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| Women 'should be warned' of breast implant illness | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Women having breast implants should be warned about a condition linked to chronic pain and extreme fatigue, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has said. | Women having breast implants should be warned about a condition linked to chronic pain and extreme fatigue, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has said. |
| Tens of thousands of women on online forums claim they have suffered breast implant illness (BII), of which there is little scientific evidence. | Tens of thousands of women on online forums claim they have suffered breast implant illness (BII), of which there is little scientific evidence. |
| Surgeons, including from BAAPS, are now calling for more research. | Surgeons, including from BAAPS, are now calling for more research. |
| The regulator said it monitored issues and would act where appropriate. | The regulator said it monitored issues and would act where appropriate. |
| Breast implant illness is not an official diagnosis, but some women who believe they have it say they returned to full health after having their implants removed. | Breast implant illness is not an official diagnosis, but some women who believe they have it say they returned to full health after having their implants removed. |
| The MHRA says there have been more than a million breast implant operations in the UK, and surgeons say most patients are happy with the results. | The MHRA says there have been more than a million breast implant operations in the UK, and surgeons say most patients are happy with the results. |
| But a number of women told the Victoria Derbyshire programme they experienced complications which they had not been warned about. | But a number of women told the Victoria Derbyshire programme they experienced complications which they had not been warned about. |
| 'Bounced back' | 'Bounced back' |
| Fitness instructor Naomi Macarthur, 28, decided to get breast implants in 2014, but within weeks she said she began to suffer "the most horrific symptoms". | Fitness instructor Naomi Macarthur, 28, decided to get breast implants in 2014, but within weeks she said she began to suffer "the most horrific symptoms". |
| "I remember getting severe pain in my stomach," she said. "And the tiredness was like I had run a marathon and dug a million trenches and I hadn't done anything. Writing with a pen was too tiring." | "I remember getting severe pain in my stomach," she said. "And the tiredness was like I had run a marathon and dug a million trenches and I hadn't done anything. Writing with a pen was too tiring." |
| As time went on she experienced a long list of symptoms including hair loss, allergies and rashes. | As time went on she experienced a long list of symptoms including hair loss, allergies and rashes. |
| "It's been absolutely horrific," she said, breaking into tears. | "It's been absolutely horrific," she said, breaking into tears. |
| Ms Macarthur, who is from Brighton, said doctors repeatedly told her the illness was unrelated to the implants, and at one stage diagnosed her with lupus. | Ms Macarthur, who is from Brighton, said doctors repeatedly told her the illness was unrelated to the implants, and at one stage diagnosed her with lupus. |
| Then, last year, she discovered breast implant illness and found online support groups. | Then, last year, she discovered breast implant illness and found online support groups. |
| She decided to have her implants removed, and said within days the symptoms which had affected her life for four years began to disappear. | She decided to have her implants removed, and said within days the symptoms which had affected her life for four years began to disappear. |
| "I can't believe how amazing I feel, and how I have bounced back," she explained. "It's insane." | "I can't believe how amazing I feel, and how I have bounced back," she explained. "It's insane." |
| 'Very real for them' | 'Very real for them' |
| In parts of the medical community there remains scepticism towards breast implant illness. | In parts of the medical community there remains scepticism towards breast implant illness. |
| The BBC spoke to one surgeon - who did not wish to be named - who said he did not believe it was a real condition. | The BBC spoke to one surgeon - who did not wish to be named - who said he did not believe it was a real condition. |
| Symptoms reported by those who say they have the illness - mainly related to the immune system - are broad. | Symptoms reported by those who say they have the illness - mainly related to the immune system - are broad. |
| They include fatigue, chest pain, hair loss, headaches, chills, photosensitivity, chronic pain, brain fog and sleep disturbance. | They include fatigue, chest pain, hair loss, headaches, chills, photosensitivity, chronic pain, brain fog and sleep disturbance. |
| This has meant there is currently little evidence that such issues are linked specifically to the implants. | This has meant there is currently little evidence that such issues are linked specifically to the implants. |
| The UK's National Secretary for the International Society of Plastic Surgery, Naveen Cavale, said: "As far as some of my patients are concerned, breast implant illness is a very real thing for them, and I have no reason to doubt them. But, to me, as a doctor, it makes no scientific sense. | The UK's National Secretary for the International Society of Plastic Surgery, Naveen Cavale, said: "As far as some of my patients are concerned, breast implant illness is a very real thing for them, and I have no reason to doubt them. But, to me, as a doctor, it makes no scientific sense. |
