Welcome to Breast Implant Illness Sweden
The purpose of this platform is to provide reliable information about Breast Implant Illness (BII). Whether you are considering getting breast implants, already have them, are planning to have explant surgery, or are a healthcare professional, you will find essential information on this site.
Breastimplantillness.se is one of Europe’s leading resources for information about Breast implant illness and associated health risks.
Essential Information About Breast Implants
Searching for answers to the question ‘what is breast implant illness’? You’re in the right place to learn more!
This page provides reliable, up-to-date information about what breast implant illness is — including common symptoms, potential causes, and how the body may respond to breast implants.
Find guidance on the explant procedure, before-and-after scar photos, tips for choosing a qualified surgeon, and links to scientific research. Whether you’re exploring your options or searching for answers, one of this platform’s primary goals is to help women make informed decisions — prioritizing their health, safety, and overall well-being.
What is Breast Implant Illness?
Breast Implant Illness (BII) refers to a wide range of symptoms that can develop in patients who have breast implants. Common symptoms include muscle and joint pain, fatigue, skin problems, anxiety, sleep disturbances and brain fog.
An increasing number of women are reporting symptoms potentially associated with their breast implants. Although the precise etiology of Breast implant illness has yet to be determined, ongoing research and widespread patient reports suggest multiple contributing factors. The prevailing hypotheses indicate that BII may involve an immune-mediated reaction, such as chronic inflammation or autoimmune activation, triggered by the presence of breast implants.
Other names for Breast Implant Illness include:
Silicone illness, Autoimmune/Inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants (ASIA), Siliconosis, and Systemic Symptoms Associated with Breast Implants (SSBI).
What we know about Breast implant illness
📍 Symptoms of Breast implant illness may affect anyone who has breast implants, regardless of whether they are made of silicone or saline, has textured or smooth surface, are anatomical, round, or drop-shaped.
📍 BII symptoms can occur whether the implants are intact or ruptured.
📍 The symptoms can occur at any time after breast surgery. Some women may experience symptoms shortly after their breast augmentation, while others may not develop them before several years to decades later.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Breast Implant Illness
- Fatigue
- Muscle and joint pain
- Anxiety
- Autoimune disorders
- Brainfog
- Hair loss
- Feeling unwell/sick
- Depression
- Skin rashes
- Weight-related issues (gain/loss)
Other common symptoms include: Headaches, IBS/digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, sleep disturbances, and various systemic symptoms. Find more symptoms and learn more about BII by clicking the button below.
Source: FDA
Symptoms of Breast implant illness may resemble other medical conditions
Symptoms of Breast Implant Illness can mimic or closely resemble those seen in other health conditions and diseases. This overlap can make it challenging to receive a diagnosis, especially in the early stages. However, it’s important not to give up seeking answers!
Common conditions with symptoms similar to BII include:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Connective tissue disorders
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
- Thyroid disorders
- Lyme disease
- Perimenopause or menopause
- Side effects from certain breast cancer treatments, such as hormone therapy and chemotherapy
In some cases, some individuals may experience symptoms from both BII and other underlying illnesses simultaneously. Therefore, it’s crucial to consider the whole medical picture and carry out thorough evaluations, especially when dealing with persistent, unexplained symptoms following breast implant surgery.
Breast Implant Illness: Causes, Tests and Treatment
What causes Breast implant illness?
There are several well-supported theories regarding why some individuals develop Breast Implant Illness. The most common theory is that breast implants can trigger an autoimmune or inflammatory response in the body’s immune system. Essentially, the body recognizes the implant as a foreign object and responds accordingly, either to its physical presence or to the chemical compounds and materials contained within it. This immune reaction may trigger a variety of symptoms which can have an impact on an individual’s overall health and wellbeing.
The majority of women who undergo explant surgery report significant improvement — or even complete resolution — of their symptoms following the surgery. This strong correlation reinforces the suspected link between breast implants and the symptoms associated with Breast Implant Illness, highlighting the importance of recognition, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment in affected individuals.
Is there a test to diagnose Breast implant illness?
Currently, there is no specific medical test or laboratory exam that can definitively diagnose Breast implant illness. Instead, the diagnosis is primarily based on the patient’s symptom profile, ruling out other possible conditions, and sometimes observing symptom improvement after implant removal (explant).
