Ashley Tisdale-French's 'Self-Love' Journey
- “High School Musical” star Ashley Tisdale celebrated her 41st birthday with a restorative wellness “reset” at The Ranch Malibu, sharing moments from a hike with her husband and highlighting days focused on slowing down, movement, and calm living.
- This reminds us of French’s self-love journey, including her decision to remove breast implants years ago after health concerns. More recently, she has also spoken about body image pressures, emphasizing a holistic approach to health and rejecting extremes or trends in weight loss.
- Dr. Sarah Cate and Dr. Jordan Jacobs tell SurvivorNet, “Patients who have implants placed for either cosmetic or reconstructive purposes should have yearly follow-ups with their surgeons.” They add that “there are recommendations from the FDA for routine (every 2-3 years) MRIs to evaluate the integrity of the implant and the surrounding capsule.”
- It’s important to note that the medical community has a consensus that women between 45 and 54 have annual mammograms. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says that women should start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered the age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives. For women aged 55 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
The New Jersey native and mom of two took to Instagram to share a sweet photo featuring her and her husband, composer Christopher French, 44, smiling as they embraced during a hike, along with glimpses of their stay at The Ranch.
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According to TODAY, French wrote about why she had her breast implants removed in 2020, explaining, “Hey guys, this is probably the most personal post I’ve ever shared. As you know, I’ve been very open about my mental health journey and feel that this is equally important.
“Years ago I underwent breast enhancement surgery. Prior to the surgery, I constantly felt my body was less than, and thought this change would make me feel more whole and more secure about myself. And for a short period of time…it did.”
She continued, “But little by little I began struggling with minor health issues that just were not adding up—food sensitivities as well as gut issues (full story on @frenshe) that I thought could be caused by my implants. So, last winter I decided to undergo implant removal.”
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French described the road to her breast implant removal journey of “growth, self discovery, self acceptance and most importantly self-love.
Referring to a photo she took two months after her surgery, she said, “I think you can tell just how happy I am to finally be fully me. Over the years I’ve met with many holistic and non-holistic doctors and learned the importance of living a non-toxic life.
“I can’t say I’m the proudest of the choices I made in the past but I don’t regret it because it got me here today.”
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More recently, French has opened up about her thoughts on popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic, writing on her website, “To be clear: I have absolutely ZERO judgment toward anyone using Ozempic or other similar medications. Zero.
“Just like with plastic surgery or any other personal decision about your body, I believe it’s yours to make. If a shot helps you feel healthier and more comfortable in your body, I fully support that. These drugs can be life-changing, and for many people, they are truly transformative.”
She explained further, “But when I see people who are already thin signing up for it, I can’t help but think of how body trends keep shifting. In the 2000s it was big boobs, then suddenly flat chests were in. The 2010s brought body positivity, and now it’s like we’re back to chasing ultra-slim everything. We keep moving the goalposts and it’s exhausting.
“What makes it harder is the nonstop online commentary. People pick apart bodies on the internet in ways they’d never dare say to someone’s face. Speculating (“is she pregnant?”) and critiquing (“she looks gaunt!”) is treated like it’s normal, but it’s not. All of it leaves people feeling like no matter what they do, they’ll be judged. You really can’t win. Which is why, at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is how you feel in your own body.”
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After admitting she has been “tempted” to try a weight loss drug, she has decided that it’s not for her.
French continued, “I’m not against Western medicine by any means, but I like to take a holistic view of weight, which is so deeply tied to hormones, sleep, food, mental health, genetics, and stress. (And sometimes autoimmune issues, which I personally live with.)
“What I’m most interested in is the why behind my desire to change my body. What am I actually chasing? What part of me isn’t feeling okay as I am? And I also remind myself that bodies aren’t supposed to stay the same. I remember feeling frustrated when I was three months postpartum, wondering why I still had a belly. Now I look back at pictures and think, Of course I had a belly—I had just had a baby! ”
Noting how it’s been one year since welcoming her second daughter Emerson, she is proud to have not used medicine to accelerate postpartum weight loss.
“Some of the things that have helped me reconnect with my body postpartum are following a macro-based lifestyle, doing yoga and Pilates, and walking 12,000 steps a day,” she concluded.
“But more than any routine, I’ve worked hard to accept my body as it’s evolved through two pregnancies, autoimmune flare-ups, and different seasons of womanhood. Bodies aren’t meant to be static. They’re meant to grow, heal, stretch, and adapt alongside us.”
Doctors Weigh In On Breast Implant Concerns
In an earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Sarah Cate, the lead physician for the Special Surveillance Breast Program at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and Dr. Jordan Jacobs, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, discussed breast implant concerns for survivors of breast cancer, following the release of an FDA safety communication. The FDA received 10 medical device reports (MDRs) about squamous cell carcinoma and 12 reports about various lymphomas connected to breast implants.
Doctors Cate and Jacobs tell SurvivorNet, regarding the FDA safety communication, “personally don’t think there is cause for alarm.”
The doctors believe the data shared by the FDA does not conclusively tie breast cancer to implants. Although, the pair does say, “the fact that the cancers were found in the implant capsules is certainly concerning and requires further investigation.”
