Thoughts on breast implant illness - how likely is it for implants to trigger an autoimmune disease?

Question

Hi I’m seriou considering A breast augmentation but I’m very worried to have a foreign body in my body. Will I trigger any autoimmune diseases? I don’t have a family history of autoimmune other than rheumatoid arthritis. Im worried about breast implant illness or cancers. What are your thoughts from your prior patients?

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear mrs.401,

there have been numerous studies on the safety and efficacy of silicone breast implants. The FDA has approved them to be safe and breast augmentation is the most common cosmetic surgical procedure performed in the United States every year. Implants are much different than they used to be with rigorous testing and cohesive gel. I can't tell you how happy my breast augmentation patients have been with their implants.

I would recommend a consult with a plastic surgeon to go over all of your concerns. Saline implants are also a perfectly good option if you are still concerned and are less expensive.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Donovan Rosas, MD · Answer

While BII has become an increasingly common concern among potential patients, it is important to remember that there is no published large volume study that has demonstrated a direct link between implants and autoimmune disease. Rarely patients will complain of a myriad of systemic symptoms which may (or may not) improve with removal. This is the origin of BII.

Breast implants are among the most heavily studied medical devices in use today. Countless studies have demonstrated their safety.

In my personal experience, I have dealt with many "BII" patients. Some improve with explant and others do not. Ultimately, it is a personal decision and each patient must weigh their risks and benefits.

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

Paul E. Chasan, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. I have been in practice for over 30 years and breast surgery is a large portion of my practice.  I have seen tens of thousands of patients with breast implants.  Breast implant illness is extremely rare. In my practice, I have seen 1 or 2 patients that I felt qualified for the diagnosis of breast implant illness.  The rest qualify for a diagnosis of anxiety disorder. I have also placed implants in people who have mild autoimmune diseases without making that disease worse. You should be able to have breast augmentation with silicone implants and not to stimulate autoimmune disease.

Mehmet Ozdemir, MD · Answer

It is perfectly normal to feel apprehensive about introducing a foreign object into your body, and your concerns regarding Breast implant illness (BII) and associated risks are topics we take very seriously in modern plastic surgery. While large-scale clinical data has not yet established a definitive, direct causal link between silicone implants and systemic autoimmune diseases, we do recognize that a small subset of patients reports a constellation of symptoms often referred to as BII that improve upon implant removal. Given your family history of rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system may already have a specific predisposition, so it is crucial to weigh the elective nature of this procedure against your long-term peace of mind. For patients with similar concerns, I often discuss autologous fat grafting (using your own fat) as a "foreign-body-free" alternative, or I recommend smooth, cohesive gel implants which have a lower risk profile for certain rare associated cancers like BIA-ALCL compared to older, textured models. Ultimately, the best approach is a thorough pre-operative screening to ensure your peace of mind and physical well-being remain the priority.

Thoughts on breast implant illness - how likely is it for implants to trigger an autoimmune disease?

Answers (4)

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