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For many women, breast implants are a deeply personal choice, whether for reconstructive or aesthetic reasons. But for a growing number of patients nationwide, these implants are also the source of puzzling and often debilitating symptoms. Breast Implant Illness, commonly referred to as BII, is a condition affecting countless women who report experiencing chronic fatigue, brain fog, joint and muscle pain, hair loss, skin rashes, sleep disturbances and autoimmune-like reactions. While the medical community has yet to formally recognize BII as a diagnosis, women living with these symptoms know their struggles are real.
Dr. Landon Pryor, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Rockford, Illinois, has dedicated part of his practice to treating women experiencing this condition. His practice, PryorHealth, houses one of the nation’s only Breast Implant Illness Centers of Excellence, dedicated to providing both expert surgical care and comprehensive patient education and post-operative support. “For years, women with BII were told their symptoms were ‘in their head,’” Dr. Pryor explains. “At PryorHealth, we validate every patient’s experience and provide real solutions to help them reclaim their health.”
Breast Implant Illness can present subtly at first or appear years after augmentation. Patients often describe a range of systemic symptoms affecting quality of life, including persistent fatigue, cognitive difficulties, joint and muscle pain, hair loss, skin issues and sleep disturbances. The exact mechanisms behind BII remain under investigation, but research points to immune dysregulation in part from implant biofilms in genetically and environmentally susceptible individuals.
According to Dr. Pryor, surgical removal of the implant alone is often insufficient. “Removing just the implant is not enough,” he says. “The capsule — the scar tissue surrounding the implant — can retain silicone and other inflammatory substances that continue to trigger symptoms. Performing a total capsulectomy gives patients the best chance for meaningful recovery.”
At PryorHealth, the emphasis is on complete capsule removal, combined with individualized wellness protocols that address inflammation, detoxification and long-term recovery. Holistic peri-operative care is a central part of PryorHealth’s approach.
Dr. Pryor works closely with patient advocates Laura Bowden and Yvette Melby, both of whom are BII survivors following their explant journey. Their firsthand knowledge allows them to guide patients through the complex emotional and medical journey of BII, ensuring that every patient feels heard and supported. “Women should never feel alone or dismissed when dealing with BII,” Dr. Pryor notes. “Our goal is to provide not just surgical expertise but ongoing validation and care that addresses the whole patient.”
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The Rockford, Illinois, location of PryorHealth’s BII Centers of Excellence serves as a crucial resource for women who may be experiencing unexplained symptoms. Patients come from long distances seeking comprehensive evaluation and treatment, drawn by the clinic’s reputation for thorough, patient-centered care. Dr. Pryor emphasizes the importance of early education about BII. “If you’re experiencing persistent symptoms that don’t have an explanation, it’s worth seeking a provider who truly understands BII,” he says. “Early recognition and intervention can make a real difference in quality of life and recovery.”
To expand access to expert care, PryorHealth has partnered with a popular surgeon in the explant community, Dr. Aditya Sood. Practicing out of Rockford currently and soon Naperville, he is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and, alongside Dr. Pryor, is committed exclusively to explant surgery — no longer performing breast augmentation with implants. With 10 years of clinical experience, Dr. Sood’s surgical expertise, excellent outcomes and warm bedside manner have made him highly sought-after for patients seeking high quality explant surgery.
At PryorHealth, Dr. Sood also performs explant surgery with fat transfer, an innovative solution for women who are sick from breast implants but still want additional volume in their breasts after implant removal. Breast Implant Illness is not confined to the Rockford area, and Dr. Pryor is actively recruiting additional surgeons across the country to replicate the Centers of Excellence model to expand access to safe, patient-centered explant care. Currently Dr. Pryor is working out of both their Rockford location and PryorHealth’s partner location in Palm Beach, Florida.
Patients at PryorHealth have shared life-changing transformations following proper explant surgery and holistic recovery. Dr. Pryor emphasizes the broader mission: “Our work is about more than surgery. It’s about giving women answers, restoring confidence and creating a space where their health concerns are taken seriously.”
Breast Implant Illness may still be under-recognized in mainstream medicine, but with centers like PryorHealth and the advocacy of experts like Dr. Pryor, the landscape is changing. Women experiencing unexplained symptoms following breast augmentation or reconstruction with implants now have a trusted destination for evaluation, education, surgery and holistic support. As more patients continue to share their testimonies on social media, BII is finally gaining the attention and care it deserves.
For more information about Breast Implant Illness and the BII Centers of Excellence, go to BIICentersOfExcellence.com