During Breast Implant Illness Explained Awareness Month, Dr. Shaher Khan M.D. will host a free virtual talk on March 8 to answer questions abou.
Breast Implant Awareness Month
Dr. Shaher Khan, M.D., an expert on implants, advises women who have breast implants and are experiencing unexplained health issues to discuss breast implant illness (BII) with their primary care physicians.
The double board-certified plastic surgeon chose Breast Implant Awareness Month to invite women to a free Zoom conversation to discuss BII and answer their questions.
Dr. Khan explained that women should be aware of the warnings issued by the Federal Drug Administration and the breast implant manufacturers. In the small print, the warnings about the connection to cancer are right there.
Breast Implant Illness Explained
Multiple symptoms, including fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, headaches, mood swings, and depression, are linked to breast implant illness.
Ninety-seven percent of the women polled in a 2021* survey of around 200 women in Utah reported experiencing negative symptoms that they attributed to their implants. Breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC) and breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) are mentioned in a warning that was posted on the Federal Drug Administration’s website in the fall of 2022. The sad irony is that having implants after mastectomies puts survivors of breast cancer at risk for a variety of diseases and cancers.
Dr. Khan explained that breast implant disease is real. Although it is a real issue, there are real solutions. Nobody wishes to discuss it. I’m not allowed to discuss it.
Despite warnings and data, breast implant surgery is still very popular in North America, with statistics predicting an increase in 2023 over the previous year. The market is anticipated to expand from $2.10 billion in 2021 to $2.25 billion in 2022 globally. According to ReportLinker, it is anticipated that it will amount to $2.9 billion by that point.
Dr. Shaher Khan
Dr. Shaher Khan is a plastic surgeon in Michigan who specializes in en-bloc implant removal. Because of the health risks associated with implants, he strongly opposes their use. In his practice, he performs a variety of reconstructive procedures and is accredited by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Explant surgery, performed exclusively by Dr. Khan, involves removing breast implants. As required to become a board-certified plastic surgeon, he has only performed one breast implant surgery. Dr. Khan is one of the few medical professionals who warns women about the numerous negative effects of saline and silicone breast implants, including breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC), a rare but aggressive cancer. He is not taking advantage of one of the most lucrative surgical procedures.
The Implant Truth Survivors Committee
Breast Implant Awareness Month was started in 2018 by The Implant Truth Survivors Committee, a non-profit organization. Like Dr. Khan, their goal is to ensure that people who have breast implants are aware of the risks associated with the devices before they decide to get them.
The FDA has issued warnings, Dr. Khan stated. The manufacturers have issued cautions. Breast implant-related illnesses have been the subject of numerous personal accounts from women. However, when a patient desires an implant, surgeons frequently gloss over the risks. For women who have undergone mastectomies, the current standard of care also includes the use of implants. There is no other option available to the women.
Symptoms Of Breast Implant Illness
Because general practitioners are frequently the first medical professionals to hear about a patient’s symptoms, Dr. Khan believes that educating primary care physicians is the key to assisting women in determining whether or not they have an illness related to their breast implants. They are the first people to respond. They are the first people to see the patient, and they are the ones who are able to recognize the symptoms and send the patient to a specialist.
Symptoms include:
Fatigue or chronic fatigue
Cognitive dysfunction
Muscle aches and pains
Skin rashes
Chronic neck and back pain
Anxiety, panic attacks
Depression
Metallic taste in mouth
Dry skin, eyes, mouth, hair
Weight gain or weight loss
Frequent urination
Liver and kidney dysfunction
Digestive issues
Recurring sinus, yeast, and UTI infections
Many of these resemble other diseases, particularly autoimmune conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Khan encourages women to look into the studies that show a link between illnesses and implants and to share their experiences with others in order to stop more women from being harmed. Additionally, Dr. Khan maintains a robust and active Facebook group in which support and stories are shared. To stay informed about BII, go to Dr. Khan’s channels on YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram.
Find more now:
Dr. Khan will host a Zoom call on March 8 for anyone interested in learning more about BII or sharing their own experiences. Visit ExecutivePlasticSurgery.com to register for the March 8 event and learn more about Dr. Khan.