How do I avoid BII?

Question

I am so scared. I’ve read a LOT about different woman who have or is suffering from breast implant illness with symptoms for life. I just got mine done for 3 months a go and I LOOOOVE my boobs but I don’t want to risk my life for them. And there are a thousand of different famous people/ and private people that have got there boobs done and don’t suffer from any problems. So my question is , how to I prevent myself from getting BII? Do I change implants often? I want honest answers!!!!

Diane I. Duncan, MD, FACS · Answer

Thanks for your question! Currently, BII is not a formal medical diagnosis, and there's no testing for it. What one of my colleagues is recommending to patients (with frequent positive results) is getting tested for MTHFR and Celiac HLA genotypes, (not celiac transaminases). She also recommends a B12 and homocysteine levels (your PCP should be able to add these to normal bloodwork at a physical!). Many 'BII' patients of hers have found that they have an underlying autoimmune disease that hadn't been found until now. Since it's not a true 'disease' at this point there's no prophylactic elements like frequently redoing your implants (although this would make a surgeon quite happy ) ), taking certain medications, eating a certain way or anything like that to 'prevent' it. Essentially, at the moment 'BII' is just a catch-all term that encompasses a bunch of different symptoms that are being attributed to implants without proof of correlation. Keep an eye on releases from various plastic surgery societies (such as ASAPS or ASPS for example) to see what new research is being done and released!  Best of luck!

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your surgery!  The truth is that we are continually learning about BII.  The symptoms are vague and there is no specific test for diagnosis.  I encourage you to enjoy your results and not worry about potential issues.  Be proactive about your health by eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Keep your scheduled follow up visits with your surgeon and report any concerns.  I'm including a video about breast implant removal because it also speaks about BII.

How do I avoid BII?

Answers (2)

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