Do You Really Know the Health Risks Associated with Breast Implants?
I remember back in 1996 when I had my breast augmentation, the only risk I was informed about was rupture. I was told that this was pretty rare and could easily be remedied in the plastic surgeon’s office.
Do most of you believe that rupture is a rare occurrence? And do most women think this is the only risk of having implants?
My question was answered when I started a support group and read so many stories from women who were experiencing health-related issues. Their posts were fairly similar, and it didn’t seem to matter if they had saline-filled or silicone-gel implants. I read comments like: “My joints are achy,” “I’m so severely fatigued,” “I feel like I’m in a fog,” “I’m experiencing tingling and numbness in the extremities.” And the symptoms went on and on. The most common question was, “Could my implants possibly be causing these problems?” The answer is YES.
I find it so disturbing that there are so few women who really know the health risks. I was one of them. In September 2001, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I couldn’t even pronounce the word let alone know exactly what it was. I surely had no idea that the implants in my body had caused it. When I asked my doctor what causes fibromyalgia, she had a number of reasons, everything from it being hereditary to stress-related. Well I certainly had no one in my family that had fibromyalgia, so stress was my answer. I had been under stress for many years working hard and trying to advance in my career.
My doctor also took blood work that revealed that I had chronic Epstein-Barr. I certainly had heard of this before and knew this too was due from stress, so again, I blamed myself. This is what I thought for three long years. I was the one to blame!
My health continued to decline and I started wondering if my doctors were diagnosing me incorrectly. I started questioning the saline-filled implants I had had for eight years. I continually heard that “Saline implants do not cause health problems.” Wow, how wrong was that?
So with all this being said, I finally figured out what was causing my health-related issues and it was my implants. I didn’t find this information from any doctor but on the Internet. I found the information I so desperately needed from reading stories written by women who were sick just like me. I knew immediately after reading these stories that I needed to schedule an explant (removal of the breast implants). My explant was performed on November 29, 2004.
Now remember, I was first diagnosed in September of 2001. Do you find this as appalling as I do? This is what prompted me to write this article because I want every woman to know the possible health-related complications they could experience after having breast augmentation.
I’ve heard from many women that the list of symptoms that I have on my personal website has helped them so much. So I’ll start there. You can find all the symptoms I experienced here. This is really just the tip of the iceberg. Implants are also associated with autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, scleroderma, Raynaud’s disease, Alopecia Areata, to name just a few. You can find a complete list of diseases and complications at Breast Implant Info.
Also, a very interesting article that speaks about autoimmune diseases being associated with breast implants can be found here. This article is a bit outdated since the ban on silicone gel implants has been lifted, but it is well worth reading in order to learn more. Knowledge is power.
Remember too that saline-filled implants have an outer silicone shell, which can break down and migrate to different parts of the body. So many women with saline- and silicone-gel implants have many of the same symptoms. So please don’t think you are safe just because you decided on having the saline-filled implants versus the silicone gel. One well known rheumatologist, Dr. Vasey, who has studied the effects of implant-related diseases told me there is no difference between saline filled and silicone gel. They both contain silicone and cause the same types of problems. I visited him recently and he diagnosed me with silicone poisoning. My implants were Mentor Smooth Model 1600. I sent them to a bio-chemist to be analyzed and he found no deterioration of the outer shell, yet I am still sick. So the implants are very dangerous in my opinion.
Since my explant, many of my symptoms have either gone away or improved greatly. So I do believe there is a strong correlation between my implants and all the health problems I was experiencing.
I had silicone breast implants for 30 years. In May of 2005, I lost 22 pounds in about 6 weeks. To find out what was going on with my body, I had a colonoscopy, MRI’s, bone scan, cat scan, chest xray, and multiple lab tests. I was tested for numerous diseases. Everything came back negative. My doctors were stumped. It finally dawned on me that it might be my implants that were causing the problem. I had a breast MRI, and found out that both of my implants were ruptured, inside and outside the capsule. How long had they been ruptured? Who knows. In July, 2005 I had them removed. It has taken me 2 years to feel better and gain back the weight I lost. I was on a detox program for one year.
