Radio presenter and Big Brother champion Kate Lawler has publicly shared details of her recent emergency breast surgery, revealing that one of her implants had ruptured, which she described as having "exploded." The 45-year-old television personality opened up about the medical procedure during an emotional episode of her podcast, Boj and Kate Have A Lot on Their Plate, explaining the unexpected health scare that led to the operation.
Discovery of the Ruptured Implant
Lawler first noticed something was wrong when her left breast became unusually hard, prompting an immediate visit to her general practitioner. "I've had a boob job... a boob replacement," she explained candidly to her listeners. "I got the surgery done five days ago so I'm still very much in the recovery period." The mother of four-year-old daughter Noa, who shares her child with husband Martin 'Boj' Bojtos, had originally undergone breast enlargement surgery back in 2015.
Reflecting on her initial decision for cosmetic surgery, Lawler said: "Ten years ago, I had my boobs enlarged - a very subtle boob job. I went my whole life actually loving my boobies but then they started to fall a bit and I thought, I just want a lift." She continued: "So I went and spoke to a surgeon, he was like, I'll just give you a small implant. It'll be the smallest we can go without it being too noticeable. I said, let's do it."
Medical Diagnosis and Urgent Action
When the hardness in her left breast persisted, Lawler's GP referred her to a specialist breast consultant. "Ten years later, my left breast goes hard. I go to my GP. She refers me to a breast consultant. I think the worst," she recounted. The diagnosis was concerning: "She tells me that my left boob has encapsulated and it's leaking. So I need to get it [the implant] out."
An encapsulated implant occurs when scar tissue forms around the implant and tightens, causing significant hardness and discomfort. When an implant ruptures or begins leaking - often informally described as having "exploded" - medical professionals typically recommend immediate removal and replacement to prevent further complications.
"It can happen anytime from having the surgery until you need to get them out," Lawler added, providing important context for others with implants. "But they're supposed to be replaced every 10 to 15 years anyway," she noted, highlighting the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance for breast implants.
Shocking Consultation Experiences
During her journey to find the right surgeon, Lawler encountered what she described as a particularly unprofessional consultation. "He wasn't for me," she said of one doctor. "He was very rude, and he had just eaten a sandwich, and had sandwich in his teeth. I was like, mate, I'm coming for a consultation. At least just have a glass of water and get the sandwich residue from your teeth."
She continued with disturbing details: "His bedside manner was appalling. I was in there for ten minutes. I was sat opposite him, on the other side of the desk, and he just went, 'OK, take your top off.' Usually you're told to go behind a curtain, there's a chaperone, you take your clothes off and then you say, I'm ready, and then they come around and they examine you."
"So I'm sat opposite him and then I just stand up, take my top off, take my bra off, and he just stares at my boobs and then pokes one of them, gets a tape measure out and goes, yeah, we can do it," Lawler recounted, clearly still disturbed by the memory.
Finding the Right Medical Professional
Thankfully, Lawler's subsequent consultation proved far more professional and reassuring. "Then I went to a proper surgeon who spent an hour within the consultation with a nurse who escorted me behind the curtain and we got undressed and she said, are you ready? I chose the guy that was right for me - a really top surgeon," she explained, emphasizing the importance of finding medical professionals who prioritize patient comfort and dignity.
The Surgical Procedure and Recovery
The 90-minute operation took place under general anaesthetic last Thursday, with Lawler opting to stay overnight in the hospital despite having the option to return home the same day. "I was nil by mouth from the day before," she described. "I spent all day really hungry and really thirsty because you know when they're like, you can't drink water, it just makes you more thirsty."
Her immediate post-operative experience proved challenging. "When I came around, I felt terribly sick. I was wheeled back into my hospital room and I just remember being so out of it. For three hours I was in and out of consciousness. I kicked over the bedside table, which had a glass bottle and a glass on, smashed everything, all my stuff went everywhere."
Communication with her husband also proved difficult during this disorienting period. Kate's attempts to contact Boj descended into chaos when she inadvertently gave a visiting friend the wrong phone number. "He had to DM [Boj] on Instagram to say that I was okay," she revealed with a touch of humour about the mix-up.
Challenges of Post-Surgical Rest
Following her surgeon's instructions has presented its own challenges for the normally active presenter. "The surgeon said, please don't do anything for the next 24 hours and no housework for a week," she shared, "which I laughed at because I was like, well, the thing is, I do all the housework and my husband won't."
This domestic reality influenced her decision to remain in hospital overnight. "That's why I stayed in the hospital overnight. I didn't have to - I could have gone home the same day. I was like, I'll stay in hospital overnight because I don't trust myself to not start cleaning when I get home."
Despite her best intentions, Lawler admitted to struggling with complete rest. "But I was only doing little bits like cleaning the kitchen. I wasn't raising my arms to open cupboards above my head," she explained, demonstrating the difficulty many patients face in following strict recovery protocols while managing household responsibilities.
Lawler's candid sharing of her experience provides valuable insight into the realities of breast implant maintenance, the importance of careful surgeon selection, and the challenges of post-operative recovery, particularly for women balancing family and household duties alongside their health needs.
