Need to Know Info about Breast Implants

Are breast implants safe? In this episode we talk to Danielle Valoras, a physicians assistant specializing in psycho-neuro-endocrine immunology and an advocate for transparent conversations regarding the safety of breast implants. Danielle experience varied vague symptoms like fatigue, connective tissue issues, swelling, hair loss, brain fog and even depression-like symptoms. Eventually she was not able to use her left arm. Physical exertion lead to migraines. Multiple doctors and practitioners did not link these symptoms to her breast implants. She got an explant less than 2 years later and immediately could breathe more easily and use her left arm.

After the implant and surrounding capsule were removed a seroma formed. This seroma (fluid filled pocket) formed after the implant was removed, but interestingly, testing showed silicone within the seroma as well! This is important to consider due to the risk of Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Carcinoma (BIA-ALCL) which is a lymphoma associated with textured implants. Although there was a mass recall on textured implants, Danielle explains that any breast implant is a foreign body and no matter the type, silicone can shed from the shell of the implant into the capsule and surrounding fatty tissue.

Breast implant illness has been a diagnosis of exclusion up to this point meaning that the breast implant and surrounding capsule are removed (explanted) to determine if symptoms resolve. But recent testing via MRI has the capacity to determine physiological involvement of the implant by looking for silicone induced granulomas (SIGBIC - silicone induced granuloma of breast implant capsule). This is not yet a widely known diagnostic method and does require a polarized lighting microscope to detect the presence of silicone bleeding related to implants.

Danielle's experience with breast implant illness spun her career as a physician's assistant into advocacy. Her quest for answers and treatment options is crossing into the rehab world; she lights up talking about breath work to calm the nervous system, and manual therapy for lymphatic drainage and visceral mobilization.

As if breast implant illness isn't a controversial topic, we talk about other touchy subjects too, like radiation over expanders and implants, informed consent for breast reconstruction, and rehab services pre and post implant placement. This is an interesting conversation as we merge the worlds of breast implant illness with comprehensive care for breast cancer patients. If you are a medical or rehab provider who would like to know more about structure and function as it pertains to breast implants & reconstruction, check out the course Breast Cancer Rehabilitation; Comprehensive Evaluation & Treatment. I look forward to collaborating with Danielle in the future about how we can improve function for people with implants and quality of life for those who experience breast implant illness. 

For more information about the safety of implants please visit the resources page from the 2020 Breast Implant Health Summit. If you would like to get in touch with Danielle, you can find her on Instagram @navwell or on the Breast Implant Health Summit.  Get in the conversation by joining the Facebook group Pelvic Health & Breast Cancer Rehab Specialists. Informed care isn't easy, b