Breast augmentation surgery has a very high success rate, but some patients do experience unusual symptoms following that procedure. Within the last few years, many medical professionals have begun researching a condition known as breast implant illness. That unique medical problem can result in a wide variety of symptoms, and it is one of the reasons why some patients are now having their implants removed. Here is a close look at a few of the warning signs of implant illness and some of the leading treatment options.
What Is Implant Illness?
Quite a bit of research still needs to be done on this illness, but some medical professionals have come up with a basic overview of exactly what it is. When any foreign object is placed in the body, there is a chance that a negative reaction is going to occur. In some cases, that negative reaction is excessive scarring near the implants. Unfortunately, silicone implants might also cause other unusual symptoms and side effects that are much more difficult to track.
Some of the most common side effects of implant illness are actually mental, and that includes bouts of anxiety, brain fog, chronic fatigue, and sleep problems. Many patients who claim to have this illness also struggle with joint pain, gastrointestinal pain, rashes, unusual body odors, and hair loss. Those issues can either come and go or slowly get worse as time goes on. If you have recently noticed any of the symptoms of implant illness, then it might be time for you to consider the silicone breast implant removal procedure.
Treating Implant Illness
As soon as you notice any potential symptoms of implant illness, you must immediately contact a surgeon who has experience treating that condition. For many patients, the symptoms are only going to get worse over the years. Your surgeon will be able to track your symptoms, look at your medical history, and help you come up with a comprehensive treatment plan so that you can move on with your life.
The first thing that will need to be done is removing the implants entirely. During that procedure, the surgeon might want to remove some of the surrounding scar tissue as well. Once the implants have been extracted, the surgeon can then carry out a breast lift or replace the implants with saline implants. Saline implants are very similar to silicone implants, but some people believe that they are safer. If you decide that you would like the implants gone entirely, then you might want to have a lift carried out so that the remaining tissue doesn’t sag.
Don’t Ignore the Symptoms
When it comes to your health and well-being, you must always err on the side of caution. Implant illness can completely turn your life upside down and make everyday tasks nearly impossible. Luckily, treating implant illness is a fairly straightforward process, and an experienced surgeon can often complete the entire silicone breast implant removal operation within just a few hours.
