Local complications after cosmetic breast implant surgery in Finland

Concerns regarding potential health effects of silicone breast implants have recently shifted from long-term illnesses to postoperative local complications. In this study, occurrence of local complications and treatment procedures were evaluated in a population of 685 Finnish women who received cosmetic silicone breast implants between 1968 and 2002. Patient records were abstracted, and additional information was gathered using a structured questionnaire that was mailed to 470 of the women in the cohort. Overall, 36% of the women had 1 or more diagnoses of postoperative complications in their medical records. The most common complication was capsular contracture, occurring in 17.7% of women and 15.4% of implantations. Other complications were more rare. The majority of women (74%) needed no postoperative treatment. However, 22% of women required 1 or more surgical procedures after the primary implantation. Most of the women were satisfied with the implantation, but only 40% considered the preoperative information on possible risks related to implantation as sufficient. With respect to the occurrence of local complications following cosmetic breast implantation, the findings of this study are consistent with previous studies. Frequencies of complications were remarkably similar in medical records and self-reports.