- Danica Patrick said she removed her breast implants in an Instagram post on Friday.
- Patrick, 40, said she'd experienced a number of health concerns due to the implants.
- Patrick said she has more energy and can take "a 30% deeper breath" after the removal surgery.
Danica Patrick said she had her breast implants removed after experiencing a number of health issues over the last few years.
The former NASCAR driver shared the update with fans in an Instagram post that outlined her symptoms and concerns on Friday. Patrick, 40, said she underwent breast augmentation in November 2014 and had them removed on Wednesday.
Patrick wrote that she underwent the procedure because she wanted to "have it all," adding, "I was really fit, but I didn't have boobs. So I got them. Everything went well, and I was happy with them."
"Fast forward about 3 years to early 2018, and I noticed that my hair was not as healthy and was breaking off. I also gained a few pounds and had no luck losing it," Patrick continued in the caption. "Then fast forward to late 2020.... and the wheels came off."
Patrick wrote that she dealt with many health concerns, like weight gain and cycle irregularity, and "went down the rabbit hole to figure it out. I did every test that could be done."
She listed additional symptoms, including facial swelling, dizziness, dry scalp and hair loss, swollen lymph nodes, severe leaky gut, dysbiosis, hypoglycemia, and hypothyroidism.
"I had them removed on Wednesday," Patrick wrote. "Within hours after surgery this is what I noticed - my face had more color and less dark circles (no food before the second pic), my face started producing oil again, I could take a 30% deeper breath into my chest already, and I had so much energy when I woke up."
Patrick continued her discussion in the post's comment section, writing that she had breast implant illness, which is not recognized as a formal medical diagnosis. According to the FDA, clinicians use the term "breast implant illness" to describe various systemic symptoms that women may report after breast augmentation or reconstruction.
Patrick also shared post-operation photos on her Instagram Stories.
Representatives for Patrick did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.