What are the symptoms of silicone poisoning from breast implants?

I got silicone breast implants over a decade ago, and I have recently become very sick. The only doctor I've seen so far took a blood sample and found silicone in my system. Could it be that I have silicone poisoning from my breast implants? What are the symptoms?

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11 answers to “What are the symptoms of silicone...”

A: Really no such thing as "poisoning" from silicone

By Scott W. Mosser, MD - San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

There is really no such thing as “poisoning” from silicone. Over the years there have been extensive studies and research done by respectable universities that show medical grade silicone is nontoxic. This was following intense debate on the risks associated with silicone and silicone implants, and... more

A: Are your implants silicone gel?

By Kenneth R. Francis, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Pfeffer, Do you know if your implants are silicone gel filled? Gel filled implants were not available in the U.S. for first time breast augmentation patients ten years ago. They were re-approved for this use by the FDA in 2006 after 14 years of research confirming that essentially there is no such... more

A: there is no clear evidence that silicone poisoning exists

By David E. Berman, MD - Sterling Plastic Surgeon

You should be looking for other causes of your problems. It is normal to have very low levels of silicone in your blood, if you have silicone breast implants and there is no evidence that this is dangerous.

A: Unlikely to be due to implants

By Jeffrey Zwiren, MD - Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

It is unlikely that your symptoms are in anyway related to the implants but I would suggest that you go to the website breastimplantsafety.org At this site you will find numerous links to the safety of implants and the solid research behind these devices. I am not sure what your doctor found on your blood... more

A: Silicone really does not make people sick.

By George J. Beraka, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

To pfeffer10, Hi. I am so sorry that you are not well. All I can do is reassure you that it is not your implants that are making you sick. Silicone is everywhere (including maybe a little bit in your blood) and it is harmless. I know the research on silicone implants really well. They... more

A: No such thing as silicone poisoning

By Otto Joseph Placik, MD - Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Although silicone may be detected in your body, that does not mean that it is causing your disease. Many studies have been performed out of respective university centers that have shown no link between silicone implants and what had been called in the past: human adjuvant disease. Many rheumatologists have... more

A: No

By Robin T.W. Yuan, MD - Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Silicone breast implants do not cause silicone "poisoning". Silicone in various forms are ubiquitous, being present in foods, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, etc. and is found in trace amounts in our bodies. You should, however, always be vigilant about the possibility of rupture or... more

A: no such thing as "silicone poisoning"

By Richard Baxter, MD - Seattle Plastic Surgeon

First, a couple of things you need to know: studies have conclusively shown that medical grade silicone is nontoxic. This was a topic of intense interest about 15 years ago and there is probably no medical device that has been studied more thoroughly as a result. Additionally, everyone in a modern... more

A: Studies do not show that silicone "poisoning" exists.

By William B. Rosenblatt, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

If your implants are silicone from about 20 years ago, it is likely that they should be removed and either replaced with newer implants or left out. No studies have shown that there is a condition of "silicone poisoning". Silicone is a naturally existing substance that is non reactive. Silicone is... more

A: Very Unlikely related to your implants

By Armando Soto, MD - Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Hi there, There are a few things you should understand, and that I think will help you feel better that your implants are not the cause of your illness. Even when your implants were new, your system was exposed to a small amount of silicone on the surface of the implants. As they aged, this "gel... more

More answers to What are the symptoms of silicone poisoning from breast implants?
Southlake - Not LIkely

Comments

trisht
12 posts
7 Feb 2009

I would suggest that you talk with other women who have been in your shoes, rather than to accept the answers of these plastic surgeons as the only credible answer. There are other answers from other experts that can help you. The symptoms that many women have experienced after having breast implants include excessive fatigue, pain, numbness and tingling in extremities, vision disturbances, cognitive decline and memory problems, inability to concentrate, flu-like symptoms, and more. These symptoms are stated on the inserts from the manufacturers of breast implants and also have been reported by women with breast implants to the FDA under their MedWatch program. There are several support groups on Yahoo and the Internet designed specifically to address the concerns you have as related to your health after having breast implants. The proof that we have is in the healing that we experience after the implants are removed. I am one such woman, who became sick after having implants, and got better by removing them. I found that the plastic surgeons I consulted were not the ones to help in this situation, as they remain unable to address our concerns appropriately. Other women who have walked in your shoes are a real source of help, so keep looking! You will find the right answers if you look in the right places! Many women do experience a return of health when implants are removed, and that is the bottom line for you.

Sunshine N Austin
17 posts
7 Feb 2009

There are many symptoms of silicone poisening, but you see, the silicone manufactured for implants are made up of some 38 or so chemicals, all known neuro-toxins from what I understand. Here is a list: 1)Methyl EthylKetone 2)Cyclobexanone 3)Isopropyl Alcohol 4)Denatured Alcohol 5)Acetone 6)Urethane 7)Poly vinyl Chloride 8)Lacquer Thinner 9)Ethyl Acetate 10)Epoxy Resin 11)Epoxy Hardener 12)Amine 13)Printing Ink 14)Toluene 15)Freon 16)Silica 17)Flux 18)Solder ]19)Chlorplatinic Acid 20)Metal Cleaning Acid 21)Formaldehyde 22)Talcum Powder 23)Color Pigmentation (Printers Ink) 24)Oakite 25)Cyanoacyrylates 26)Ethylene Oxide 27)Carob Black 28)Xylene 29)Hexone 30)Benzene 31)Hexanone 2 32)Thixon-OSN-2 33)Rubber 34)Acid Stearic 35)Zinc Oxide 36)Naptha 37)Phenol 38)Methylene Chloride 39)Platinum Salt It is not the same as the silicone in nature...Not after processing it with all those chemicals. I dont know why they say it is safe. Number 10 and 11 are epoxy and epoxy hardner, and when you read how that is made, they use bisphenol A to make those, and that is very toxic ! In many people, it causes Multiple Chemical Sensitivities that lead to digestive problems, rashes, headaches, neurological things like numbness and tingeling in your limbs, and it can even distupt the whole endocrin system. I read that on the FDA site under immunotoxicology in the medical implant section for breast implants, and heart implants, etc.... You know,our bodies already take so many hits from all the chemicals in the environment, our foods are modified,hormoned, radiated, and the drinking water full of things that dont belong.... Add genetics in the play, and you can have some serious trouble brewing. Get all the education you can find on the subject and talk to many people with same like experience, and learn it all. You will know.......

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Southern Gurl
unregistered guest

18 Apr 2009

I have breast implants and have been feeling sick .I have the saline only 3 years and already 2 sets.

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Sunshine N Austin
17 posts
25 May 2009

Unusual skin reaction to silicone content in breast implants. Marcusson JA, Bjarnason B. Department of Dermatology, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden. We present a patient who had a long history of unsuccessful bilateral mammary operations with insertion and extraction of various implants, some of which were filled with silicone gel, others with saline. In addition to complications in the tissue surrounding the prosthesis, she had distant widespread skin lesions which, we believe, were due to leakage from the implant. A cutaneous test with material from various implants, such as the gel content and the shells, caused an unusually prolonged inflammatory response, which was difficult to classify as being either irritative or allergic. Macromorphologically and histologically, the provoked lesions resembled the previous cutaneous lesions. We believe that the patient's complications are due to an unusual host response to silicone. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10228633? Doctors, Can you explain the relationship of silicone and the response this person had so we understand how silicone is safe, inert, and causes no reactions ? Thank you in advance