Breast Implants and Health: What We Know Now

Are you considering a breast augmentation, or do you already have breast implants and wonder whether they can affect your health? Then it makes sense that you are looking for reliable information. On this page I explain what we know on the basis of current scientific knowledge, and what we do not yet know.

Please note. This information is based on the scientific knowledge and guidelines available at the time of writing. Research into the long-term effects of breast implants is very much ongoing. New insights may lead to recommendations or conclusions being adjusted in the future. That is why I always advise women to also consult the most recent information from the Dutch Society for Plastic Surgery (NVPC) and the government.

As a plastic surgeon I am regularly asked whether breast implants can cause physical symptoms. The honest answer is that, on the basis of current scientific knowledge, we cannot answer this with a simple yes or no.

Some women with breast implants experience symptoms such as fatigue, muscle or joint pain, difficulty concentrating, or hair loss. This combination of symptoms is often referred to as Breast Implant Illness (BII). Although BII is not currently an officially recognized medical diagnosis, these symptoms are taken seriously and a great deal of research into them is being done worldwide.

On the basis of current studies, no clear cause-and-effect relationship can be demonstrated between breast implants and these general health complaints. At the same time, it cannot be entirely ruled out that a small group of women develops an individual reaction. Some women experience an improvement of their symptoms after the implants are removed, while others notice little or no change. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict in advance for whom that will be the case.

We do know that one rare but recognized complication exists: BIA-ALCL, a rare form of lymph node cancer that has mainly been associated with certain coarsely textured breast implants. This is not breast cancer. During a consultation I always discuss this and other known risks in detail, so that you can make a well-considered choice.

Worldwide, a breast augmentation is still among the procedures with the highest patient satisfaction. That is precisely why I think it is important that every woman makes a decision based on honest, transparent, and up-to-date information. My role is not to convince you of anything, but to inform you as well as possible about the benefits, the known risks, and the questions to which science does not yet have a definitive answer.