"Life is a series of lessons" - When Danica Patrick explained her decision to prioritize health over appearance

Former racecar driver Danica Patrick is well known for her career in NASCAR and open wheel racing. She was the first woman to win an IndyCar race in 2008 and is now a media popular figure as an F1 presenter and podcast host.

A few years back, the Wisconsin native shared her experience of having her breast implants removed after facing health problems. She realized her health was suffering due to breast implant illness and decided to have them removed in April 2022 after 8 years. She had faced symptoms like hair loss, weight gain, low energy, and hormone issues.

Two years back, Patrick opened up about how her choices affected her health during an interview with Good Morning America. Commenting on whether getting older played a role in her decision, she said that she felt relief after the surgery and has become more mature since 2014 when she had the implants placed.

“Life is a series of lessons, and so, yeah, I think that age does play a role. I think becoming more mature, becoming more confident, having more life experiences, and really realizing that no matter what you do, it's all an inside job,” Danica Patrick said (02:44).

She added:

“I thought to myself, I want to share this if it makes a difference, because I tried so many different things to feel better, to look better, all the things, and nothing worked,” she said in the interview (01:01).

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Danica Patrick's breast implant illness

The 42-year-old Danica Patrick, got her implants in 2014 when she was 32. However, she began experiencing symptoms after three years. She experienced hair loss, gained weight that she found difficult to lose, and felt a significant drop in energy. On top of that, she also had digestive issues and hormone problems.

After one year, Patrick noticed that her implants hardened. She finally realized that her symptoms might be due to breast implant illness after learning the stories of women with similar issues on social media.

In November 2022, Danica Patrick had surgery to remove the implants and instantly felt better. While the FDA considers silicone breast implants safe, it also warns of the potential for complications and recommends that patients discuss these risks with their doctors.

"It’s usually that their bodies have this kind of chronic inflammatory response to this implant. So, your body is fighting something, just like if it had an infection. I have seen too many times that people get better after you remove their implants," said Patrick's doctor Sean Parson (02:00).

One study found a link between silicone breast implants and breast implant illness and noted that removal of the implants is an effective treatment that can help resolve severe symptoms. Another 2021 study suggested that implants might be linked to certain connective tissue diseases.