If you are considering getting implants, read all the information you can about silicone and implants. Become informed so you can make an intelligent decision. Remember that implants do not last a lifetime. You have to have them replaced every 5-10 years. They do rupture. Silicone can travel to other parts of your body. Implants are associated with immune problems. Women have died from the illnesses caused by implants. Do not become one of them. Be happy with your soft natural breasts. I wish I could go back in time and make a different decision.
Comment by brendalane — October 30, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
I feel betrayed by my plastic surgeon, the FDA, and Mentor.
3 yrs. ago I underwent a tummy tuck and breast augmentation, (Mentor saline filled silicone), after losing 120 lbs. I heard the negative things about implants, but that stuff wouldn’t happen to me. I had the best PS around, and he assured me none of his patients had ever come down with an auto immune disease after implantation! I even mentioned my concerns that my mother had an auto immune disease, (fibromyalgia). All my fears were put to rest, he explained them all away.
Fast forward 3 yrs., I now have a horrible disease called Scleroderma, linked to my implants! I am devasted, my hands and arms are disfigured and there’s no end in sight. Even if I get these implants out, (I’m scheduled for explant 11/14 w/ Dr. Melmed), I’m told it’s unlikely my symptoms will ever go away 100%.
I have 5 beautiful children, ages 6 and under, to take care of. I’m still trying to understand what God is teaching me through this.
Comment by Janette — October 30, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
Brenda, I’m so sorry to hear about your rupture but glad to hear that you are feeling better. No one really knows the long term effects of silicone in the body. I’m angered to think that these dangerous devices were approved by the FDA.
Having breast augmentation is a lifetime commitment. They must be replaced like you mentioned. It can be quite costly over time.
Comment by bethtaylor — October 30, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
Janette, my heart goes out to you. I’m sorry that you were indeed betrayed by your plastic surgeon, Mentor and the FDA.
I hope that after explant you do see some improvement!
Comment by bethtaylor — October 30, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
I have had saline implants for 10.5 years. Since implantation, I have been severely fatigued, developed Raynaud’s phenomenon (that will later develop into Scleroderma), have hair loss, have unexplained rashes, memory loss, unable to concentrate, dry eyes, headaches, sleep problems, and achy joints. I did not think my implants were causing me to be sick until I found several support groups. The one thing all the women have in common is we all have/had implants. At first, I thought “it can’t be the impants because I have saline”. Well little did I know, the saline is covered in silicone bags.
I am happy to say I will be getting my implants removed soon. I wish I would have known what I was getting myself into 10.5 years ago. Having bigger breasts is not worth anyones health. If you are considering implants, I am sure you will hear “implants are safe”, however, as far as I’m concerned, they are not.
Comment by Jamierhae — November 1, 2007 @ 6:32 am
Jamierhae, good luck with your explantation. I think you’ll begin to feel much better once it’s done. Alas, truly informed consent about implants is a fantasy in our society, when big money is being spent on promoting the message that implants are safe, and on the other side just a few lonely voices of women who’ve been there. That’s why this blog is such a great idea — finally a place that tries to tell women the truth!
Comment by Gloria — November 1, 2007 @ 10:01 am
Jamiehae, your story sounds very similar to my own. I’m sorry to hear that you too were uninformed about your decision over 10 years ago.
I hope that your heatlh improves after explant. Many, many women experience much improvement. I hope that you will as well!
Comment by bethtaylor — November 1, 2007 @ 10:35 am
My name is Katie and I’m 23. I decided to get saline implants in November 2005. Before my implants I have always been a healthy girl- worked out six days a week, ate healthy and enjoyed life. That following June I began to have terrible and debilitating joint pain in both elbows, both shoulders and tenderness in my back. I had been to every kind of Dr. and most thought I had tendinitis. So after resting for about 6 months and still no relief I then saw more Dr.s, received accupuncture, physical therapy, daily massages and still in chronic pain. After a year and a half of feeling miserable and in pain ALL the time I went to a pain management Doctor. I told him that I had breast implants and maybe that could be related to my pain, and he basically laughed at me and said he highly doubted that was the reason I was having all these problems.The only thing he said was that Ihad a lot of symptoms of fibromyalgia. How could I be completely healthy my whole life and just develop fibromyalgia out of nowhere? So the more I thought about my implants causing me my pain, I began to research breast implants and fibromyalgia. That brought me to a wonderful support group where other women were having very similar problems as me. From that day on I knew that my pain was from my implants.
