How do you prevent BII (Breast Implant Illness)?

Written by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Nima Naghshineh, MD, FACS on July 8th, 2020.

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The exact cause of BII is unknown, however, if you subscribe to the idea that the cause of BII (Breast Implant Illness) may be related to abnormal inflammation and/or bacterial colonization and biofilm around the implant, the first precautionary and potentially preventative step is during the initial surgery and placement of the implants. Employing sterile “no-touch” and other techniques when placing the implants could reduce the risk of bacterial contamination and subsequent inflammation. But if you already have implants, a way of possibly reducing your risk of BII is to remove them and replace them with your own fat (if some volume restoration is desired). This will often include removal of the capsule or scar tissue surrounding the implants, also known as Partial Capsulectomy, Total Capsulectomy or "En Bloc" Total Capsulectomy.

See article on En Bloc Total Capsulectomy.

A picture of an Total capsulectomy I performed on a 45-year-old woman with painful breasts and worsening joint and muscle aches. She had notable improvement after removal of her implant and capsule.