Are you wondering whether your health is safe with breast implants? Do you want to have a breast implant procedure but are scared of the real-life stories available across different social media platforms? Or are you developing symptoms similar to what other women have faced after going through the breast augmentation procedure? This blog post is for you. It is an overview of all the significant risks, complications, and adverse effects that some women encounter after breast augmentation.

What is Breast Implant Illness (BII)?

Some patients and medical health practitioners state that BII is a condition that eventually shows a variety of adverse reactions after breast augmentation. It is also referred to as an autoimmune disorder due to the inflammatory response of the body against the implant. Breast implant illness is considered to be an unexplained medical mystery that is affecting thousands of women but is still not acknowledged by the FDA and the manufacturers. Some famous manufacturers believe that this disease doesn’t exist. Therefore, there are no specific measures to diagnose the disease medically, and most of the patients self-identify themselves with BII.

What are the initial symptoms of BII?

Plastic surgeons thoroughly explain the risks associated with the breast implant before the surgery. The general and self-diagnosing symptoms include:

  • Headaches and migraines
  • Fever
  • Uneven breast, decreased breast size, and tenderness around the area of the implant.
  • Numbness, burning sensation, and tingling.
  • Skin related problems such as rashes, stretch marks, and lymphoma.
  • Minor to extreme joint and muscle pain
  • Long-term fatigue
  • Mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression.
  • Swollen and dry eyes
  • Loss of hair

What are the significant complications of breast implants?

The following are the major adverse effects that have been reported among women who had undergone breast implants.

  • Capsular contracture and the formation of scar tissue 
  • Connective tissue disease such as fibromyalgia.
  • Implant rupture and deflation
  • Lymphoma
  • Breastfeeding

Many patients suffering from chronic symptoms have reported that their symptoms were healed after implant removal. However, if you can relate to any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is best to seek medical advice from a doctor before taking any further steps. If your doctor rules out other causes that can be causing these symptoms then it is advised to see a board-certified plastic surgeon.

What is the Incidence rate? 

Unfortunately, there’s not much evidence on BII as the FDA does not recognize this disease. The FDA believes that the incidence rate of women developing the autoimmune disease or inflammatory response to breast implants is around 0.03%-0.003%, and the symptoms appear after ten years. Nonetheless, the exact estimates are not available due to the lack of research. Each year with the ongoing rise in social media awareness programs, many patients are reporting that their symptoms have improved after the removal of breast implants. The support group worth mentioning is the Breast Implant Illness and Healing group on Facebook, which constitutes a massive community of around 100,000 survivors.   Conclusion  Let’s be real; breast implants aren’t a lifetime supporting device. As the FDA suggests, the patients need medical examination after every three years of breast augmentation. In many cases, the patients developing the symptoms mentioned earlier undergo constructive surgeries and other procedures. There is no scientific evidence that supports that these chronic symptoms are due to breast implants because the patients who have been genetically susceptible to autoimmune diseases and have a family history of chronic illness are more likely to develop these symptoms. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, consult with your doctor immediately and get urgent medical care.