Your symptoms are real to you, and we listen
Breast implant illness, often shortened to BII, is the name many people use for a group of symptoms that they feel began or worsened after getting breast implants. It is not a formal medical diagnosis, but the people describing it are real, and so is how they feel. Our first step is always to listen.
If you have come to us wondering whether your implants are connected to how you feel, you are not imagining things, and you do not need to justify your concerns.
Symptoms people commonly describe
People describe a wide range of symptoms. They are not specific to implants and can have many causes, which is why a careful, unhurried assessment matters.
- Ongoing fatigue and low energy
- Brain fog, memory or concentration difficulty
- Joint and muscle aches
- Skin rashes, dryness or hair thinning
- Sleep disturbance, anxiety or low mood
- Digestive symptoms, headaches or sensitivities
What we know, and what we are still learning
Research into breast implant illness is ongoing. At present there is no single test that confirms it, and studies have not yet established exactly why some people feel unwell. Health regulators acknowledge that some patients report these systemic symptoms and have strengthened the information that patients are given before implant surgery.
Honest uncertainty is not the same as dismissal. Not having every answer yet does not mean your symptoms are not worth addressing.
A thoughtful first step
We suggest starting with your family doctor or another trusted clinician to look for other causes, such as thyroid, autoimmune, hormonal, nutritional or sleep-related conditions. Looking at these first can help you get the right care whether or not your implants turn out to be involved.
We are glad to work alongside your other health professionals so that you are supported as a whole person.
Explantation and capsulectomy are options we provide
For people who decide that they want their implants out, Dr. Jaberi provides explantation, which is removal of the implants, and capsulectomy, which is removal of the scar tissue capsule that forms around them. This can be done as a partial, total or en bloc capsulectomy depending on your anatomy, implant type and goals, and the plan is made together with you.
Many people who have their implants removed report that they feel better afterwards, and some feel significant relief. Results vary, and we cannot promise that symptoms will resolve. We will talk openly about what is realistic for you.
- Implant removal alone, or with partial, total or en bloc capsulectomy
- Removal with a breast lift to reshape and reposition the breast tissue
- Removal with fat transfer to restore volume with your own tissue, when suitable
- Replacement with a different implant, if that is what you prefer
What to expect from surgery
Explant surgery is performed under anesthesia in an accredited setting, most often as a day procedure. Recovery varies with the extent of the surgery, and most people return to light activity within days and to full activity over several weeks, following the instructions given to you. Removing implants carries the usual surgical risks, including bleeding, infection, changes in sensation, scarring and changes in breast shape, which we review in detail before you decide.
Your breasts may look and feel different after removal, particularly if they were stretched by the implants. A lift or fat transfer can be discussed at the same time or later, and we will show you what is realistic.
The choice is yours
Whether you keep, replace or remove your implants, your decision is valid. Our role is to give you clear information, a plan tailored to you, and care that treats your experience with respect. If you would like to talk it through, book a consultation.