Can my breast implants be causing recurring strep throat?

Breast implant illness represents a constellation of symptoms exhibited by some augmentation patients.

While the symptoms are not in question, the association with the implants has never been medically defined or proven. Patients may pursue removal without symptomatic resolution.

With regards to your specific question, it is unlikely that your upper respiratory issues have anything to do with your implants.

As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

While not impossible, it is highly unlikely that your implants are causing recurrent infections. Generally speaking, even autoimmune diseases that may cause a recurrence of such infections are not linked to silicone implants as once thought. Breast implant illness refers to a general inflammation caused by any type of implants. While some women may report relief of some symptoms by removing their implants, it is rare to have all symptoms resolve by removing implants. In short, there should be no pathophysiologic reason that your implants would be causing that problem.

Thanks for your inquiry, I have not heard of breast implants being the source of recurrent strep throat and a quick review of the medical literature by me failed to find a link as well. I am glad you are seeking the opinion of an ENT doctor, best of luck.

There is no known link between breast implants causing recurrent strep throat. I hope you find some resolution from the ENT. I've included a video about BII that I hope you find helpful.

Access to information that will lead to understanding certain subjects on the internet can be a daunting task due to the over-abundance of misinformation and disinformation. BII is one of those subjects. Now known in the medical community as SSBI, or systemic symptoms attributed to breast implants, this phenomenon has had a lot of well designed studies show that there is no 'toxic' agent (twenty various heavy metals, silicone gel, bacterial biofilm, or endotoxins produced by bacteria) in affected women that's is significantly different than in women without implants. Further, women undergoing explant and 'en bloc' capsulectomy have no better outcome than women explanting with NO capsule removed. Finally, women with SSBI all report high levels of either anxiety or health anxiety, and indicate they prefer getting medical information on the internet instead of from doctors. In fact, the list of symptoms that BII activists claim are attributable to silicone breast implants is ever-expanding. Your recurring strep throat would be a perfect example of how this mysterious syndrome gains another symptom. So, no. Your implants are not causing your issues with infections.