Breast augmentation is the most popular elective cosmetic surgical procedure in the world. Approximately 20,000 women undergo this procedure each year in Australia, with 75% for cosmetic augmentation and 25% for reconstruction after breast surgery, such as a mastectomy. [1]

Although considered to be relatively safe by the mainstream medical community, a correlation between breast implants and certain illnesses has been detected. This has come to be known as Breast Implant Illness (BII).

There has been much discussion about whether or not Breast Implant Illness is real, but more and more research is coming to light, as well as the important testimonies of implant recipients, which tells us that it is something that needs attention.

If you have breast implants and are experiencing adverse symptoms, it may be time to investigate if there’s a link between your implants and your deteriorating health.

About breast implants

A breast augmentation involves placing implants under the breasts or under the breast muscles on the chest. [2]

There are two different types of implants – one made of a silicone shell filled with saline (salty water) and one filled with silicone gel.

There are differences between the two, including:

Saline breast implants

Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water. They’re usually put into the breast empty and filled when they’re in place.
Saline implants are usually less expensive than silicone.
A drawback of saline is that some report that they’re more easily seen under the skin
You may feel water sloshing around.
Saline implants are considered safer as if they rupture, they your body can reabsorb the salt water.

Silicone breast implants

Silicone breast implants are made fully of silicone, a synthetic material that feels similar to human fat.
Many women report that silicone breast implants feel the most natural, looking and feeling more like natural breast tissue.

Breast implant illness and its symptoms

Breast implant illness isn’t well understood but can be debilitating with symptoms varying from person to person. It can occur with any type of breast implant, including silicone gel-filled, saline-filled, smooth surface, textured surface, round, or teardrop-shaped.

Although there is a risk of breast implants rupturing, breast implant illness may occur even when the implants have not ruptured. As the implants are in your body, you will still absorb the chemicals that are present in the implants. This creates an inflammatory response in the body.

Symptoms can occur immediately or sometimes, years later.

Common symptoms of breast implant illness include:

joint and muscle pain
chronic fatigue
memory and concentration problems
breathing problems
sleep disturbance
rashes and skin problems
dry mouth and dry eyes
anxiety
depression
headaches
hair loss
gastrointestinal problems [3]

For some women, further symptoms can include:

Premature aging of skin
Weight problems
Slow recovery after exercise
Vertigo
Throat clearing, cough, difficulty swallowing, choking
Reflux, GERD
Nausea, gastritis, leaky gut, SIBO
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Fevers, night sweats, heat intolerance
Persistent bacterial and viral infections
UTI infections, Interstitial Cystitis
Yeast infections, candida, sinusitis (fungal)
Ear ringing
Metallic tastes
Sudden new food intolerances and allergies
Heart palpitations, heart changes, heart pain
Blood pressure problems
Swollen and tender lymph nodes of breast and underarm
Inflammation
Hypothyroidism
Adrenal fatigue
Parathyroid problems
Diminishing hormones, early menopause
Low libido
Slow healing, easy bruising
Bouts of dehydration for no reason
Frequent urination
Numbness and tingling in limbs
Cold and discoloured hands and feet
Chest discomfort
Pain or burning around implant and underarm
Liver problems
Kidney problems
Gallbladder problems
Pancreatitis [4]

What are the chemicals present in breast implants?

Siloxanes are chemical compounds that contain silicon. Three types of siloxanes have been found in tissues of breast implant recipients. They can impact the body by:

Being bio accumulative and toxic
Suppressing immune function by suppressing natural killer cell activity
Creating autoimmune / autoinflammatory syndrome which is induced by adjuvants, which is a substance that enhances the immune system’s response to the presence of an antigen. [5]

Silicone and the manufacturing process to produce silicone requires chemicals. Both the silicone shell in saline and silicone implants and the silicone gel in silicone implants contain many chemicals, including:

Heavy metals such as tin, platinum, lead, antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, titanium, selenium, silver and vanadium
Organosilicon compounds
Hydrocarbons
Aldehydes
Ketones
Alcohols
Esters
Organic acids
Terpenes [6]

These toxins are now known to have side effects for women with breast implants, causing some of the following issues:

Damage to the DNA, impaired ability to repair DNA
Cell damage
Deactivate enzymes
Potentially replace minerals and vitamins, inhibiting their effect
The impairment of the immune system through overstimulation of inflammatory reactions
Symptoms that may include fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, confusion, chronic infections, and anaemia [7]

Xylene and acetone are also usually used as solvents during the manufacturing process of breast implants. These are classified as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are chemical compounds that have certain physical properties and are emitted as a gas from a liquid or solid. Exposure to their vapours can cause a number of adverse health conditions and are suspected or proven carcinogens.

