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BREAST IMPLANT ILLNESSin Beverly Hills, CA

Improved Health After Removal

You may have heard of Breast Implant Illness (BII), a description for women who have breast implants and has been experiencing illness symptoms that may be caused by silicone or saline implants.

Implants have been used by millions of women worldwide for more than 30 years with minimal knowledge of what problems they may be causing women. It is not clear what could be making women sick, but many of them noticed their health improved after the removal of their implants. Breast implant illness has not been diagnosed as an official medical condition and studies are ongoing.

Breast Implant Illness Doctor Beverly Hills

What is Breast Implant Illness?

Breast Implant Illness or BII, is a term used to describe women with breast implants that may be creating symptoms including brain fog, chest pain, chronic pain, fatigue, hair loss, headaches, hormonal or neurologic issues, photosensitivity, rashes, and sleep disturbance.

They may be factors that could be connected to a saline or silicone breast implant. Some metals are used in the manufacturing process for saline (Allergan, Mentor, and Ideal) and for silicone (Allergan, Mentor, and Sientra) as approved for breast implants by the FDA. "Breast implant illness is a consolation symptom from fatigue to joint pain to brain fog to just not feeling well," said Dr. Ritu Chopra. "I have patients coming into my office saying, 'doc, I feel like I'm going to die.' It's that severe." Breast implant illness has not been formally recognized as an illness with no diagnostic testing yet. However, there are some tests for autoimmune diseases that can be done to help evaluate a patient and the cause of her symptoms.

Additional Reading

"Just because it is not an illness, and we don't have a test for it, it doesn't mean that it's not a problem," said Dr. Chopra. "In my opinion, if you have autoimmunity, you should stay away from all types of implants period because I think that can stimulate your immune system to rev up and then cause these very problems." "This is totally anecdotal, so the hundreds of women that I have done (surgery to remove implants), literally, and Drew (Dr. Ordon) has seen it first-hand too, 90% of these women are getting better (after implant removal)," said Dr. Chopra. "They may not get better the first week, they may not get better in six months, but by a year, a lot of their symptoms are completely gone."

Studies on Breast Implant Illness

There have been many reports of breast implant illness symptoms on social media, with some support groups on Facebook having more than 100,000 members. Members and patient advocates of two Facebook pages, Breast Implant Illness and Healing and Breast Implant Victim Advocacy, met with FDA officials in 2018 to encourage the government organization to pursue scientific studies and provide better information for women experiencing health problems related to breast implants.

Some studies suggest there may be some improvement in a patient's symptoms after the removal of their breast implants. A study published in the Netherlands Journal of Medicine in 2013 indicated that most of the symptoms disappeared in 69% of women after they had their implants taken out. More studies are needed to examine the effects and safety of breast implants and possible links between implants and illness.

BIA ALCL Concerns

There have been recent concerns about breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a cancer of the immune system, not of the breast. It involves the growth of lymphoma cells in or around a breast implant scar capsule and can necessitate having your breast or implant examined for fluid and/or tissue concerns. BIA-ALCL is a treatable form of lymphoma within the scar tissue around the breast implant and usually develops after several years.

One of the first signs is unexpected swelling and painful feelings of hardness in the implant. Once a breast implant has been diagnosed with BIA-ALCL, it is recommended to remove it as soon as possible.The symptoms of BIA-ALCL can be like other conditions like capsular contracture, including thickening of the scar capsule around your implant and your lymph nodes swelling up. You can check for changes in your breasts, including growth of a lump, different sensations like firmness, redness or lesion on your skin on or near your breast, breast growth or asymmetry or any unusual pain.

Breast Implant Illness Doctor Beverly Hills

Causes of Breast Implant Illness

The FDA reports patients who believe they are experiencing breast implant illness can often find a resolution to their symptoms by having the implant removed.

Some causes could be related to the body's inflammatory reaction to a foreign object or specific components of the implants like silicone. It may also be attributed to the body's response to the way a breast implant was inserted and specific surgical techniques.

Breast Implant Illness Symptoms

There is currently no official diagnosis for breast implant illness, but many patients with breast implants have reported the following symptoms:

  • Chest pain
  • Chills
  • Chronic pain
  • Depression
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Dry eyes and mouth
  • Fatigue (unusual fatigue)
  • Fever
  • Hair loss
  • Headaches
  • Hormonal issues
  • Muscle aches
  • Neurological disturbances
  • Rashes & redness
  • Sensitivity to light and sun
  • Swelling
  • Change in the shape and color of your breast
Breast Implant Illness Doctor Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Chopra, Dr. Ordon, and Dr Villanueva

The Doctors at the Plastic Surgery Institute love what they do. If you want the highest quality of care from industry leaders who are as approachable as they are professional, you will find a perfect partner for your procedure at the Plastic Surgery Institute in Beverly Hills.