| "Breast implant illness isn't something we used to always talk about - but the proper plastic surgery associations such as ourselves, have started advising we do so, which I think is a good thing for patients to make more informed decisions." | "Breast implant illness isn't something we used to always talk about - but the proper plastic surgery associations such as ourselves, have started advising we do so, which I think is a good thing for patients to make more informed decisions." |
| Consultant plastic surgeon of BAAPS, Nora Nugent, agreed: "Surgeons should be warning patients about breast implant illness. Patients need the most up-to-date information possible, with the caveat that breast implant illness is poorly understood. So it's going to be difficult to give absolute information." | Consultant plastic surgeon of BAAPS, Nora Nugent, agreed: "Surgeons should be warning patients about breast implant illness. Patients need the most up-to-date information possible, with the caveat that breast implant illness is poorly understood. So it's going to be difficult to give absolute information." |
| In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - the drugs regulation body - has begun to investigate breast implant illness. | In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - the drugs regulation body - has begun to investigate breast implant illness. |
| Implant scandal | Implant scandal |
| Hundreds of thousands of women were affected by the PIP breast implant scandal which broke in 2010. | Hundreds of thousands of women were affected by the PIP breast implant scandal which broke in 2010. |
| The implants were twice as likely to rupture and were filled with silicone used in mattresses. | The implants were twice as likely to rupture and were filled with silicone used in mattresses. |
| In 2016, a national safety implant register was set up, and women were encouraged to join it so they could be traced if something went wrong in the future. | In 2016, a national safety implant register was set up, and women were encouraged to join it so they could be traced if something went wrong in the future. |
| It is hoped the Breast and Cosmetic Implant Register, which covers implant procedures in England and Wales, will also lead to a better understanding of breast implant illness. | It is hoped the Breast and Cosmetic Implant Register, which covers implant procedures in England and Wales, will also lead to a better understanding of breast implant illness. |
| Steph Harris, from Woking, has had three different types of implants, and says on each occasion she experienced symptoms of breast implant illness. | Steph Harris, from Woking, has had three different types of implants, and says on each occasion she experienced symptoms of breast implant illness. |
| She has previously had breast cancer, but her surgeon and oncologist believe the chronic fatigue and pain are related to the implants. | She has previously had breast cancer, but her surgeon and oncologist believe the chronic fatigue and pain are related to the implants. |
| Ms Harris was forced to leave her job as a nurse because of the effect it had on her. | Ms Harris was forced to leave her job as a nurse because of the effect it had on her. |
| "To deal with the breast cancer, that was easier. The chemotherapy is easier than the chronic fatigue, I know it sounds weird to say. I guess I'm unique, I have been through both and this is harder." | "To deal with the breast cancer, that was easier. The chemotherapy is easier than the chronic fatigue, I know it sounds weird to say. I guess I'm unique, I have been through both and this is harder." |
| Ms Harris is now having her implants taken out, and said she was "dreaming" of simple things - like being able to go for a "little walk". | Ms Harris is now having her implants taken out, and said she was "dreaming" of simple things - like being able to go for a "little walk". |
| The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) received 1,586 Adverse Incident Reports for breast implants between 2014 and May 2019. However, breast implant illness is not officially recognised. | The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) received 1,586 Adverse Incident Reports for breast implants between 2014 and May 2019. However, breast implant illness is not officially recognised. |
| Patients are calling for the MHRA's Yellow Card reporting system to be made more accessible, so the true scale of implant complications are known. | Patients are calling for the MHRA's Yellow Card reporting system to be made more accessible, so the true scale of implant complications are known. |
| It said in a statement that "patient safety is our highest priority and we always investigate where there are safety concerns raised about a medical device". | It said in a statement that "patient safety is our highest priority and we always investigate where there are safety concerns raised about a medical device". |
| It added: "We continue to work with European and international regulators, breast implant registries and experts to monitor issues and will take appropriate safety action where necessary." | It added: "We continue to work with European and international regulators, breast implant registries and experts to monitor issues and will take appropriate safety action where necessary." |
| Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. | Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. |