The Dr. Robert Whitfield Show

Breast Implant Illness (BII) symptoms affect every system of the body, even gut health. In fact, many patients encounter chronic inflammation, a common symptom of BII, and can have a cascading effect on the gut. Inflammation in the body can disrupt the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal system and can disrupt the balance of hormones like estrogen and testosterone, potentially leading to reduced libido.

While the impact of breast implants on aesthetics and confidence is well-known, the effects on overall health, including sexual health, are equally important and deserve our attention. That is why in today’s episode, we’ll be talking about breast implant illness in relation to libido.

Even before any surgical operation for whatever purpose, we have to take into consideration the differences in genetics of every patient. In fact, evaluating the patient’s genetics is vital to ensure full healing or recovery after undergoing an explant or breast implant removal.

Understanding a patient's genetic makeup allows for a more personalized approach to treatment and recovery. It enables healthcare providers to anticipate potential complications and tailor their strategies to ensure optimal healing and recovery. This is particularly essential for those with BII, as the condition's severity can vary widely among individuals due to their genetic predisposition.

Many of us are aware that sunlight exposure is a natural way to boost Vitamin D levels since sunlight converts Vitamin D into Vitamin D3. While sun exposure has its benefits, excessive amounts can harm your skin and potentially lead to skin cancer. From a genetic perspective, however, it's important to determine if you have the genetic components necessary for effectively utilizing Vitamin D, particularly in its converted form, Vitamin D3.

Genetic issues can arise in three key areas. Firstly, some individuals may struggle to convert Vitamin D to D3 due to genetic factors. Even if you're getting enough sunlight, poor genetic function in this area can hinder the process. Secondly, transportation of activated Vitamin D3 can be problematic for certain individuals, resulting in reduced amounts of the active form available to the body. Lastly, there can be issues with the binding of activated Vitamin D3 to its receptor, preventing it from effectively aiding your body's functions.

As stated, understanding personal genetics plays a key role not just pre and post-surgical operations but even in different aspects concerning one’s health. In fact, the lack of essential nutrients can have implications for various aspects of health, including libido, and shed light on the potential impact of breast implant illness on your overall well-being and sexual function.

In my formulations, I've prioritized liquids over capsules or pills whenever possible because I understand that people often experience pill fatigue. A liquid supplement, such as a mouth spray, can offer a simple solution. With just a quick spray and holding it in your mouth for around 30 seconds, it gets absorbed efficiently, meeting your Vitamin D metabolism needs.

Aside from Vitamin D, there are other essential vitamins that we should consider in our daily routines, and one of them is Vitamin B6, which plays a significant role in sexual function. Vitamin B6 helps regulate sex hormones and can boost libido. In both men and women, it aids in balancing estrogen and testosterone levels, as well as supporting essential neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.

You can find Vitamin B6 in various foods, including bananas, avocados, potatoes, cottage cheese, and tomatoes. Incorporating these items into your diet can be a beneficial step toward improving your overall sexual health and well-being.

As a breast implant illness specialist, I see many patients who have chronic inflammation, gut absorption issues, and other health problems. These conditions can make it difficult to absorb nutrients, including B vitamins. B vitamins are essential for many bodily functions, including sexual function. If you cannot methylate your B vitamins, you may experience impaired sexual function.

If you are concerned about the impact of breast implant illness on your libido or overall health, I recommend talking to your doctor. They can help you determine if you have any underlying health conditions that are contributing to your symptoms. You may also want to consider working with a functional medicine practitioner who can help you address the root cause of your health problems.

I see many patients who are struggling with sexual dysfunction. There are many factors that can contribute to this problem, including vitamin absorption issues, genetics, stress, and inflammation. It is thus crucial to have optimal energy levels within our cells. When cellular waste accumulates due to inefficient clearance mechanisms, it can hinder various cellular processes, including energy production by mitochondria. This is where antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E come into play, as they help support these pathways.

However, if you face issues with vitamin absorption or have a lower-functioning antioxidant pathway, your energy levels can drop, which can directly impact your sexual function. To address this, we provide vitamin C in a liquid formulation to enhance absorption and restore energy levels.

I believe that the key to addressing sexual dysfunction is achieving balance and addressing the root causes of inflammation. This involves a comprehensive approach, including genetic analysis, food sensitivity testing, gut microbiome assessments, hormone testing, and toxicity assessments through urine tests. It's important to recognize that chronic inflammation, such as in the case of breast implant illness, can negatively impact libido.

