the day. I felt devastated when I realized that I had done this to myself.

When I was 18, the words "research" and "long term consequences" weren't in my vocabulary. Body positivity and acceptance was not a thing in my social circle back then, and I was surrounded by several women at my waitressing job that had implants. It didn't seem like a big deal, and I had a large surplus of income from my new job with nothing to spend it on.

This is what I look back on as my "perfect storm".

But, the consequences didn't hit like a storm - they happened so slowly over the years that I blamed everything else but implants. I labeled myself as the type of person who had a sensitive system and angry gut. It was just who I was.

The health consequences of having breast implants was never a topic that I thought much about, let alone imagine writing publicly about. Undergoing a breast augmentation is still one of the few things that I truly regret. I will never forget the first time I saw my body after the surgery, and feeling my stomach drop. I would have done anything in that moment to undo my choices.

Like many others who have made regrettable life choices at at young age, I wish I could go back in time and remind my younger self that my body was beautiful just the way it was. I'd ask, "Have you thought about how this will impact your future as an athlete, or how this could impact your health over time?" I'd maybe even try to persuade my younger self to use that money for a European backpacking adventure or tattoo sleeve. Anything else.

I was barely able to afford paying for the surgery in the first place, let alone paying to undo the procedure. So, I did what any other eighteen year old would do when they made a mistake without immediate consequences: I ignored it.


In May, I scheduled the surgery to remove my implants and surrounding damaged tissues. My surgery date was planned for July 13th.

In the two months I waited, I dove headfirst into researching anything and everything to do with breast implant illness, breast implant removal, detoxing the body from mold toxicity, and surgery recovery timelines. I readied myself mentally, and tried my best to calm my mind about the impending surgery.

One of the biggest components to preparing my body for surgery and recovery was diet. I learned that sugar, high-carb foods and yeast fed the overgrowth of mold toxins / yeast in my body.

A Low Mold / Yeast Diet meant: no more beer / alcohol (as it's fermented and contains a large amount of mold / yeast), no sugar, no gluten (often contaminated with mold / yeast), no fermented foods, no cheese (mold!).

See our beautiful fridge below:



Luckily, Michael and I had been following the Bulletproof Diet for a few months, and it aligned very closely with a low mold / yeast diet. I had also recently started my friend Alison Cebulla's Sugar Detox. After feeling sick for so long, I was now desperate to do anything to help my body heal.

I chose to not publicly talk about my surgery until now because I wanted to be on the other side of the situation. Rather than end my story at the scheduling of a surgery and a cliff-hanger, I wanted to be able to tell it from a more reflective standpoint.

It took me three and a half weeks after my surgery to get to a point where I felt I could lasso all of the thoughts into an article I felt comfortable sharing.

I'm proud to say now: The day I removed my implants was one of the most important days of my life.

Unlike the first time I saw my body after I got implants, when I saw my body after removing them - it was like looking at the real me for the first time in ten years. I felt whole and complete. My small breasts were like a prize for the struggle I had been through. They were all mine, they were perfect for running and outdoor adventures, and never again did I have to worry about foreign objects wrecking havoc on my system.

I felt immediate relief on a mind, body and soul level: My brain fog started to clear, my skin rash started to go away, my body no longer ached and my extreme exhaustion was improving. There was a lightness in my heart. The surgery worked.

Now that I am overflowing with positive emotions and an abundance of knowledge on the subject of breast implants - Here is the point where I am going to stand on my small soap box for a quick moment and say some important things. I'm not going to sugar coat it (literally, ever again): if you are considering getting breast implants, for whatever reason, DO NOT DO IT. Spend your money on an epic vacation, paying off debt, a new haircut, new clothes, taking twenty of your closest friends out for a night on the town, an expensive hand-made push up bra - anything else!

Despite what plastic surgeons say (who just wants your money), breast implants are foreign objects in your body and are not permanent. Most surgeons recommend replacing your implants every 10-15 years. Over a lifetime, even if you never develop Breast Implant Illness, having implants can cost you well over $50,000, and thats on the cheap side. If having bigger breasts means that much to you - a good push up bra is so much cheaper and can do the trick. In total, my breasts have now cost me $20,000, not counting the cost of the numerous doctors visits associated with the symptoms from mold toxicity. It's simply not worth it.

If you have breast implants, I hope my story has shed some light into the seriousness of how they can impact your body over time (if they aren't already causing you health problems).

What's next for me?

My first plan is to fully recover from the surgery and the heal my body through a healthy diet and anti-fungal herbal supplements.

One week post-explant and feeling AMAZING leaving the house for the first time. We went to a movies in the park and watched Goonies. So much fun!

I have the OK to start exercising in two weeks, which I'm extremely excited about. This will help the detoxifying process my body is going through.

Three weeks post explant surgery and feeling so grateful to feel good enough to go on a walk!

Now that I'm no longer putting anything before my health, everything is getting better.

As of right now, I have two big things I'm looking forward to:  Next month, Michael and I are going on a three-week road trip through California, Utah, Oregon and Washington with our mini-dog, Penny, to shoot videos and take photos for the fall Dirtbag Runners catalogue. Michael has become my business partner for DBR and has been designing some incredible artwork for our apparel, which we are overjoyed to begin sharing with the running community. After being stuck at home for over a month so I can heal from surgery, we are ecstatic to get out on the road and cleanse our souls.

And, the second big thing in our future - in two months, Michael and I get married. I hope to be healed well enough by then so I have tons of energy to celebrate the whole weekend, enjoy some sparkling wine and some wedding pie ;-).

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey and has taken the time to read my story. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns - feel free to reach out (crista@dirtbagrunners.com). There are so many other women out there who either have implants or are considering getting them put in. I now believe one of my life's missions is to encourage body positivity and increase awareness about the dangers of breast implants.