Silicone Breast Implants Were Banned in the ’90s for Making Women Sick. How Did They Make a Comeback?

While sick implant recipients are still written off as crazy, and BII is not a recognized medical condition, researchers are starting to document the reasons and ways that the body might rebel against a silicone implant. The result may share features with long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome, both illnesses that present with mysterious symptoms and are potentially spurred on by the body’s immune reaction to a virus or other invader. But it is unclear how often these ill effects of implants occur.

 America Is Too Glib About Breast Implants

Now both silicone implants and the more popular, saline-filled alternatives have found themselves under the agency’s lens again, this time over their potential links to a rare cancer and claims from patients that they cause pain, chronic fatigue, and autoimmune problems.

 Breast Implant Illnesses: What’s the Evidence?

Debate swirls over the risks of breast implants, and physicians and patients are justifiably confused by the conflicting information available. As concerns about breast implant safety die down, new controversies arise.

 Breast implants study reveals serious safety concerns

Global investigation finds lack of clinical oversight and failure to track long-term outcomes.

 Danica Patrick on removing her breast implants, being single: ‘When the right guy comes along, I'll know it’

The retired racer originally had a breast augmentation in 2014. However, persistent symptoms prompted Patrick to get multiple tests, which led to zero relief. After learning about breast implant illness, she was ready to have them removed and hasn’t looked back.

 Patients Must Be Warned of Breast Implant Risks, F.D.A. Says

A decade after scientists identified a link between certain implants and cancer, the agency ordered “black box” warnings and a new checklist of risks for patients to review.

Breast implant illness: a topic in review

This review article aims to delineate both the content and timing of all research and evidence as it pertains to the newly coined phrase “breast implant illness”. The authors of this study support that currently there have not been any concrete or evidence-based studies which support the formation of a new syndrome “silicone implant illness”.

My Breast Implants Made Me Sick

I liked the way they looked. They looked great. And I was very healthy at the time. I did barre class, Pilates, played tennis, I had recently been remarried — it was a really positive time in my life, and I was very happy. But within a few months, I started experiencing fatigue, some rashes, some constipation, and some other inflammation issues.

Patients Continue to Report Problems With Breast Implants

Nearly three decades after the FDA first pulled silicone breast implants off the U.S. market and then allowed some back on, women continue to report debilitating conditions to the agency. The FDA is revisiting the issue again this year and is grappling with efforts to study which issues are proven and which not proven.