Can breast implants cause lung disease in women with a history of respiratory issues or autoimmune diseases?

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Last updated: January 26, 2026 • View editorial policy

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Breast Implants and Lung Disease: No Direct Causal Relationship Established

Breast implants do not cause lung disease. The available evidence does not support a direct causal link between breast implants and pulmonary pathology in women, including those with pre-existing respiratory conditions or autoimmune diseases.

Evidence Review

Recognized Implant-Related Complications

The established complications of breast implants are well-documented but do not include chronic lung disease 1:

  • Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare T-cell lymphoma that develops in the capsule surrounding the implant, typically 8-10 years after placement, predominantly with textured implants 2
  • Infections complicate 2.0-2.5% of breast implantation procedures, with higher rates after reconstruction (average 13% for tissue expanders) 1, 3
  • Capsular contracture, implant rupture, seroma, and hematoma are recognized mechanical and local complications 4

Breast Implant Illness (BII)

BII represents a constellation of nonspecific systemic symptoms that some patients attribute to their implants 2, 5:

  • Symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, anxiety, hair loss, depression, rash, and gastrointestinal complaints 4
  • Importantly, BII symptoms do not correlate with implant type (saline vs. silicone), surface texture, fill material, duration of implantation, or surgical location 2
  • BII is distinct from BIA-ALCL and does not have a single pathognomonic finding 2
  • Lung disease is not a recognized component of BII 2, 5, 4

Isolated Case Report

One case report described a 64-year-old woman with chronic cough and pleuritic chest pain for 15 years following saline breast implant surgery 6:

  • Workup revealed moderate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) on esophagram 6
  • Symptoms resolved after implant removal 6
  • This single case does not establish causation, as GERD itself commonly causes chronic cough and the temporal relationship over 15 years makes direct causation unlikely

Acute Surgical Complication: Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax is a recognized acute surgical complication of breast augmentation, not a chronic lung disease 7:

  • A survey of California plastic surgeons found one in three had encountered at least one pneumothorax case 7
  • Causes include intraoperative pleural laceration (43%), needle puncture during local injection (37%), or ruptured pulmonary blebs (16%) 7
  • This is an immediate perioperative complication requiring acute management, not a chronic lung condition 7

Clinical Implications for Women with Respiratory or Autoimmune Conditions

No Contraindication Based on Lung Disease

The evidence does not support withholding breast implants from women with pre-existing respiratory conditions based on risk of worsening lung disease:

  • No guidelines or studies identify pre-existing lung disease as a risk factor for implant-related complications 1, 4, 3
  • Lung transplant recipients can safely receive breast implants without specific pulmonary contraindications 1

Autoimmune Disease Considerations

While some patients with autoimmune conditions report systemic symptoms they attribute to implants, there is no established mechanism or evidence linking implants to lung disease in this population 5, 4:

  • The relationship between implants and autoimmune symptoms remains poorly understood 5
  • Symptoms attributed to BII do not include specific pulmonary manifestations 2, 4

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Do not attribute chronic respiratory symptoms to breast implants without thorough evaluation for common causes of lung disease (asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary infections, GERD-related aspiration) 6
  • Do not confuse acute perioperative pneumothorax with chronic lung disease—these are entirely different entities with different timeframes and management 7
  • Do not delay appropriate respiratory workup in women with implants who develop pulmonary symptoms; evaluate as you would any patient with new respiratory complaints 6
  • Recognize that BIA-ALCL can rarely involve the chest wall in advanced stages, but this represents local tumor extension, not primary lung disease 1

Bottom Line

Breast implants do not cause lung disease. Women with respiratory conditions or autoimmune diseases considering breast implants should not be counseled that implants will worsen or cause pulmonary pathology. Any respiratory symptoms developing after implant placement warrant standard pulmonary evaluation rather than automatic attribution to the implants.

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

2
Guideline

Breast Implant Illness: Clinical Definition and Recognition

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

3
Research

Infection in breast implants.

The Lancet. Infectious diseases, 2005

7
Research

Pneumothorax as a complication of breast augmentation.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 2005

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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