Breast Implant Illness (BII): My story, the evidence and how hypnotherapy supported my recovery
I share this story because I know how isolating it can feel when you know something is wrong but cannot quite explain why and are dismissed by your loved ones and professionals.
For many women, explant surgery becomes a turning point in their health journey.
When I was 18 I had my boobs done. All I can say is that times were very different then.
For years I knew something in my body wasn’t right, and after I had my son in 2022, it became something I could no longer ignore.
Through my exploration to find out what was *wrong* with me, I came across the term Breast Implant Illness (BII). The moment I started reading about it something clicked. I found an extensive tick box list of all the symptoms, and I recall ticking almost all of them. I also discovered a Perth based BII Facebook group that had over 2,000 members.
I just knew that this is what had been going on and I immediately made plans to have my implants removed. Explant surgery quite literally changed my life.
I am now well over a year post-surgery and I no longer have most of the symptoms I used to experience. The main ones which impacted my day-today functioning and which I was on medication for (and am no longer on medication for) include:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was diagnosed based on a blood test, however my Rheumatologist said with no uncertainty I do not have RA.
- Chronic Bronchiectasis and respiratory issues.
- Reflux and stomach issues.
- A massive decrease in chronic migraines.
- Heart palpitations, dizziness and immense fatigue.
Leading up to my operation I used clinical hypnotherapy to help the extreme anxiety I had been experiencing. When I tell you that this one hypnotherapy session changed my life, I am not being dramatic. This session set me up for surgery and recovery. I was calm, level-headed and it completely removed any anxiety and fear I had around the whole process.
In this article I want to explain three things clearly:
- What Breast Implant Illness is
- What the current scientific evidence says
- How clinical hypnotherapy can support women before and after explant surgery.
What is BII?
Breast Implant Illness is a term used to describe a pattern of systemic symptoms that appear after women receive breast implants.
The key thing to understand is this:
The symptoms are real.
However, BII is not yet recognised as a single formal medical diagnosis with one clear cause or diagnostic test. As is the case – science is only beginning to catch on and the evidence-base if beginning to develop.
Over the past decade thousands of women worldwide have reported similar health changes after receiving implants. Because of these reports, researchers and regulators are increasingly studying the issue. And as a note – the surgeon I ultimately chose for my explant is involved in a BII study with Monash University and actually believes that BII is a legitimate medical issue.
What the current evidence shows
The science around BII is still evolving, but several important things are now widely acknowledged.
1. Many women report a consistent pattern of symptoms
Across patient reports and clinical studies, women with implants frequently describe similar systemic symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, joint pain and inflammatory-type issues.
The pattern is strikingly consistent.
2. Many women improve after explant surgery
One of the main reasons clinicians now take BII seriously is that many women report partial or significant improvement after implant removal.
This doesn’t prove implants are the sole cause of every symptom, but it strongly suggests that in some patients they may be contributing to illness.
My surgeon was Dr Mark Lee in Perth. Aside from being involved in the study, he also carries around a little black book where he records the more extraordinary symptoms women report have resolved post-surgery.
3. Some studies suggest links to autoimmune or inflammatory conditions
Large epidemiological studies have produced mixed results. Some show higher rates of certain autoimmune or rheumatic conditions in women with implants, while others do not show a clear causal relationship.
Because symptoms like fatigue or pain are common in the general population, the research can be difficult to interpret.
My own personal story is this: I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2022, put on Plaquenil and told this is my lot in life. In 2025 I was told that with no uncertainty I did not have Rheumatoid Arthritis.
4. There are biologically plausible explanations
Researchers have proposed several mechanisms that could explain symptoms in some patients, including:
• chronic immune activation
• inflammatory reactions to a foreign body
• bacterial biofilm around implants
• silicone bleed or rupture
• genetic or immune susceptibility in certain individuals
None of these mechanisms explain every case, but together they make the phenomenon biologically plausible.
5. Regulators now acknowledge patient reports
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now acknowledges that some patients with breast implants report systemic symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive issues, joint pain and autoimmune-type complaints, and that some patients experience improvement after implant removal.
This represents a major shift from earlier decades when many women were told their symptoms were unrelated.
What is explant surgery?
Explant surgery is the procedure used to remove breast implants.
My personal research demonstrated that you absolutely must have the capsule removed intact, this is called a capsulectomy, If a surgeon tells you they can’t or they won’t – DO NOT GO TO THEM. The capsule is where a biofilm can develop and if left, or cut, the biofilm can remain in your body, as can other nasties which are causing BII. You should also see a surgeon who will test the capsule as antibiotics might be required to treat the biofilm.
