More than 100 symptoms have been associated with breast implant illness, including headaches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal problems. Symptoms can occur with any type of breast implants and can start immediately after implantation or years later.
Symptoms may include fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, dry eyes and many other health concerns. Healthcare providers diagnose BII by ruling out other health conditions. Breast implant illness treatment involves removing the implants. Many people see improvement in their symptoms soon after implant removal.
Affected patients typically experience some combination of fatigue, myalgia, joint pain, sicca syndrome (dry eyes and mouth), synovitis, rash, alopecia, muscular weakness or lymphadenopathy, and autoantibody formation.
Silicone implants were also associated with the risk of stillbirth and skin cancer. The scientists also found that women with silicone implants may be at higher risk of some surgical complications, including capsular contracture (scarring around the implant), compared with saline-filled implants.
They can rupture or leak, and saline implants may deflate. Capsular contracture may also occur, which is shrinkage of natural scar tissue that your body produces around any implanted medical device. This may result in firm or hard breasts or a deformity which you can feel or see.
On average, today's implants are designed to last more than a decade, with the chance of rupture increasing by one percent each year. So, the older your implants are, the greater your risk of rupture or other complications. In many cases, breast implants can remain in good shape for 20 years or more.
There is currently no way to diagnose breast implant illness. We can only rule out other inflammatory conditions with similar symptoms, such as Lyme disease or MS, and remove the implants to see if this relieves symptoms for the patient.
Breast implant illness (BII) is a systemic complication associated with breast implants. Patients with BII may experience autoimmune symptoms including fatigue, difficulty concentrating, hair loss, weight change, and depression.
The average cost of breast implant removal surgery is $3,049, according to the most recent statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This average cost is only part of the total price – it does not include anesthesia, operating room facilities or other related expenses.
Silicone contains carcinogens and toxins that can wreak havoc in the body. For example, it may cause connective tissue diseases, inflammation and symptoms of breast implant illness. Women have reported a variety of symptoms, including sinus problems, allergies and dizziness, caused by a leaking silicone implant.
Lumps or Ripples in Your Breast
For women who experience a silicone breast implant rupture, ripples and lumps may become noticeable in and around the breast itself or in the armpit area. But remember, because silicone implant ruptures occur slowly, these lumps and bumps may not be immediately noticeable.
Silicone implant is principally able to induce clinically significant systemic inflammatory disease. Removal of any silicone implant (ie, not only removal of the ruptured implant) was required for complete resolution of symptoms and inflammatory markers.
More than 100 symptoms have been associated with breast implant illness, including headaches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal problems. Symptoms can occur with any type of breast implants and can start immediately after implantation or years later.
Some women with breast implants report systemic and cognitive symptoms known as breast implant illness (BII), which are very similar to those of fibromyalgia. Functional MRI (fMRI) has shown altered brain activity in fibromyalgia patients.
In addition, the same study reported a 60% increased risk of Sjögren's syndrome, multiple sclerosis (MS), and sarcoidosis among those with implants, as well.
The clinical spectrum of autoimmune mastitis is broad: while some patients are asymptomatic, others have severe, recurrent breast inflammation, painful nodules, nipple discharge or retraction, and/or lymphadenopathy.
Diagnostic imaging studies such as mammography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging are used to evaluate implant integrity, detect abnormalities of the implant and its surrounding capsule, and detect breast conditions unrelated to implants.
A study of 100 patients concluded that 89% of patients who had capsulectomy and implant removal had symptom improvement within 3 months of surgery. These symptoms included cognitive problems, fatigue, burning pain in the breast and chest wall, dry eyes, anxiety, and joint pain.
An ultrasound can detect and help diagnose lumps and tumours in your breasts if you have implants.
Medical Necessity
Breast cancer in the implanted breast or remnant, or in the contralateral breast, where implant removal is necessary to excise the breast cancer; or. Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma; or. Extrusion of implant through skin, or. Implants complicated by recurrent infections, or.
Painful or uncomfortable implants can indicate a number of issues that require a breast implant revision, including capsular contracture, damaged lymph nodes, a developing seroma, pinched nerves or poor implant placement. If you have silicone implants, pain may be a sign your implant has ruptured or is leaking.
If your current breast implants are placed under the muscle and your surgeon uses the same incision location, many patients find that the recovery is slightly easier and less painful than the original. This is because the muscle does not need to be stretched (or stretched a large amount more).
It's normal to experience soreness, tenderness, and sensitivity as you recover from your breast implant removal surgery for around six weeks.