Quality of the Capsule in Reconstructions with Textured or Smooth Silicone Implants After Mastectomy

Abstract

Many women desire some kind of reconstruction after mastectomy for breast cancer to improve the cosmetic result. Since the introduction of silicone breast implants, capsular contracture has been the most common complication of breast augmentation or reconstruction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the capsule quality in patients with breast cancer who had undergone reconstructions with either textured (rough) or smooth silicone implants after simple or modified radical mastectomy. Forty-three consecutive patients had reconstructions with textured silicone implants (49 implants) and were evaluated 32 months post-operatively in a prospective clinical trial. The last 43 consecutive patients who had reconstructions with bitumen smooth silicone implants (49 implants) acted as controls. The results were graded by Baker's classification. Among the patients with textured implants only 9% (4/47) was graded as having moderate or severe capsular contracture in contrast to 24% (11/46) in patients with bilumen smooth-surface implants, (p <0.05). These results confirm previous reports that favour textured silicone implants in breast augmentation and reconstruction.

Key Words:

• breast reconstruction
• capsular contraction
• postmastectomy
• textured silicone implants
• smooth silicone implants