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One of the most common observations that I have from my breast implant patients, particularly those experiencing breast implant illness, is that they experience a gradual or rapid weight gain after some time. While breast implants themselves do not directly cause weight gain, there can be various factors that lead to this connection.

Today, we’re going to shed light on the frequent concern of many people before or after having breast implant surgery as regards whether or not breast implant illness causes weight gain.

Breast implants are just a single component of breast implant illness. To gain a comprehensive understanding of BII, it is crucial to adopt a holistic approach, recognizing that it comprises a constellation of symptoms akin to chronic inflammation.

We have to take note, however, that there’s already an acute inflammation during the operation considering that we have to make an incision and separate tissues to proceed with the operation. Consequently, we monitor the healing process after the operation. Undoubtedly, there may be redness, swelling, or pain as this is a stress response of the body to the injury.

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is when there is an excessive and persistent level of inflammation throughout various systems within the body. This constant inflammation can disrupt the normal signaling processes in the body, causing a state where the body struggles to turn off the inflammatory response. Since the signals of the body are overworked, they don’t turn off anymore causing confusion to the provider as there may be several issues connected to breast implant illness.

As compared to acute inflammation, the body’s stress responses in the form of redness, swelling, pain, or others are more constant. For example, because the signals have never turned off, we get chronic swelling. Because of the chronic inflammation, the patient gradually gains weight which may speed up due to exposure to other factors or some life experience that may trigger weight gain.

While chronic inflammation may not be the only cause of weight gain, it increases the likelihood of a patient gaining weight, especially when combined with other factors such as dietary choices, lifestyle changes, or stressors that trigger overeating or decreased physical activity. That’s why it’s vital for us to address chronic inflammation and weight gain together as they are crucial aspects in breast implant illness.

As much as we can, we take a more holistic approach that highly takes into consideration the health of our patients to ensure better results. That is why our program includes testing for genetics, hormones, food sensitivity, gut microbiome, and toxicity. These tests, alongside supplementation and detoxification, greatly help in lowering inflammation.

Our goal is to lower the inflammation as much as we can to improve the condition of our patients. Once we successfully do this, we'll be able to see how much better they’re doing. Based on my experiences with other patients, I think it’s safe to say that chronic inflammation which may be linked to breast implant illness is responsible for a lot of weight gain in patients as this is mainly fluid.

This can involve leaky gut, constipation, inability to eliminate toxins, constant swelling, and more. We have to take note that more swelling means more retention of fluid. As a result, you put on more and more weight. As you identify and decrease the drivers of inflammation, you get to target the issues that come with it, particularly weight gain problems.

That is why it is important for patients to have these surgical techniques performed by medical professionals to ensure their safety and avoid any issues thereafter. They can help patients make informed decisions about breast implant removal, breast lift procedures, and other options to mitigate symptoms and improve overall well-being.

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A breast implant illness consultation (or discovery session, as we like to call it) with Dr. Rob is an in-depth exploration of symptoms and potential causes of BII. The purpose of the discovery session is for women affected by this chronic illness to get much-needed answers.

Having consulted with over 800 patients, Dr. Robert Whitfield is well-versed in the patterns and symptoms affecting women experiencing chronic illness. Thorough and cohesive, the discovery session addresses a range of conditions including brain fog, GI issues, diet, and autoimmune disease, eliminating the need for multiple specialists.

Dr. Rob devotes as much time as needed to understand each individual’s unique situation, ensuring the path forward is effective and delivers much-needed healing and a speedy recovery for patients.

For more healing resources create by Dr. Rob, visit our store - Dr. Rob's Solutions at https://drrobssolutions.myshopify.com

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Women who believe their implants are making them sick report a wide range of symptoms including extreme fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headache, brain fog, hair loss, rashes, dry mouth and eyes, depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

These conditions appear within a few months to several years following surgery, and seem to more often follow a secondary surgery like revision or exchange. But the exact cause is difficult to pin down because other conditions like Lyme disease and toxic mold exposure can cause similar symptoms.

Using PCR testing (instead of traditional CLIA-based lab testing), Dr. Rob discovered that over 60% of the breast implants he removed all had one thing in common.

Dr. Rob describes his methodology for identifying this complicated, misunderstood condition and shares his treatment strategies utilizing nutrition and genetic testing to put his patients on the path to healing.

