What is Breast Implant Illness?
Breast augmentation can change your life for the better, bringing you restored confidence in yourself and your body. Unfortunately, though, there can also be complications potentially associated with them.
Breast implant illness (often abbreviated as BII) is a term that has come to encompass a variety of symptoms women can experience when their bodies react adversely to breast implants. Sometimes this ailment is also called ASIA, which stands for autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants.
Any and all breast implants can cause breast implant illness. It does not matter whether they’re round, or teardrop shape, smooth-surfaced or textured, or a silicone gel versus saline.
Breast implant illness can also happen at any time. Some people start to experience symptoms right away, while others are fine for many, many years before they start to feel unwell.
As science in the area is still in its infancy, “Breast Implant Illness” is not a diagnosable condition and there is no officially acknowledged treatment or cure for it—nevertheless, to discount the condition as nonexistent would be to incorrectly deny the actual and very real-world experiences that a number of women are going through.
Thus, while studies are done and as science progresses, patients still look for answers to it—and we help them do so, and to get relief from their symptoms.
Symptoms of breast implant illness typically include but aren’t limited to, fatigue, achy joints, sore muscles, trouble sleeping, depression and anxiety, hair loss, digestive issues, struggling to breathe, loss of memory, rashes, and headaches. Breast implant illness may also go hand in hand with autoimmune and connective tissue disorders, including lupus and scleroderma.
What To Do If You Think You Might Have Breast Implant Illness
You’ll be relieved to find out that, when or if present, these symptoms considerably improve or go away entirely when the implants are removed. Some patients find it worthwhile to give up their enhanced breasts to get rid of these symptoms, but others don’t.
Unfortunately, breast implant illness is not yet very well understood by the scientific community. This means that not much research has been done on the subject, leaving women suffering from little option but to try and tackle the symptoms or give up the source of their renewed confidence, in many cases.
However, in the past year or so, the FDA has been looking into the risk factors for breast implant illness so that it can become an official diagnosis and we can understand the causes and make more informed decisions when it comes to breast implants and breast implant removals as it relates to breast implant illness.
If you think you may have breast implant illness, you should tell a doctor about your symptoms, so they can help you determine their possible cause and help you treat them.
For example, if your main symptoms are depression, trouble sleeping, or headaches, your doctor might prescribe an appropriate medication. Sometimes, however, all other treatment paths are exhausted and that’s when it’s time to talk to a plastic surgeon.
How Dr. Craft Can Help
Dr. Craft is a double board-certified Arizona plastic surgeon who helps men and women with a variety of issues, including breast implants and their removal (explant).
Dr. Craft has extensive experience performing breast explant surgeries, both for women who simply no longer like their implants aesthetically and for those who choose to remove them over health concerns.
If you believe you may be suffering from breast implant illness, schedule a consultation with Dr. Craft and his team. Dr. Craft can help you determine whether explant surgery is the best way for you to find relief.
Fortunately, recovery from breast explant surgery is not intense and most women are able to return to work within about five days while avoiding heavy lifting for about six weeks.
