Any Warning Signs Before Implant Illness?

[Chiara Romano @chiara Participant]

Hey everyone,
I’ve been considering getting implants but I keep coming across discussions about implant illness, and it’s making me hesitate.

I’m wondering — are there any signs or patterns that might indicate someone is more likely to react badly to implants?

For example, I’ve had no issues with fillers or Botox, but I can’t tolerate synthetic hormones like the pill. It got me thinking… maybe people who develop implant illness already have certain sensitivities or red flags in other areas that show their body might reject implants?

Would love to hear if anyone else has noticed anything like that.

[surgeryforum @surgeryforum Keymaster]

Hi, really thoughtful question — and honestly, something more people should be asking before getting implants.

Breast Implant Illness (BII) is still a bit of a grey area in the medical world. It’s not officially classified as a distinct disease yet, but there are thousands of women reporting very real symptoms — fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, anxiety, hormonal imbalances — that started after getting implants and often improved after removal. So clearly, something is going on, even if science hasn’t fully caught up yet.

As for your question — whether certain reactions in your body might be early clues you’d be more likely to react to implants — it’s a smart line of thinking. There’s no exact formula or test right now, but many women who ended up having BII have shared that, looking back, their bodies were always a bit more sensitive than average. For example, they couldn’t tolerate synthetic hormones, had autoimmune conditions, reacted strongly to meds or chemicals, or just felt like their immune system “overreacted” to things in general.

So the fact that you tolerate Botox and fillers well is a good sign, but your issue with synthetic hormones does raise a flag. It doesn’t mean you will get BII — plenty of women don’t — but it suggests your immune system might be selective in what it tolerates.

If you’re feeling unsure, it might be worth talking to a surgeon who’s really up-to-date on this issue. Some doctors now specialize in “explant” surgery and have a better understanding of which patients might be at higher risk. Also, some people choose to do biocompatibility testing, although it’s not a perfect science and isn’t widely used yet.

I’d say trust your gut, keep listening to your body, and don’t rush the decision.

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