Breast Implant Illness and Cutibacterium acnes: A Case Report

Breast implant illness (BII) is a term to describe a wide range of nonspecific symptoms after breast implant placement. At present, no specific diagnostic criteria for BII exist, and there is limited solid understanding of what causes BII. There is sonic evidence that biofilm infections such as those caused by Cutibacterium asnes may play a role in the development of BII. We present a case of a 38-year-old White woman who developed BII symptoms (psychological and integumentan). After en bloc explantation, her tissue cultures resulted in C. acnes growth. Plastic surgeons should be aware of this potential complication and discuss it thoroughly with patients before breast implantation. Evidence suggests that binfilm infection with C. acnes may play a role in BII development. En blue explantation is the typical treatment of choice. Plastic surgeons should be aware of C. acnes as a potential cause of BII and should counsel patients on the potential risks and remedies for BII.