Lympha Villa Blog

When the Body Speaks: Breast Implants, Lymphatic Health, & the Search for Clarity

By Alex Villanueva, OT, CLT, Founder of Lympha Villa

At our lymphatic health clinic, we have begun seeing something quietly but consistently emerge.

Not everyone with breast implants experiences complications. But more and more patients are noticing changes, sometimes weeks, sometimes years after surgery. Swelling. Fatigue. Immune related symptoms that seem disconnected but do not fully resolve.

And again and again, one system keeps coming up: the lymphatic system.

It manages fluid. Clears waste. Regulates immune balance. When it is overwhelmed, the rest of the body feels it. As a medically licensed lymphatic health professional, I see firsthand that lymphatic health remains widely misunderstood, not only by the general public but also within healthcare. Too often it is dismissed or drowned out by superficial, unscientific trends and energy healing rhetoric. This lack of accurate awareness means real symptoms are often missed, minimized, or misattributed.

So what is breast implant illness, really?

There is no single definition.
Breast Implant Illness, or BII, is a patient driven term. It is not officially recognized in every medical circle, but it is very real for the people living it.

The stories are consistent:
• Exhaustion that goes deeper than sleep
• Mental cloudiness and strange rashes
• Aching joints, puffy faces, swollen lymph nodes
• A sense that the body is inflamed or rejecting something foreign

And then there is the emotional burden of being dismissed. The subtle suggestion that it is in your head.

Let us say it clearly. It is not all in your head. Some of it is in your lymph.

Silicone, the body, & lymphatic strain

Most breast implants, whether silicone or saline, are enclosed in a silicone shell. In some cases, studies have shown silicone particles can migrate beyond the implant shell into nearby lymph nodes, even when the implant is intact (Mayo Clinic 2024; PMC 2023).

For some individuals, this may lead to:
• Enlargement of axillary or supraclavicular lymph nodes
• Persistent immune activation or low grade inflammation
• A sense of swelling, tightness, or heaviness in the chest and neck

These symptoms often appear gradually and may not show up clearly in imaging or lab work. But they are real, and they affect quality of life.

Why lymphatic therapy matters

Manual Lymphatic Drainage, MLD, is not a cure for implant related illness.
But it can help the body process what it is struggling to carry.

It is gentle. It is precise. It is grounded in physiology, not trends.

Lymphatic therapy may support:
• Relief from swelling and pressure
• Detoxification and immune regulation
• Post operative healing, especially after explant
• A sense of clarity and calm in a body that feels inflamed

This is not spa fluff. This is skilled, medically rooted care. We treat each client with clinical excellence and deep respect because healing is not just physical. It is emotional. It is social. And it deserves to be taken seriously.

The patterns we are beginning to name

Not every person with implants will experience symptoms. Many do not. Yet many others report persistent swelling, pressure, or discomfort that overlaps with signs of lymphatic dysfunction.

While there is no strong evidence that implants cause long term lymphatic disorders, studies have documented silicone migration to lymph nodes, sometimes leading to enlargement, tenderness, or chronic low grade inflammation, especially in the axillary and supraclavicular regions.

These changes may not fit a textbook definition, but they can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate fluid, manage immune function, and feel balanced.

What we believe

We believe you should not have to fight to be heard.

We believe that your swelling, your fatigue, your inflammation are physical signs of an overwhelmed system. They are not symptoms to brush off. They are messages worth listening to.

Care begins with listening. That is what we do at Lympha Villa.

When you are ready, we will be here

Our doors are open. Our mission is your clarity.

If you are curious about how your lymphatic health may be impacting how you feel, schedule a consultation with our lymphatic care specialists and certified lymphedema therapists.

You do not need an official diagnosis to deserve attention. You just need a body that is asking for help.

Let us show you what is possible when skilled lymphatic care meets unwavering dedication to your healing.