Is It Possible for Your Body to Reject Implants?

Question

I have problems with my body rejecting various types of piercings. Is it possible for the body to reject implants?

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

Typical causes for jewelry rejection are allergy to nickel. Although platinum is used as a catalyst in silicone, the impact of this has not been shown to be responsible for any allergy. Silcione antibodies can be found in the bloodstream of some individuals but this does not appear to be responsible for implatn rejection.

Armando Soto, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi there-

	The term "rejection" implies an immunological response- meaning that your body recognizes something inside of it that it has been exposed to before and knows does not belong to it- and then attacks it, sometimes causing illness.

	This does not occur with any type of breast implant.

	All breast implants are inert, meaning they are not recognized as foreign by the body. What DOES sometimes happen is infection, or capsular contracture (where the connective tissue wall your body makes around the implants shrinks over time).

	Both of these will require treatment. But true rejection does not occur.

Hayley Brown, MD, FACS · Answer

There is no documented cases in the literature about "rejection"  as being a risk of the current saline and silicone breast implants. Your body's rejection of piercings is not related at all to your risk of "rejecting" a breast implant. Certainly, all patients potentially respond differently to the presence of a foreign material implanted in the body, but this typically presents as variability in  scar tissue and capsule formation around the implant.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

I have not heard of a silicone or slaine filled implant being rejected by the body. They are inert and should have any effect on the immune system.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Interesting question. But without more medical information the easy answer is it is POSSIBLE. I doubt probable though. Implant materials are usually inert in other words the body does not recognize them as foreign materials so it does not start a rejection reaction sequence. Hope that helps.

Is It Possible for Your Body to Reject Implants?

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Answer: Body to Reject Implants

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Is It Possible for Your Body to Reject Implants?

Answers (10)

Answer: Implants and rejection

Answer: Implants and rejection

Answer: Body to Reject Implants

Answer: Body to Reject Implants

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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.