Breast Implants removal | Breast implant illness Los Angeles
Most women undergoing breast augmentation in Los Angeles are happy with their results. A smaller group of women develop symptoms that have been termed breast implant illness.
What is Breast Implant Illness ?
Breast implant illness is not an official medical diagnosis (yet) and the term gained its popularity through social media where women reported similar symptoms which they attributed to their breast implants. Patient with breast implant illness complain of fatigue, chest pain, hair loss, headaches, chills, rash, sensitivity to light, depression, anxiety, and other symptoms after undergoing breast augmentation with silicone or saline implants.
How do implants cause breast implant illness?
Various studies performed to evaluate any relationship between breast implants and any systemic diseases have not shown a clear link between breast implants and any disease. So far, not much research has been conducted to study Breast Implant Illness.
How is Breast Implant Illness diagnosed?
Today there is no diagnostic tests to diagnose this condition. Just because there is no clear scientific proof that breast implants cause symptoms termed as breast implants illness, it does not mean that the symptoms are not real. Further research needs to be conducted to better understand the link between breast implants and these symptoms.
Does removal of breast implants result improvement in symptoms or cure of breast implant illness?
Some patient reported partial improvement and some complete resolution of symptoms following breast implant removal. following breast implant removal . In some patients, improvement was temporary. There are no studies which specifically show which symptoms may or may not improve with implant removal with or without capsulectomy.
What should be done if a patient suspects she may have breast implant illness?
The patient would need to be evaluated by the patients primary care doctor and likely a rheumatologist to rule out other potential causes of the symptoms including autoimmune or metabolic disorders. If no clear diagnosis is made, that the patient can be evaluated for breast implant removal with or without capsulectomy. Total removal of the capsule and implants is known as en-block resection. Some surgeons remove both the capsule and implants and some do not remove the capsule if there is not capsular abnormality or silicone leak. Furthermore, complete removal of capsule may not always be possible to prevent injury to the ribs and intercostal muscles. To date, there no evidence that capsule removal along with implants provides better relief of symptoms than removal of implants alone. Dr. Grigoryants will discuss with you both options and select what would work best for you.
Will my breast droop after breast implants removal?
Most women will benefit from some form of a breast lift after breast implant removal. The need for a lift and type of breast lift will depend on how much the breast skin has stretched and implant size.
