The Condition
Breast Implant Illness
Learn about the symptoms reported by patients with breast implants and the options available to you.
Learn about the symptoms reported by patients with breast implants and the options available to you.
Breast Implant Illness (BII) is a collection of systemic symptoms, including chronic fatigue, brain fog, joint and muscle pain, hair loss, skin rashes, anxiety, and autoimmune-like reactions, reported by women with breast implants, often developing months or years after placement and often resolving after explant.
The FDA does not classify BII as a formal medical diagnosis. Patients still report these symptoms, and the FDA records them.
If you’re concerned about BII, Dr. Baley will review your symptoms and medical history with you. You’ll have time to explain what has changed and ask questions.
BIA-ALCL (Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma) is a distinct condition from BII, and a more serious one. It is a rare form of T-cell lymphoma that develops in the fluid or scar capsule around the implant. It is a lymphoma, separate from breast cancer.
BIA-ALCL has been associated with textured implants, particularly the Allergan BIOCELL surface, which Allergan voluntarily recalled in 2019 following FDA action.
The risk varies by implant type. A 5-year study of 919 patients found zero BIA-ALCL cases with Polytech polyurethane implants, the implants used in the rePlantation™ protocol. BIA-ALCL with polyurethane-coated implants is reported as rare in the literature; ask Dr. Baley for the current data during your consultation.
If you currently have textured implants, a specialist evaluation is warranted. Dr. Baley performs complete capsulectomy as standard practice, sends all tissue to pathology, and reviews the results with you.
See how these two conditions relate and where they diverge: BIA-ALCL explained.
Your symptoms and implant history help guide the recommendation. The consultation also covers how you would like your breasts to look after surgery and what your own tissue can support. Dr. Baley will explain the approach he recommends and why.
Patients with breast implants have reported the symptoms listed below. If any sound familiar, bring them up during your consultation. A physician will need to assess your case.
Persistent, unexplained exhaustion not relieved by rest. Patients often describe it as a heaviness that developed gradually after implant placement.
Difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, cognitive slowing. Often among the first symptoms reported to improve after explant.
Widespread aching, stiffness, or inflammation, sometimes misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia or early-onset arthritis.
Diffuse thinning or shedding not explained by thyroid or hormonal factors. Commonly reported and commonly resolves post-explant.
Rashes, dryness, sensitivity, or redness, sometimes in patterns consistent with autoimmune presentations, sometimes generalized.
Elevated inflammatory markers, new-onset autoimmune diagnoses (lupus, Sjögren's, Hashimoto's), or symptoms consistent with these conditions.
New or worsening anxiety, mood instability, or depression developing after implant placement, without clear psychological trigger.
Irregular cycles, unexplained hormonal fluctuation, or thyroid-like symptoms in the absence of diagnosed thyroid disease.
Tightness, pressure, or discomfort in the chest area, especially when associated with capsular contracture or implant shifting.
Symptoms vary. You may have one or two that affect your daily life, or several that have developed over time. During your consultation, describe when they began and how they have changed.
Your consultation is a video call with Dr. Baley. He will review your history and any available imaging, discuss his recommendation, and answer your questions.