For more healing resources create by Dr. Rob, visit our store - Dr. Rob's Solutions at https://drrobssolutions.myshopify.com

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Dr. Rob tells the story of a patient whose labs were normal but her health wasn’t, and how this case led him to analyze implants in a new way (and the shocking findings).

So many women with breast implants experience the same symptoms of extreme fatigue, general malaise, and chronic aches and pains, yet their tests routinely come back with nothing.

In this second episode of our series about Breast Implant Illness, Dr. Rob describes how PCR testing (the same that detects COVID-19) delivers the long-needed answers that finally put BII sufferers on the road to recovery.

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/breast-implant-illness/id1678143554

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Austin’s natural plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Whitfield brings you the true stories of actual patients, navigates through their surgical and non-surgical treatment options, then reveals their chosen path forward and the results they achieved.

Dr. Rob is a board certified plastic surgeon and Austin’s Natural Choice for plastic surgery, laser and energy treatments, and aesthetics.

Visit Dr. Rob's Austin plastic surgery practice website or follow him on Instagram at @drrobertwhitfield

Breast Implant Illness

Since 2016, more than 500 women suffering from breast implant illness (BII) have asked Dr. Rob for help removing their breast implants. This is the story of his first breast implant illness patient, who had clear labs and no symptoms aside from fatigue. When her hospital stay resulted in a shocking discovery at the lab, Dr. Rob started down a road he never expected to travel.

In this first episode of our special series dedicated to the mysteries of Breast Implant Illness, we go back in time to hear how Dr. Rob’s experience and training set him up to see clearly what others could not.

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Due to limited resources and research studies related to breast implant illness and considering that it remains to be unrecognized as an official diagnosis by many in the medical field, many patients suffering from the condition are left untreated worsening symptoms. Symptoms may include fatigue, joint pain, cognitive issues, and other systemic complaints.

As we aim to continue raising awareness and advocating for more research on breast implant illness, we help shine a light on the experiences of affected individuals and help lead people to a better understanding of these potential health issues in the future. That is why it is important for us to discuss today’s treatment options for breast implant illness.

We developed an entire program called Holistic Accelerated Recovery Program so that many patients both in Austin, TX, and even out of state, can participate and get the help they need. Our program is founded on genetic testing, toxicity testing, food sensitivities, stool testing, and evaluation of your hormones, liver, kidney, and thyroid function. We use these evaluations to identify any symptoms of breast implant illness.

The results we get from these tests are used to start working on any deficiencies or problems, particularly in the immune system pathways of the patient. To improve the condition of the patient, we make sure to incorporate an appropriate and healthy diet, lifestyle changes, and supplementation.

Conducting a comprehensive assessment of a patient’s medical history, current condition, and any other specific concerns she may have is a must in understanding their different needs/conditions and allows us to develop a personalized treatment plan.

We always want the best for our patients, which is why we do the best we can to set them up for success. I have been doing this for six years now, going on my seventh year, and it’s been a long journey for me but I have been feeling fulfilled being able to help people advance in recovery.

Many patients worry too much about their surgery and I’m not saying that it’s wrong. Sometimes, they just need to be reassured by their qualified plastic surgeon about the operations they’ll undergo. As qualified providers, it is our responsibility to address these concerns and to provide patients with the information and reassurance they need to feel more at ease about their surgery.

Patients have the right to be informed about the details of their surgery, including the procedure itself, potential risks and complications, expected outcomes, and the recovery process. Transparent and open communication not only empowers patients to make well-informed decisions, but it also helps to build trust between the patient and the qualified plastic surgeon.

Personally, I encourage my patients to alter their diets and increase their protein intake before surgery to put them in their best condition. We call that ‘nitrogen balance’. It helps someone to go from the stress response of surgery to a healing phase.

We also do fat transfers to offset any appearance changes and reshape the affected areas of the breasts. Also, in relation to treatment, it’s beneficial to have a healthy and supportive circle. At present, I have two team members in my group who have had explants and suffered from breast implant illness, which is why their support for our clients comes from firsthand experience. They’re good at providing a great deal of emotional support.

Keep in mind that explant surgery, or breast implant removal, is not the only solution. Patients can also look into doing our Holistic Accelerated Recovery Program and take into account many factors affecting one’s conditions or triggering any symptoms of breast implant illness.

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Breast Implant Illness is a point of concern and a topic of debate by many especially women, plastic surgeons, and medical professionals, as it can manifest itself in several symptoms. However, there are limited tools and resources for such a condition, which is why many people still don’t know much about it.

