Breast implants are among the most popular types of plastic surgery in the world and arguably the most famous. However, what we don’t hear about are the complications that come with the implants. Many people choose to have them removed for a variety of reasons. This includes wanting to go down to a smaller size or even just because they no longer want them. Although, there is one reason that many doctors have been dismissing for many years. Many people who have had breast implants have been suffering from autoimmune diseases or illnesses similar in nature.

Doctors Versus Patients

Explant explores the fact that breast implantation may be the root cause of women’s suffering.  Many of them are featured in this documentary. RuPaul’s Drag Race co-host/co-producer, Michelle Visage is one of the main focal points.

Visage — whom many will know from the bands, Seduction and The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M. — kindly shows us the rough journey she has been on to discover why she has been suffering from an autoimmune disease for years and her ultimate decision to have her implants removed. She kindly opens a portion of her life up for the documentary to allow others to see into what would typically be a private and personal affair. However, by opening those barriers, she hopes to spread the message that breast implants may very well be the reason why so many people with them have been getting mysteriously sick.

Visage may be the face of the documentary and the woman we hear from most. Of course, we do also hear testimonies from other women who have had breast implants. Each has both similar and different health issues that only came about after they had their surgery. And yet, despite this, many doctors want more evidence before they say for certain that the implants are causing the illnesses. Other doctors, on the other hand, seemingly refuse to flat-out believe those being affected by it.

More on the Issue at Hand

I don’t want to say that the documentary is biased because it does give us a two-sided story on the issue at hand. However, it doesn’t go too deep into many plastic surgeons’ statements on the issue. In argument of this, of course, it isn’t really necessary. While we see Visage and the other affected women try to find a reason why they’ve become or are becoming so sick, the doctors have seemingly made up their own minds on the matter despite it being clear that these women often only have one thing in common — their breast implants.

This couldn’t be any more damning when Visage speaks to Dr. Fanklin Rose, a prominent breast implant surgeon, at the film’s end. I don’t want to spoil the conversation for those who haven’t yet seen the film. Let’s just say that when you see the size of Rose’s house, you’ll immediately know why he’s such an ardent supporter of implants despite the chances of breast implant illness — something he freely admits to being real.

A History of …

I didn’t expect the documentary to be how much I would learn about the history of breast implantation. Explant takes us all the way back to the beginning. We start from the surgery’s decline in the 1980s when the FDA (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) essentially banned the surgery. In doing so, more medical tests are done to guarantee whether it’s as safe as people have been led to believe. At this point, we are led to its eventual un-banning and rise in popularity.

This background information was fascinating as it goes deep into the history of the surgery in a serious and professional manner without ever using any medical jargon that layman won’t understand. Also, it’s never boring — which may sound silly to say. Still, in my mind, if a documentary can be educational without being boring, then obviously, the filmmakers have done something right.

To add, learning about the different types of available breast implantation was also extremely fascinating and well-covered. They range from the standard silicon that many of us have heard of to Polypropylene implants (also known as string implants). The latter are the causes of the cartoonishly large breasts you mostly find in the adult entertainment industry. Again, as I said earlier, it was never boring to watch and learn about.

Final Thoughts

Explant is a fascinating exploration and study into a world to which many have not been exposed. I implore everyone to give it a watch. The film brings a somewhat hidden story to the forefront for possibly the first time on such a mainstream scale. Jeremy Simmons serves as the film’s director, producer, and editor.