Schedule a consultation (929) 225-8734

Breast Implant Illness (BII) & Patient Safety

Breast implant illness isn’t a common condition, but when you experience its symptoms, you need to find the best plastic surgeons in New York City to offer valuable, effective solutions. If you feel your implants are causing difficult symptoms or side effects, call on the experts at New York Breast Surgery Center for a consultation. They have two convenient locations in Long Island and Manhattan. Don’t hesitate, because your overall health may be at risk.

Table of contents

    What Is Breast Implant Illness (BII)?

    Breast implant illness, also known by the acronym BII, refers to a range of symptoms associated with or caused by your breast implants. While the condition isn’t common or formally recognized as a medical malady, a plastic surgeon who performs breast procedures involving implants recognizes the symptoms, which may not appear to you to be related to your implants. But if you have breast implants, whether they were placed recently or years ago, BII is a possibility.

    At New York Breast Surgery Center, Dr. David Shokrian and his board-certified colleague Dr. Mohamed Soliman Ahmed Elfar, evaluate you if you’re experiencing odd symptoms following a:

    Plastic surgery experts like Dr. Shokrian say: “We offer a careful evaluation and a customized treatment plan if we suspect BII during your consultation. We apply the latest safety measures to relieve your symptoms while maintaining your results if at all possible.”

    Why Does BII Occur?

    Breast implant illness is typically an inflammatory or autoimmune response to your breast implants. Your body perceives the implant as a foreign object, which may trigger chronic inflammation that produces a range of symptoms throughout your body. The potential causes of BII include:

    • An autoimmune response to the implants. Your body may react to the breast implants with chronic inflammation and body-wide symptoms, so your symptoms aren’t just relegated to your chest area.
    • Reaction to the breast implant material. Since both silicone gel-filled and saline-filled implants contain silicone components in the shell, it’s often the shell that triggers BII, regardless of the filling material. Smoother surfaces in the shell tend to cause less inflammation, while textured shell surfaces create more irritation.
    • Infections. Bacteria can accumulate on the surface of the breast implant over time, creating a layer that causes inflammation. An experienced NYC plastic surgeon detects this biofilm infection in relation to implant-related symptoms before removing the infection and ensuring it doesn’t spread.

    At either New York Breast Surgery Center location, your knowledgeable breast surgeon discusses the potential risks associated with smooth and textured implants as part of your comprehensive consultation and evaluation. If your plastic surgeon suspects BII, an assessment and diagnostic testing can identify the source of your symptoms.

    What Are Symptoms of Breast Implant Illness?

    Breast implant illness affects everyone differently, with reported symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to pain that interferes with your everyday activities. The most common symptoms associated with BII impact your musculoskeletal system, such as:

    • Fatigue
    • Joint pain
    • Memory loss
    • Muscle pain or weakness

    According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, women with BII have frequently reported cognitive impairment and other systemic symptoms. If you’ve undergone a procedure like augmentation with gummy bear implants, for example, your BII symptoms may include:

    • Chronic fatigue
    • Brain fog or trouble concentrating
    • Depression
    • Skin rashes
    • Hair loss
    • Headaches
    • Dizziness or nausea
    • Gastrointestinal issues

    Does Breast Implant Removal Surgery Improve BII Symptoms?

    One solution for relieving the symptoms of breast implant illness is undergoing breast implant removal surgery. Several studies, one published in the Nature Scientific Reports in 2022, have shown that women with reported BII gained significant improvement from their symptoms after their implants were removed. Of course, with that surgery, you lose the added volume the implants delivered.

    “That doesn’t mean the end of your quest for a bigger chest,” says Dr. Shokrian. “In this case, I’ll discuss with you alternative options for augmentation. If you’re concerned about recurrent implant-related symptoms, you can try fat transfer breast augmentation as a safer alternative.”

    What Should I Expect During Breast Implant Removal Surgery?

    Breast implant removal surgery is an invasive surgical procedure that takes one to three hours. You’re put under general anesthesia, so the procedure itself isn’t painful. Your New York City plastic surgeon uses the previous incision site to remove the implant. If a broken or leaking implant caused your symptoms, your surgeon removes the implant entirely, extracts the scar tissue and cleans out the implant pocket.

    “If desired and your health permits,” says Dr. Shokrian, “I can replace a damaged breast implant with a new one. This procedure maintains your augmentation results while protecting your health.”

    When the procedure is complete, your plastic surgeon closes the incisions with sutures. Often, you leave the facility with drainage tubes to allow excess wound fluid to leave the site. They’re removed at your first follow-up appointment within a week. Expect to return to light activity in the following days, with full healing and final results taking up to a year.

    If you’re concerned about the appearance of your breasts after you lose your implants, ask your surgeon about alternatives, such as a fat transfer or a scarless breast lift to shore up your boobs with an internal bra. New York Breast Surgery Center specialists offer personalized breast implant surgery to customize the implant type, size, shape and composition to help you reach your aesthetic goals.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Have questions about breast implant illness? Find answers to some of the most common questions below.

    Breast implant illness (BII) symptoms may appear within the first few years after breast augmentation, but some patients do not notice symptoms for a decade or longer. The timing varies widely from person to person.

    There is no proven way to prevent breast implant illness. Choosing an experienced plastic surgeon, selecting implants appropriate for your anatomy and goals, attending routine follow-up appointments, and promptly reporting new symptoms may help support your long-term breast health.

    Many patients report improvement in their symptoms after breast implant removal surgery. However, results vary from person to person, and symptom relief cannot be guaranteed. A thorough medical evaluation helps determine whether your implants are the most likely cause of your symptoms.

    Your consultation includes a detailed review of your medical history, current symptoms, and breast implant history. Your surgeon evaluates the implant type, age, texture, and placement and may recommend imaging studies or laboratory testing to rule out infection, implant rupture, or other medical conditions.

    Some patients notice improvement soon after implant removal, while others experience gradual symptom relief over several weeks or months. Recovery varies depending on your overall health, healing process, and the underlying cause of your symptoms.

    Patient safety begins with a comprehensive evaluation to identify the true cause of your symptoms. Your surgeon carefully reviews your medical history, breast implants, and overall health before recommending the most appropriate treatment plan. This process may include:

    • Clinical evaluation through diagnosis by exclusion. Your surgeon evaluates other possible medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders, autoimmune diseases, or Lyme disease, before determining whether breast implant illness may be contributing to your symptoms.
    • MRI and ultrasound imaging. MRI is commonly used to detect silent silicone implant ruptures, while ultrasound helps evaluate implant integrity and the surrounding capsule when appropriate.
    • Routine implant monitoring. The FDA recommends periodic MRI or ultrasound screening beginning approximately five to six years after silicone breast implant surgery and every two to three years thereafter to detect silent ruptures.

    “If you’re concerned about breast implant illness, discuss your symptoms with an experienced plastic surgeon,” says Dr. Shokrian. “Although breast implant illness is not yet a formally recognized medical diagnosis, we take every concern seriously and perform a thorough evaluation to identify the most appropriate treatment for each patient.”

    Schedule a consultation with the New York Breast Surgery Center for breast implant illness symptoms in Midtown Manhattan or Great Neck, Long Island today.

    New York Breast Surgery Center
    56 West 45th Street, Ste 401B
    New York, NY 10036
    (929) 225-8734
    Medically Reviewed on July 24, 2026 by Dr. Shokrian (Plastic Surgeon) of New York Breast Surgery Center of New York
    Get In Touch Ready to Talk About Your Breast Surgery Goals?