I have had a slew of patients over the years who come in to remove their implants because they worry their implants are making them sick. The complaints are frequently vague- headaches, muscle aches, memory issues, feeling tired. They have done every test known to try to figure out what is wrong. The last stone to overturn- removing their breast implants. There are many chat rooms and websites on the internet increasing the fervor on this topic. It can make patients frantic, worried their implants are filled with mold and pus.
Can implants make you feel sick? The short answer is yes. There are for sure women who get sick from their implants, which is called BII or BREAST IMPLANT ILLNESS. I think the two major reasons for feeling bad with implants are BIOFILM (not so rare) and ASIA SYNDROME (rare).
As for the stories on the internet of pus and mold filled implants…. I don’t know. I personally have been in practice for 20 years, I have done hundreds of breast augmentation surgeries and revisions, and I have never seen mold in an implant. I have seen patients lose an implant because of a skin infection and implant exposure, but not seen a pus infection inside the implant. I am not saying it has never occurred, but you have to look at the source. What is your internet source? Was the breast implant placed in a AAAA certified center? A hospital? Were antibiotics and sterile technique used? Was it a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon? There are people who put in implants in a doctor’s office, not an operating room. There are ophthalmologists and internal medicine doctors putting in implants. There are people traveling to sketchy clinics all over the world to have implants placed. I perform all my surgeries in an accredited operating room, using strict sterile techniques. I am a board certified plastic surgeon, and trained in general and plastic surgery. I buy all my implants from a well established American company, Allergan. (Or from other well respected companies like Mentor or Sientra). I did a breast fellowship. I use antibiotic soaks, Keller funnels, and pre surgical preps for days ahead to avoid infections.
Could there be subclinical infection in the implants I just cannot see? It is a valid question. We don’t usually analyze the implant fluid when we remove the implant. What fluid I see is usually clear. But I do drain saline implants in my office prior to surgery. I do this so patients can make important decisions regarding implant size, whether to replace or remove the implant, and whether or not they need a lift. When deflating these implants, it has always been clear liquid. Of importance, these patients have never had fever spikes, chills, felt bad, sick, or had rashes after this drainage. If the implant had contained an infection or mold, poking a hole into it while the implant is still in the body would flood the body with the mold and infection, which would make the patient septic. I just haven’t seen it.
This isn’t a blog to negate your concern. If you feel bad, your implant could be the source, particularly if:
- Did your symptoms start after your implants were placed? When?
- Do you have a capsular contracture? (which indicates biofilm issues)
- You looked at other common issues (food allergies, seasonal allergies, perimenopause) as the cause, but found no issue?
Please read my blogs on biofilm and ASIA syndrome.
But first, breathe. It is something to address in a timely fashion, but you have time.