It is thus crucial for us to understand the symptoms and other potential risks associated with breast implant illness. That is why we’re here to delve deeper into understanding the truth about breast implant illness. In today’s episode, we’ll discuss research, treatment options, and more information to educate more people and raise awareness.

One of the challenging aspects of breast implant illness is the wide range of symptoms that patients have reported experiencing. These symptoms vary greatly from person to person.

The first time I was confronted with patients experiencing brain fog, I was perplexed since I still didn’t understand what was happening back then. I had to ask relevant questions to inquire more about their conditions considering they tend to forget things, even their children’s names, which was very concerning.

Other patients develop respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath and tightness in the chest, or cardiac symptoms like heart palpitations and body tremors. There may also be skin problems such as bad rashes and large outbreaks of cystic acne all over the body.

There are also those who report cases of gastrointestinal issues, such as bloating, digestive discomfort, and food intolerances. Psychological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and mood swings, have also been mentioned by some. These symptoms make it difficult for patients to sleep or function daily.

There's honestly a constellation of these symptoms and most patients and their traditional physicians don't know what’s going on. Sometimes, even when they’ve consulted their plastic surgeon and did an exam to see if there’s anything wrong with the implants, they can’t figure out anything wrong.

It is important to note that in some cases, symptoms may appear shortly after breast implant surgery, while in others, they may develop gradually over time. The delayed onset of symptoms, sometimes years after the initial surgery, has made it challenging and complicated to understand and diagnose the condition.

I previously had a patient who came to me wanting to be flat-chested after having breast reconstruction after cancer. As part of my standard operating procedure, I reviewed her history and exams and didn’t find any evidence of capsular contracture or skin problems or changes; everything was normal.

She requested an en bloc capsulectomy which is a term that is very familiar to me as I have done several years of reconstruction for breast cancer, neck cancer, and sarcomas, which are rare tumors of bone, muscle, and fat. In line with this, we make sure that there’s no evidence of recurrence of cancer or any contaminants to avoid any problems or infections.

Later on, after going through her microbiota or microbiology reporting, I found that she had an E. coli infection on one side which was shocking. I couldn’t figure out what or how I missed that considering I went through a thorough assessment of her case. It was apparently an occult infection and not a biofilm of low-grade amounts of contamination.

She was dealing with serious fatigue back then which many patients commonly have after cancer treatment with chemotherapy. I correlated her symptom of fatigue with the implant infection, so I put her on the appropriate antibiotic as a standard measure of care which was proven effective in her case.

That is why I always mention the importance of having a qualified plastic surgeon who has experience performing various cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and has a vast knowledge to assess individual patient needs accurately, and recommend appropriate treatment plans in order to achieve optimal results.

It is also necessary that the plastic surgeon maintains an ongoing relationship with patients, provides support, and addresses any concerns that may arise long after the procedure has been completed.

In showcasing my leadership in the Aesthetic Society’s Research Foundation, of which I later became the president, we continuously strived to fund and find ways to advance research regarding the controversial matter of breast implant illness.

As I mentioned in my previous podcast episodes, inflammation worsens breast implant illness which is why it is closely associated with the latter. That’s why it’s important for us to be able to identify the pattern of the symptoms of inflammation and/or breast implant illness.

As I have routinely observed, the usual pattern of symptoms consists of brain fog, anxiety, depression, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, joint and muscle pain, rashes, chronic problems with infections, sinusitis, and many more.

Raising awareness about breast implant illness and providing accurate information can help the public, especially women considering breast implants, make informed choices about their health. That’s why many people seek help and consultation from me since I already have years of knowledge and experience in these areas.

The good thing is that we have programs, tools, and other resources, to help you from a neurological standpoint. To be certain, we conduct an EEG if there is any complaint of brain fog. We also evaluate and improve their gut health by taking into consideration food sensitivities and DNA analysis of their stool.

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Despite the cases involving breast implant illness, there is still a lack of research studies, clinical studies, and other resources regarding this matter. Recognizing the concerns raised, surgeons, medical practitioners, and other organizations have called for further investigation into breast implant safety and potential health risks associated with them, particularly regarding breast implant illness.

That is why it’s important for us to discuss breast implant illness considering the fact that it’s been hard to characterize such a condition. We have to continue raising awareness to provide timely intervention and appropriate medical management, if necessary.

Your body and breast implants play a role but it’s not the only factor.

