A self-proclaimed psychic and influencer has shared how she reached ‘breaking point’ over criticism of plans to co-fund elective surgery.
Leila Stead is raising money to have her breast implants removed after experiencing “extreme symptoms” a decade after the first operation.
Ms Stead’s sister Elle started the GoFundMe campaign after revealing her sister had considered selling her car to fund the surgery.
In an Instagram post, Ms Stead described the implants she received in her 20s as “toxic” and a “ticking time bomb” of disease.
“Someone said to me yesterday, ‘it’s so great that you’re back to yourself,’ and while I feel like I have better tools to manage this breast implant disease, I won’t be ‘better’ until they’re out and probably for a while after that.” ” he said.
“My implants are also the toxic ‘tech implants’ that have the highest risk of BIA ALCL (breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma), a cancer that forms from the fluid and scar tissue near the implant.
“I’ve had these implants since 2012.”
The Therapeutic Goods Administration withdrew approval for three breast implants in October 2020 due to concerns about BIA-ALCL.
The ban involved two products manufactured by Germany’s Polytech Health & Aesthetics GmbH, trading in Auburn as JT Medical Pty Ltd.
Elle described her sister as “a pillar for women around the world” and said the implants had landed her in hospital three times.
“My sister is a single mother, feeling the pressure of the rising cost of living, dealing with debilitating symptoms that limit her ability to work as the sole breadwinner for her family,” Elle wrote.
“The biggest concern we have is that these toxic ingredients are causing breast implant disease that will cause her body to stop working or she will be diagnosed with cancer as a result of these toxins.
“Time is of the essence, Leila’s body is not coping with the toxic overload… and it will cost around $13,000 – $14,000.”
Since the campaign was launched, Ms Stead said she has been forced to defend herself against “relentless trolls”.
“As someone who already struggles so much, the constant trolling and hate that defames my name, slanders my name, abuses me and calls me all kinds of names, I have reached a breaking point,” she wrote.
“I can’t do it anymore, I can’t fight anymore, I can’t defend myself against this onslaught of hate that has been going on for the last seven years. Because I don’t support like any other human being? Don’t I deserve help?’
The pushback is not the first Ms Stedt, who is based in Byron Bay, has faced as a self-proclaimed psychic and astrologer.
Ms Stead drew criticism on social media in late 2021 when she compared Queensland’s Covid quarantine facilities to concentration camps.
She regularly shared vaccine and Covid misinformation on her Instagram account during the pandemic.
Most recently, she used her Instagram account to document the journey around having her implant removed.
“I will not be silent about this,” he wrote.
“I got them on a whim in my 20s, I was told they are the best and a quick Google search for multi-tech implants will tell you they still are.
“You have to dig through the information to find out the harsh reality that they can give you cancer.
“So many other women don’t know what’s causing their mystery illnesses.
“If you have implants, that’s the first place I’d start looking.
“Please know that breast implant disease is real, it is not rare.
“If you have implants, you are a ticking time bomb to experience all the symptoms I have and more.”
On August 1, Ms Stead shared a video showing her preparing to undergo treatment.
She wrote: “At first I thought he was going to kill me. Then I thanked him for showing it to me.
“And now I’m grateful that I not only survived it, but thrived.”
