Trilucent breast implants: a 3 year series

The use of Trilucent breast implants in the UK dates back to 1995 and their introduction coincided with the medium-term effects of the silicone-implant controversy. We present a review of 3 years' experience of the Trilucent implant (1996-1998) during which 29 patients with a mean age of 39.4 years had a total of 50 implants. The aim of the study was to analyse the results in these patients in terms of complications, reoperation rate and patient satisfaction. Using a combination of retrospective chart analysis and postal survey, we found an incidence of implant deflation of 10% (5/50). The overall reoperation rate was 20% (10/50). The postal survey yielded a mean satisfaction score of 7.1 (on a scale of 0-10) from the 20 respondents out of the 29 patients (68.9%). In view of the high complication rate, we discontinued the use of Trilucent implants in advance of their withdrawal by the Medical Devices Agency (MDA) in March 1999. However, these findings may now be considered of added interest, particularly with regard to patients who are opting to keep their Trilucent implants despite the recommendation of the MDA in June 2000 that such implants should be removed.