Giving Voice, Body and Power Back

The Journey of Julie Christie, Patient Advocate and

GPAC Member

We are proud to introduce Julie Christie, a dedicated member of the Global Patient

Advocacy Coalition (GPAC).

Founder of Santé mieux-être, ça commence par soi (Wellness starts from within), Julie

is a trained educator, speaker, yoga teacher, and patient-expert committed to raising

awareness about the risks associated with breast implants. As an active GPAC member, she

advocates for transparency, informed consent, and the empowerment of women making

decisions about breast surgery.

Her personal story began early. At age 17, a doctor suggested breast reconstruction to

correct a minor asymmetry. He believed it would improve her confidence and body

image. That medical gaze, imposed on her so young, deeply shaped how she viewed

herself. But instead of feeling empowered, Julie experienced the opposite: a profound

sense of shame. The physical and emotional consequences stayed with her for more than

30 years. It wasn’t until she explanted in 2019 that her health began to return.

Today, Julie turns that wound into strength. Through her advocacy work and public

speaking, she uses her experience to support popular education, creating safe,

compassionate spaces that help other women navigate their own journeys.

What she offers:

• Three conferences as a patient-expert on breast implants, including partnerships

with the Réseau québécois d’action pour la santé des femmes (RQASF) - Quebec

Women’s Health Network.

• Workshops for self-reflection and body reconnection, such as:

o Faire le tour de soi (Exploring the Self): a writing workshop revisiting key

life moments.

o Réapproprier son corps (Reclaiming the Bod)y: a space for reconnection

through movement, breathing, meditation, writing, and speaking.

Upcoming Projects:

• Julie’s book, Implant mammaire, si j’avais su ("Breast Implants: If I Had Only

Known"), will be published next spring.

• She will also be featured in an upcoming documentary on this subject, premiering

in December, to which she contributed extensively from the early research phase

by providing key resources, contacts, and insights.

Mon corps, mon histoire (My Body, My Story): Changing the Way We See Women’s

Bodies

Julie is also the creator and curator of the Mon corps, mon histoire (My Body, My Story)

photo exhibition, featuring 28 portraits of topless women, each accompanied by powerful

personal testimony. This project seeks to break down unrealistic beauty standards, spark

conversations about the life lived in every body, and promote a more human, and

compassionate way of seeing the female form.

You can follow Julie and subscribe to her Facebook page to stay updated on her

upcoming presentations, workshops, and publications.

She also welcomes invitations to speak in other regions, as long as the location is

accessible. Meeting communities and sharing her message is always a privilege.

Julie Christie

GPAC Member | Educator | Speaker | Patient-Expert | Yoga Teacher

Santé mieux-être, ça commence par soi (Wellness starts from within

Julie Christie-Facebookprofil