In his most recent episode SHE MD podcast, SZA candidly explained why she had her breast implants removed. The 34-year-old “Snooze” singer shared that her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer years ago and her aunt had a mastectomy. Her doctor told her that this family history greatly increased her risk of developing the disease, which influenced her decision to reverse the procedure.
SZA also said that when she first got the implants, she learned she had “so much” fibrosis, a thickening of the connective tissue that can develop in the breasts, that her doctor removed during the operation. She said she eventually had the implants removed because it “didn’t feel right and it was painful,” explaining: “I have too much scar tissue because my breasts are too dense and I’m not supposed to have breast implants. And I ended up getting extra fibrosis.”
But what exactly is fibrosis and how does it relate to implants? And how does breast cancer risk play into all of this? We asked experts to break it down.
First, some background: Fibrosis isn’t just limited to breasts.
You can develop this thick or scarred tissue in many areas: It’s essentially the same stuff that your ligaments (the tissues that hold your bones together) and scar tissue are made of, so the areas that have it can feel tight or even a little elastic. According to American Cancer Society (ACS).
Fibrosis can develop as you heal after an injury, which includes major surgery, or from your immune system reacting to a foreign body, such as a breast implant. In fact, in most people with breast implants, the body’s protective cells react by forming a “fibrous capsulearound the implants. In some people, the immune system reacts strongly and if the capsule becomes thick enough, it can become quite painful.
“The body is trying to either get rid of it or wall it up for its own protection. Richard J. Bleicher, MD, a breast cancer specialist in the division of surgical oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, tells SELF. “The process to do this involves inflammation, which is an increase in immune system activity.”
SZA didn’t share a specific diagnosis, but the pain she talked about could point to capsular contracture, which happens when the capsule tightens and becomes too hard. Amy Bremner, MD, medical director of breast surgical oncology at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California, tells SELF. “This can be painful and can lead to patients wanting their implants removed or revised,” he explains.
Dr. Bleicher says most people are not usually evaluated for fibrosis before getting breast implants because this tissue can be difficult to detect without specialized (read: expensive) imaging tests. In addition, it is extremely common: More than half People with breasts will develop fibrosis, usually between the ages of 30 and 50. “It’s routine for surgeons to deal with this,” says Dr. Bleicher. “Even when the implants are placed, it usually can be [removed] easily by the surgeon at the time of the operation.”
Is fibrosis related to breast cancer? What about implants?
At baseline, having fibrosis does not increase the risk of breast cancer worldwide ACS. The simplest way to put it: Fibrosis is a sign that there is inflammation going on in the body — but it is chronic It’s inflammation, not fibrosis itself, that could potentially contribute to an environment that has been associated with cancer risk, says Dr. Bleicher.
