[Psychological and clinical aspects of breast implants].

Authors

János Vizi, Andrea Ferencz, Béla Zoltán Debreczeni

Published in

Orvosi hetilap. Volume 167. Issue 40. Pages 1616-1623. Oct 04, 2026. Epub Oct 04, 2026.

Abstract

One of the most widely used plastic surgery procedures is breast augmentation, which may have short-term psychological benefits but long-term complex biopsychosocial repercussions. In recent years, increased attention has been given to the symptoms associated with breast implants (breast implant illness - BII), as well as to the malignancies associated with implants (breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma - BIA-ALCL; breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma - BIA-SCC). The objective of our study was to provide a comprehensive examination of the psychological characteristics of patients with breast implants, the role of preoperative psychological vulnerability, and the psychological aspects of BII and malignancies associated with breast implants, including BIA-ALCL and BIA-SCC. Our method was a narrative literature review based on the relevant international literature. The results show that the prevalence of mental health disorders in the population choosing aesthetic breast surgery exceeds the average population values. The preoperative mental state largely determines the postoperative psychological outcomes. BII is an ill-defined, heterogeneous symptom complex whose development and persistence may be influenced by psychological factors, particularly health anxiety, cognitive distortions, and nocebo effects. In the case of BII, implant removal does not always result in clinical improvement, which supports the multifactorial nature of the phenomenon. Implant-associated malignancies, such as BIA-ALCL and BIA-SCC, are rare and not psychogenic, but they can cause significant psychological distress, including anxiety, a sense of loss of control and repeated body image disturbance. Consequently, conditions associated with breast implants are complex biopsychosocial phenomena that require an integrated approach for interpretation and treatment. Preoperative psychological screening and the identification of comorbid mental health conditions are crucial for the management of these complex biopsychosocial phenomena. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(40): 1616-1623.

PMID:
42832283
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 06 Oct 2026.

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