In 2009, Allergan was conducting a long-term study on silicone breast implants. I’d always dreamed of having a more feminine body, similar to the models in magazines. So, I signed up for the study and received breast implants. After that, Allergan’s only form of follow-up with me was sending annual surveys to fill out. There was no other real check-in.
Not even a year passed, and I started suffering from strange illnesses. I had itchy rashes all over my body, sores that refused to heal, memory problems, significant weight loss, persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, and blurry vision. I visited numerous doctors, but none of them could figure out what was causing my symptoms.
In 2020, I had the breast implants removed. Since then, my symptoms have gotten better, but I’m still not back to full health. It really upsets me and makes me angry that the doctors I trusted didn’t warn me about the potential risks of the implants.
The safety of breast implants has been a hotly debated topic for decades. On February 6, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration released an update regarding “breast implant illness.” Even though it’s not an officially recognized diagnosis yet, the FDA pointed out that many women with breast implants experience issues like tiredness, difficulty concentrating, hair loss, joint or muscle aches, rashes, changes in weight, and feelings of anxiety and depression.
Approximately 40% of the reports showed that the implants were taken out, and a lot of patients noticed some improvement in their symptoms after the removal. But for some, their symptoms either stayed the same or got even worse.
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