[Tolerance, reliability and efficiency of inflatable breast implants after breast reconstruction. Retrospective study...

A long-term retrospective study of breast reconstruction with inflatable implants is presented. One hundred and one patients were studied, with a median follow-up of 44 months. Prosthetic implants used were round McGhan implants, model 168. Median volume was 215 mL. Twenty-two patients had contralateral symmetrisation, an average of five months after implant. The advantages of this sort of reconstruction are ease, speed and homogenously good results. Drawbacks include the appearance of prosthetic leaks (7%), waves and folds (13%), stage III and IV capsular contractures (26%), asymmetry and incorrect placement of the implant (25%). Breast reconstruction with implants alone gives good results for specific indications: immediate reconstructions, bilateral reconstructions, no history of radiotherapy, and good quality chest wall tissues.