Last week I had my explant surgery. I am so happy to be on the road to recovery. I’m 23 and have missed out on almost two years of my life. If I would have known what I know now about the dangers of breast implants I would have never considered implants. A bunch of people have them and have no problems, but you just don’t know how your body will react to them- It’s not worth it!
Comment by Katie — November 1, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
Katie, I often wondered that too. How did I just start to develop all these illnesses overnight?
I also go to a pain management doc and she will just say ‘I can’t comment on that’ when I mention the implants I had. I think this is a big problem.
I’m so glad you are feeling better after explant. Thank goodness this didn’t go on for years and years. You are so young and have your entire life ahead of you.
I know there are some doctors that can make you believe this is all in your head. It isn’t and you are right, breast implants just aren’t worth it!!!!
Comment by bethtaylor — November 1, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
I became a single parent following a painful divorce when I was twenty-four.I worked during the day and returned to part-time college at night. I also chose orthodontic treatment along with silicone breast implants in an attempt to improve my physical image.I felt empowered and independent; life wasn’t so unfair after all.
Within a matter of months following augmentation, my breasts became painful and hard. My plastic surgeon suggested replacement with Natural Y polyurethane coated silicone implants to ward off capsular contracture. Again, within a year my breasts re-developed the hardness, only this time I suffered a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and rheumatiod arthritis. Within five years of that, it was determined I have to take thyroid hormone replacement medication forever. Then my health slowly improved. I went on with my life wondering why hives continued to come out on my upper torso every so often and where the bouts of nausea came from during many mornings and nights.
As I would return to my plastic surgeon armed with advisements from the FDA, or complaining about discomfort caused by the scar capsules, he only cautioned me to consider becoming disfigured without implant exchange. I was told it was in my best interest to leave them alone unless I purchased new ones.
My implants were carefully removed “en bloc” twenty-four years later by a reconstructive plastic surgeon in Atlanta. She found it necessary to remove two axillary lymph nodes that were swollen with silicone that had shed and/or bled out from the implant shell. A lift was performed during the implant removal and my breasts appear surprisingly normal. Had I known my implants could be associated to lymphoma, I would have insisted they be removed long ago, rather than trusting my implanting surgeon to have the last word.
I am presently undergoing physical therapy for a frozen shoulder. I will detox for no less than one year. I urge women to research explant within the Internet forums. Haven’t you ever wondered what you could hear if you were a fly on the wall in your physician’s office? Well, now you can. We are speaking out about the “real world” effects that your implanting plastic surgeon will never want you to know.
Comment by Kathy1983 — November 1, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
I was implanted with McGhan Silicone Gel 280cc in 1988. 15 months later I woke up with a severe case of vertigo that lasted 2 years. This was followed by insomnia, dry eyes, extreme fatigue, depression(for no reason), hair loss, memory problems, speech problems, rashes, dry skin and others for the next 17 years. I was diagnosed by 8 Doctors with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Epstein-Barr Virus, hypothyroidism and tested several times for Lupus and M.S. For all the women getting implants I want you to have all of the information “of what could happen”. If you decide to get implants, become familiar with symptoms that could be the beginning of a lifetime of illness. If one Dr. had understood the symptoms associated with silicone toxicity, I would have taken mine out sooner and would still have the wonderful life I used to have. I’ve lost friends, my job of 31 years, my retirement and the life I worked so hard to attain. I now spend most of my days in bed. I’m broke and tired at 58 yrs old. I now look older than my friends - illness is aging! All implants will have to be replaced or explanted at some. This was a mistake I will never recover from - if only I could roll back the clock to the time in my life when I was young, healthy, energetic and employed.
