What is explant surgery? Swimsuit model opens up about procedure in South Florida
Enough was enough.
After a successful career as a lingerie and bikini model, Joy Corrigan made the “personal” decision to get explant surgery.
Earlier this month, the 35 year old, who has posed for such famed brands as Victoria’s Secret, Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Issue and Playboy, brought her social media followers along with her on the medical journey to have her breast implants removed.
“Facing down my greatest fears led me to a life-altering decision — one that’s redefined my relationship with my own body,” the North Carolina wrote on Instagram before going under the knife. “I have decided to prioritize my health ... It has been a scary, difficult, but rewarding time.”
Corrigan was operated on by South Florida’s Dr. David Rankin, who has offices in Miami, Boca Raton and Jupiter, where she traveled for the cosmetic procedure, after suffering from so-called Breast Implant Illness.
Also known as BII, it’s a wide ranging collection of symptoms related to having silicone or saline implants inside your body for a number of years. Women with this condition suffer with everything from fatigue, joint pain and chills to brain fog, anxiety and depression, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Before the operation, Corrigan posted a video telling her 951K followers about how badly she’s been feeling, complaining of migraines, inflammation and sluggishness.
“Basically, the implants, they’re killing me,” the “Reprisal” actress confesses, adding that she had them done secretly 12 years ago. “Something inside me feels wrong. I don’t feel healthy. I want to be myself again.”
Another post takes her followers through the course of the day, including a snippet of her tech exec boyfriend Ted Dhanik, 46, who was by her side the whole time (“I’m so grateful for him”). Then, at the clip’s end, you see Corrigan, post-op, with two drains coming out of her bandaged chest.
“No boobies anymore,” she joked to the camera.
The catwalker is beyond pleased with the outcome.
“As soon as it was done their was a huge sense of relief and freedom,” Corrigan wrote. “I instantly knew that I made the right choice and I was so glad I trusted my intuition. Loving my body has been a new concept for me, and this is one act of love that my body will forever be grateful for.”
This story was originally published September 14, 2023 at 1:40 PM.
