Removing her breast implants
became the only hope for Tracie Mohler.
For years, she believed they were making her sick.
Now, she's finally getting the surgery
she waited so long for.
Breast Implant Illness isn't officially recognized
as a medical diagnosis,
but we spoke with more than 100 women
who deal with symptoms just like this.
Panic attacks, severe indigestion, brain fog,
vision problems, insomnia, heart palpitations.
An explant surgery can cost $10,000.
Tracie saved up for it for six months,
but losing her job and a separation
from her husband got in the way.
When getting surgery seemed impossible, she hit rock bottom.
I just can't get any help, you know?
It's just no way to live, it's really not.
It's existing.
In July 2020, Insider produced
a short documentary about Breast Implant Illness.
We interviewed Dr. David Rankin in Florida,
whose schedule is fully booked with explants.
I see improvement in greater than 90%
of my patients.
Some of it is evidence-based
with improving lab function tests.
And in the video,
we featured Tracie's story.
After the video was published,
Dr. Rankin called Tracie
and offered to do her surgery pro bono.
When I saw Tracie and how she felt
and didn't have the ability or the means to pay
for her surgery, I decided I would jump in
and just help her out.
I just started crying, and I had to take a deep breath
because I couldn't catch my breath.
Now, she's preparing to make the trip
across the country to have her implants removed.
I hope that I am not tired all the time,
not swollen all the time.
I hope that I am able to put a sentence together
without searching for a word that I can't find.
I hope that I can be a better mom.
I hope that I can be successful at work.
This man is doing something for me that I can never repay.
Giving me this chance to get better.
I just wanted to thank him from the bottom of my heart,
and I look forward to meeting him, and I'm ready.
I'm ready.
Tracie!
Hi.
Don't cry, it's OK.
Hello, how are you?
Nice to meet you!
I feel scared, but he's so nice.
I feel good. I'm happy. I'm scared at the same time.
But I'm ready to see what all the hype is about
on the other side.
And I hear it's pretty good.
The right side is just ...
Killing you.
When I lay down, it goes all the way back here.
OK.
I know she's been sick and not feeling well
for many years now.
And she's ruled out many other illnesses
through seeing doctors
and really didn't have anywhere else to turn.
We don't paralyze you, anything like that.
Just keeps it really safe.
Surgery time, about an hour and 45 minutes.
OK. And I brought you a gift.
Whenever you have time, because I know you're so busy.
We're starting to have a clearer understanding
that there are symptoms and signs associated with BII,
and trying to decipher which patients get these problems,
how to prevent them.
And maybe even in the future,
how to detect prior to getting an implant,
to see if you're an appropriate candidate.
Oh, your journey, you're saying.
It's been a long journey.
Did you get some water?
Hey, Tracie.
It's Dee.
Yay, don't cry.
There's no crying.
They're going to kick me out if you do that.
This is with the capsule on.
It was total capsulectomy.
And then this is after I cut them, after I pulled them off.
So every bit of the capsule is removed.
You can almost see how paper thin the capsule is here.
I typically do about 15 explants a week.
And just a typical case, just an implant capsule
that wasn't ruptured.
There was nothing really outstanding to her case,
as far as surprises.
So everything went very smoothly.
You feeling OK?
I'm in pain.
Totally standard.
Everything came out really nice.
Where's your car?
I think it's there.
For many women,
this is kind of a last-resort option.
And fortunately, for many women,
it's a good option too,
because it does bring improvement to their health.
Nearly a year after we first met Tracie,
she's finally without implants, and finally without pain.
I am most excited to be pain-free.
They're giving me my life.