Kent, C.A., Holch, P., Gough, B. et al. (2 more authors) (2025) Experiences of women who self-report Breast Implant Illness (BII): a qualitative evidence synthesis. Health Psychology Review. ISSN 1743-7199
Abstract
It has been postulated, but not empirically validated, that breast implants may cause a range of systemic symptoms, recently aggregated into a syndrome termed Breast Implant Illness (BII). Research literature has focused on exploring these symptoms and possible aetiologies, however, it has not been formally recognised as a medical condition. The psychosocial experience of women who self-report BII is not well understood. This review aimed to synthesise findings from qualitative literature relating to BII. A systematic review and evidence synthesis of qualitative research was conducted and analysed using thematic synthesis. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINHAL, Scopus, PsycINFO and secondary sources. Findings from nine studies were included, representing the experiences of women who had breast implants for reconstructive and cosmetic reasons. Four themes were identified: the decline in women's psychosocial wellbeing, the search for answers to their ill health, a lack of solicitude from healthcare professionals and industry, and surgery viewed as both the problem and solution. Women reported an array of distressing challenges that affected their overall quality of life. Findings highlight the need for psychosocial support and enhancing the integration of patient-entered perspectives. Further research is warranted to understand how these women can be better supported.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2025 The Author(s). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent. |
Keywords: | Breast implant illness; breast implants; thematic synthesis; qualitative evidence synthesis; quality of life; systematic review |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Medicine and Population Health |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 29 May 2025 07:24 |
Last Modified: | 29 May 2025 07:24 |
Status: | Published online |
Publisher: | Informa UK Limited |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/17437199.2025.2503743 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:227195 |
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Filename: Experiences of women who self-report Breast Implant Illness BII a qualitative evidence synthesis.pdf
Licence: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0