Since BII is not yet formally recognized as an official medical diagnosis, it is crucial to carefully document all symptoms. It’s recommended to do this together with a healthcare provider who is willing to listen, understand, and investigate thoroughly. Many women report significant symptom relief only after explant surgery, which can serve as a strong indication that the implants were the underlying cause of their health issues.
Removing Breast implants – The most effective treatment for Breast implant illness
For long-term symptom reduction or elimination, many plastic surgeons with experience treating BII advise surgical removal of the implants — explant surgery. The surgeon may remove all or a portion of the surrounding scar tissue capsule in addition to the implants.
The majority of women who experienced suffering from breast implant illness reported significant symptom reduction following explant surgery, according to numerous research and patient testimonials. Because of this, if you have developed symptoms associated to BII, cosmetic surgeons usually advise against replacing your old implants with new ones because this could make the symptoms worse.
For those with Breast implant illness, removal of the implants is still the most popular and successful way to improve their health.
How Common Is Breast Implant Illness? – Understanding the Prevalence of BII
What is Breast implant illness, and at what rate does it occur? There is currently no established data regarding how many individuals develop BII. However, an increasing number of women with breast implants are reporting symptoms that they believe are directly linked to their implants. These reports are not only shared with healthcare providers, but they are also submitted to national databases such as the Breast Implant Register (BRIMP) and regulatory agencies such as Sweden’s Medical Products Agency and the United States’ FDA.
Awareness of Breast implant Illness has increased substantially in recent years, as a result mostly of the online communities, advocacy groups, and media attention. This growing awareness has helped amplify the voices of affected women and brought much-needed attention to their experiences.
While current scientific research have yet identified the exact percentage of women affected, real-world data provides an interesting story. Thousands of women have joined online support groups and forums — some with tens of thousands of members — to freely discuss their symptoms, stories, and recovery journeys following explant surgery.
This growing number of personal accounts highlights the critical need for additional research, improved patient information, and increased awareness in the medical field. Although BII is not yet recognized as an official medical diagnosis globally, the symptoms are very real. It is vital that healthcare professionals and society take these concerns seriously and continue to advocate for improved care and understanding.
Clinic with Extensive Explant Experience
If you’re considering removing your breast implants, it’s important to choose a surgeon with substantial experience in explant procedures. We highly recommend Strandkliniken in Stockholm, Sweden.
At this clinic, you can expect respectful, compassionate care, a deep understanding of Breast Implant Illness (BII), and extensive experience with explant surgery—including en bloc and total intact capsulectomy techniques. The clinic also performs thorough examination and documentation of the capsules.
Dr. Oya is the most experienced explant surgeon in the Nordic region, having performed the highest number of explant procedures to date.
Download the Check List of Symptoms of Breast Implant Illness
Symptoms of Breast implant illness vary between individuals, but some symptoms are more common than others. A comprehensive checklist of frequent BII symptoms is available for you to easily print and use as a practical tool to track your own health and identify potential signs of BII.
Use the check list to:
- Track your symptoms.
- Bring it to a doctor’s appointment as a reference.
- Share it with a friend or loved one you suspect may be affected.
- Track any improvements after an explant.
This list is created to improve understanding of BII symptoms and to help when talking to healthcare providers or loved ones. Download and print the checklist — as a first step towards taking back control of your health.
What is an explant?
An explant, meaning the permanent surgical removal of breast implants, is often the first and most important step toward healing from Breast Implant Illness.
For many, explant marks the beginning of a journey back to better health and rediscovering themselves. Learn more about how an explant procedure is performed, the methods used during surgery, what a “capsule” is, and much more!
Explant scars
There is of course no “one size fits all” when it comes to scars — every body is unique and heals differently.
If you’d like to see what scars may look like after an explant, you can click through to the “Scar Page” using the button below. It offers an idea of how scars may appear shortly after surgery as well as several months into the healing process.
Capsulectomy explained
If you’ve recently discovered Breast implant illness and are searching for information on explant surgery, recovery, scarring, and everything else along with it, the medical terminology can become overwhelming.
