12 Nov The Truth About Breast Implant Illness
You may have seen headlines recently about breast implant illness and it’s important to understand the reality and facts behind these attention-grabbing headlines. At John Park MD Plastic Surgery we do not offer procedures that are not considered safe for the client. That has always been our position. This commitment includes keeping pace with the latest research and findings, and there is a reason why all reputable plastic surgeons have continued to offer breast augmentation—the enhancement of breasts using breast implants—in light of these headlines.
The reality is that reports have been made of an unknown illness that may be associated with breast implants. However, these findings are not conclusive. There is no evidence or data to support that this illness is real. The majority of complaints include details of a person feeling tired or achy, which are symptoms similar to fibromyalgia. However, a reputable surgeon and surgical practice will not make decisions based on this type of input. We study the results and draw scientific conclusions. Of course, data like this can be concerning, but right now there is no reason to think that “breast implant illness” is a real illness.
Breast Implant Illness By The Numbers
Breast implants have been one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries for decades. Every year, nearly half a million women around the world opt for this surgery. With these kinds of numbers, it’s not unusual for any sampling of nearly 500,000 people to complain of being tired and achy—particularly under the stressors of our current circumstances. Feeling tired or having aches and pains does not necessarily correlate to breast implants. Much more evidence and research would be necessary to make the claim of this connection.
Of course, it is very common to feel tired and achy after any kind of surgery. These complaints don’t necessarily come immediately post-op, but bear in mind that the body’s full recovery from a surgery takes longer than a few weeks. You might be feeling good enough to get back to your daily tasks and even vigorous exercise with your surgeon’s clearance after a few weeks, but that doesn’t mean you’ve recovered entirely just yet. Complete recovery from a surgery like breast augmentation, especially if the implants are placed below the chest muscles, can easily take 6 – 12 months. If fatigue and achiness happen in that first year, it may or may not be related to the surgery. If it is, that certainly isn’t unusual and it will go away when your body has fully recovered. Some people take longer to recover than others and there is a myriad of factors to consider including age, health, and how closely they stuck by their initial recovery plan.
Consider What’s in Your Breast Implants
The two major types of breast implants are silicone and saline. Both types feature a silicone shell. Ample testing has been undertaken with silicone and no negative affects have been found. Plus, silicone by design does not spread or leak. In fact, in the rare case where there is a break in a silicone implant, patients can rest assured that the silicone will still stay in place. Alternatively, saline is a completely harmless solution of salt water. It can be easily absorbed and expelled by the body without causing any harm.
There’s a reason there is no technical name for so-called “breast implant illness” and there may never be. It has not been classified as a a real disease because there is no scientific evidence to back it up. Many women have had their implants for decades with no problems. Although it is often desired to change implants every decade or so as a woman’s body (and desires) change, there are still women who are happy with their initial implants many years later. This is indicative of a surgery that is relatively safe and non-harmful to patients.
Interested in Breast Augmentation?
We understand your concerns and are happy to discuss breast implants with you during a complimentary consultation. It can be difficult to differentiate fact from fiction in today’s world of instant-news that’s designed to shock and be clickable. You can trust us to provide peer-reviewed, scientific data and research on every surgery we offer so that you can make an informed decision. Find out more about breast augmentation options at John Park MD Plastic Surgery by calling (949) 777-6883.