Julie Elliott is a breast implant illness survivor who was diagnosed with ASIA syndrome after her silicone implants were removed. Currently living in Montreal, Québec, Canada, Julie is a bilingual spokeswoman for Québec and French-Canadian women negatively affected by breast implants.
Influenced by her decade of work as a set makeup artist in the fashion industry, Julie decided to get breast implants. Her health deteriorated rapidly, and a 10-year quest for answers led her to the breast implant illness and BIA-ALCL community.
Julie founded the French-Canadian social media support group “Maladie des implants mammaires” (Bii/BIA-ALCL), and she’s the Public Relations Director for Breast Implant Failure and Illness Society of Canada, which regularly consults with Health Canada about BII and BIA-ALCL.
She appeared in the 2018 Canadian ICIJ documentary produced by the CBC, spoke at the 2019 FDA hearing about breast implant safety, and participated in various healthcare events as a patient advocate.
She also testified at the 2023 Ottawa’s House of Commons Permanent Health Committee (HESA) on the need for a Breast implant registry in Canada.
A trained security and investigation specialist, Julie is studying to become an LPN, improve her advocacy skillset, and continue to support patients.
Julie’s Implant Story
In December 2008, she received Mentor smooth silicone cohesive gel implants. Just 24 hours after the implantation, she experienced her first post-implant complication. Three weeks later, she began to notice systemic symptoms, which eventually led to her hospitalization four weeks after that. It took eight months for her to receive her first diagnosis, which was Auto-immune acute thyroiditis.
Over the next 18 months, Julie faced more challenges, including severe dyspepsia with multiple food allergies, medication allergies, and intolerances. These conditions resulted in an OeO diagnosis. Her health continued to deteriorate over the course of 10 years, with symptoms such as multiple mechanical injuries and various systemic illnesses.
In September 2015, she discovered the Breast Implant Illness and BIA-ALCL community, providing her with support and information. In December 2017, she experienced acute pericarditis, which raised concerns about a possible silicone leak and the presence of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). As a precaution, she underwent emergency explantation in January 2018. Preliminary testing on the capsule showed no signs of cancer.
Despite facing multiple complications for two years, most of Julie's systemic symptoms disappeared, and all mechanical symptoms resolved. Further analysis of her implants and capsule tissue revealed unexpected findings. The implants, despite their rugged texture, were actually smooth, as the exterior shell had degraded over time, altering their visual appearance. Additionally, one implant had a longstanding microscopic tear, resulting in a silicone oil leak. The capsule tissue exhibited signs of intense inflammation, with multiple granulomas and an overall thickness of 8 to 10 mm, indicating potential Silicone-Induced Granuloma and Breast Implant Capsular Contracture (SIGBIC).
In 2018, Julie received a diagnosis of Autoimmune Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants (ASIA) and was suspected to have Sjogren's syndrome and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). She also experienced multiple vitamin and mineral deficiencies. In September 2020, she underwent exploratory surgery to remove the remaining capsule tissue. In 2021, she received a borderline MCAS diagnosis, and in 2022, she was diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome.
As of 2023, Julie continues to be under the regular care of a G.I. specialist and an immunologist, seeking ongoing support for her complex health journey.
Professional Experience
Advocate and breast implant illness survivor
Spokeswoman for Québec and French-Canadian women negatively affected by breast implants
Founder of the French-Canadian private Facebook group “Maladie des implants mammaires” (BII / BIA-ALCL)
PR director for the Breast Implant Failure and Illness Society of Canada
Sole Quebec French-speaking Invited speaker at the FDA hearings, March 2019
Research assistant and LPN, Montreal Explant Center
Education
DES, DEC human sciences, major in literature, minor in education
Small businesses training
Makeup artistry training
Airport security training
Security and investigation specialized training
LPN diploma, OIIAQ board certification, Qc.