Breast Implant Illness Specialist

What is breast implant illness (BII)?

Breast implant illness, or BII, occurs in some women who get breast augmentation. The illness causes a wide range of symptoms, which can range from mild to very debilitating, but most often routine tests are normal, so many patients are often dismissed.

What are the symptoms of breast implant illness?

The symptoms of breast implant illness can vary significantly. Some of the most common issues that women with BII experience include:

• Exhaustion/chronic fatigue
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Cognitive difficulties like poor memory and concentration
• Breathing difficulties
• Insomnia
• Digestive system problems
• Unexplained skin rashes
• Dry mouth and eyes
• Emotional issues, including anxiety and depression
• Recurrent headaches
• Hair loss

Symptoms may start within months after surgery, but in many women they take years to appear. If you start having unexplained symptoms at any point after getting breast implants and you have not found answers from other doctors, schedule an evaluation at the Center for Multisystem Disease so Dr. Schofield can evaluate you and help you recover.

Who gets BII?

BII can affect both women who get cosmetic breast augmentation and those who have breast reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy. If you have breast implants of any type, whether they’re silicone, saline, textured or smooth, you could be at risk for BII. This is because saline implants have a silicone shell and silicone can serve as a chronic stimulator of the immune system.

How do you diagnose breast implant illness?

There’s no set protocol for breast implant illness diagnosis because it’s still not an official medical diagnosis. That means you need an experienced diagnostician like Dr. Schofield.

In some cases, breast implant illness sufferers have underlying autoimmunity, other immune system dysregulation and/or autonomic dysfunction. Dr. Schofield can perform diagnostic tests, review all your symptoms, and prescribe different treatments to see how your illness responds as part of the BII diagnostic process.

How do you treat BII?

BII treatment depends on your symptoms, whether you have additional conditions, and your personal wishes. Many women experience significant improvement after having their breast implants removed, but some women opt to keep their implants and use non-surgical treatments.

Dr. Schofield treats the root cause of breast implant illness, which may include medication, lifestyle changes, dietary changes, stress reduction exercises, and other nonoperative techniques. She always tailors care for you with her ultimate goal being your quality of life.

For help with breast implant illness, rely on the expert: Call the Center for Multisystem Disease to make your appointment with Dr. Schofield now.