Breast Implant Illness (BII)

Breast Implant Illness is an incredibly inconvenient, expensive and devastating outcome in those with breast implants. It manifests at different rates and in different forms depending on the unique individual but can occur with any type of breast implant.

It is caused by the immune system trying to fight off the foreign body (resulting in immune dysregulation) along with toxic substances slowly leaching into your system over time, which occurs even in the absence of any structural damage to the implants.

Some of the signs and symptoms can include:

• Skin rashes, eczema, hives, welts

• Severe skin dryness and itching

• Inflamed red skin, acne, rosacea

• Fatigue, weakness, headaches, brain fog

• Hair thinning or loss

• Heart palpitations, chest pain, increased sweating

• Muscle weakness, joint pain, swollen glands

• Mood swings, anxiety, depression, insomnia

• Increased infections in general eg. colds, UTIs and hyperreactive immune responses causing allergy-like symptoms

• Leaky gut syndrome and altered gut microbiome

• Hormonal changes including low oestrogen, low progesterone, low testosterone and high cortisol

There is no specific test for BII but I would consider the following testing in cases where these symptoms arise in someone with breast implants:

Inflammatory Markers ESR, CRP, TNF-alpha, interleukins are some markers that are elevated in chronic inflammation and could be raised in BII. Rheumatoid factor and other autoimmune markers that could also be elevated due to immune dysregulation caused by BII.

Hair Mineral Analysis Level

This is done by cutting a small chunk of hair from the nape of the neck. (The few cm closest to the root needs to be undyed.) It checks for the main toxic metals in implants, along with beneficial minerals.

The main treatment for BII is removal of the implants, followed by detoxification and gut support.

We can use herbal medicines and nutritional medicine to support detoxification, improve hormone balance and reduce inflammation either way, but if this is the underlying cause it is extremely important to consider what is best long term.

Unfortunately, explant surgery tends to cost more than implant surgery and is rarely given financial consideration at the time of implant surgery, leaving many trapped in a cycle of worsening illness, medical gaslighting and despair at finding themselves in such a devastating position.