The theory posits that in some women, the implants provoke an immune system response, and the symptoms are the body’s way of attempting to combat the foreign object. Ongoing studies are trying to glean more information on the exact nature of the illness and what causes it. Still, for now, breast implant illness is something of an umbrella term that covers a number of adverse reactions to the addition of implants.

Breast implants can stretch the skin and lead to sagging over time. In some cases, this leads to breasts looking “deflated” following implant removal. Dr. Whitfield combines mastopexy (breast lift) with breast implant removal to ensure that your breasts remain perky, balanced, and beautiful even without implants.

Keep in mind that the lift will improve the shape and position of the breasts, but it will not enhance the size. As a result, your breasts will appear smaller than they were unless you choose to replace the implants with fat transfer or another solution, which is why Dr. Whitfield often combines this technique with fat transfer as a combination procedure.

Fat transfer is a natural way to replace some of the void left by breast implant removal. Dr. Whitfield carefully removes the implant and casing, taking care not to leave any evidence behind that may further agitate the body. He uses targeted liposuction to remove donor fat from another part of the body (typically hips, thighs, or abdomen). Dr. Whitfield purifies the fat, then uses it to replace some of the volume lost from the implant removal. Because the fat comes from your own body, your body accepts it more readily than a foreign object. Typically, patients retain around 80 percent of the fat added to their breasts through this method.

Dr. Whitfield prefers these treatments in breast implant illness compared to breast implant removal and replacement, which involves swapping the implants out with other implants. Dr. Whitfield believes that replacing implants in suspected cases of breast implant illness could impede healing, as your body could be just as likely to object to the new implants as the old ones. Using natural alternatives like fat transfer and mastopexy to reshape the breasts gives you the best chance to eliminate breast implant illness symptoms, based on available data.