Defining Breast Implant Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Patient-reported Symptoms
A meta-analysis pooling patient-reported symptoms across many studies to describe which symptoms are most commonly associated with breast implant illness.
View original source ↗What this source says
Across 36 studies and 10,519 patients, the most prevalent reported symptoms were joint complaints, fatigue/malaise, muscle pain/weakness, and cognitive dysfunction; fatigue, myalgia/weakness, and cognitive dysfunction were most strongly associated with the presence of implants; and the authors state that no definitive scientific link has been established.
Why it matters
One of the largest attempts to define the BII symptom cluster from patient reports — useful for seeing which symptoms recur most across studies.
Key findings
- Pooled 36 studies and 10,519 patients.
- Most prevalent symptoms: joint complaints (39.1%), fatigue/malaise (27.2%), muscle pain/weakness (25.1%), cognitive dysfunction (21.6%).
- Silicone-filled and ruptured implants showed higher symptom associations; saline and implant removal fewer.
- The authors state “no definitive scientific link has been established.”
Limitations
The authors note the difficulty of studying subjective outcomes objectively, retrospective study designs, and heterogeneous symptom reporting across studies.
What this does not prove
Common associations across patient reports are not proof that implants cause the symptoms.
Source / citation
Bouhadana et al. · Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery — Global Open · 2025
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12088632/
- DOI:
- 10.1097/GOX.0000000000006773
Last reviewed against the original source: 2026-09-02. Summaries are written in plain language; the original source is authoritative.
Breast Implant Illness Tracker provides education and organizational tools only and does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment.