Breast implant illness (BII) is characterized by subjective symptoms, suff ering and disability rather 3 than consistently demonstrable clinical findings or biomarkers. We are seeing a much more 4 scientific approach to the investigation of this problem than we have at any other stage in its 5 history. This paper is a novel and topical approach to investigating a new thread of enquiry into these concerns and has added to the accumulating body of science.1 6 In order to understand the 7 rationale behind this study, it is helpful to consider how the broad array of symptoms in aff ected 8 women who have systemic symptoms that they feel are caused by their breast implants have many 9 similarities to patients with chronic pain.