ASIA Syndrome: An Autoimmune Disease that can be Caused by Breast Implants

"I felt exhausted and didn't want to get out of bed", "I started having headaches and blurred vision", "my whole body ached and I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia": this is how many women describe ASIA Syndrome. The Autoimmune Inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants, better known as ASIA syndrome, is a growing disease that worries the female and transfemale population that have received breast implants. It is a series of symptoms and clinical signs that appear after undergoing breast implant surgery.

ASIA syndrome occurs when a person's immune system abnormally overreacts to the presence of adjuvants. These are substances that are used to make some types of breast implants. This reaction in the immune system can cause a variety of symptoms to appear, which can include chest pain, fatigue, fever, joint pain, rashes, hair loss, and neurological problems. Like any autoimmune disease, the body begins to generate antibodies that attack the body itself.

Dr. Yehuda Shoenfeld and Dr. Nancy Agmon Levin were pioneers in talking about this syndrome in 2011. That is why this syndrome can also be known as Shoenfeld syndrome. Adjuvants can actually be found in various substances. However, silicone is one of the most common and is used in different types of prostheses, valves and as a material for cosmetic procedures.

It is important to note that ASIA syndrome is a rare condition and not all women with breast implants experience these symptoms. However, it is also a little-known autoimmune syndrome and, therefore, there may be difficulties in its diagnosis. In fact, it is a subject that continues to be studied and is attracting more and more attention from doctors and researchers. However, around the world there are testimonials from women who for different reasons (aesthetic, sex change or after breast removal) decided to get breast implants and after the operation began to have strange symptoms. Cases like that of recognized figures such as Johanna Rubiano, Angelly Moncayo, Bárbara Mermudo or Natalia Durán.

We recommend you read: FDA Warns of Various Types of Cancer Associated with Breast Implants

Get rid of breasts and beauty stereotypes?

Cosmetic surgeries have been and are very popular among the female population, and Latin America is one of the regions where they are most accepted. Although breast implants have contributed to many trans women feeling more comfortable with their bodies, women who have suffered from breast cancer can have breasts again or simply as a way to feel more comfortable with themselves, it is necessary to put in question its popularity.

In the first place, precisely because of this popularity, there are aesthetic centers that offer this surgery without having the right professionals, the correct materials and safe procedures. For this reason, people end up being victims of surgeries that put their safety at risk. Likewise, before performing the operation there may not be enough information about its health risks, problems with lactation and the need for maintenance (with the costs that it entails), among others.

On the other hand, it is necessary to question traditional beauty stereotypes and the need to intervene in the body with aesthetic procedures to meet standards. Does beauty really reside in big breasts? Do I fully understand the risks, benefits, and options available? These are questions that should be asked. While it is a personal and respectable decision in any case, it should always be a well-informed decision. Precisely for these reasons, more and more people are choosing to remove their implants, although this can also entail great costs.

Each patient has their own story and each body is different. Not for all women, having implants is a risk or a problem, and removing them shouldn't be either. If you suspect that you may be experiencing ASIA syndrome, it is best that you consult a doctor specialized in the subject to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment. Likewise, if you are thinking of getting breast implants, it is essential to go to a specialized medical center that has all the health approvals.