When 30-year-old Archana Singh*, a media marketing professional in Delhi, opted to undergo breast implant surgery, she believed it would rebuild her confidence and reduce her insecurities, giving her body confidence while posing. What she didn’t expect was that the procedure would bring chronic discomfort, fear and a host of health concerns. Now 46, she looks back on her experience with regret and, having had her implant removed two years ago, breathes a sigh of relief.
“The relief,” he says, “is not just in my body, but in my mind,” says Singh, freed from the constant anxiety and fear of developing complications, including the dreaded possibility of cancer. This is a type of lymphoma (cancer of the immune system) that forms in the scar tissue or fluid around the implant, not in the breast tissue itself. “Everything is out there at the push of a button – symptoms of cancer, risks of implants. I would read that there is no evidence that they cause cancer, except for very rare lymphoma, but when you have something in your body, you think the worst,” she says. However, it was only when she experienced excruciating pain and infection after a bout of Covid that she decided to get rid of the implants.
What is breast implant disease?
Over time, women who have undergone breast implants, usually made of silicone, complain of various types of discomfort. Some of them have a set of conditions such as fatigue, brain fog, neck, joint and shoulder pain, rashes, hair loss, anxiety, headache, sleep problems, weight changes and gastrointestinal disturbances.
“Most women report a cluster of conditions, which overlap with many other conditions. Some women have reported over 50 symptoms. But they feel better after implant surgery, when the implants are removed. Despite the reported associations, current medical science does not have enough information to establish a causal link between the implants and these symptoms. But the discomfort disappears,” says Dr Rakesh Khamanest. Surgery, Medanta, Gurugram. Recent studies suggest that bacterial biofilms, which form around implants, may be a key factor in triggering immune and inflammatory responses.
Many celebrities, such as Pamela Anderson and Victoria Beckham, have publicly discussed why they had their implants removed. Some of them complained of malposition, deformities, inflammation of the lymph nodes, excessive fatigue and implant rupture.
According to Delhi-based cosmetic surgeon Dr Anup Dhir, “Wearing means that the implant may not be effective after a period of 10 to 20 years. This causes rupture or leakage. Saline implants will deflate visibly, while silicone ruptures can be silent, detected only through MRI or hard tissue changes. in the appearance of the breast A woman’s physical condition and weight can lead to sagging or asymmetry, causing revision or removal Both surgeons are seeing an increase in women seeking implant surgeries.
Body image vs discomfort
Reversing her decision to get silicone breast implants, Singh admits she has self-esteem issues and body deformity after giving birth. She felt startled for a moment, but then became conscious as the implants took time to settle into a more proportional shape. She hid behind baggy clothes, avoiding attention.
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The real problems started years later. Around 2012, strange rashes, bruises and cuts started appearing overnight on her chest. Doctors repeatedly reassured her that nothing was wrong, attributing the changes in her skin to previously diagnosed benign fibroids. Some said her breakouts were a side effect of hormone medication she was taking to treat PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), a condition characterized by irregular periods, excess male hormones or androgens, and ovarian cysts.
By 2021, physical concern had increased. Intimacy was uncomfortable, massage was painful, lying on her stomach was difficult, and chronic back and shoulder pain had become routine. Then came a scary episode after a mild COVID-19 infection. “Ten days later, I had excruciating pain inside my chest, like it was piercing me from the inside. The doctors thought it was muscle pain after COVID-19, but because it persisted, two years ago I thought I’d had enough,” says Singh.
There was a time when he feared the pain could be indicative of cancer. “Now, breast implants can complicate screening procedures like mammography because the implant can hide the breast tissue and make it difficult for the doctor to see. So the implant has to be pushed back to make the breast tissue visible,” says Dr. Khazanchi.
What is breast implant removal surgery?
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According to Dr. Khazanchi, this is done under anesthesia and involves making an incision in the breast, removing the implant along with the surrounding scar tissue (capsule), and then closing the incision. “The surgeon may also perform other procedures at the same time, such as a breast lift or implant replacement, and it usually takes one to several hours,” he adds.
The implant surgery – much more complicated than the insertion – took more than an hour and cost over a lakh. Her implant surgery cost her Rs 2.5 lakh. “Removing the implants meant carefully separating them from the tissues to which they had attached over time,” says Dr. Khazanchi.
Singh’s relief was immediate. The pain in her back and shoulders lessened and she was able to lie on her stomach. Her fear of developing a tumor also subsided. But most importantly, she is comfortable with the way her body is instead of living in fear and anxiety. “Nothing is worth more than health and well-being. The void was in my mind, not in my body,” he says.
(Name changed to protect privacy)