Patient Reviews

“My Spirits Were Lifted!”

“Dr. Chopra is not only very charismatic, knowledgeable, and experienced, his bedside manner made the difference in my decision to have my augmentation done by him. I will never use any other Doctor as I am a dedicated patient!”

“I had the most amazing experience!”

“I had the most amazing experience with Dr. Chopra. He anticipated my needs and made sure I felt great with my results. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a wonderful plastic surgeon who really goes above and beyond!”

“Extremely happy with my results.”

“Dr. Chopra is the best Dr. out there! Dr. Chopra is a Perfectionist, his bedside manner is warm, kind, and very caring. If you are seeking a doctor to perform reconstruction revision or cosmetic surgery, You need to look no further.”

“Exceeded All Expectations”

“Since then Dr. Chopra has done my implants and 2 fat transfer procedures. It has been 1 year and 9 months since my breast cancer diagnosis and in that time your surgical team becomes like family.”

“Highly Recommended”

“My Experience with Dr. Villanueva was amazing. Dr. V. is very knowledgeable and very kind. He is easy to talk to and direct with the answers. He took his time to answer all my questions and I felt very confident before my procedure. I see amazing results even after 2 weeks Post Op. The staff was very friendly and helpful. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!! I am so thankful for him and his team and I will definitely go back for any surgical needs.”

“I Feel Confident Again”

“Dr. V and his staff were so welcoming and made me feel comfortable from the moment I walked into his office. He was kind to answer my million questions before and after my surgery. I am beyond excited and I feel confident again seeing my results. I highly recommend Dr. V. Thank you for making me feel comfortable and safe.”

“Very Passionate About What He Does”

“Dr. V. Is very passionate about what he does. He listens and has really good ideas for realistic expectations. He is very calm and professional. His staff is amazing...nurses, Samantha, anesthesiologist, office too. You can tell they are a great team! Very lucky to have Dr. Villanueva here in Rancho Mirage and Beverly Hills.”

“Can't Say Enough About the Wonderful Experience”

“Can't say enough about the wonderful experience that my daughter had. The whole process beginning to end went smoothly. Dr. Villanueva is incredibly professional and talented. He listened to Ria's needs and worked with her to achieve the desired result. Ria is healing well and very happy.”

“Thank you for changing my life!”

I've done the research for you and saw 25 top-tier surgeons before deciding on Dr. Chopra -- by far the most excellent and perfectionist plastic surgeon. He's a fantastic surgical artist. Professional. Comfortable. Kind. Compassionate. Trustworthy. 100% proven commitment to his clients. I've never known of a better doctor who could make vast changes to my face and neck that made me look younger and feel fabulous, and yet you would never have known I've had a facelift.

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Plastic Surgery Institute: Leading Experts in Breast Implant Removal

With years of experience, Dr. Ritu Chopra has achieved recognition as a plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery expert, including the removal of breast implants. He has successfully performed hundreds of breast implant removal procedures at Plastic Surgery Institute’s Beverly Hills and Rancho Mirage locations. Dr. Chopra has appeared as a plastic surgery correspondent on Emmy Award-winning daytime hit TV talk show The Doctors, to discuss Breast Implant Illness. He is also a member of several prestigious plastic surgery organizations, including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the Los Angeles Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Chopra has also been recognized as a Top Doctor by Castle-Connolly and trains new plastic surgeons while serving as one of the directors at Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Keck/USC. One of his main focuses is breast reconstruction, having become an expert in the pre-pectoral model and direct to implant model. Dr. Chopra completed a fellowship at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York where he gained extensive experience in complex aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the body.

Breast Implant Illness Doctor Beverly Hills

Make An Appointment For A Breast Implant Illness Consultation

If you have any concerns about breast implant illness contact us to make an appointment with Beverly Hills breast implant illness expert, Dr Chopra to discuss any pain or symptoms you may be experiencing.

The sooner you are seen, the better. You know your body better than anyone else. Don't hesitate to call us at 310.248.6250 or contact us online if you are experiencing unusual pain or symptoms that don't seem right.

No matter what brought you here, a visit with our doctors will bring out the best in you. Call us today to schedule your initial consultation, either in person or online.

465 North Roxbury Drive, Suite 1007, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

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