Silicone breast implants can trigger mast cell activation in some people. About 20% of people have hypervigilant mast cells that overreact to foreign materials, releasing mediators that cause symptoms.
What does that tell us? It tells us that silicon breast implants are causing mast cell activation, most likely in a lot of people. Even if they're not aware of it. It's upregulating the immune system and causing issues. The challenge with mast cell activation is that we all have mast cells. Mast cells are part of the immune system and their job is, is to identify and fight foreign invaders. They're born in the bone marrow, they move to the periphery. They live in the areas of interface between ourselves and the outside world. So like our nose, respiratory tract, GI tract, they live around, around our nerves. But in a certain percentage of the population, probably roughly 20% of the population, they have mast cells that are more hypervigilant, right? They're more sensitive. And when they see a foreign invader, they're going to get triggered. The triggering event then causes a release of these mediators that are in the mast cells.
