What Actress Mary McDonough Learned From a Bad Boob Job

For almost a decade, actress Mary McDonough played middle daughter Erin on The Waltons. When the show ended, Mary says she kept losing roles to women with bigger hair and breasts so she chose to get implants. Then, in 1995, Mary was diagnosed with Lupus, which she believes was a result of her breast implants. This diagnosis motivated Mary to become an activist for women's health issues.

Now, in this exclusive video, Mary shares advice to those who are considering plastic surgery. "Go inside, be quiet and sit, and really ask yourself, 'Am I doing this for me?'" she says. "A lot of times, what happens is we change something about ourselves thinking it's going to give us self-esteem, but guess what? You're still there with you."

Before making medical decisions, Mary says everyone should do their own research. "Take your health by the hands, and just hold it tight," she says. "Only you can help yourself with your doctors, with doing research. Find out what the negative implications can be."

Watch the above video to find out how Mary is lobbying for a safer implant option.

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