The implant and capsule are removed together in one piece. This approach is usually reserved for specific medical situations such as suspected cancer or certain ruptures.
While many women experience significant improvement after explant surgery, it is important to understand that recovery varies between individuals.
How clinical hypnotherapy supports explant surgery and recovery
One of the most powerful tools I used before and after surgery was clinical hypnotherapy.
Clinical hypnotherapy works by guiding the mind into a deeply relaxed state where the subconscious becomes more receptive to positive suggestions and healing imagery.
This matters because surgery places stress on the body and nervous system. When the nervous system is calmer, recovery can feel smoother and much more manageable.
Research on hypnosis and surgery shows that hypnotherapy can help with:
• Reducing pre-surgery anxiety
• Lowering perceived pain
• Improving emotional coping
• Reducing distress around medical procedures
• Improving sleep and relaxation
• Reducing nausea and discomfort
Some studies also suggest that hypnosis may reduce the amount of pain medication required after certain procedures.
While research specifically on hypnotherapy for Breast Implant Illness is still limited, the broader surgical literature strongly supports hypnosis as a valuable complementary therapy.
Clinical hypnotherapy helps regulate several systems that influence healing:
• The stress response
• Pain perception
• Sleep quality
• Muscle tension
• Emotional resilience
• Autonomic nervous system balance
When patients feel calmer, safer and more supported mentally, recovery tends to feel far less overwhelming.
In my own experience, hypnotherapy helped me go into surgery feeling calm, prepared and grounded. My recovery was a walk in the park. I was energised and naturally took the best care of myself with a really positive mindset.
Conclusion
The most honest summary is this:
Breast Implant Illness is a real pattern of symptoms experienced by many women.
Science is still catching up and working out exactly why it happens and which biological mechanisms are responsible.
Many women report significant improvement after explant surgery, although recovery is individual and symptoms may not disappear completely for everyone.
Clinical hypnotherapy does not cure BII, but it can be an incredibly supportive tool for preparing the mind and body for surgery and supporting recovery afterwards. And this was exactly my experience.
If you have breast implants and recognise many of the symptoms described here, the most important step is speaking with a qualified medical professional.
You deserve to be heard and taken seriously. Your symptoms are not “in your head”.
For women considering explant surgery, combining good medical care with supportive therapies like clinical hypnotherapy can make the journey far less frightening and far more empowering.
For me, I LOVE my results. I love my new boobs and I feel more confident in my body than I ever did with implants.
Resources and list of symptoms
If you are in Perth or more broadly Western Australia – I highly recommend joining the Breast Implant Illness (Perth Angels) Support Group on Facebook.
Surgeon: Dr Mark Lee
Information that helped to inform my recovery protocol: Robert Whitfield MD
BII Clinical Hypnotherapy: Home – The Release Room
This is the checklist that I completed when I first discovered BII: eac3fd_37a4daea953b48bab6a1bf7897cc9d9d.pdf
Below is a list of symptoms reported by women:
Whole-body symptoms
• chronic fatigue
• weakness
• flu-like feelings
• malaise
• night sweats
• swollen lymph nodes
• low-grade fevers
Brain and nervous system symptoms
• brain fog
• poor concentration
• memory problems
• dizziness
• headaches
• migraines
• tingling or numbness
• burning sensations
• tremors
• sensitivity to light or sound
Mental health symptoms
• anxiety
• panic symptoms
• depression
• mood swings
• irritability
• sleep disturbances
• insomnia
Muscle and joint symptoms
• joint pain
• muscle pain
• muscle weakness
• stiffness
• body aches
• neck pain
• back pain
Skin and hair symptoms
• rashes
• itching
• hives
• dry skin
• facial flushing
• hair thinning
• hair loss
• brittle nails
Eye, mouth and ENT symptoms
• dry eyes
• blurred vision
• eye irritation
• dry mouth
• sore throat
• hoarseness
• sinus symptoms
Heart and breathing symptoms
• chest pain
• chest tightness
• palpitations
• shortness of breath
• exercise intolerance
Digestive symptoms
• nausea
• bloating
• abdominal pain
• reflux
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• food sensitivities
• loss of appetite
Hormonal and reproductive symptoms
• menstrual irregularities
• worsening PMS
• breast tenderness
• libido changes
Immune and inflammatory symptoms
• increased allergies
• sensitivity to chemicals or foods
• autoimmune-type symptoms
• unexplained swelling
Breast or implant-related symptoms
• breast pain
• tightness or heaviness
• burning sensations
• swelling
• asymmetry
• capsular contracture
Not every woman experiences all of these symptoms, but the clustered pattern is remarkably consistent across many patient reports.
