What is BII/SSBI?
Breast Implant Illness (BII) or Systemic Symptoms associated with Breast Implants (SSBI) is a vague collection of symptoms that are often associated with breast implants. The most common complaints are chronic fatigue, brain fog, memory loss, dry eyes, anxiety, and joint aches and pains. Just about any nonspecific complaint can be associated with breast implants. These can include bloating, acid reflux, gut microbiome imbalances, insomnia, shortness of breath, swelling, frequent and unexplained skin rashes, nerve pain, chest tightness, chest soreness, and even sexual dysfunction. This list goes on and on. All of the symptoms may be associated with other medical conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, hormonal imbalance, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and others, which may explain the difficulty in identifying the cause of the symptoms, pointing to a possible connection with breast implants.
A thorough history and examination, including blood tests, is needed to ensure that other treatable causes are not neglected. Evaluation by licensed medical professionals, such as neurologists, rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, and others, is essential to rule out other treatable diagnoses. The leading theories regarding the etiology of breast implant illness include but are not limited to, an inflammatory response to the implants, a biofilm around the implants, hormonal imbalances, the presence of heavy metals, environmental toxins, and others. The most successful treatment for BII is explantation. Studies* have indicated that 75% of patients report an improvement in symptoms 6 months after the surgery, regardless of whether a capsulectomy has been performed. Capsulectomy may be indicated in some patients, but it is not a requirement for symptomatic improvement.
*Symptom Improvement After Explantation With No Capsulectomy for Systemic Symptoms Associated With Breast Implants, Patricia McGuire, MD; Caroline Glicksman, MD, MSJ et al. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2024, Vol 44(8) 820-828.
