Breast Implant Illness: What You Can Do About It
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Addressing Breast Implant Illness—Assessment and Treatment Options
What is Breast Implant Illness and Is It Common?
More than 400,000 women and teenagers undergo breast implant augmentation surgeries every year, either for reconstruction following mastectomy, or to enhance otherwise healthy breasts.[1]
While the vast majority of breast implant procedures are performed successfully without patients reporting any significant adverse symptoms, a small percentage of patients do report a range of symptoms, which may be linked to their breast implants—this range of symptoms are often referred to as Breast Implant Illness or BII.
While not currently recognized as an official medical diagnosis, the symptoms associated with BII tend to be similar to symptoms associated with various autoimmune inflammatory conditions, but they can vary greatly between patients.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Breast Implant Illness?
Patients report a range of different signs and symptoms of breast implant illness, which may include (but are not limited to):
pain in joints and muscles
fatigue
breathing difficulties
rashes
sleep disturbance
anxiety and depression
hair loss
brain fog
gastrointestinal issues
BII has also been linked to certain autoimmune disorders and cases of lymphoma.
Patients can experience breast implant illness symptoms differently—symptoms can appear immediately following the implant procedure in some patients, while others may not develop symptoms until many years after the procedure.
What to Do If You Suspect You Have Breast Implant Illness?
Some women who undergo breast augmentation surgery may suspect they are experiencing BII.
If you are in this situation, it’s important to seek professional medical advice. Your doctor should be able to determine whether the symptoms are likely to be related to your implants or possibly being caused by another issue.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend you undertake a breast implant removal procedure, which generally works to effectively resolve any symptoms.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, Dr. Orloff at Burbank Plastic Surgery can help to assess and evaluate your condition. If necessary, they can safely perform a breast implant removal procedure to help you restore good health and get back to feeling like yourself.
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“I had silicone breast implants placed 5 years ago. They were great for one year, then I started having weird problems. I went to see Dr. Orloff because of his reputation and his reviews on Yelp. Dr. Orloff and his staff were very caring. I had the implant with the capsule removed. I also had a lift to make my breasts look better. I am super happy with my recovery and how my breasts look. I am happy to have my implants out. I am happy with my whole experience. Most of all I feel much better!”
Resource Articles About Breast Implant Illness:
National Center for Health Research – Breast Implant Illnesses: What’s the Evidence?
https://www.center4research.org
Food and Drug Administration – About Breast Implants
https://www.fda.gov
New York Times – Reports of Breast Implant Illnesses Prompt Federal Review
https://www.nytimes.com
New York Post – Breast Implants Under Federal Review
https://nypost.com
Kaiser Health News – Ask FDA To Better Regulate Breast Implants
https://khn.org