Breast Implant Illness Syndrome (BILS)
There have been recent web stories circulating about Breast Implant Illness Syndrome. (BILS)
These stories are circulating that silicone breast implants are responsible for a variety of illnesses from fibromayalgia, breast cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, and many other illnesses.
At the Mandel-Brown Plastic Surgery Center we take these complaints seriously. If a patient desires breast implant removal, Dr Mark Mandell-Brown, Director of the Plastic Surgery Experts offers breast implant explantation or removal.
However, it should be clarified that the silicone breast implant is the most studied medical device in the 3000 year history of medicine. No other device, hip replacements, knee replacements, heart valves etc have been studied scientifically like the silicone breast implants.
What do I mean? In 1992 the FDA ordered both McGhan (now Allergan ) and Mentor Breast Implant companies to conduct a study of side effects and illnesses from silicone breast implants. In a landmark 13 year study, over 100,000 women were enrolled from 1992 until 2005. The FDA determined that there was no increase in cancer, arthritis, autoimmune diseases in a scientific study.
Therefore, the silicone implants were determined Safe. There are two risks that patients with implants must understand: the implants can deflate or a capsule can form around the implant.
If the silicone implant ruptures or leaks, because it is a gummy bear silicone — it does not run out like the saline filled implant. It stays cohesive and is easily removed.
There are reports that textured silicone implant can have a rare but increased risk for lymphoma called ALCL or anapestic large cell lymphoma. This occurs in the breast capsule and removal of the capsule is the treatment of choice.
It should be emphasized that DR MANDELL-BROWN does not nor ever has used textured implants. He prefers the smooth Mentor saline and silicone implants. These have the highest safety record.
In summary, saline and silicone breast augmentation has an extremely high satisfaction rate. There are a small group of patients who are better off not having implants.
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