Both xylene and acetone are poisonous to the nervous system and can cause confusion, headache, dizziness, or even losing consciousness. Chronic or prolonged exposure to xylene can also lead to anaemia, blood clots, and chest pain. Acetone can also negatively affect the blood and kidneys. [8]

Health issues that can arise from breast implant illness

Autoimmune disease

Studies have shown that silicone breast implants are associated with an increased risk of autoimmune diseases.

Silicone has been shown to create an inflammatory response in the body by:

Macrophages gathering over the surface of the implant, activated T-lymphocytes stimulating macrophages to fuse and form foreign body giant cells that engulf beads of silicone gel and angiogenesis and fibroplasia occurring around the implant in response to macrophage release factors. [9]

If you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system becomes confused and mistakenly attacks your own cells and tissues. There’s mounting evidence that the toxins in breast implants can actually disrupt your immune system enough that it triggers this confusion – resulting in autoimmunity. [10]

Some of the autoimmune diseases that are linked with breast implants include lupus, Raynaud’s Syndrome, Hashimoto’s, Addison’s Disease, Graves Disease, Sjogren’s, Scleroderma, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Unspecified Connective Tissue Disease, POTS, Ankylosing Spondylitis and Multiple Sclerosis.

If you already have an autoimmune disorder, you may want to avoid implants entirely.

Increased cancer risk

In 2019, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recalled and suspended several breast implants and tissue expanders due to a small risk of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). Implants with a textured outer silicone shell and a certain type of plastic shell called polyurethane have the highest risk.

Other cancers known to be associated with breast implants include melanoma, brain cancer, myeloma, respiratory cancer, breast cancer, carcinomas and sarcomas.

Breast implants have also shown to increase the risk of stillbirths, fibromyalgia, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Lyme Disease.

What you can do if you have breast implants and unwanted symptoms

The first and obvious question to ask yourself is whether you will have your implants taken out. This is a deeply personal decision but if you are experiencing debilitating symptoms, this may be your best option.

Test for toxins

Initially, there are a number of tests to get to the root cause of your specific symptoms that you can undergo. These include testing for nutrient status, infections, toxins, pathogens and mould and autoimmune activity.

Detoxification

Detoxify with an anti-inflammatory diet that eliminates sugars, gluten, dairy products, and processed foods that can cause inflammation in the gut. Eat plenty of leafy greens, fresh fruit and vegetables and lean proteins.

Restore a healthy gut

Test your microbiome checking for pathogens and dysbiosis. Eat plenty of probiotics and prebiotics to restore the health of your gut microbiome. Eat lots of fermented foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and pickled foods, as well as consider a supplement probiotic and prebiotic to help you along.

Support your immune system

Boost your intake of vitamins C, A, E, K, and D and ensure you are getting enough zinc, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids and selenium.

Check for MTHFR genetic variants and support your methylation and detox pathways

MTHFR genetic variants, which impair our ability to activate crucial B vitamins that support liver methylation and other important functions, may be inhibiting your ability to detox. You may need to supplement with methylfolate (L-5-MTHF and MethylB12 supplements such as methyl-cobalamin, adenosyl-cobalamin or hydroxocobalamin).

Exercise

Exercise such as walking, yoga and Pilates are all great ways to help your body detoxify and heal.

How we can help

At Advanced Functional Medicine, our team of expert health practitioners are equipped to conduct thorough testing following symptoms that are appearing after breast implants or after your have had them removed.

With careful investigation, we can set you on a journey to improve your health with targeted medicinal approaches, diet and lifestyle support and supplementation. Eradicating infections and toxins, balancing your biochemistry and healing your gut are all approaches we take from a functional medicine view.

Breast Implant Illness And Your Health