Learn what a capsulectomy involves, including the differences between ‘en bloc,’ ‘total intact capsulectomy,’ and partial capsulectomy — plus see photos of removed capsules.
Facts and Research Related to Breast Implant Illness
A common question is whether there is scientific evidence supporting the existence of Breast Implant Illness. The answer is: absolutely. There is not only new research emerging, but also studies and findings dating back more than thirty years. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognizes that breast implants may be linked to systemic symptoms. Although stating that the exact cause is still unclear, they acknowledges that many patients report symptom relief after having their implants removed.
Take responsibility and educate yourself – own your decisions
You can explore a range of research studies by clicking the button below. It’s important to stay informed and gather as much knowledge as possible — whether you’re considering breast augmentation or suspect you may be experiencing symptoms of BII. At the end of the day, you’re the one living in your body — and your health decisions should reflect that.
Q&A: Breast Implant Illness
Many frequently asked questions are best addressed directly with your surgeon. For example, no one — not even your surgeon — can guarantee exactly what your aesthetic outcome will be, but they are the most qualified to guide you through the process. Keep the lines of communication open, and don’t hesitate to ask questions. Try not to compare your experience to others — your body and healing journey are entirely your own.
Are there any tests I can take to find out if I have Breast implant illness?
No, there isn’t a standard medical test that can identify BII with certainty at this time. Working with your primary care physician or another healthcare professional to rule out any potential reasons of your symptoms is advised. Unfortunately, BII is a diagnosis of exclusion.
My surgeon says the capsules are thin and should remain in my body. Is this safe?
The general advice—regardless of who you are—is to seek out a surgeon who is well-informed about Breast implant illness, has a deep understanding of the clinical symptoms, and knows how to perform an explant surgery in the most safe and effective way.
No leading explant surgeon in, for example, the United States would recommend leaving capsules in the body of a patient experiencing BII symptoms (unless there are specific medical reasons that prevent this type of surgical approach). Read more about capsulectomy here.
What should I do if I don’t feel better after explant surgery?
There are never any guarantees that you’ll feel amazing immediately after explant surgery—but with that said, many women do report improvements over time. For some, healing takes a bit longer.
There are also studies that support the fact that many women experience symptom relief after explant. Here’s one such study. We also ran a poll in our group “Breast Implant Illness Nordic” asking how many women regretted their explant. Out of 184 respondents, only 1 said they regretted the decision.
Implants are foreign objects in your body and will always pose a burden to your system and may cause an immune response. Removing that burden is rarely a poor decision for your overall health.
Your decision—your body
The decision to explant must ultimately be yours. The strong recommendation is to educate yourself thoroughly—about Breast Implant Illness, breast implants, and the explant process.
One helpful step may be joining a community where you can connect with others in a similar situation. Talking to women who are facing the same decision—or who have already gone through explant surgery—can offer comfort and insight when navigating your own path.
Is recovery post explant surgery very painful?
Explant surgery can be extensive, especially if the surrounding capsules are also removed. After the procedure, a large internal wound area inside the breasts needs to heal—so yes, you will likely feel discomfort afterward. However, as with any surgery, pain levels vary from person to person.
Interestingly, many women who undergo explant surgery report that the healing process was actually less painful than their original breast augmentation—particularly those who had implants placed under the muscle.
Keep in mind that your surgeon will most likely prescribe pain medication to help you manage the discomfort during the initial recovery period.
Why do some patients have surgical drains after surgery, while others do not?
In many other countries, it is standard practice to place drains after explant surgery, but in Sweden, many surgeons choose not to do so unless necessary.
One reason for using drains might be if the surgeon suspects that a larger accumulation of blood (hematoma) could form shortly after the procedure. A likely reason drains are not placed automatically is because drainage tubes can act as an entry point for bacteria. Trust that your surgeon is doing what he or she believes is best for you and your healing process.
How do the scars look like following explant surgery?
The scars’ final appearance depends greatly on the individual. The surgeon often makes an incision in the breast fold during an explant en bloc or complete capsulectomy.
Patients may have different incision lengths depending on a variety of factors, such as the size of the implants, the surgeon’s experience, and other particular circumstances. You may learn more and see pictures on this website’s scar healing page.
