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Is silicone associated with connective tissue disease?
M J Seleznick1, P Martinez-Osuna, L R Espinoza
1University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa.
The Journal of the Florida Medical Association
|February 1, 1991
Summary
Connective tissue diseases may occur after silicone breast augmentation. Removing implants may improve symptoms, but the overall risk appears to be less than one percent.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Plastic Surgery
- Immunology
Background:
- Silicone augmentation mammoplasty is a common cosmetic procedure.
- Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) encompass a range of autoimmune disorders affecting connective tissues.
- A potential association between silicone implants and CTDs has been a subject of ongoing research.
Observation:
- Patients undergoing silicone augmentation mammoplasty have been reported to develop connective tissue diseases.
- The clinical presentation of these CTDs is often indistinguishable from other forms of connective tissue disease.
- A notable observation is the potential for symptom improvement or remission after the removal of silicone implants.
Findings:
- While a link is suggested, current data indicate a low risk, estimated at less than one percent, for developing CTDs post-silicone breast augmentation.
- Several hypotheses regarding the pathogenesis of CTDs in this context have been proposed.
- The precise mechanisms linking silicone implants to CTD development require further elucidation.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that silicone breast implants may be a contributing factor in a small subset of CTD cases.
- Implant removal could be a therapeutic option for patients experiencing CTD symptoms potentially related to their augmentation.
- Further large-scale, well-designed epidemiological studies are essential to definitively confirm the association and quantify the risk accurately.