Can I get silicone breast implants if I have Lupus (autoimmune disease)?

You can have silicone implants despite your Lupus.  I have done many successful augmentations in women with your condition.  As long as you are healthy and your lupus is under control, you should do great.

There is no known association between autoimmune disease in breast implants. Therefore there is no contraindication in a patient with lupus.

Silicone gel implants were taken off the market and intensively studied for fourteen years before they were reinstated.  Studies have not shown any association between silicone gel breast implants and autoimmune disease formation.  From a clinical standpoint, I have done breast augmentation surgery using silicone gel implants on several patients over the course of my career and none of them have had any problems with them.

Technically, yes you can get silicone implants as studies have repeatedly shown no link between silicone implants and autoimmune disease. If your lupus symptoms are mild and you don't have skin changes, you should heal fine from the surgery. If you are concerned about silicone implants, saline implants are another option for you to consider.

Thank you
very much for your enquiry.Lupus is an
autoimmune disease and there have been some reports of silicone breast implants
increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases in some patients.



I think it
would best to discuss the pros and cons of breast implants if you have Lupus in
detail with your plastic surgeon who can advise you on the best way
forward.AR

Many women who have lupus do have silicone implants. However, your medical doctor might be the one you need to ask.  If your symptoms are mild and well controlled, and you are not on large doses of steroids that would interfere with healing, you might be a good candidate for surgery.

Without knowing what kind of lupus you have or the severity of it, it's difficult to give you an easy answer.  For example, if you are on high doses of prednisone (or other steroid), then any elective surgery should be postponed.  Though women with lupus can have breast augmentation, you should discuss this with the physician who is managing your lupus prior to having surgery.  I hope it goes well for you!  If you have any other concerns, feel free to contact me.

You can safely have a silicone gel implant even if you have a history of lupus or other autoimmune disorder. Silicone safety has been established through rigorous research and the implants do not cause any known illness. 

swag3hunna, Tendency to develop lupus and other autoimmune disorders is often genetic, and closely related to the finding of the genetic marker HLAB27, which is found in about 5-6% of the US population, and in a high percentage of those individuals with autoimmune disorders.  Also, most autoimmune disorders occur significantly more frequently in women than in men, again due to genetics. Since there are ample studies showing that there are no links between breast implants (silicone or saline) and collagen diseases, like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, there is no medical reason to avoid silicone implants. However, reality shows that trial lawyers continue to bring tort suits alleging harm from silicone, and that may lead to reluctance of many surgeons to offer silicone, simply to avoid the risk of frivolous litigation.   See the link below for a summary of the findings of the National Science Panel regarding this issue.   I hope that this helps.Best wishes,Tom DeWire, MD, FACS     Richmond, VA