Dr. Cate and Dr. Jacobs note how the FDA has required the placement of warnings on breast implant packaging. Additionally, there is newly an implant checklist that patients must sign and review before undergoing implant surgery. The doctors noted how ALCL, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has been associated with implants for years.
The doctors affirmed that textured implants, those linked to ALCL, are not used at Mount Sinai. The doctors also note that implants require monitoring, and that if there are an adverse conditions spotted after the implants, they should be reported to the FDA.
Dr. Cate and Dr. Jacobs tell SurvivorNet, “Patients who have implants placed for either cosmetic or reconstructive purposes should have yearly follow-ups with their surgeons.” They add that “there are recommendations from the FDA for routine (every 2-3 years) MRIs to evaluate the integrity of the implant and the surrounding capsule.”
It’s important to note that most women who get breast implants do not get the textured kind that’s linked to cancer. The more popular option is “smooth” implants, which are usually filled with either silicone or saline. Unlike textured implants, smooth ones have not been linked to cancer. However, smooth implants have previously had potential complications reported in the past, such as joint pain, muscle aches, confusion, chronic fatigue, and autoimmune diseases.
“The use of any foreign object in the human body has potential risks,” Dr. Dung Nguyen, Director of Breast Reconstruction at Stanford Medicine, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
“Some are rare and are not known until years after they are in clinical use. It is our professional responsibility to inform our patients of these risks and any changes to them as our experience with the device broadens. The goal is not to cause a mass scare, but to provide evidence-based information in a relatable way so that women can make educated decisions about the use of breast implants for themselves.”
It’s important to note that the medical community has a consensus that women between 45 and 54 have annual mammograms. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says that women should start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered the age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives. For women aged 55 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
When Should You Be Concerned About Your Implants?
Moreover, there are signs of cancer that Dr. Cate and Dr. Jacobs want people with breast implants to keep an eye out for. If anyone with implants present the following symptoms, they should contact their physician:
- Breast swelling
- Pain
- Redness
- Tightening
- A change in the shape of their breasts
If you do find yourself in a situation where an evaluation of your implants is needed, you will undergo a physical exam and imaging studies “to evaluate the implant shell integrity, determine if there is fluid around the implant and visualize the implant capsule.” Most breast radiologists can perform sampling fluid, as well, so that the fluid can be examined to see if there are any abnormal cells present.
“Surgical management includes removal of the implant and the surrounding capsule, which is sent to pathology to rule out atypical cells and/or cancer,” Dr. Cate and Dr. Jacobs added.
Getting Comfortable With Body Image
We’re delighted to see French maintaining confidence in her body. Remember, struggling with body image is not uncommon, especially for so many people dealing with health challenges, including cancer or the aftermath of a preventative mastectomy.
And it’s important you try to work on how you view your body because it can positively impact your emotional and physical wellbeing as a whole.
My Confidence Was Destroyed: Dealing With Body Image During Cancer Treatment
Dr. Marianna Strongin, a New York-based licensed clinical psychologist, says spending time in front of the mirror can help with body image.
Although “research has found that when looking in the mirror we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with” which can cause “a negative self-view and lower self- esteem,” it’s important to look at the parts of your body that you love and the parts of your body that you don’t.
Eventually, Dr. Strongin says, doing so can help you create a more accepting relationship with yourself.
“Body image is both the mental picture that you have of your body and the way you feel about your body when you look in a mirror,” she said. “As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body.”
Celebrity Stylist Ann Caruso on Beauty and Femininity After Cancer
Whether you’ve undergone mastectomy, or not, it’s important to know you’re not alone if you’re having a hard time with how you view your body after receiving a diagnosis or going through treatment.
Celebrity stylist Ann Caruso, for instance, previously opened up to SurvivorNet about how she was never the same after her 12 breast cancer surgeries.
“You’re not the same carefree person that you once were, and it was very hard for me to look at myself every day,” Caruso said. “It was like I was a totally different person and didn’t fit into any of my clothes for so long.”
But as time went on, Caruso said the experience helped her redefine femininity and body image as she knew it, adding, “Femininity is a state of mind,” Caruso said. “And I think that’s something that we have to remind ourselves.”
Meanwhile, Dr. William Breitbart, the chair of the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet, “Every day of our lives is really filled with uncertainty” but those facing a cancer diagnosis tend to feel that uncertainty at a more extreme level.”
Dr. Breitbart also said that learning to embrace that uncertainty is a part of living, not just for those fighting cancer, but for everyone.
RELATED: Learn to Accept Yourself A Huge Part of Living With Cancer
“What the task becomes is having the courage to live in the face of uncertainty, realizing that you cannot necessarily control the uncertainty in life, like the suffering that occurs, challenges both good and bad,” Dr. Breitbart says. “You may not be able to control those but you have control over how you choose to respond.”
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are struggling with body image and mental health, here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor:
- Are there interventions beyond medication for my depressed or anxious feelings?
- How can I go about finding and nourishing positive emotions?
- What can I do if I’m struggling to maintain a sense of positivity?
- What lifestyle factors can I adjust to feel better mentally?
Regaining a Sense of Self After Breast Reconstruction
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
