Breast augmentation procedures have become increasingly popular in the last few decades. To put it into perspective, over 300,000 American women seek boob jobs yearly. People seeking breast augmentation have several options to choose from, with the most popular being silicone implants.
Where all the procedures are relatively safe, there are cases where patients suffer complications such as what has been traditionally known as breast implant illness (BII).
Understanding BII
BII is a constellation of symptoms some patients exhibit after a breast implant. The symptoms include general fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, and other autoimmune-like symptoms BII Has been a hot topic in cosmetic surgery circles for a long time.
However, scientific evidence to back claims of BII has always remained scanty until after a study funded by the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation (ASERF) shed light on the topic.
Lead researchers in the study titled ‘Systemic Symptoms In Women Biospecimen Analysis Study’ included Caroline Glicksman, M.D New Jersey plastic surgeon and the president of the Anaesthetic Society Education And Research Foundation, And Patricia McGuire, MD, a St. Louis, Missouri plastic surgeon.
Understanding the Survey
According to the lead researchers, the study compared women with self-described BII with two control groups with the goal of tracking symptom improvement after implant removal. Past studies were retrospective, which means they were not done until after surgery, creating the possibility of recall bias.
The survey focused on symptom surveys, laboratory analysis of blood and capsule tissue, and other outcome measures to compare patients with control groups. The control group consisted of women with implants but without BBI symptoms and patients undergoing cosmetic mastopexy who never had implants.
The Findings
The findings showed a higher number of symptoms in an increase in symptoms in the BBI group compared to the control groups. However, the study did not find any definitive cause of the illness. It also debunked the widespread belief among BBI advocates that heavy metals in the implants were the cause of the illness. What was evident, though, was the correlation between a dramatic drop in symptoms and implant removal.
There has been debate on the most effective implant removal procedure, with some self-proclaimed explant experts claiming that en bloc capsulectomy is the best. En bloc, capsulectomy involves removing the implant and the scar tissue as one. The findings suggest that en bloc is unnecessary to alleviate the symptoms and that “exploitation experts” are a hoax. A typical capsulectomy will also do. Typical capsulectomy involves Making an incision into the capsule to remove the implant separately from scar tissue.
“Any board-certified plastic surgeon can remove an implant. Patients must avoid surgeons claiming to be “explantation experts” or who do not practice evidence-based medicine,” says Dr. Johnny Franco of Austin Plastic Surgeon.
The survey findings are good news for patients experiencing BII symptoms because they confirm that all the patient needs to do to alleviate their symptoms is have the implants removed.
BIIs Are the Exception
BII Is an exemption rather than the norm. While it cannot be ignored, it is impossible to note that most patients who get breast implants get favorable outcomes without many complications. Studies show that 90% of breast implant patients do not regret getting implants.
As long as you work with a board-certified surgeon, there is no reason not to get implants if they will help you look and feel like you have always desired.
