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Posted on 05 Feb 2026
Breast implants have helped millions of women feel more confident and comfortable in their bodies. Most patients remain happy in their choice and satisfied with the results they’ve achieved. However, some women notice subtle health changes over time that they suspect may be connected to their implant.
Breast implant illness (BII) isn’t a formal diagnosis, but is connected with real symptoms that women have reported. If you believe you might be one of them, know that you are not alone. Here’s what we currently know about breast implant illness, how it’s evaluated, and when our surgeons might recommend explant surgery.
What Is Breast Implant Illness?
If you’ve read any posts or message boards that discuss breast implant illness, you might have noticed that online information tends to go in one of two directions. Some people are overly alarming about BII, and others tend to dismiss it altogether and attribute symptoms to something else.
The truth sits somewhere in the middle of all this. Breast implant illness describes real symptoms and experiences that women have shared, but medical research is still trying to catch up and explain exactly what is happening.
A Patient-Reported Condition, Not a Formal Diagnosis
Breast implant illness is a term many patients use to describe a range of symptoms they believe are linked to their breast implants. Symptoms can vary widely from person to person, and show up months or even years after implant surgery. Some of the most commonly reported symptoms of breast implant illness include:
- persistent exhaustion or ‘fogginess’
- joint and muscle pain
- headaches
- memory and concentration problems
- trouble sleeping
- skin changes
- general inflammation
Because these symptoms overlap with so many other health conditions, there is currently no single lab test or set of criteria that confirm breast implant illness.
Why It’s Still Taken Seriously
Even without a formal diagnosis, many plastic surgeons and healthcare providers take breast implant illness seriously. That’s because the symptoms that patients experience are real, and they deserve to be investigated.
In the past few years, a growing awareness and conversation around BII have given more women the courage to share their concerns with their doctor. Sometimes women choose to have an explant surgery, and sometimes they discover their symptoms were caused by unrelated medical causes.
How Doctors Evaluate Possible Breast Implant Illness
If you’re concerned about breast implant illness, the first step is to connect with your surgeon and schedule a thorough, personalized evaluation. Because BII symptoms can overlap with other conditions, your provider will take the time to look at the bigger picture surrounding your health. Although this process can feel long, it helps ensure that nothing is overlooked and that you’re making decisions based on all the facts.
During an evaluation, your provider might:
- Review your medical history
- Discuss when symptoms began
- Rule out other explanations like thyroid issues or an autoimmune condition
- Take scans of the implants
Most importantly, your breast implant removal consultation and ongoing care should feel like a conversation, never like you’re being rushed or steamrolled. A good provider will listen carefully, answer your questions, and help you weigh your options without pressuring you.
When Breast Implant Removal May Be Considered
If you and your doctor suspect that it is, in fact, your breast implant that’s making you sick, you may begin to discuss breast implant removal. Explant surgery may be considered if:
- Your symptoms persist without any other clear cause
- Your implants feel physically uncomfortable
- You simply feel like your body would be better without them
During explant surgery, your implants are removed. In many cases, the surrounding scar tissue (capsule) is addressed as well– if it’s not, your symptoms may continue to occur. Breast implant removal recovery is straightforward for most people. You should be able to return to light activities within a few days and get back to your normal routine over the next few weeks.
It’s important to understand that explant surgery doesn’t guarantee your symptoms will go away. Some patients notice an improvement after removal, but others experience little change. Every body responds differently.
Trust Your Body + Make an Informed Decision
Ultimately, there’s no one ‘right’ choice, only the choice that feels right for you and your situation. Many women live happily with implants for decades, while others feel healthier after removal.
If something feels off, we encourage you to ask questions and seek guidance from our team. Contact us here to schedule a consultation or call us at 844-338-5445.
For information on our financing options, please visit our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s no set timeline for breast implant illness. Some women notice symptoms within months of their surgery, but others don’t experience symptoms until years later. Because symptoms can show up gradually, it’s not always obvious that they’re caused by the implants.
Some of the most common symptoms of breast implant illness include:
Fatigue
Brain fog
Muscle or joint pain
Headaches
Sleep problems
Skin changes
Inflammation
A general sense of not feeling like yourself
It’s not always possible to tell on your own. A lot of the symptoms of BII overlap with other conditions. A thorough medical evaluation can help rule out other causes and determine whether explant surgery might be a good choice.
Breast implant illness isn’t a formal, diagnosable disease yet. Because of this, there’s no specific test or criteria set to determine if you have it. Diagnosis is based on a careful review of your symptoms, medical history, and implant condition. Your surgeon might also use imaging to check on the state of your implants and rule out other conditions.
