Breast Implant Safety: Challenging What We Know
While breast implants have long been promoted as safe and effective, Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA) was published in an article that shines a light on the safety concerns and asks an important question: Are breast implants really as safe as we think?
BISA wants to keep women safe, healthy and informed.
Laura Willging and Heidi Rolfs both hold degrees in the nursing profession and are Board Certified Patient Advocates. Laura and Heidi suffered from health complications after having breast implants, serve on BISA’s Board of Directors, and collaborated with Siham Azahaf, MD, PhD Candidate, one of BISA’s Medical Advisors, to write an article challenging the current safety narrative.
Published in May of 2024, the article Breast Implant Iatrogenics: Challenging the Safety Narrative encourages us to look more closely at the risks associated with breast implants and asks an important question: Are breast implants really as safe as we think? The article was written in mind for medical professionals, but here we'll break down what the article talks about and why it matters for anyone considering breast implants or living with them today.
What is "Iatrogenics"? New Word Alert!
The term iatrogenics refers to harm caused by medical treatment. In this case, it's about the complications and health problems that some people experience because of breast implants. While many people are told that implants are safe, there are growing concerns that more needs to be done to study and address the risks.
Common Risks with Breast Implants
The article highlights several health risks that patients with breast implants may face, including:
Implant Rupture: Sometimes, the outer shell of the breast implant can break, causing the silicone or saline inside to leak. This can lead to pain and other health issues.
Capsular Contracture: Scar tissue naturally forms around the implant, but sometimes it hardens, squeezing the implant and causing discomfort or changes in shape.
Breast Implant Illness (BII): Some people with implants report symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, and brain fog. While BII isn’t officially yet recognized by all doctors, many patients believe their implants are the cause of these symptoms.
Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL): This is a type of cancer linked to certain types of textured breast implants. It affects the tissue around the implant and can be very serious.
Why Patients Deserve More Information
One of the big points made in the article is that people need more information about these risks before getting implants. Many patients are not fully informed about the long-term health concerns, such as the possibility of needing additional surgeries or dealing with symptoms of Breast Implant Illness.
BISA agrees that patients deserve to know all the facts, not just the benefits, before making a decision. Knowing the risks can help people make better choices about their health.
Calling for Better Safety Regulations
The article also argues that the rules and regulations around breast implants need to be more comprehensive. Right now, the process for testing and approving implants may not be enough to catch all the potential problems. BISA believes that the medical industry needs to listen more to the real experiences of people who have had complications and work harder to make sure implants are safer.
Listening to Patient Voices
One of the most important parts of the article is the focus on patients' stories. Many women have experienced complications after getting breast implants, but their voices are often overlooked. BISA is committed to amplifying these stories because they give us a clearer picture of the real-world risks involved with breast implants.
What Can We Do?
The article calls for more research, stronger rules, and better education so patients can be fully informed. BISA is here to help by sharing stories, offering support, and working to change how breast implant safety is understood.
If you're considering breast implants or are already living with them, it's important to stay informed and ask questions. Your health and safety should always come first.
For more information, start with the article What All Women Should Know About Breast Implants, explore BISA’s website or quick links, and join the conversation about breast implant safety.
About Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA)
The Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA) is the largest organization of board-certified patient advocates and subject matter experts in the world dedicated to patient and consumer safety relating to breast implants. Representing the millions of individuals worldwide that currently have, had, or are considering breast implants, the alliance is a non-industry funded leading authority dedicated to providing balanced, evidence-based information for informed decision making about breast implant surgery and related issues. Founded in 2019 by women, BISA is a grassroots nonprofit organization led by volunteers who do not receive a salary for their work.
Contact: Maria Gmitro, President | maria@bisanonprofit.org