Is there any specific test(s) that can conclusively determine if a patient might be suffering from silicone toxicity?

Question

I have 8 year old smooth, cohesive gel implants, that I happen to be very happy with, aesthetically, and really do not want to remove them if I don't have to for health reasons. However, I've had multiple autoimmune issues over the past few years that have severely limited me, and without any concrete answers, I have come to suspect the implants.

Joseph L. Grzeskiewicz, MD, FACS · Answer

Basically, there is no known systemic toxicity of silicone gel that is recognized, thus, there is no known test that can be performed to check for "silicone toxicity."  I recognize that you may have autoimmune disease, and that the symptoms may be incapacitating, but there is NO medical literature that supports the removal of silicone gel implants in patients who are happy and having no obvious problems with their implants, even if they have autoimmune disease.  Now, I am also open-minded, and I recognize that just because we have not identified such an entity yet it doesn't mean that the occasional very rare patient may not have some type of immune related response to the existence of any foreign body implanted in their tissues, including breast implants.  If you are convinced that your symptoms might improve with the removal of your implants, and you are ready to part with your implants and the current aesthetic appearance of your breasts, you may decide to electively have your implants and capsules removed entirely and just see what happens.  You may get better, but then again, you may not, and you would have removed your implants for no medical reason.  The problem is that there is no way to tell the outcome of any of this up front.  You just have to go with trial and error.  Explantation, or removal of breast implants, is certainly an acceptable operation to perform, but we have to be specific about the reasons why we are doing it and be realistic about them.  Based on the existing evidence, I don't think any doctor can assure you that removal of your implants will alleviate your symptoms of disease.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

So sorry you are suffering with autoimmune disease.  There is no medical literature to support that silicone causes or contributes to autoimmune disease.  The only way to know if implants are causing your disease is to take them out.  Live like that for a while as you can always have them put back in.

Is there any specific test(s) that can conclusively determine if a patient might be suffering from silicone toxicity?

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Is there any specific test(s) that can conclusively determine if a patient might be suffering from silicone toxicity?

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.