Body Rejection to Contact Lenses Vs. Rejection of Breast Implants?

Question

First of all I really appreciate all of the doctors that are here to answer our questions! About three years ago I had a reaction to contact lenses.  My right eye had a bulging effect. I had chills, nausea, high white blood count, and of course, red eyes.  After a lot of testing they told me to stop wearing contacts due to my body rejecting the lenses.  I also have food allergies so I am thinking my body is pretty sensitive.  Is it likely that my body will reject breast implants if it rejected contact lenses?

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

I am not aware of an association or correlation between these two entities. First off, although the body may develop silicone antibodies, a true allergic reaction is very rare.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Breast implants do not get rejected.  They are inert and should be no problem to insert.  Good luck with your decision.

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

I am NOT an eye specialist, so I cannot comment on your experience with contact lenses EXCEPT to say that it is VERY unusual. 
Let me explain.
The word REJECTION is thrown around casually by the public and is permitted and tolerated by doctors who do not have enough time to correct this misuse of the term.
A REJECTION is a cellular and hormonal reaction in which a immunologically healthy body recognizes a GRAFT as being FOREIGN and attacks it with both cells and hormonal factors. Eventually, the blood vessels around the graft clot, the graft (if previously vascularized - dies and scar tissue is placed around it to wall it off from the rest of the body.
For example, if we were to transplant a kidney between one person and another who did NOT share ANY common immune markers, if the kidney recipient's immune system was not chemically suppressed, his/her body would recognize the new kidney was not theirs and attack it leading to graft loss.
A REJECTION reaction DOES NOT OCCUR with implants that do not bear immunological markers. In other words, knee joints, mechanical heart valves, implantable lenses, breast implants and even contact lenses DO NOT HAVE those markers that cause such reactions and therefore do NOT have classical rejection reaction that require on-going immunosuppressive treatments,
If I had to guess, I think you had a really bad eye infection associated with your contacts rather than a CLASSICAL rejection reaction.
The odds that your body would "reject" your breast implants is ZERO. The chances that they may become infected may reach 2%. Some would have to be removed if this cannot be treated. The odds that your breast implants may be associated with scarring - capsular contracture - during the course of their life time may be as high as 15% depending on the implants, the surgical technique used and how any existing infections (urinary tract etc) were handled.
In MY opinion, I see no reason why your bad contact experience and allergies should preclude you from having a good experience with breast implants.
Good Luck.

Steven Schuster, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear MoCab
I must say it is unusual, but I have never heard of someone rejecting breast implants. Some people say they rejected the implants because they had a capsular contracture but these are two separate events.  Although I can't say for sure it will be without complication I do not believe it would prevent you from having breast implants.  Why not discuss this with you opthalmologist, internist, allergist and plastic surgeon to see if this is right for you.  
Steven Schuster MD FACS

David E. Berman, MD (retired) · Answer

As the other surgeons below have suggested, it is rare if ever that the human body rejects a breast implant. If there is inadequate soft tissue between the implant and the incision, the wound can break down and this can be mislabelled as "rejection". If the implant is placed under the muscle this should rarely occur.

Body Rejection to Contact Lenses Vs. Rejection of Breast Implants?

Answers (6)

Answer: Rejecting implants

Answer: Rejecting implants

Answer: I think you are fine to proceed with a breast augmentation

Answer: I think you are fine to proceed with a breast augmentation

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Body Rejection to Contact Lenses Vs. Rejection of Breast Implants?

Answers (6)

Answer: Rejecting implants

Answer: Rejecting implants

Answer: I think you are fine to proceed with a breast augmentation

Answer: I think you are fine to proceed with a breast augmentation

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.