In recent years, social media platforms have emerged as pivotal channels for raising awareness about Breast Implant Illness (BII), a condition that many major health agencies and surgeons either deny or dismiss. Activists like Angie Monasterio, an Argentinian advocate, have been instrumental in highlighting the potential dangers associated with breast implants, sparking a significant increase in explantation surgeries.
Monasterio describes BII as a “hidden epidemic” and asserts that the beauty industry invests heavily in concealing the issue. Her awareness of BII, she explains, came through social media and support groups, particularly after viewing a 2018 YouTube video titled “My Breast Implants Almost Killed Me,” which has garnered over 200,000 views.Monasterio stated, “Women like me, who experienced illness following breast augmentation surgery, discovered the consequences of implants through social networks, support groups, and storytelling videos.”
Activism and Awareness
Monasterio’s personal journey with BII began in 2018 when she decided to remove her implants after 15 years of severe health issues. “The day after I had the implants removed, all my symptoms reversed,” she recalls. Her experience led her to a website called “Healing Breast Implant Illness,” created by Nicole Daruda, a Canadian who had also suffered from BII. Inspired by Daruda’s work, Monasterio founded the Facebook group “Enfermedad de Implantes Mamarios Iberoamérica,” which now boasts 36,600 followers. She also manages an Instagram account with nearly 47,000 followers, aimed at providing information and support to Spanish-speaking women. “Before my group, there was almost no information about BII or explantation surgery available in Spanish,” she notes.
Critique of Health Agencies
Monasterio criticizes international health agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for their inadequate testing and monitoring of breast implants. She highlights a lack of recognition and support from healthcare providers, noting that many women are self-diagnosed due to the dismissive attitudes of doctors. Monasterio asserts that financial interests play a role in suppressing information about BII, stating, “We are fighting a multi-billion dollar industry whose primary profit comes from the health of hundreds of thousands of women worldwide.”
Impact on Women in Ibero-America
The Facebook group has significantly impacted many women, such as Montserrat Camacho from Spain. Camacho suffered from chronic fatigue, digestive problems, and infertility for 17 years before discovering Monasterio’s posts. “Despite clear test results and assurances from doctors that I was healthy, I knew something was wrong,” Camacho told AUNO. After learning about BII, she underwent explantation surgery in 2022, which she credits with saving her life.
Challenges of Explantation Surgery
Activists advocate for En Bloc Capsulectomy, a procedure that removes both the implant and the surrounding scar tissue, as the most effective method to address BII symptoms. However, accessing this surgery can be challenging, especially in countries like the United States, where it is not typically covered by insurance unless the implant has ruptured. Angie Perez, a Venezuelan model and journalist, had to take out a loan to afford the procedure. “In the U.S., explantation surgery is not considered an emergency unless the implant is ruptured,” she explains, also criticizing the practice of leaving capsule tissue behind during surgery.
Denial and Misinformation
Monasterio believes the denial of BII is part of a broader effort to protect the lucrative breast implant industry. She cites past controversies such as the bankruptcy of Dow Corning in the 1990s and the Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) scandal in 2010 as examples of issues the industry wants to avoid. She asserts that many doctors do not recognize or understand BII, often dismissing patients as “crazy” or “pathological.”
Ongoing Advocacy
Despite these obstacles, Monasterio and other activists continue to advocate for greater recognition of BII. They have also raised awareness about breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma linked to implants. While the FDA has started to acknowledge the connection between implants and certain cancers, these cases are still considered “rare.”
Monasterio urges caution to women considering breast implants, saying, “I would like to tell women who are thinking about having implants that they should not allow themselves to be mutilated to meet a beauty standard imposed by a society that is deeply sick. We are much more than this.”
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