Why a boob job didn’t make Chelle Luke happy and why she had her implants removed

CHELLE Luke decided to have breast implants at age 26. Ten years later, she says it was the worst decision she ever made.

WHEN Chelle Luke went under the knife to get breast implants 10 years ago, she never thought her decision would turn into $35,000 worth of regret.

At 26, Mrs Luke didn’t have what she considered the perfect chest. She was flat, asymmetric and one nipple was “tubular” and a different size compared with the other.

While it didn’t make her feel uncomfortable, she always wanted “bigger boobs” — so following her engagement to her now husband — she went for a consultation.

“In hindsight, I was very flippant about it and I didn’t think of the consequences,” she told news.com.au.

“I wanted the size that would suit my body, which in my mind would be a C. But the surgeon suggested a DD because my body shape could carry them.

“When I got them done, they looked amazing and I was really happy with them. But then I had children, and they changed.”

In the immediate months and years following the procedure, Mrs Luke was happy with her surgery. But following pregnancy and breastfeeding two children — her boobs took an unwelcome turn.

“After pregnancy, my breasts never went back to a DD — they went to an F,” the now 37-year-old said.

“They started to sag. With each implant weighing 450g, they became painful dead weights.”

Mrs Luke explained how she also developed capsular contracture — a complication that occurs when internal scar tissue forms a tight or constricting capsule around a breast implant — which resulted in “sharp stabbing pains” in her breasts.

“I couldn’t run or jump, and my kids would jump in my arms and I’d have to move them to hold properly because of the pain,” she said.

Chelle Luke says her breasts completely changed after having children.

After 10 years with implants, Mrs Luke decided she needed to rid herself of the “toxic bags” in her body.

“I was always aware they (breast implants) weren’t my body,” she explained.

“They felt so foreign ... and I felt like if I could take them out I would.

“I was at a point where I wanted to be able to run and play with my kids, but my breasts were holding me back ... and that broke my heart.”

Earlier this year, Nicola Robinson — the wife of My Kitchen Rules celebrity chef Pete Evans — had her implants removed after describing them as “toxic” objects in her body.

Nicola Robinson, who is married to celebrity chef Pete Evans, had her breast implants removed in May.

In May, the paleo advocate said having implants was the “deepest regret of her life”.

Announcing the removal surgery to her 39,000 followers, Ms Robinson explained why she decided to go through with the reversal surgery.

“I wasn’t leading a natural life, which is why I have two toxic silicon implants attached to my chest,” Robinson told Channel 7’s Sunday Night program in March.

“You know, I dabbled in fillers, Botox, all sorts of things that were driven by my fear ... to try and make myself feel better.”

After having her implants removed after 10 years in her body, Chelle now has 70cm worth of scarring.

But despite the scars, she hopes her story is a lesson to others about getting implants.

Last month, figures obtained by News Corp show nine in 10 women who have had a breast implant in Australia have the textured devices linked to a growing number of cases of a rare blood cancer.

President of the Australian Plastic Surgeons Association Professor Mark Ashton confirmed the highest risk breast implants are being sold at half price to discount providers.

The rough surface devices are also favoured because they are less likely to shift out of position and result in revision surgery.

Mrs Luke said that when she held her implants following their removal, she was in shock at how parts of the silicon pulled away from the surface.

“They are toxic bags in your body ... and we don’t know what they will do to us,” she said.

“When I looked at them, bits of the implant rubbed off ... so I have tiny bits flaking through my body. It’s shocking to think I did all this to look different.”

Chelle was left in shock when she looked at the implant that had been in her body for 10 years.

Mrs Luke said she posted her story of getting an “explant” on social media in a bid to warn other women about how implants can impact their future.

“There’s not a chance I would go through this again,” she said.

“In hindsight, I was feeling like I would look like other girls I admire. And I would be one of them ... but women don’t understand they never become part of your body.”

Chelle Luke shared this post on Instagram to show 'the not so pretty side'. Picture: Instagram/@tribe.mama.chelle

The mother-of-two said since the removal, she’s been through even more pain that’s resulted in 70cm of stitches. But she is thankful she no longer has a barrier between her and her children.

“I have these huge scars, but I feel so grateful to have them out,” she said.

“After the removal, there was a lot of skin so I had a lift ... which was horrendous.

“My surgeon called it breast origami, because he’s taken the skin off and tucked it all in to reshape them.

“A lot of my nipple was taken away which was hard to see ... I now have 70cm of scar all up.

“But my body scars well, so it will fade, but it will be marked forever.”