Comment by Danielle — November 1, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
Hi my name is Kerry.I had silicone/silicone in 2000.Im 36 now…I had my breast implants for a 6 year dwell time.I had to wait 18 months to get the scar tissue removed because of money.I became very ill right in the very begining.I was carried back and forth to the bathroom,and fed in bed….I started with very bad migrane hedaches the first few weeks…I couldnt see light and would lye on the floor and cry because my head hurt so bad.I was explanted jan 31 2006 in and out of anaphlactic shock. My ankles and feet had swollen grotesly.I was waiting for this rare disease diagnosis.that never came, thank God!I have been diagnosed w raynauds (SLE) lupus, fibro, epsteins bar virus was one of my first,ibs, cfs,and have a lesion above my left eye.I was bed ridden also in 2004 -2005 In my moms care, she had to wash me!I didnt barley know anything, the date, what the world news was, stuttered, puked blood, bloody noses,fainting,tremors as if I had parkinsons, thank God I do not.The hardest part for me was sighning a will my folks brought me and sighning my daughter away, just in case I passed away,and they did not catch this disease in time.My explanted implants spoke for why I was so deathly ill.thank you!
Comment by kerry silicone 2000 — November 2, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
Kathy1983: I hope that therpy for your shoulder helps you and yes, good point about being a fly on the wall! LOL
Danielle: Your story is very sad and all too familiar. I’m so angry that none of us were told of the real dangers. I too have that vertigo with alot of the other symptoms you described. I just struggle with the vertigo as I’ve fallen several times from it. I hope you feel better soon!
Kerry: So sorry to hear what you have had to endure. Some of us are very sensitive to silicone. You clearly are one of those people. I hope that you are regaining your health.
Comment by bethtaylor — November 2, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
I have saline filled silicone. One ruptured, which prompted me to find out more information about implants. In 1997, I didn’t have a way to search, but now I do. I was going to reimplant until I found out that NO implant is safe. I’ve also realized that some of my health issues, extreme fatigue, weight gain, weakened immune system could be linked to implants. I am getting explanted. I feel very sad that when I try to discuss this with people that are pro-implants, they don’t even really want to hear what I have to say. It’s very disheartening. Thank you for your article.
Comment by scared1 — November 5, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
I am very fortunate to not have the illnesses or symptoms that many women are faced with. After two botched breast augmentations(by one of the most expensive and well credentialed surgeons in my city)I was very lucky to come across a support forum with real accounts from real women with implant problems. Although I had local pain and was generally uncomfortable, I expected this and was prepared for it the first couple of years while my body adjusted. My surgeon basically attributed my bad results to my body’s own healing and building of scar tissue and that sometimes this is beyond a surgeons control. I had been warned about the possiblities of asymmetry, wrinkling, contracture…etc, but I was not prepared for being lefted deformed, out over 10k (2 surgeries) with no recourse or guarantee that I could be fixed. Thankfully I chose to be explanted without replacement. I got a lift at the same time and would advise anyone trying to better their breast appearance to look into lift without implants. I am very small and am very happy with my results. They aren’t perfect, but implants, even if done correctly wouldn’t have made them perfect. P.S. At explantation I only had my implants for 6 months and one was already yellowish in comparison to the other and I had a very significant capsule…I can’t imagine what the would have looked like 5 years later. Not all women have problems, but is it worth the risks?
Comment by Anonymous — November 6, 2007 @ 8:19 am
I HAD SALINE SMOOTH IMPLANTS PLACED UNDER THE MUSCLE IN 1999. AFTER 9 YEARS I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE HAIRLOSS, VERTIGO, JOINT PAIN, FATIGUE AND NUMBNESS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF MY BODY….AFTER SEEING NUMEROUS DOCTORS I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS COMPLETELY NORMAL I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND IT THERE WERE DAYS THAT I COULD NOT GET OUT OF BED…..I FINALLY CAME ACROSS THIS FORUM AND SAW THAT A LOT OF THE WOMAN SUFFERED SIMILAR SYMPTOMS…I DECIDED TO EXPLANT WITHOUT REPLACEMENT…..MY SURGERY WAS RECENT SO I AM STILL RECOVERING BUT THIS IS THE BEST DECISION THAT I HAVE EVER MADE…I AM A NEW PERSON…I WON THE BATTLE BECAUSE IN THE END I NO LONGER HAVE IMPLANTS BUT I DO HAVE MY HEALTH.
Comment by MILDRED — November 8, 2007 @ 5:34 pm