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Breast Implants Nearly Cost Woman Her Life
7 Mar
Summary
- A ruptured breast implant leaked silicone, causing severe pain and illness.
- Doctors initially dismissed mysterious symptoms as stress or psychological.
- The woman incurred significant debt after undergoing multiple surgeries.
Carol Paredes, 52, endured a harrowing health crisis after her breast implants ruptured, leading to a diagnosis of potential breast implant illness (BII). The 42-year-old had paid $4,800 in 2016 for implants, which initially caused concern due to their size and placement.
Five years later, Paredes began experiencing severe, unexplained pain, including stabbing pain in her groin, and was eventually diagnosed with arthritis in both hips, requiring a wheelchair. Doctors initially dismissed her symptoms, attributing them to stress, but scans later revealed a ruptured right implant leaking silicone.
Her implants were removed in December 2022, but her health struggles continued with a post-operative infection and a subsequent chiropractor visit that caused further leg pain. This led to two hip replacement surgeries in 2023 and the discovery of an aortic aneurysm, necessitating open-heart surgery in 2024.
Without health insurance, Paredes incurred over $15,000 in debt, selling possessions and setting up a GoFundMe to cover medical costs. She now shares her story to warn others about the serious risks associated with breast implants.
