Myimplants were ‘toxic bags’ Eleanor Black.

government funding.

Of BII, spokeswoman Edwina Gatenby said, ‘‘we have been asked this question about breast implant illness previously and I have to say it wasn’t something our surgeons were particularly familiar with.’’

Brunton-Rennie said that she received ‘‘no warnings at all’’ about possible side effects of breast implants. And although implants are only built to last 10 years, there was no discussion of what would happen when it was time to replace them.

‘‘There are also numerous issues arising with saline implants, as the shell of saline implants is silicone and there are many women explanting to find black mould in their saline implants.

‘‘Most have auto immune diseases – lyme, lupus, Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis – some are wheelchair- and bedbound,’’ said Brunton-Rennie.

Michaiah Simmons-Villari, owner of Deluxe Events and Promotions, had her silicone implants removed in 2016 after 10 years, hoping to put an end to the paralysing fatigue, brain fog and autoimmune issues she suffered.

‘‘I was fainting and having seizures that were unexplained,’’ says Simmons-Villari. ‘‘I ended up in hospital a few times, hooked up to machines. I had memory blanks and I don’t drink or do drugs. I work out, eat healthy, take supplements. There was no reason for it.’’

Blood tests were inconclusive and her doctor could not tell her what was going on. She developed an allergy to eggs, having eaten them for breakfast for years.

‘‘I got shingles, again for no apparent reason. I was constantly run down,’’ she says.

Nearly a year and a half after getting her implants removed, she says she feels much better, although she believes her body is still ‘‘detoxing’’.

‘‘I have more energy, I function normally. I feel so much more alive, so much brighter. My sense of humour has returned. I woke up from surgery and the first thing I noticed was I could see colours properly again.

‘‘It was almost like I’d had this dark veil over my eyes. Now the grass looks really green, the sky is really blue.’’

Kiwi-born wellness blogger Nicola Robinson Evans, wife of chef Pete Evans, had her breast implants removed last May to avoid potential health issues.

In an Instagram post she wrote, ‘‘I was so very happy to wave goodbye to them and also exceptionally fortunate to be in a situation to be able to afford to say goodbye to them!

‘‘I didn’t like how they felt or looked, but most importantly... for the last six years I’ve felt an innate need to do everything to make sure that my body is an absolute temple, if by chance my husband and I hit the jackpot and a sweet little bub was to come through.’’