Back in 2019-2020, when I was the president of the Education Research Foundation for the Aesthetic Society, we were able to fund studies on the psychological and basic scientific aspects of breast implant illness.

We were able to learn more about the condition as we conducted a randomized prospective trial about surgery, identification of heavy metals, and more. Initially, we thought of it as just an inflammation but it became more significant to the point that the patient can no longer manage the inflammation.

Moreover, it affects the patient’s mental health and this issue cannot be solely linked to their bodies or breast implants. There are other factors causing the symptoms of anxiety, depression, brain fog, muscle, and joint pains, and the list goes on. And from a provider’s standpoint, it’s complicated and challenging to recognize all the patterns because the condition of breast implant illness is not yet well acknowledged and understood.

Breast Implant Illness is still not part of the provided classification systems.

It should be noted that for something to be categorized as a medical diagnosis, it has to be implemented in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). At present, breast implant illness is still not part of the provided classification systems. Therefore, it is not yet a recognized medical diagnosis, although there are groups and organizations working towards that.

It’s going to take some time before it gets to be recognized as a medical diagnosis officially but since I’ve spent years studying the condition, we were able to make a program to further help patients and even surgeons. As much as we can, we provide the best care for our clients.

Putting a great deal into different factors that may contribute to inflammation and breast implant illness

Due to the lack of studies regarding this matter, many practitioners find it difficult to recognize the symptoms and patterns of breast implant illness. Personally, I’ve seen a lot of patients dealing with environmental toxicity which is why I put a great deal into everybody’s personal genetics as well as the toxicity levels, food sensitivities, and hormone imbalances.

Other factors, like the environment, should also be taken into consideration in correlation with personal genetics, especially when we speak of inflammation. A good example of this would be some of my clients who are realtors constantly exposed to environmental toxins as they go into different homes and renovations. Some of these toxins can cause brain fog, anxiety, and gut problems.

Pattern recognition is really important and because I have done thousands of consultations, heard different stories throughout my years of being in this field, and seen the outcomes of different tests, it’s been easier for me to guide patience throughout their journey.

The importance of addressing other issues before surgery

It’s vital for us to address all the health issues a patient may have because otherwise, the patient will still experience symptoms. Our assessments should be done with a holistic approach to be able to treat everything properly. Taking a holistic approach to assessment and treatment allows providers to consider the broader context of a patient's health and well-being for more effective solutions or treatments.

Before surgery, conducting a comprehensive evaluation helps identify any underlying health conditions or factors that may affect the surgery’s outcome or recovery. Addressing these issues beforehand can optimize the patient's overall health and reduce the risk of complications during or after surgery.

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Autoimmune diseases are conditions where the body's immune system attacks its own healthy tissues, leading to chronic inflammation and other symptoms. And although there are case studies and research studies that link breast implants and autoimmune diseases, it is important to note that other factors should also be considered.

As concerns continue to be raised, we deem it necessary to further shed light on such a controversial topic on how autoimmune diseases relate to breast implants.

Your body has a set of defenses that protects you. And when your immune system attacks your own cells, that's basically an autoimmune disease. Moreover, a combination of pre-existing genetic issues usually results in autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune diseases have long been existing since the 1700s or 1800s. That is why we cannot entirely correlate these autoimmune diseases solely to breast implants, hip implants, knee implants, and even dental implants. They are thought to result from combinations involving genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. And as we continue to have more clinical research studies, we will further understand these diseases.

If you’re questioning if there are any tests that can be done to diagnose this, there are many tests like the anti-nuclear antibody test, autoantibody test, and C-reactive protein test, that have been available for many years now. These tests haven’t changed since then and it's quite concerning considering that many things have already evolved by now, even phones are very developed now.

These specialists have expertise in diagnosing and treating autoimmune diseases, immune system disorders, and related conditions. They may perform specific tests to evaluate immune system markers, antibodies, and cellular responses to identify any dysregulation or conduct further investigations to determine if there is an existing autoimmune disease.

Reducing inflammation caused by autoimmune diseases is an important aspect of managing these conditions and improving overall well-being. In our program, we ensure that we get to trace the root cause of the issue so as to prevent or at least lessen inflammation caused by breast implants.

We consider many factors such as the patient’s family history, medical history, genetic predisposition, toxicities she has been exposed to, food sensitivities, and many more. We also take note of the type of implants in place and whether or not there has been more than one surgery that has resulted in complications.

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