The 53-year-old lives with a variety of immune and autoimmune diseases which she said developed after she had her breast implants inserted 20 years ago.

She battles daily pain and fatigue caused by osteoporosis and arthritis, allergies and food sensitivities, frequent infections, bruising and bleeding.

She's also had several cysts and lesions in her skin, tissue and organs - some which have required surgery.

Ms Simmons said symptoms started five years after she had the implants; then 10 years afterwards her breast tissue started to harden around the implant - a complication known as capsular contracture.

Last year an ultrasound revealed that both her implants had ruptured, and in November she finally had them removed. Yet she said the surgery caused even more problems.

"Unfortunately I did not know Breast Implant Illness or BII existed and I needed an En Bloc procedure to safely remove the implants and capsules," she said.

"Because my surgeon did not use an En Bloc approach (which aims to remove the implant and entire capsule in one piece so as to avoid contamination), silicone and toxins were spilt into my left chest wall and left breast.

"I have had many issues post operatively including ... a left breast infection, inflammation, bleeding, constant bruising, a haematoma and my most recent breast ultrasound detected a new silicone granuloma.

"Since the operation my health has deteriorated further with all my diseases flaring. I am positive the toxins that were spilt has done this."

Ms Simmons consulted well-known naturopath Dr Sandra Cabot in December, who diagnosed her with late-stage BII, and put her on a special diet and supplements to detoxify and boost her immune system.

Her illness was confirmed by leading Sydney plastic surgeon Professor Anand Deva, who has been researching the link between breast implants and illness for two decades.

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Ms Simmons also joined BII support groups in Australia, New Zealand and the US; and gained more understanding of the impact - and extent - of the illness.

"I'm a retired critical care nurse specialist/educator and am ashamed to say I never researched Breast Implant Illness," she said.

"I was told they were safe and I would have them for life. I trusted the doctors and the industry research and believed any issues would have been heavily reported.

"I was never advised I needed a regular breast check to ensure complications do not occur. I am one of thousands of women this has happened to."

Prof Deva said claims of a link between breast implants and illness had been reported since the 1960s, yet had been consistently disputed by surgeons and implant manufacturers.

"The two main problems are hardening around the implant or capsular contracture; and a possible link between silicone and adjuvant disease," he said.

"Women with implants are reporting that they feel unwell, that they're tired, cranky and developing signs of chronic fatigue and many are also going on to develop autoimmune diseases."

He said there were stages of BII - early and moderate cases could see a reversal of symptoms with the safe removal of implants; while the most severe stage - which Ms Simmons has - may not recover even after explant surgery. That's why awareness and early intervention was vital.

Meantime Prof Deva said a growing body of evidence in recent years had put the issue back on the radar of US, and Australian, health watchdogs.

The US Food and Drug Administration is this week holding a two-day hearing on the safety of implants. Silicone, used in implants, is one of the materials under scrutiny.

In a FDA statement released earlier this month, the organisation acknowledged that implantable devices in general may make some people ill.

"The vast majority of patients implanted with medical devices have no adverse reactions," the statement read.

"However, a growing body of evidence suggests that a small number of patients may have biological responses to certain types of materials in implantable or insertable devices.

"For example, they develop inflammatory reactions and tissue changes causing pain and other symptoms that may interfere with their quality of life."

In regards to breast implants specifically, the FDA said it had regularly communicated about associated risks, such as capsular contracture, implant rupture and breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).

"We've also heard from patients who are concerned that their implants may be connected to other health conditions that could be associated with their immune system's response to these devices, resulting in symptoms like chronic fatigue, cognitive issues and muscle pain," the statement read.

In Australia, Prof Deva has joined with other surgeons to set up the not-for-profit Integrated Specialist Healthcare Education and Research Foundation.

It conducts a range of research into the materials contained in implants - and links to illness - and the methods of implantation and removal.

The group has come up with a 14-point plan for surgeons inserting breast implants for reconstructive or cosmetic purposes, and almost 1000 surgeons worldwide have signed up to the plan.

"By using the 14 steps the number of bacteria attaching to implants is reduced, which minimises the risk of breast implant infection and other complications," Prof Deva said.

The foundation also encourages the En Bloc procedure for safe removal of implants and is now funded to study these implants and the surrounding capsule for vital research into this condition.

And it urges surgeons to better communicate with women - to ensure they know the risks associated with implants, that they're aware of symptoms of BII, and that they get regular check-ups afterwards.

The foundation has also set up integrated breast health centres across the country - including a new centre at Miranda - for women with implants to get check-ups, education and advice.

Visit saferbreastimplants.org for more information.