Robert Whitfield MDAmerica's Breast Implant Illness Expert™

What Causes Breast Implant Illness (BII)?

30 Jun 2022 · 1 min

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1:09

A short YouTube video by Robert Whitfield MD discussing causes of Breast Implant Illness (BII). In this excerpt Dr. Whitfield states that biofilm (bacterial or fungal contaminants on implant surfaces) likely accounts for a large majority of his BII cases (he estimates well over ~60%). He proposes biofilm-driven inflammation activates the immune system and increases oxidative stress. For the remaining ~20–30% of cases where biofilm is not found, he highlights genetic factors that affect oxidative-stress management (examples named: superoxide dismutase, glutathione metabolism, methylation) and says genetic testing may guide tailored treatments.

Chapters

In my personal audit. It will vary, but I think biofilm contributes to a large majority of these cases. Well over probably 60% of my cases are attributable to biofilm. So what is biofilm? Biofilm is a bacterial or fungal contaminant on the surface of the device. What do we propose happens? We propose that inflammation caused by this biofilm activates the immune system and leads to the response that's contributable to more oxidative stress in the individual. I would say in the remaining 20, 30% that I don't find biofilm, we're looking more closely at genes that help them manage oxidative stress, like superoxide dismutase, two things that help them manage glutathione metabolism, things that help them manage methylation. They're going to come to the forefront. They're going to become more evaluated. We're going to do more genetic testing to evaluate these and help further tailor specific treatment plans for patients with BII.