Are Connective Tissue Disease and Ruptured Silicone Breast Implants Linked?

December 19, 2016

Question:

I developed Connective Tissue Disease from a silicone breast implant rupture. If I have my implants removed, will the disease get better?

Answer:

Some women have experienced adverse effects from ruptured silicone breast implants and subsequently had them removed. The FDA has approved two different silicone implants, but only after battling with implant manufacturers who resisted long-term studies of this device, which calls into question its safety. Yet there is currently no evidence-based research that shows a link between the device and connective tissue disease.  

However, there has yet to be a study large enough or long enough to rule out or prove this risk definitively. What we do know is that at least 20 percent of women with silicone breast implants will have to have them removed or replaced within 8 to 10 years due to complications. However, there is no evidence to prove that removal reverses connective tissue disease, it just corrects the pain and discomfort caused by the ruptured implant.

Currently, the National Women’s Health Network does not believe that silicone breast implants have been proven safe for long-term use. While we can’t make any scientific claims linking the device to autoimmune diseases, more women are coming forward with personal stories about their battle with autoimmune diseases after getting silicone breast implants and their concerns must be heard. Regardless, a ruptured implant should be removed, so be sure to speak with your doctor on what steps to take next. Also, if you would like to report your experience with this device to the FDA, you can use the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System.

Additional Resources

The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained on or available through this website is for general information purposes only.

The continued availability of external resources is outside of the NWHN’s control. If the link you are looking for is broken, contact us at nwhn@nwhn.org to request more current citation information.