Why are Explants Becoming More Common?
KOLD News 13 investigates as more and more women are heading back to the doctor’s office to have a common cosmetic surgery reversed.
Some women claim breast implants are causing them to have symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, hair loss, swallowing issues and other health concerns. So many of those women are deciding to have Explant Surgery, the removal of breast implants.
Dr. Gwen Maxwell has been in practice for 23 years and has done her fair share of breast implants. But recently her office has seen an increase of explant procedures. In 2013, Maxwell only performed four removals but just last year, the number grew to 40.
“To date there is no scientific evidence to suggest that the myriad of symptoms some women express when they have breast implants really is an actual disease,” Maxwell said. But she describes one way people may be experiencing these issues. She said the tissue in your body produces a layer to protect itself from the implant but sometimes bacteria can get in there and affect your immune system. “It could be that the bacterial foam around the implant sets up a chronic inflammatory response of the body,” she said. Once the implant and the bacteria is removed, explant patients typically say they instantly feel better.
Maxwell said that despite the popularity of the explant procedure, people are still going to her office to get breast implants.