Is There An Association Between Silicone Buttock Implants and Autoimmune Diseases or Lymphomas?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in buttocks implants, however, I am worried about a new worldwide discovery of “implant illness”. Do you think this could happen even with solid silicone implants used in buttock augmentation or only breast implants? My second question is can I get buttocks implants and rib removal at the same time so I do not have to be under general anesthesia twice? Do they both have to be done under general?

A: In answer to your question:

1) You are referring to a low grade lymphoma that has only been associated with one type of textured breast implants. This has been associated with the way the textured surface was applied. I do not see a correlation with smooth surfaced silicone buttock implants.

2) I could not think of two body procedures who would need general anesthesia any more than rib removal and buttock implants. These two procedures should not be done, either together or separately, without general anesthesia.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana