BII & suffering tremendously - can I be helped & can it be covered under insurance?

Yes, you can be helped. You must have the implants removed along with the capsules and all inflamed tissue or any abnormalities found.

I am sorry to hear about your symptoms. Implant removal and capsulectomy surgery is not typically covered by most health insurance plans. Check with your health insurance to confirm.

Thankyou for your query. The entity you have described is rather ill-defined with many non specific symptoms. I have removed breast implants in several ladies who wished to have the procedure done because of these symptoms. Care has to be taken to remove the implants with the capsule en-bloc, without rupturing the capsule which covers the implant. The technique requires both experience and care, but a lot of the patients feel better after the procedure. Please find a Board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in the procedure and have him examine you and address all your concerns. All the best!

Hello @TrinityMead, thank you for your question. You will need to see the coverage of your insurance or medical plan. However, it is crucial to remove not only the implants but also the capsule. It is a complete capsulotomy because the capsule is never reabsorbed by the body. Also it would be necessary to carry out a preventive biopsy on each capsule. Having the capsules removed as well helps the mammary tissue heal better and avoid a future inflammatory response from the body . If you are considering a breast explantation, consultation with a plastic surgeon who is experienced in this procedure is essential to ensure optimal results. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS.

Dear TrinityMead,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

I am sorry to hear you are having to deal with these issues. Breast implant illness is increasingly diagnosed, and may be covered by health insurance plans. Many require that the patient has been evaluated by a Rheumatologist. This is often a helpful first step, either to help rule out other causes (rarely) or to add further credence to the reports of what you are going through. This may help get the treatments you ultimately need covered by your insurer. Patients with BII do seem to improve once the implants are removed. It is important to ensure the implants and tissues are evaluated in the lab after removal.
Best wishes,
Dr Hoy

Breast augmentation is an elected cosmetic procedure, and removal is also elective. Your symptoms may or may not have anything to do with your implants. I would suggest being checked for food allergies and toxins.

Great question. But at this time BII is not a consider disease so 99% of heath insurance will not cover explant and capsule removal or reconstruction of the breasts. Best to seek virtual consults. Most fees in the $10,00-$25,000 ranges.

I'm sorry to hear of the issues you are experiencing. For those with BII often times symptoms improve or go away completely with the removal of the implant and capsule. This is typically not covered by insurance. I've included a video on this condition that I hope you find helpful.

Trinity,
I’m sorry you’re experiencing such debilitating issues. Removal of the implants along with a complete capsulectomy usually help with many symptoms. Unfortunately, I’m not aware of insurance paying for these procedures.